Aberdeen Tournament 2018
8-9 September 2018, Albury and Westburn Centres
Hosted by Aberdeen and Crathes Croquet Club, 14 entered this year’s event with the regulars from the North of England and the Central Belt along with local players. At the end of Saturday’s matches played in very pleasant sunshine, Block 1 was headed by George Plant, Block 2 by Jola Jurasinska and Jamieson Walker was unbeaten in Block 3. Sunday saw the Block 1:2 play offs with George winning through to the final and Malcolm Robertson qualifying for the Wine final for the second year running. Jamieson continued his winning ways and qualified for the final before losing his last game to Robert Bell who then qualified for the Wine final as runner-up.
The final was a close-fought affair with both players squandering good chances, but Jamieson saw off his younger opponent to win the Aberdeen Quaich 18-13. If Jamieson at the tender age of 83 can do it then there is hope for the rest of us. In an all-local Wine final Robert Bell beat Malcolm Robertson in a low scoring match 10-2.
Thanks to Lizetta, David, Edna and Meg for their help in keeping all the players refreshed and fed over the weekend, your efforts were the highlight of the tournament - once again the home bakes went down a treat; Brian Durward for helping set-up the lawns at Westburn and Albury; Robert, Malcolm, Brian and Hamish for providing transport to both venues; Hamish (Balgreen CC) for the additional sets of croquet balls and everyone who helped set out and dismantle the lawns.
Bill Strachan
Results
Block 1
| H'cap | RS | BD | GP | MR | Wins | Gross | Place | |
| 2½ | Roger Staples | 15-18 | 0-18 | 12-13 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| 5 | Brian Durward | 18-15 | 16-17 | 0-18 | 1 | 34 | 3 | |
| 9* | George Plant | 18-0 | 17-16 | 10-6 | 3 | 45 | 1 | |
| 14 | Malcolm Robertson | 13-12 | 18-0 | 6-10 | 2 | 37 | 2 |
* Handicap reduced to 8 after Saturday's play
Block 2
| H'cap | JO | SS | HD | JJ | Wins | Gross | Place | |
| 2½ | John Owen | 13-15 | 0-18 | 17-14 | 1 | 30 | 3 | |
| 7 | Steve Skelton | 15-13 | 2-18 | 5-18 | 1 | 22 | 4 | |
| 11 | Hamish Duguid | 18-0 | 18-2 | 9-18 | 2 | 45 | 2 | |
| 14 | Jola Jurasinska | 14-17 | 18-5 | 18-9 | 2 | 50 | 1 |
Block 3
| H'cap | IH | DH | JH | TR | JW | RB | Wins | Gross | Place | |
| 3½ | Ian Hall | 18-17 | 15-18 | 12-15 | 13-18 | 18-6 | 2 | 76 | 3 | |
| 4 | David Houston | 17-18 | 18-16 | 5-18 | 11-18 | 4-15 | 1 | 55 | 6 | |
| 10 | John Henderson | 18-15 | 16-18 | 18-5 | 11-18 | 8-18 | 2 | 71 | 4 | |
| 12 | Tom Ryan | 15-12 | 18-5 | 5-18 | 6-18 | 10-13 | 2 | 54 | 5 | |
| 14 | Jamieson Walker | 18-13 | 18-11 | 18-11 | 18-6 | 7-13 | 4 | 79 | 1 | |
| 18 | Robert Bell | 6-18 | 15-4 | 18-8 | 13-10 | 13-7 | 4 | 55 | 2 |
Block 1&2 Play-offs
Top 4
| George Plant | George Plant 13-11 |
George Plant 18-4 |
| Hamish Duguid | ||
| Jola Jurasinska | Malcolm Robertson 10-8 |
|
| Malcolm Robertson |
3/4 place: Jola Jurasinska beat Hamish Duguid 15-9
Bottom 4
| Brian Durward | Steve Skelton 15-13 |
John Owen 18-13 |
| Steve Skelton | ||
| John Owen | John Owen 18-14 |
|
| Roger Staples |
7/8 place: Brian Durward beat Roger Staples 18-4
Wine Final
Robert Bell beat Malcolm Robertson 10-2
Final
Jamieson Walker beat George Plant 18-13
