The Blewbury Croquet Club One Ball tournament held on the August Bank Holiday Monday was largely a members’ event though Caversham’s up and coming couple, Charles and Pam, hitched a lift with the Jamiesons to provide welcome variety. Manager Anthony Hardwicke divided his ten players into two groups of five, with everyone in A playing everyone in B. With few games taking up their allotted 60 minute span, he was able to slip in a random teaser round after Susan Tilbrook’s delicious home-cooked lunch.
Duncan cruised through the preliminaries, racking up six wins out of six, but there were six players on three wins needing four to qualify for the semis as the final matches kicked off. Those who held their nerve were Brian, Carol and David Long. With the fewest hoops among them, Brian drew the short straw: a semi final against Duncan, while Carol and David returned to a familiar battleground.
Duncan moved imperiously into a final against David, emerging victorious to receive the BCC one ball highball glass from Joe King. It takes its place in his long line up of trophies for basketball, volleyball, windsurfing and other disciplines. His bonus prize, a glassful of bird seed mixed with materials for filling crow holes, will come into use on Tuesday maintenance morning when he resumes his crusade against the big blacks. Thank you, Duncan, for creating playing surfaces worthy of a champion elect. We also rans enjoyed them too.
