There were eight players at Phyllis Court Croquet Club and eight at Blewbury Croquet Club on July 22-23 for the annual shared GC B-level (+3) tournament.. The Saturday split was seeded and drawn to divide the competitors evenly between the two venues for the all play all format.
In blustery wind and rain on Saturday, all players dug in to complete their seven games. For those at Blewbury, the highlight was Philippa’s fantastic lunch. When the top four from each venue gathered at Phyllis Court to compete for The Cup on Sunday, compliments were flying. You’re a hero, Philippa.
Congratulations to Paul Wolff for making the Phyllis Court cut for Sunday and for finishing 4th.. Meanwhile, Brian Jamieson and Steve Fisher regrouped on home courts to contest The Plate. By the afternoon, intermittent showers had given way to sunshine, inviting a shift to shorts and shirt sleeves.
When the hoops were counted after 14 games, it was business as usual.. Peter Adams (Guildford & Godalming Croquet Club) retained The Cup he won in 2022. Likewise Beryl Hughes (Cheam Croquet Club) held onto The Plate
As a first time Tournament Manager for Blewbury, I was greatly impressed by the camaraderie between the players. I appreciated Chris Roberts’s seamless paperwork and the regular updates that kept Blewbury in the loop. Sorting out two carelessly abandoned mallets that were required at Phyllis Court on Sunday was more of a chore. Once I’d identified their owners with numerous photos and phone calls, Paul stepped up to return them before play the next morning. One of the culprits was Peter Adams; as he said himself, no mallet no Cup.
