There are trophies and trophies, but the Claret Jug, awarded to the winner of the Open Championship, Britain’s golf major, since 1882 is among the most prestigious. The Blewbury version, the Kay Memorial Trophy (KMT), commemorating club founder, Jolyon Kay, has a way to go as it makes its debut in 2023.
On Monday afternoons throughout the summer, Short Croquet players, many of them new to the discipline, challenged each other on the half size courts. On finals day, the four top players on the ladder who’d played the six matches needed to qualify assembled for the shootout. First up, Joe King versus Steve Fisher, Andrew Petit versus Brian Jamieson.
As ladder leader, Joe’s win over Steve took him straight to the final. Steve and Andrew, the victor over Brian, played for the right to challenge him.. With three peels to Andrew’s five bisques in the final, Joe needed a fast start. At the first hoop, an uncharacteristically short roquet led to an awkward hoop approach – and a jawed ball. Andrew pounced flawlessly and remorselessly, taking his first ball round without using a bisque. To the mournful strains of a bagpiper practising on Tickers Folly Field, Joe accepted his fate as Andrew powered on to a handsome win.
To the winner, the spoils – Brian presents Andrew with the Claret Jug.