Ickworth Park
was the beautiful setting for 2 days of croquet.
16
pairs from 8
croquet clubs met on Saturday for the annual East Anglian
Croquet Federation Golf Croquet Doubles Tournament.
Played on 4
lawns, each group of competitors played 7 games, the highest
scorers to go through to the Final.
In the morning
session, Bury players, Brian Cash and Ann Sweeney with a
combined low handicap of only 2 had tough games with a lot
of extra shots given to their 1st. 2 opponents, but still
won 2 of their 4 games. Bury’s 2nd. pair were Chris Howell
and Katie Fairbairn. They had only played croquet since the
beginning of the year and had a brilliant start winning
their 1st. 3 games, but their 4th game opponents were
experienced players, Martin and Linda Ambrose, from Downham
Market who have been finalists and winners on several
occasions. Chris and Katie put up a good fight but were
beaten 5 - 3
In the
afternoon Brian and Ann won both their games for an overall
acore of 4 wins and 2 losses, while Chris and Katie drew 1
game and lost 1, with an overall score of 4 wins, I draw and
2 losses.
The Finals
were between Sarah Strover and Geoffrey Wilcox from Sudbury,
and Martin and Linder Ambrose from Downham Market. After a
close game, Sarah and Geoffrey won by 7 hoops to 5.
Edme Robinette
from Bury St Edmunds Croquet Club was the top Golf Croquet
Singles champion on Sunday when 24 players from 8 clubs took
part in th~ EACF Annual Tournament at lckworth Park.
Players were
divided into 4 blocks, playing 5 games each, the winners to go
through to the Finals.
At the end of the
afternoon, Cynthia Sandells from the Bury club was a clear
winner in her group to win all 5 of her games. Edme Robinette
and Brian Cash, also from Bury were on 4 hoops each and had to
play against each other to decide who went through to the semi -
finals, After close play, Edme beat Brian 4 - 3, time having run
out. Other Bury players who all won some of their games were
Carole Carter, Chris Howell and Don Smith.
The first
semi-final was between Cynthia Sandells and Edme Robinette
who played
brilliantly to win by 7 - I.. The other semi-final was between
Bob Woodd-Walker
from Colchester and Martin Ambrose from
Downham Market who
won by 7 - 5.
The Final between Edme and Martin produced some excellent play
alternating between the 2 of them. Edme won the 1st 3 hoops but
Martin came back with good ball placing to win the next 2 hoops.
Edme won the next 3 hoops in quick succession and it appeared
the match was over but Martin won the 8th, 9th and 10th hoops to
close the gap, until Edme run her 7th hoop to win the Match by
7-5. |
