Peterborough won Chairman’s Cup 17 September 2023
Tournament report to follow.
Tournament report to follow.
Peterborough won the first round of the Secretary’s Shield, eliminating Newport 4:3 2 August 2023
The results and match report by Debbie
The results and match report by Debbie
Handicap Long Weekend (Association Croquet) 14 to 16 July 2023
by Stephen Cornelius
Rain was guaranteed, and when it started on Friday it didn't feel like it stopped for the entire day, the result being that lawn A was unplayable after the first two doubles matches, so we started the final round on lawn C. However, within ten minutes lawn C was also unplayable. With an entry of four the plan was to each play with each of the others and see who made the best partner. Despite not finishing the third game Ken Knock, a frequent visitor to the club, was the only one of the three of us with two wins and took the trophy.
There was more rain and even some hail on Saturday for the singles, but Sunday was a surprisingly hot. The wind was a frequent distraction on both days. The format was a little unusual, due to the fact that Justin couldn't make it. It was a block of 6, but with Adrian playing two roles and thus two matches at once so no player would be left just watching, at least not much more than usual. One of the roles was named hAdrian and the other Justinian (to theme them on Roman Emperors) who played 14 point games which would be used as a decider for the other four of us. The outstanding player of the event, Martin Russell is clearly becoming very good very fast, and had won before his last 26 point match. The results in detail
by Stephen Cornelius
Rain was guaranteed, and when it started on Friday it didn't feel like it stopped for the entire day, the result being that lawn A was unplayable after the first two doubles matches, so we started the final round on lawn C. However, within ten minutes lawn C was also unplayable. With an entry of four the plan was to each play with each of the others and see who made the best partner. Despite not finishing the third game Ken Knock, a frequent visitor to the club, was the only one of the three of us with two wins and took the trophy.
There was more rain and even some hail on Saturday for the singles, but Sunday was a surprisingly hot. The wind was a frequent distraction on both days. The format was a little unusual, due to the fact that Justin couldn't make it. It was a block of 6, but with Adrian playing two roles and thus two matches at once so no player would be left just watching, at least not much more than usual. One of the roles was named hAdrian and the other Justinian (to theme them on Roman Emperors) who played 14 point games which would be used as a decider for the other four of us. The outstanding player of the event, Martin Russell is clearly becoming very good very fast, and had won before his last 26 point match. The results in detail
Downham Market Northern League, home match, Peterborough win. 6th July 2023
Original text by Adrian Kirby expanded upon by Stephen Cornelius
Downham, in the form of Jonathan Toye, Martin Russell and Ian Thompson came to sunny Peterborough to compete against Adrian, Stephen, and Keith Huggins, who it could be said is easing himself into the sport, claiming he only plays once a year. The courts played pretty well, but the hoops were tight and very firm, which made life difficult, resulting in a number of games going to time. Our three two win means we've won the league again and will compete in the final at home on 17th September. Congratulations to all involved in the effort this season. The results in detail
Original text by Adrian Kirby expanded upon by Stephen Cornelius
Downham, in the form of Jonathan Toye, Martin Russell and Ian Thompson came to sunny Peterborough to compete against Adrian, Stephen, and Keith Huggins, who it could be said is easing himself into the sport, claiming he only plays once a year. The courts played pretty well, but the hoops were tight and very firm, which made life difficult, resulting in a number of games going to time. Our three two win means we've won the league again and will compete in the final at home on 17th September. Congratulations to all involved in the effort this season. The results in detail
Neen (pronounced "Neen") challenge won again, away this time at the Northampton club in Roade. 29 June 2023
by Stephen Cornelius
The weather was really nice as the six person team comprising 3 association croquet players: Adrian, Stephen and Justin and 3 golf croquet players: The two Peters and Laura arrived at the scenic setting of Roade. It was immediately apparent how quickly development of their new club is progressing, as the remains of the fallow field beyond the club is what was there before they started. They now have two lawns that are, while still far from perfect, definitely headed in that direction. They're also working on two more.
Despite having the golf croquet play to 10 (under Advantage rules), their matches were over with two AC matches yet to play, leaving Adrian needing to win his singles and I and Justin needing to win our doubles in order to win by point difference. Which we did. The results in detail
by Stephen Cornelius
The weather was really nice as the six person team comprising 3 association croquet players: Adrian, Stephen and Justin and 3 golf croquet players: The two Peters and Laura arrived at the scenic setting of Roade. It was immediately apparent how quickly development of their new club is progressing, as the remains of the fallow field beyond the club is what was there before they started. They now have two lawns that are, while still far from perfect, definitely headed in that direction. They're also working on two more.
Despite having the golf croquet play to 10 (under Advantage rules), their matches were over with two AC matches yet to play, leaving Adrian needing to win his singles and I and Justin needing to win our doubles in order to win by point difference. Which we did. The results in detail
Peterborough home 1-2 at our Advanced Weekend (AC) 17-18 June
by Stephen Cornelius
The threat of storms hung over the weekend when a group of players with handicaps ranging from +0.5 to -1.5 plus me (8) arrived to contend the advanced weekend. The rain held off for the majority of the event, so we got through a large number of games in the Swiss format, including 11 triple peels. The runner up, Debbie, had 5 herself and 2 scored against her, while Ian won the event with 6 straight wins, 4 of them TP's. However, on the Sunday when I'd just started a game against Omied (who came 3rd) the heavens opened. Within minutes the lawns were unplayable so we had to abandon that game, which ended the event. The results in detail
by Stephen Cornelius
The threat of storms hung over the weekend when a group of players with handicaps ranging from +0.5 to -1.5 plus me (8) arrived to contend the advanced weekend. The rain held off for the majority of the event, so we got through a large number of games in the Swiss format, including 11 triple peels. The runner up, Debbie, had 5 herself and 2 scored against her, while Ian won the event with 6 straight wins, 4 of them TP's. However, on the Sunday when I'd just started a game against Omied (who came 3rd) the heavens opened. Within minutes the lawns were unplayable so we had to abandon that game, which ended the event. The results in detail
Golf Croquet C-Level Series (Handicap 7+) Tournament Tuesday 30 May
Original Report by Adrian Kirby, expanded upon by Stephen Cornelius
The weather forecast promised some sun on Tuesday, but it was not to be. Instead the day was cool, with a steady wind making it feel cold, and spits of rain at times. It was the first day that we'd set up lawn B so there were two lawns to watch directly from the clubhouse, with protection from the weather once we closed most of the doors again.
The format for the event was level play, two blocks, followed by a semi-final and a final.
The entrants were split between the two blocks of 6:
The Orange Block:
Ken Knock (handicap 7), Alastair Broom (8), Stephen Cornelius (7), Jackie Ruffles (9), Garry Lewis (10), and Clare Rockall (12)
The Purple Block:
Grenville Perry (7), Nigel Wulcko (7), Paul Rockall (8), Nicky Newberry (9), Lucy Closs (12), Janet Franklin (12)
The Purple Block was hard fought, with nobody winning all their matches and the second place being decided on Net hoops, with Grenville unfortunately missing out on the semi-final by 3 hoops, so Paul qualified for the semi-final behind Nigel.
The Orange Block was less close, with Stephen Cornelius winning all his matches, and Ken Knock qualifying for the semi final a win ahead of Gary Lewis.
The semi-final on lawn B ran to time, with Nigel defeating Ken 6-5, at which point Stephen had defeated Paul 7-4.
While the playoff for 3rd and 4th took place on lawn A, Paul defeating Ken 7-4, Stephen and Nigel faced off on lawn B with no time limit. However, it soon looked like it could be over quickly as Nigel looked set fair for the trophy when he raced to a 3-0 lead and had a ball in Hoop 4 with Stephen at least three yards away at a 20° angle. Stephen played a 'bouncing bomb' which bounced on the turf once, then bounced on the top of Nigel's ball and then ran the hoop - crucially not also promoting Nigel's ball through. Amazing.
There followed a hard-fought battle, with Nigel (middle front below) showing astonishing clearing accuracy while Stephen combatted it with well chosen positioning and a long jump shot through 8 to draw level. Nigel took 12 to tie the match, so it could have gone either way right up to and including the golden 13th hoop. Despite coming up short on the approach to hoop 3, Stephen had the initiative and managed to get a ball into the back of the hoop and then protect it until he could get it through to the right side of the hoop at the second attempt to give him a shot to win. However in order to block Nigel's ball from the hoop the angle was over 40° and in order to block Nigel's ball from the ball at the hoop Stephen's other ball limited his choices of shot. Stephen (second from the right below) played it as a jump shot and the ball just made it through to win the event. Great stuff. The results in detail
Original Report by Adrian Kirby, expanded upon by Stephen Cornelius
The weather forecast promised some sun on Tuesday, but it was not to be. Instead the day was cool, with a steady wind making it feel cold, and spits of rain at times. It was the first day that we'd set up lawn B so there were two lawns to watch directly from the clubhouse, with protection from the weather once we closed most of the doors again.
The format for the event was level play, two blocks, followed by a semi-final and a final.
The entrants were split between the two blocks of 6:
The Orange Block:
Ken Knock (handicap 7), Alastair Broom (8), Stephen Cornelius (7), Jackie Ruffles (9), Garry Lewis (10), and Clare Rockall (12)
The Purple Block:
Grenville Perry (7), Nigel Wulcko (7), Paul Rockall (8), Nicky Newberry (9), Lucy Closs (12), Janet Franklin (12)
The Purple Block was hard fought, with nobody winning all their matches and the second place being decided on Net hoops, with Grenville unfortunately missing out on the semi-final by 3 hoops, so Paul qualified for the semi-final behind Nigel.
The Orange Block was less close, with Stephen Cornelius winning all his matches, and Ken Knock qualifying for the semi final a win ahead of Gary Lewis.
The semi-final on lawn B ran to time, with Nigel defeating Ken 6-5, at which point Stephen had defeated Paul 7-4.
While the playoff for 3rd and 4th took place on lawn A, Paul defeating Ken 7-4, Stephen and Nigel faced off on lawn B with no time limit. However, it soon looked like it could be over quickly as Nigel looked set fair for the trophy when he raced to a 3-0 lead and had a ball in Hoop 4 with Stephen at least three yards away at a 20° angle. Stephen played a 'bouncing bomb' which bounced on the turf once, then bounced on the top of Nigel's ball and then ran the hoop - crucially not also promoting Nigel's ball through. Amazing.
There followed a hard-fought battle, with Nigel (middle front below) showing astonishing clearing accuracy while Stephen combatted it with well chosen positioning and a long jump shot through 8 to draw level. Nigel took 12 to tie the match, so it could have gone either way right up to and including the golden 13th hoop. Despite coming up short on the approach to hoop 3, Stephen had the initiative and managed to get a ball into the back of the hoop and then protect it until he could get it through to the right side of the hoop at the second attempt to give him a shot to win. However in order to block Nigel's ball from the hoop the angle was over 40° and in order to block Nigel's ball from the ball at the hoop Stephen's other ball limited his choices of shot. Stephen (second from the right below) played it as a jump shot and the ball just made it through to win the event. Great stuff. The results in detail
Chairman's Cup (the regional final, qualified for through the AC Northern League) Peterborough win. 2 October 2022
Original Report by Adrian Kirby, edited by Stephen Cornelius
Thanks to everyone who contributed to getting us to this point through the AC Northern League, including Ian and Debbie Lines, and those who helped us host the home matches.
Our available team for the day was Adrian Kirby, Stephen Cornelius, Keith Huggins and Justin Beaumont.
We arrived to find Newport (the Essex/Suffolk league winners) had failed to raise a team, and so we would be playing a head-to-head against Wrest Park (Herts/Beds champions). Terrey, the manager, arrived and said it would be 'Mary Rose format': A doubles and two singles in the morning and four singles in the afternoon. David Marsh, the Wrest Park captain, asked if that also meant the doubles pairing had to be the 1st and 2nd string players, and Terrey said probably it should be. I protested, and they both agreed, amicably, that we could play the doubles as 1&4 v 1&4 (the morning singles being 2 v 3 and 3 v 2). Phew!
Doubles
The doubles (Adrian -0.5 and Justin 20 v David Marsh -1 and Tim Brewer 3) was a purposeful affair, finishing in 90 minutes. Our strategy worked well: Justin (Black) used three or four balls when possible, but if good positions evaporated baled out into bisque-assisted two-ball breaks, i.e. drive Blue up to the next hoop, continue on behind and take a bisque. All was going swimmingly, with the first innings won and five hoops run at the cost of three of our nine bisques.
Then Adrian suffered a brain-storm. Justin was driving Blue from the South boundary to (a couple of yards East of) Six while splitting across to Yellow near Four. From ten yards, he got perfectly on the rush line to Six - (we could save a bisque here! thinks Adrian) - but the rush went too far East. He drove Yellow to Seven holding for a rush on Blue to Six. He overhit the 'roquet' beyond and behind the hoop, at which point our opponents called out 'You've already used Blue'. Oh dear! We decided not to use two more bisques to rescue the break, perhaps wrongly, because Tim hit the shortish shot and established the four-ball break before running One. He briskly ran ten hoops. Oh dear indeed!
Time to redeem myself, I thought. I hit, and played a sixteen-point break: Twelve hoops with Blue, double-peel and peg-out on Yellow, and one peel on Black. It was a good leave too: A close dolly-rush for Black to Seven, with David's red ball thirty yards away near Corner IV. He missed. Justin played beautifully to make two bisque-assisted two-ball breaks (David didn't even attempt the almost-wired thirty yarder we afforded him). Justin croqueted Blue too straight behind 12 and roqueted it on the hoop stroke, but we still had one bisque and he was able to make his first-ever peg-out. Well done, Justin! Prior to this game he had only played three full games of Association Croquet so, even with expert guidance, this was a remarkable performance under considerable pressure.
Result: won +13 Match score 1:0
1st Singles
Meanwhile, Stephen (8) was well on the way to victory against John Bevington (1). He won +26, and in the famous phrase John 'did not take croquet'. John praised Stephen's play in general and his pioneer placement in particular, "just about perfect nearly every time". Well done, Stephen!!
Result: won +26 Match score 2:0
2nd Singles
This game, featuring Keith (12) against George Collin (-0.5) went to time. It was on Lawn 1, by the clubhouse, and the packed-lunch-eating observers were royally entertained by the seesaw battle. Both players were making it far too easy for the opponent to get in, and Wrest Park team-mates were teasing George by announcing the odds of him rescuing a game point for them every time the seesaw tipped. Keith was two up as time approached, then one up, then level, then one down, then level again (hooray). Though he may not have realised it at the time, he had a tiny advantage: his balls were on Nine and Ten (17 points scored) whereas George's were on Six and Peg (also 17, but only one of his balls could make another point). Keith had the first reasonable chance at a 'golden hoop' but missed, his Yellow ball ending tight on the wire; George joined up near Two. Keith shot with Red from Corner I, ending in the jaws of Two. George was able to roll over to Six, and with Keith unable to shoot at anything with either ball, George scored the winning hoop. Even so, well done, Keith!!!
Result: lost +1T (18-17) Match score so nearly 3:0 but actually 2:1
3rd Singles (double banked with 5th)
In the 2nd string game Stephen again played beautifully, shutting George out and winning at a canter, the only hiccup being when it seemed that the rest of Stephen's bisques could vanish during his second break to windscreen-wipering. However, when a shot hit, one and a half bisques remained. After eleven it seemed that George might get another shot, but Stephen rushed his partner ball from near the peg to right in front of Rover, making the straight peel easy and leaving the remaining full bisque to peg out.
Result: won +26 Match score 3:1
4th Singles
In the 4th string battle Justin put up a valiant fight against Tim, but when his 17 bisques had gone it didn't take long for Tim to finish.
Result: lost +13 Match score 3:2
5th Singles (double banked with 3rd)
In the 1st string contest (Adrian v David), David won the opening but struggled to get going. My shooting had gone off the boil, and when I did manage a hit, I got started but blobbed Four. An hour later David had struggled round to Ten, with me narrowly missing quite a number of long shots. Then David tried to start his back ball, but he blobbed One. Now's the moment!, I thought. I played my Hoop 1 ball and hit partner from 25 yards, with two balls waiting at my hoop. Hooray! I tried but failed to get a TPO going (triple peel on opponent), and ended the break with Red for Four and Yellow for Eleven, and both my balls in Corner II. David missed and I finished with a Straight Double, including a slightly angled 18-inch Irish peel at Eleven and an angled peel into the jaws of Twelve which I half-jumped over from two feet. I almost missed a long return roquet on one of the (both shallow) escape balls but fortunately it just hit. By the way, I never used my half-bisque - having forgotten I had it during the failing-to-hit-in period - (note to self: remember your bisques!).
Result: won +13 Match score 4:2
6th Singles
In the 3rd string game Keith held his own for two and a half hours, but ran out of bisques with a few hoops still to run and found John a more clinical finisher than George had been. It may have helped John that Keith knew by then he didn't need to win.
Result: lost +7 Final Match score 4:3 and we qualified for the Secretary's Shield in 2023.
Original Report by Adrian Kirby, edited by Stephen Cornelius
Thanks to everyone who contributed to getting us to this point through the AC Northern League, including Ian and Debbie Lines, and those who helped us host the home matches.
Our available team for the day was Adrian Kirby, Stephen Cornelius, Keith Huggins and Justin Beaumont.
We arrived to find Newport (the Essex/Suffolk league winners) had failed to raise a team, and so we would be playing a head-to-head against Wrest Park (Herts/Beds champions). Terrey, the manager, arrived and said it would be 'Mary Rose format': A doubles and two singles in the morning and four singles in the afternoon. David Marsh, the Wrest Park captain, asked if that also meant the doubles pairing had to be the 1st and 2nd string players, and Terrey said probably it should be. I protested, and they both agreed, amicably, that we could play the doubles as 1&4 v 1&4 (the morning singles being 2 v 3 and 3 v 2). Phew!
Doubles
The doubles (Adrian -0.5 and Justin 20 v David Marsh -1 and Tim Brewer 3) was a purposeful affair, finishing in 90 minutes. Our strategy worked well: Justin (Black) used three or four balls when possible, but if good positions evaporated baled out into bisque-assisted two-ball breaks, i.e. drive Blue up to the next hoop, continue on behind and take a bisque. All was going swimmingly, with the first innings won and five hoops run at the cost of three of our nine bisques.
Then Adrian suffered a brain-storm. Justin was driving Blue from the South boundary to (a couple of yards East of) Six while splitting across to Yellow near Four. From ten yards, he got perfectly on the rush line to Six - (we could save a bisque here! thinks Adrian) - but the rush went too far East. He drove Yellow to Seven holding for a rush on Blue to Six. He overhit the 'roquet' beyond and behind the hoop, at which point our opponents called out 'You've already used Blue'. Oh dear! We decided not to use two more bisques to rescue the break, perhaps wrongly, because Tim hit the shortish shot and established the four-ball break before running One. He briskly ran ten hoops. Oh dear indeed!
Time to redeem myself, I thought. I hit, and played a sixteen-point break: Twelve hoops with Blue, double-peel and peg-out on Yellow, and one peel on Black. It was a good leave too: A close dolly-rush for Black to Seven, with David's red ball thirty yards away near Corner IV. He missed. Justin played beautifully to make two bisque-assisted two-ball breaks (David didn't even attempt the almost-wired thirty yarder we afforded him). Justin croqueted Blue too straight behind 12 and roqueted it on the hoop stroke, but we still had one bisque and he was able to make his first-ever peg-out. Well done, Justin! Prior to this game he had only played three full games of Association Croquet so, even with expert guidance, this was a remarkable performance under considerable pressure.
Result: won +13 Match score 1:0
1st Singles
Meanwhile, Stephen (8) was well on the way to victory against John Bevington (1). He won +26, and in the famous phrase John 'did not take croquet'. John praised Stephen's play in general and his pioneer placement in particular, "just about perfect nearly every time". Well done, Stephen!!
Result: won +26 Match score 2:0
2nd Singles
This game, featuring Keith (12) against George Collin (-0.5) went to time. It was on Lawn 1, by the clubhouse, and the packed-lunch-eating observers were royally entertained by the seesaw battle. Both players were making it far too easy for the opponent to get in, and Wrest Park team-mates were teasing George by announcing the odds of him rescuing a game point for them every time the seesaw tipped. Keith was two up as time approached, then one up, then level, then one down, then level again (hooray). Though he may not have realised it at the time, he had a tiny advantage: his balls were on Nine and Ten (17 points scored) whereas George's were on Six and Peg (also 17, but only one of his balls could make another point). Keith had the first reasonable chance at a 'golden hoop' but missed, his Yellow ball ending tight on the wire; George joined up near Two. Keith shot with Red from Corner I, ending in the jaws of Two. George was able to roll over to Six, and with Keith unable to shoot at anything with either ball, George scored the winning hoop. Even so, well done, Keith!!!
Result: lost +1T (18-17) Match score so nearly 3:0 but actually 2:1
3rd Singles (double banked with 5th)
In the 2nd string game Stephen again played beautifully, shutting George out and winning at a canter, the only hiccup being when it seemed that the rest of Stephen's bisques could vanish during his second break to windscreen-wipering. However, when a shot hit, one and a half bisques remained. After eleven it seemed that George might get another shot, but Stephen rushed his partner ball from near the peg to right in front of Rover, making the straight peel easy and leaving the remaining full bisque to peg out.
Result: won +26 Match score 3:1
4th Singles
In the 4th string battle Justin put up a valiant fight against Tim, but when his 17 bisques had gone it didn't take long for Tim to finish.
Result: lost +13 Match score 3:2
5th Singles (double banked with 3rd)
In the 1st string contest (Adrian v David), David won the opening but struggled to get going. My shooting had gone off the boil, and when I did manage a hit, I got started but blobbed Four. An hour later David had struggled round to Ten, with me narrowly missing quite a number of long shots. Then David tried to start his back ball, but he blobbed One. Now's the moment!, I thought. I played my Hoop 1 ball and hit partner from 25 yards, with two balls waiting at my hoop. Hooray! I tried but failed to get a TPO going (triple peel on opponent), and ended the break with Red for Four and Yellow for Eleven, and both my balls in Corner II. David missed and I finished with a Straight Double, including a slightly angled 18-inch Irish peel at Eleven and an angled peel into the jaws of Twelve which I half-jumped over from two feet. I almost missed a long return roquet on one of the (both shallow) escape balls but fortunately it just hit. By the way, I never used my half-bisque - having forgotten I had it during the failing-to-hit-in period - (note to self: remember your bisques!).
Result: won +13 Match score 4:2
6th Singles
In the 3rd string game Keith held his own for two and a half hours, but ran out of bisques with a few hoops still to run and found John a more clinical finisher than George had been. It may have helped John that Keith knew by then he didn't need to win.
Result: lost +7 Final Match score 4:3 and we qualified for the Secretary's Shield in 2023.
Great Dunham Northern League, home match, Great Dunham win. 11 August 2022
The intense heat on the day led to all games being played as 18-point ones, starting at Hoop 5.
Great Dunham won 3:1. At the match tea after play ended, Terrey Sparks donned his handicapper hat and cut Ken Knock's handicap from 14 to 12 - congratulations Ken! The third visiting team member was Peter Ross and the home team was Adrian Kirby, Debbie Lines, and Stephen Cornelius.
The results in detail
The intense heat on the day led to all games being played as 18-point ones, starting at Hoop 5.
Great Dunham won 3:1. At the match tea after play ended, Terrey Sparks donned his handicapper hat and cut Ken Knock's handicap from 14 to 12 - congratulations Ken! The third visiting team member was Peter Ross and the home team was Adrian Kirby, Debbie Lines, and Stephen Cornelius.
The results in detail
Association Croquet Long Handicap Weekend. 15-17 July 2022
Friday 15th was the doubles tournament. A new partnership of Jonathan Toye from Downham Market and Stephen Cornelius, who moved to Peterborough and returned to croquet last year after a thirty-year gap, won all their matches in the round robin, defeating the other three teams of Adrian Kirby & Ken Knock, Charles Ostler & Terry Sparks, and Watford-based defending champions Mark Homan & David Robinson to take the Tony Parry Tankards on what was to prove to be the least hot of three days of hot temperatures.
On Saturday the singles started. Both events had been fully subscribed (12 entrants), but a series of late withdrawals (one just two hours before the start of the Singles) reduced the entry to eight for the Doubles and nine for the Singles. Lots of rework for Adrian Kirby, the manager (and the original author of this paraphrased report). The withdrawals can perhaps be put down to the escalating heat, which increased by a few more degrees again for Sunday.
In the singles, each of five ‘Blue Block’ players was supposed to play all five ‘Red Block’ players and vice versa, but the antepenultimate hour withdrawal (from Red) meant Blue Blockers had only four opponents, and the Games Won main determinant of placings had to be superseded by Percentage Wins.
Stephen trounced Charles in his first match on Saturday and David in his third on Sunday (+26), and had a fairly comfortable win against Mark (+11T – 22:11), but faced a tough opponent, Peter, in his final game. This was destined to be the last to finish, and John and Adrian, who were ‘in the clubhouse’ on 75% Win Percentages and with superior count-back stats, were willing Peter to prevail and deny Stephen a 100% record.
It was a rather dour encounter, but with a dramatic denouement. Stephen was one up with three of his nine bisques still standing as time approached, but it gradually dawned on the gallery that he wasn’t going to use the bisques, even though he – as well as Peter – had checked with the manager (and referee) that he wouldn’t be able to use them in the extension period. He broke down, at Peter’s hoop, with Peter joined up, moments before Time was called. Peter tied the score, but – disturbed by ‘passing traffic’ (double-bankers just finishing) – he broke down on Stephen’s hoop. Stephen hit in and made two hoops to finish +2T (15:13) and win the Ken Hope-Jones Shield.
The next day, consultations with the local CA Handicapper led to Stephen being awarded a handicap cut from 11 to 8. Mark’s handicap also came down, from 6 to 5. Well done to both!
The results in detail
Friday 15th was the doubles tournament. A new partnership of Jonathan Toye from Downham Market and Stephen Cornelius, who moved to Peterborough and returned to croquet last year after a thirty-year gap, won all their matches in the round robin, defeating the other three teams of Adrian Kirby & Ken Knock, Charles Ostler & Terry Sparks, and Watford-based defending champions Mark Homan & David Robinson to take the Tony Parry Tankards on what was to prove to be the least hot of three days of hot temperatures.
On Saturday the singles started. Both events had been fully subscribed (12 entrants), but a series of late withdrawals (one just two hours before the start of the Singles) reduced the entry to eight for the Doubles and nine for the Singles. Lots of rework for Adrian Kirby, the manager (and the original author of this paraphrased report). The withdrawals can perhaps be put down to the escalating heat, which increased by a few more degrees again for Sunday.
In the singles, each of five ‘Blue Block’ players was supposed to play all five ‘Red Block’ players and vice versa, but the antepenultimate hour withdrawal (from Red) meant Blue Blockers had only four opponents, and the Games Won main determinant of placings had to be superseded by Percentage Wins.
Stephen trounced Charles in his first match on Saturday and David in his third on Sunday (+26), and had a fairly comfortable win against Mark (+11T – 22:11), but faced a tough opponent, Peter, in his final game. This was destined to be the last to finish, and John and Adrian, who were ‘in the clubhouse’ on 75% Win Percentages and with superior count-back stats, were willing Peter to prevail and deny Stephen a 100% record.
It was a rather dour encounter, but with a dramatic denouement. Stephen was one up with three of his nine bisques still standing as time approached, but it gradually dawned on the gallery that he wasn’t going to use the bisques, even though he – as well as Peter – had checked with the manager (and referee) that he wouldn’t be able to use them in the extension period. He broke down, at Peter’s hoop, with Peter joined up, moments before Time was called. Peter tied the score, but – disturbed by ‘passing traffic’ (double-bankers just finishing) – he broke down on Stephen’s hoop. Stephen hit in and made two hoops to finish +2T (15:13) and win the Ken Hope-Jones Shield.
The next day, consultations with the local CA Handicapper led to Stephen being awarded a handicap cut from 11 to 8. Mark’s handicap also came down, from 6 to 5. Well done to both!
The results in detail
Pinchbeck Northern League, another win. 7 July 2022
Peterborough visited Pinchbeck today for a gorgeous day of friendly competition and excellent hospitality. Peterborough won 3:1. Our team for this was Adrian, Ian and Stephen. Though we conceded our first game in the league, the one loss, Peter Hanley (2) beating Stephen Cornelius (11), was entertaining: Peter pegged Stephen's forward ball out with the backward ball for Hoop 9. Peter then got his own backward ball round to rover, which by then gave him a lead of one. Stephen played well to tie the score in the time turn, leaving Peter on the north boundary and getting right in front of Hoop 11, whereupon Peter - in the turn after time - played a shot which half the gallery thought was a miss but the other half knew was a fractional hit, to pegout and win +1T. The results in detail
Peterborough visited Pinchbeck today for a gorgeous day of friendly competition and excellent hospitality. Peterborough won 3:1. Our team for this was Adrian, Ian and Stephen. Though we conceded our first game in the league, the one loss, Peter Hanley (2) beating Stephen Cornelius (11), was entertaining: Peter pegged Stephen's forward ball out with the backward ball for Hoop 9. Peter then got his own backward ball round to rover, which by then gave him a lead of one. Stephen played well to tie the score in the time turn, leaving Peter on the north boundary and getting right in front of Hoop 11, whereupon Peter - in the turn after time - played a shot which half the gallery thought was a miss but the other half knew was a fractional hit, to pegout and win +1T. The results in detail
Northern League kicks off with a Win. 23 June 2022
The weather was fine, and the magnificent setting, Downham Croquet Club in the grounds of Stow Hall, was appreciated, as was lunch at The Hare. Our team of Adrian Kirby, Ian Lines and Debbie Lines defeated the Downham Market team, Ian Thompson, David Haslam, and Colin Spencer 4:0. The results in detail
The weather was fine, and the magnificent setting, Downham Croquet Club in the grounds of Stow Hall, was appreciated, as was lunch at The Hare. Our team of Adrian Kirby, Ian Lines and Debbie Lines defeated the Downham Market team, Ian Thompson, David Haslam, and Colin Spencer 4:0. The results in detail
Golf Croquet C-Level Series Tournament. 31 May 2022
On a day where the least consistent thing was the weather, the competitors met for the first ever Golf Croquet tournament at the club. The rain came and went but we did have some sunshine. The organisation and catering were excellent, as was the company, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves when the weather allowed. With the weather fluctuating the speed of the lawns varied on an ongoing basis, which was challenging, particularly at the end when the sun sped up the lawns. The event was organised as two blocks, with the winner and runner up from each block going into a two round knockout for the places. Congratulations to Colin Spencer (front and centre below, holding the trophy) who won the final, dominating at the start and end of the match mainly through consistently well weighted shots that put his opponent, Stephen Cornelius (far left below) under consistent pressure. The results in detail
On a day where the least consistent thing was the weather, the competitors met for the first ever Golf Croquet tournament at the club. The rain came and went but we did have some sunshine. The organisation and catering were excellent, as was the company, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves when the weather allowed. With the weather fluctuating the speed of the lawns varied on an ongoing basis, which was challenging, particularly at the end when the sun sped up the lawns. The event was organised as two blocks, with the winner and runner up from each block going into a two round knockout for the places. Congratulations to Colin Spencer (front and centre below, holding the trophy) who won the final, dominating at the start and end of the match mainly through consistently well weighted shots that put his opponent, Stephen Cornelius (far left below) under consistent pressure. The results in detail
NEEN beats NENN
With the pronunciation of the Nene Challenge at stake Northhampton and Peterborough faced off at the club on 12th May.
The weather was exceptionally kind, the lawns were playing pretty well for so early in our season, and the format worked well. Playing 19 hoops, instead of the usual 13, on the GC court - (actually, First-to-10 'Advantage GC') - while also playing 14-point games on the AC court, achieved its purpose of avoiding having the GC games finishing well before the AC ones.
As it transpired, in AC the home team proved too strong for the visitors, but in GC there was an extraordinary series of nail-biting close finishes, so it was the GC games that lasted longer more often than not.
If more of those close finishes had gone Northampton's way, the overall result would have been very different, so the 11:1 final score certainly doesn't reflect the Northampton team's true standard of play.
With the pronunciation of the Nene Challenge at stake Northhampton and Peterborough faced off at the club on 12th May.
The weather was exceptionally kind, the lawns were playing pretty well for so early in our season, and the format worked well. Playing 19 hoops, instead of the usual 13, on the GC court - (actually, First-to-10 'Advantage GC') - while also playing 14-point games on the AC court, achieved its purpose of avoiding having the GC games finishing well before the AC ones.
As it transpired, in AC the home team proved too strong for the visitors, but in GC there was an extraordinary series of nail-biting close finishes, so it was the GC games that lasted longer more often than not.
If more of those close finishes had gone Northampton's way, the overall result would have been very different, so the 11:1 final score certainly doesn't reflect the Northampton team's true standard of play.
Wheelchairs
We've acquired two lawn-going wheelchairs with wide wheels to protect the grass. This was funded by a grant from the National Lottery.
We've acquired two lawn-going wheelchairs with wide wheels to protect the grass. This was funded by a grant from the National Lottery.
Peterborough lose close match to Downham Market
Peterborough lost 3 - 2 to Downham Market. Debbie Lines lost one and Adrian Kirby lost two singles, about which the least said the better. Match highlights, for Peterborough, were...
In the doubles (with Stephen Cornelius) Debbie made an 8-hoop break as time approached to go two up, and though Jonathan Toye hit in and managed to get position he missed a long hoop. Peterborough won 16-14.
In Stephen's singles, he made a 7-hoop break as time approached to tie the game, and though Colin hit in he failed to get position and left Stephen an easy 'golden hoop' finish. Stephen was conceding 9 bisques; he played patiently and - at the end - very well to win 18-17.
Peterborough lost 3 - 2 to Downham Market. Debbie Lines lost one and Adrian Kirby lost two singles, about which the least said the better. Match highlights, for Peterborough, were...
In the doubles (with Stephen Cornelius) Debbie made an 8-hoop break as time approached to go two up, and though Jonathan Toye hit in and managed to get position he missed a long hoop. Peterborough won 16-14.
In Stephen's singles, he made a 7-hoop break as time approached to tie the game, and though Colin hit in he failed to get position and left Stephen an easy 'golden hoop' finish. Stephen was conceding 9 bisques; he played patiently and - at the end - very well to win 18-17.
Boro Return to form. 25 May 2021
Following on from chastening defeat in the Nene Challenge the Peterborough Croquet Club players are showing a return to form. Club Secretary Paul Hetherington partnering with Ely resident David Haslam won the handicap doubles tournament at Colchester Croquet Club on Friday 21st May. Then on Monday 24th the Golf Croquet Team in their first ever league match earned a credible draw against neighbouring Downham Market, who included the aforementioned David Haslam in their team.
Golf Croquet v Downham Market away drawn 5-5, 24 May
Janet Franklin beat C Clifford 7-5
Roz Wright & Sarah Thornhill lost to R Cole & D Haslam 5-7
R Wright beat D Haslam 7-3
S Thornhill lost to C Clifford 5-7
S Thornhill beat D Haslam 7-5
J Franklin lost to R Cole 2-7
S Thornhill lost to R Cole 3-7
J Franklin beat D Haslam 7-6
R Wright beat R Cole 7-3
R Wright lost to C Clifford 5-7
The Nene/Nene Challenge – Sunset on Neen for a Year. 17 May 2021
Yesterday Peterborough and Northampton Croquet Clubs faced off in the grudge match of the year naming rights for the River Nene. Peterborough and Northampton have always had a friendly rivalry both sitting on the river Nene but both pronouncing it differently the Northampton ‘Nen’ or the Peterborough ‘Neen’. How better to settle such controversy than in the gladiatorial arena of sport.
Northampton ran out worthy winner seven games to two although in fact Peterborough scored 55% of the total hoops ran on the day and had the satisfaction of at least seeing the battle of the Paul’s won decisively in their favour +20.
As a result Northampton take home the trophy a picture of the sun setting over the Nene and for one year at least it will be sunset on the name Neen.
Paul Hetherington, Peterborough Club Secretary said. “This local challenge was a great way to celebrate a new season of croquet and a chance to forge new friendships along the river. Peterborough needs you to join our Club and ensure that next year we can win back naming rights to the river.
Paul Chard, Northampton Club Chairman responded. “Our team pulled out all the stops to win the match and then the two teams mingled in friendly competition. It was a great day with fine weather. I would urge people to join the winners by becoming members of Northampton Croquet Club”
Full Results (Peterborough names first as the home team)
Association Croquet
Adrian Kirby and Paul Hetherington lost to James Skelton and Paul Chard 21-26
Adrian Kirby beat James Skelton 26-2 (including a triple peel)
Paul Hetherington beat Paul Chard 26-6
Golf Croquet
Lynne Simpson lost to Rita Brocket 2-7
Roz Wright and Sarah Thornhill lost to Ann Udah and Martyn Palmer 3-7
Sarah Thornhill lost to Martyn Palmer 1-7
Roz Wright and Lynne Simpson lost to Ann Udah and Rita Brocket 5-7
Roz Wright lost to Ann Udah 5-7
Sarah Thornhill and Lynne Simpson lost to Martyn Palmer and Rita Brocket 5-7
The Nene/Nene Challenge. 13 May 2021
Peterborough and Northampton have always had a friendly rivalry both sitting on the river Nene but both pronouncing it differently the Northampton ‘Nen’ or the Peterborough ‘Neen’. How better to settle such controversy than in the gladiatorial arena of sport. Peterborough and Northampton Croquet Clubs will battle out a best of nine games match across two codes on Sunday 16th May in Central Park, Peterborough for the right to decide where the pronunciation ends. A nine nil whitewash would require the losers to adopt the winners pronunciation for the year a close result might see Oundle the turning point.
Paul Hetherington, Peterborough Club Secretary said. “This local challenge is a great start to our season as we look to throw off the shackles of Covid rest assured our whole team of five will be playing hard to preserve the name of our Nene”.
Paul Chard, Northampton Club Chairman responded. “Our five person team will look to wrest the match from Peterborough game by game as we too look forward to a productive season growing our club and promoting the Nene.”
The Ken Hope-Jones Shield
The Peterborough Handicap Weekend 23-24 June 2018
Association Croquet played as an Egyptian using the Hands-Irwin System
The tournament was won by Mel Christie from Northampton Club after a thrilling final round from which any one of three participants could have emerged as the winner (Mel Christie, Patricia Duke-Cox or Adrian Kirby). The lawns were in excellent condition playing fast and true, while the teas and lunches were sumptuous. The trophy is named after Ken Hope-Jones one of the founders of the Peterborough Club and it was a great pleasure that Ken joined us all in his wheelchair for the trophy presentation. The only handicap change was a cut of two from 20 to 18 for the winner from club handicapper Adrian Kirby. The tournament was managed by Paul Hetherington his first tournament managed since the 1986 Durham University Tournament. With only 8 entrants just two of the available three lawns were used with double banking throughout. Sam Murray deserves special mention as the only player to avoid going to time in any of his games as does Ellen Thompson for bravely playing through four rounds whilst clearly under the weather at her second ever tournament and just a few months since taking up the game.
Results:
Rating Name Results
131 Mel Christie (20) D Haslam +6o.t., S Murray -23, N Chalmers +5o.t., P Duke-Cox +2o.t., A Kirby +22
120 Sam Murray (-1.5) N Chalmers +9, M Christie +23, S Barley +7, A Kirby -14, P Duke-Cox +9
114 Sarah Barley (10) A Kirby +2o.t., P Duke-Cox -8o.t., S Murray -7, D Haslam +12, N Chalmers +6o.t.
103 Patricia Duke-Cox (12) E Thomson +6o.t., S Barley +8o.t., A Kirby +18, M Christie -2o.t., S Murray -9
102 Adrian Kirby (-0.5) S Barley -2o.t., E Thompson +12o.t., P Duke-Cox -18, S Murray +14, M Christie -22
86 Neil Chalmers (9) S Murray -9, D Haslam +8, M Christie -5o.t., E Thompson +7o.t., S Barley -6o.t.
80 David Haslam (18) M Christie -6o.t., N Chalmers -8, E Thompson +3o.t., S Barley -12
64 Ellen Thompson (22) P Duke-Cox -6o.t., A Kirby -12o.t., D Haslam -3o.t., N Chalmers -7o.t.
Peterborough and Northampton have always had a friendly rivalry both sitting on the river Nene but both pronouncing it differently the Northampton ‘Nen’ or the Peterborough ‘Neen’. How better to settle such controversy than in the gladiatorial arena of sport. Peterborough and Northampton Croquet Clubs will battle out a best of nine games match across two codes on Sunday 16th May in Central Park, Peterborough for the right to decide where the pronunciation ends. A nine nil whitewash would require the losers to adopt the winners pronunciation for the year a close result might see Oundle the turning point.
Paul Hetherington, Peterborough Club Secretary said. “This local challenge is a great start to our season as we look to throw off the shackles of Covid rest assured our whole team of five will be playing hard to preserve the name of our Nene”.
Paul Chard, Northampton Club Chairman responded. “Our five person team will look to wrest the match from Peterborough game by game as we too look forward to a productive season growing our club and promoting the Nene.”
The Ken Hope-Jones Shield
The Peterborough Handicap Weekend 23-24 June 2018
Association Croquet played as an Egyptian using the Hands-Irwin System
The tournament was won by Mel Christie from Northampton Club after a thrilling final round from which any one of three participants could have emerged as the winner (Mel Christie, Patricia Duke-Cox or Adrian Kirby). The lawns were in excellent condition playing fast and true, while the teas and lunches were sumptuous. The trophy is named after Ken Hope-Jones one of the founders of the Peterborough Club and it was a great pleasure that Ken joined us all in his wheelchair for the trophy presentation. The only handicap change was a cut of two from 20 to 18 for the winner from club handicapper Adrian Kirby. The tournament was managed by Paul Hetherington his first tournament managed since the 1986 Durham University Tournament. With only 8 entrants just two of the available three lawns were used with double banking throughout. Sam Murray deserves special mention as the only player to avoid going to time in any of his games as does Ellen Thompson for bravely playing through four rounds whilst clearly under the weather at her second ever tournament and just a few months since taking up the game.
Results:
Rating Name Results
131 Mel Christie (20) D Haslam +6o.t., S Murray -23, N Chalmers +5o.t., P Duke-Cox +2o.t., A Kirby +22
120 Sam Murray (-1.5) N Chalmers +9, M Christie +23, S Barley +7, A Kirby -14, P Duke-Cox +9
114 Sarah Barley (10) A Kirby +2o.t., P Duke-Cox -8o.t., S Murray -7, D Haslam +12, N Chalmers +6o.t.
103 Patricia Duke-Cox (12) E Thomson +6o.t., S Barley +8o.t., A Kirby +18, M Christie -2o.t., S Murray -9
102 Adrian Kirby (-0.5) S Barley -2o.t., E Thompson +12o.t., P Duke-Cox -18, S Murray +14, M Christie -22
86 Neil Chalmers (9) S Murray -9, D Haslam +8, M Christie -5o.t., E Thompson +7o.t., S Barley -6o.t.
80 David Haslam (18) M Christie -6o.t., N Chalmers -8, E Thompson +3o.t., S Barley -12
64 Ellen Thompson (22) P Duke-Cox -6o.t., A Kirby -12o.t., D Haslam -3o.t., N Chalmers -7o.t.
Adrian Kirby represented Peterborough in the A-Class event at the Eastern Region Cub Champions Tournament in Hunstanton on 29 April, he was joined by Paul Hetherington who was runner-up in the B-Class event.
Club Secretary Paul Hetherington subsequently went on to win the Letchworth May Handicap Tournament and the Colchester May Handicap Tournament
Peterborough Third Croquet Tournament 2018
Following the success of tournaments in 2016 and 207 the Club will be hosting two tournaments in 2018 the first a handicap tournament to be managed in June by Paul Hetherington to be followed in July by an Advanced Tournament managed by Adrian Kirby.