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PHYLLIS COURT CROQUET CLUB
05 December 2024 - ENGLAND v WALES - full international match at Phyllis Court on Saturday 25 January
For the first time ever, Phyllis Court will host a full international match! - save the date!
England will play Wales in a 'warm-up' fixture before heading off to Tasmania for their World Teams Championship (17-23 February).
Do come along to watch the spectacularly hard-hitting young England team with three players under 23, including UK number 1 Jack Good.
Our own Chris Roberts will be in the Wales team.
More soon, as other details are announced . . . .
05 December 2024 - Well attended AGM today - Patricia Mulcahy continues as our Chairman for 2025
Our AGM was well attended by members in the Findlay Suite this morning.
The full minutes are being prepared and will be circulated shortly.
However, the headline news is the election for our committee members for 2025.
As per our constitution, the new committee met immediately after the AGM to elect the Club Officers.
Patricia Mulcahy was elected to continue as Chairman, likewise Julia Green as Secretary, and Alastair Broom is our new Treasurer (taking over from Russell Robinson, who retired at the end of his 5-years' sterling service).
Other committee roles will be assigned by our Chairman on or before the first committee meeting on 9 January.
Our Committee 2025
Patricia Mulcahy - Chairman
Julia Green - Secretary
Alastair Broom (New) - Treasurer
Hilary Cowley
Helen Essa (New)
Paul Franklin
Rick Lilley
Chris Roberts (returning)
Kevin Ward
Frances Colman & Chris Roberts awarded Honorary Membership
Our President Frances Colman and former Chairman Chris Roberts were awarded Honorary Membership of Phyllis Court Croquet Club in recognition of their hard work and devotion to the Club and with wides sport of croquet over more than 15 years.
Links to their full citations will appear here shortly:
04 December 2024 - Play resumes after 8 days of cancelations
The river level and water table have fallen substantially and our courts have dried out sufficiently to aallow play o Courts 1, 2 & 3 today.
Court 4 still has standing water and will likely be out of action for another few days.
26 November - 03 December 2024 - No play for over a week as winter wet, freeze and frost arrive - followed by rising river and water table level
Below:
30 November - 0800 - The river level and water table are now extremely high.
Courts 1 & 2 remain waterlogged, 4 and half of 3 are lakes and the pavilion is inaccessible without wellies! (photos Chris Roberts)
Below:
29 November - 0730, 0900, 1130 - The river level has been steadily rising all day rising and the water table is now extremely high and the water table has flooded our courts
Far left - 0900 - Court 4
Near left - 0730 - Jumping area and court 3
(photos above by Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin)
Below:
26 November - 0900 and a lovely winter morning's sky, but frost and waterlogging meant no play (photo by Paul Franklin)
28 November - 0930 and a really think frost hid frozen and then still waterlogged courts with the river level remaining very high (photo by Chris Roberts)
21 November 2024 -
Coming-up . . .
Thu 5 Dec
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
1030 - for tea, coffee & biscuits
1100 - meeting starts
83 attend our Annual Prizegiving Dinner
to hail our all our prize winners, including our
2024 Club Champions
Charlie von Schmieder (AC) & Rick Lilley (GC)
and our
National Champions GC Federations Shield team
Above - National Champions! : The Phyllis Court team celebrate retaining our National GC Federations Shield title
(from left) Chris Roberts, Kevin Ward, Patricia Mulcahy, Paul Franklin & Andy Jones, with President Frances Colman
(photo by Nick Fontannaz) (see news item 21 November)
Right above - Our AC Champion Charlie von Schmieder (see news item 16 November)
Right below - Our GC Champion Rick Lilley (see news item 21 September)
(photos by Chris Roberts)
Von Schmieder is our AC Club Champion!
1 - Charlie von Schmieder with the Boucher Trophy and today's last match opponent Richard Peperell
2 - Peperell assesses what to do having been cleverly cross-wired at the peg
3 - von Schmieder attempting his triple peel
4 - von Schmieder with President Frances Colman (photos by Chris Roberts)
16 November 2024 - Von Schmieder wins our AC Club Championship for 12th time despite good fight by Peperell
Charlie von Schmieder was properly challenged in this year's Phyllis Court AC Competition but fought off the twin challenges of Chris Roberts and Richard Peperell to win his record twelfth title in the final game of the series today
Von Schmieder lost to Roberts in their first game of three back in the summer, but went on to win the match 2-1 six weeks ago and before Roberts recorded a match win in straight games against Peperell soon after.
Von Schmieder went in to Saturday's final episode of this season Championship 1-0 up against Peperell and he further tightened his grip on his latest title when he took his first ball round to 4-back (hoop 10) early in the game.
Peperell responded well reaching 4-back himself but then breaking down at 2-back (hoop 8) with his second ball, leaving the game well poised.
No stranger to the top lines of play, von Schmieder then embarked on a 'triple-peel attempt', in which the striker takes his second ball around the 12-hoop course, whilst between scoring stokes, also peels (manoeuvres his own first ball through its remaining hoops) three times.
The reward is high as it denies the opponent a return to the court, not unlike a top snooker player 'clearing the table'', but the risk is high because a slip usually hands the game to the opponent,
All went well until, with two of the required peels done, von Schmieder unluckily hit the centre peg when trying to propel his partner ball to its last target hoop and the triple peel attempt had to be abandoned.
Peperell was left with along shot which he missed and the spectators were left aghast when von Schmieder came back in, ran his last hoop and then inexplicably missed a routine peg-out end of game score.
Peperell grasped the lifeline offered and went on multi peeling turns of his own, while moving von Schmieder's remaining single ball to far off comers, but was interrupted by the game timer sounding which left him a near impossible line of play to tie, and he ended up one short.
Von Schmieder was full of praise for Peperell's spirted fight-back and Phyllis Court resident Frances Colman congratulated both players as she awarded von Schmieder his familiar Boucher Trophy to hold for another year.
Roberts finished runner-up in the Championship thanks to his earlier defeat of Peperell.
Congratulations again Charlie
President Frances Colman flanked by winners
Helen Essa (Rothwell Cup) & Russell Robinson (Adlam Tankard)
(photo by Chris Roberts)
12 November 2024 - Essa wins the AC High Handicap 'Rothwell' Competition
Helen Essa was confirmed as the winner of the AC High Handicap competition by organiser Paul Franklin, and she was presented with the Rothwell Cup today by President Frances Colman.
Essa won her second Ac trophy of the season, and as previously, the victory was decided on net hoops resolution after a tie on game wins - this time, it was a three-way tie with Patricia Mulcahy and jJff Smith, with each winning and losing one game apiece.
12 November 2024 - Robinson beats Iyer in Final of the AC handicap 'Adlam' knock-out competition
Russell Robinson beat Raghu Iyer 25-9 in the final of the AC handicap knock-out competition this morning,
Iyer won the opening, controlled the early exchanges and was first to score as he kept control of the innings to the extent that it was fully 20 minutes below Robinson hit his first roquet.
In the low scoring first half of the game, Iyer hung onto his one bisque realising the threat of its deployment was as as powerful as the extra turn itself.
Robinson eventually nosed in front and, with a sustained period where he controlled the innings, he began to score hops with every visit to the court, whilst showing greater caution, befitting the status of this final,
Iyer chose wisely to take his bisque with a potential four-ball break ahead of him, but failed to convert the chance and Robinson was pleased to see the advantage yield only one hoop, as he extended the lead soon after.
Iyer's challenge evaporated in the last quarter of the game and, with game all but technically won, Robinson iced his victory 'cake' with two mulit-hoop breaks at the close, to give the score-line amore comfortable feel.
Congratulations Helen & Russell
08 November 2024 - Broom wins delayed 3+ Plate Final
Alastair Broom won the delayed final of the 3+ Plate season-long competition today in a close match versus Carl Billson.
Broom won the firts game at a canter 7-2, but was pegged back by Billson's 5-7, before returning winning form 7-5 in the decider.
Membership Secretary Hilary Cowley was on hand to congratulate the winner, and took this photo of Carol Billson (left) and Alastair Boom (right) in the Regatta Bar.
Congratulations Alastair
01 November 2024 - Robinson wins the AC 5+ Section Tankard
Russell Robinson's AC improvement in the second half of this season, was again in evidence this morning when he best Frances Colman 26-7 to secure the second tier AC Advanced 5+ season-long competition for 2025.
This was the last of Robinson's four block games and he had already beaten Patricia Mulcahy and Raghu Iyer by similar score lines, so finishing undefeated made him the worthiest of winners.
Colman and Iyer were both two-time previous winners and Robinson will be a new name for our engravers to mark on the Section Tankard.
Congratulations Russell
30 October 2024 - Colman & Roberts win the Open Doubles Club Championship at the last hoop!
Frances Colman and Chris Roberts won the Open Doubles Club Championship in an epic 4-hour marathon final with Delia & Ian Norris today.
The Norrises came from behind to steal the first game 4-7 with better ball placement and centre-ball clearances, together with good fortune on occasions.
Most notable was when Roberts's ball nestled against the leg of hoop 7 allowing Ian an in-off from the most improbable of angles, and leaving Colman hampered with only a very wide approach to hoop 8 possible.
Buoyed by this, Delia ran hoop 8 with confidence and the Norrises carried that lead to the end of the first game.
Colman and Roberts raced to a 2-0 and then 3-1 lead in the second game before Delia ran the best hoop of the match to score hoop 5 from the angled on the south boundary sailing past her opponents two scoring balls it got her side right back into contention.
Thereafter, there was only one score in it and the thirteenth hoop beckoned with Roberts first to approach but badly as it turned out when he only got to level with the hoop, putting his side on the back foot having to defend when both opponents placements were better.
After some interaction, it was Roberts' turn for good fortune and his clearance of Ian's saw the striker's ball come off at just the right angle to smash in to Delia's 'scoring' ball too, and after two easy missed hoop shots Colman eventually score to take the match to a decider.
Colman and Roberts were more comfortable in the third game but couldn't quite get the two hoop advantage they were seeking and this came home to roost when Delia 'snicked-off' Colman's ball that she was trying to clear at hoop 11, to take the lead for the first time.
Colman ran hoop 12 well but the Delia had the crucial first approach to to hoop 13 that would decide the match, and although she got the distance, Roberts got a more threatening position, Ian was short and Colman got in front but further out than ideal.
Delia chose to move Roberts rather than shoot, which was probably wise, but ensured more jockeying for position until Colman took on a bold hoop shot with probable in-off score for Delia next if she missed.
Instead, Colman ran the hoop really well and celebrated with an involuntary skip and hop in the air as she clinched the Open Doubles Club Championship 4-7, 7-6, 7-6.
This was a wonderful match that had it all, good skills from all for players, occasional luck for both sides and was played in an excellent spirit throughout.
30 October 2024 - Warren & Marcel also win 7+ Doubles at the last hoop!
Aly Warren and Michael Marcel won the delayed final of the 7+ Doubles competition this afternoon which ended with the second 'last hoop' dramatic finale of the day.
They were pushed all the way by the excellent play of Carol Huntington and Tony Peperell, who got better the longer that match went on were in the ascendency going into the third and deciding game, having come back from a 7-4 loss to win the second game 7-6.
Warren and Marcel combo did well to counter this and the decider built to an exciting finale at 5-5 with Warren first to approach hoop 11 and well.
Peperell decided to clear with his side's first ball, and hit Warren though he did, the move allowed Marcel to take commend of that short hoop and although Huntington also hit, she and P confined to defending and eventually had to concede the crucial 6-5 shoreline.
Huntington scored hoop 12 to take the game to the 13th hoop where Warren and Marcel's first approach
allowed them to command and eventually convert when Marcel maturely snuggled up to Huntington denying her a shot at Warren who was poised to score.
A rotation later, Huntington had a desparate and ambitious jump attempt to save the game, got airborne, but it was too far out really and she pushed Warren through to score for the 7-4, 6-7, 7-6 win
26 October 2024 - Essa clinches AC Women's Orr Plate by a single point
Helen Essa was beaten by Frances Colman today but not by enough to deny her the AC Women's Orr Plate trophy.
Going into this last game in a three player block, which also included Patricia Mulcahy, Colman needed to win in order to tie the block on one game win each; and a win by 10+ points would have won her the title on net hoops.
Essa had a nightmare start and squandered her 5 bisques (extra turns) without scoring and Colman slowly extended her lead to wards the target victory margin.
In an exciting finish, Colman finally achieved the goal at 13 - 3 ahead as she finished her break after 'time' was called, but then an unfortunate brush with the ground took the pace off her ball as she attempted to put it safely in a corner.
Essa came in with one last visit to the court and duly hit Colman's ball that hadn't got far enough away.
Then with great maturity, she used the other balls to position in front of her required hoop at the other end of the court, and scored the crucial point that reduced Colman's winning margin to 9.
Essa lost the game 13-4 but won the competition on net hoops by that single point.
Today's game was played in an excellent spirit throughout, and as our photo shows, there was pleasure on both sides as President Colman presented winner Essa with the lovely silver Orr Plate.
26 October 2024 - Day 9 report - Mulcahy watches 18 year old Fields become the GC World Champion
Patricia Mulcahy playing tournament ended yesterday and today was mostly about the Would Championship Final.
Alongside the main event of the day, Mulcahy firstly supported James Galpin (England) winning the Plate Final before switching her attention to teenager Blake Fields' remarkable victory against hot favourite Robbie Fletcher (Australia).
This link includes the Would Championship Final coverage: - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsKaCggIltFL8eBUg5wHYH6191-Ewu1l
Patricia subsequently wrote a report for the Croquet Association of Ireland, detailing her experience at the Championships and here is a link -
https://www.croquetireland.com/index.php/node/615
25 October 2024 - Day 8 report - Mulcahy plays on
Patricia Mulcahy enjoyed the opportunity to play further consolation games at the World Championships today.
This morning she lost to Anton Kamne (Sweden) 2-7 and this afternoon 3-7 to Tom Halliday (Scotland).
In the main event, Robbie Fletcher (Australia) looks unstoppable and in today's first semi-final, he beat the last English hope Euan Burridge 3-0.
Fletcher is on 19/20 game wins in tis Championship and he hasn't lost a match since last November.
The other semi-final teenager Blake Fields (USA) beat Khaled Karmel (Egypt) 3-0.
The Final - Robbie Fletcher (Australia) v Blake Fields (USA) - will be live-streamed from 1400 tomorrow.
24 October 2024 - Day 7 report - Mulcahy get a second game win today
Patricia Mulcahy recorder her second game win of the Championships today, and a convening one it was too.
She beat Alexander Kirsten (Germany) 7-1.
Before that, Mulcahy was very competitive against Spain International Nicholas Denziot in a 5-7 defeat this morning and her Plate programme finished with a 1-7 reverse to former World AC finalist David Maloof (USA).
I am not sure if that is then end of play for our Chairman, or if their are any further consolation games on offer on the last two days of the Championship.
In the main event, it was quarter-finals day today and England's Euan Burridge got through to his first semi and will face hot favourite Robbie Fletcher (Australia) in a 'best of five' match tomorrow.
In the other semi-final, teenager Blake Fields (USA) eventually beat his former tutor Brian Lozano (Mexico) in near darkness at the 13th hoop of the deciding game of their 'best of five' match.
24 October 2024 - Stefan was hard at work today (and everyday) treating our courts and chemical spraying for disease prevention
23 October 2024 - PCC 'D' are the SCF Advantage League Champions again - PCC 'D' 14 -2 Ryde
PCC 'D' team:
Liz Smith, Rob Eagle,
Helen Essa & Michael Marcel
PCC 'D' are the SCF Advantage League Champions again after they thrashed Ryde 14-2 in the League Final at Phyllis Court today.
The match started in a typical fashion for a final, with two seemingly evenly matched sides winning two games apiece in the opening round, with Phyllis Court's Michael Marcel and Helen Essa on the wrong end of score lines.
But thereafter, Phyllis Court really took the match to their visitors and they were undefeated in the second round, which included an exciting finale in the Helen Essa v Jim O'Keeffe match where Essa scored the game winner at hoop 15 from a very tight angle, to take Phyllis Court 6-2 up in the team match lead going into lunch.
If Ryde had been hoping that the break might have worked in their favour, they were to be disappointed, and if anything PCC 'D' looked even more on to in the third round.
Again the won all four games, including Liz Smith's 7-4 win over Ryde captain Mick Abbot which gave Phyllis Court the crucial match winning ninth point, not that she realised the significance at the time.
Helen Essa added a tenth victory for Phyllis Court with a super angled shot that nobody watching thought to be a scoreable hoop.
Captain Rob Eagle was back to his beat form and, by way of showing that he had shaken-off his C-Level Series National Final blues, he was first to finish his final round game, and he ended unbeaten in the match.
Marcel finished next and with another win, giving him three for the match, which Essa equalled soon after, and Smith was all smiles when she won for a fourth time to keep an unblemished record.
In fairness to Ryde, the team match result of 14-2 did flatter Phyllis Court rather, and five of the 16 results were by 7-6, but take nothing away from PCC 'D' this was a super performance and they truly deserved to glory of the presentation of the SCF Advantage League Cup.
- - - This win gives Phyllis Court two teams in the National Federations Shield competition in 2025! - - -
PCC 'D' - Michael Marcel (5), Rob Eagle (5), Helene Essa (6), Liz Smith (8)
23 October 2024 - Day 6 report - Mulcahy continues in the Plate event
Patricia Mulcahy continued in the Plate event today along with 35 other players.
She lost all five of her Plate Block A games today, 1-7 to both Ian Burridge (Wales) and Stu Smith (England), 3-7 to both Richard Bilton (England) and Adam Barr (Canada) and got very close to Thomas Ingram (Hong Kong) 6-7.
Mulcahy has three more games tomorrow.
See 22 October news item below for links to watch live-streaming and real-time results.
22 October 2024 - Day 5 report - "I am thrilled to bits!" - Mulcahy's 6-7 impresses World no. 2 Ahmed Elmahdy
Patricia Mulcahy said the she was 'thrilled to bits" to have taken the World no.2 Ahmed Elmahdy (Egypt) to 6-7 in a game that she had lead 4-1 and 6-5 and looked on route to, what would have been, the biggest upset of the Championships!
Elmahdy had been 'flicking-off' Mulcahy's balls to position at next hoops in order throughout the match and Mulcahy recognised the danger of that as he controlled hoop 12, trailing by one hoop score and need that hoop and the 13th.
Mulcahy neutralised that threat by positioning her balls on the East boundary, forcing Elmahdy to go for an 'all eggs in one basket' promotion instead, but she was then just short with her own first ball with the game for the taking.
Mulcahy did have a hoop shot for the game but failed it and a few stokes later the Egyptian got the match winning score.
Elmahdy complimented Mulcahy at the end of their 1-7, 6-7 match, saying that the second game had been his 'toughest yet'.
Elmahdy is have a storming tournament, has won all his matches, has only dropped 1 game in 19 and is now even more the most likely challenger for favourite Robert Fletcher (Australia).
22 October 2024 - Michael Christmas R.I.P.
It is with sadness that we report that our long-standing member Michael Christmas died yesterday following a long illness.
Michael was a lovely fellow and a true gentleman who always had a happy disposition, be that on a croquet court, at the snooker or bridge tables, or socialising more generally around Phyllis Court, and he leaves a lasting memory of his beaming smile for his many friends at the Club.
At croquet, Michael was no mean player, and while centring on Golf Croquet, he also played Association Croquet for a short time and, as a high handicapper, was successful at that too.
He played social games most frequently and, in later years, was a stalwart of the 'Saturday 8am quartet' with John Ethridge, Deon Melck and Jim Walter.
Michael also played for Phyllis Court GC teams in the SCF 'B' (3+) League and SCF Handicap League and was also successful individually and as a doubles partner.
Our achieves record the following achievement (click on the 'past winners' tab above):
Golf Croquet
3+ Singles - 2019 (runner-up)
7+ Singles - 2018 (runner-up)
7+ Doubles - 2017 (runner-up, partnering Jim Walter)
7+ Doubles - 2019 (tied WINNER, partnering Jim Walter)
Association Croquet
Summer tournament (high handicap class) - 2018 & 2019 (winner)
One Ball Handicap tournament - 2018 & 2019 (winner)
Chris Roberts
(on behalf of Chairman Patricia Mulcahy who is abroad)
22 October 2024 - Live Streaming STARTS TODAY - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0acGDxvi0Vo
Former World Champion Chris Clarke will be commentating on the Live-Stream, so you can follow all the action from the comfort of your own home.
Remembering that Virginia is 5 hours behind the UK, so I'd expect the coverage to start at around 1400 our time
You can also follow the resulst in real time on CROQUET SCORES - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/wcf-golf-croquet-world-championship/block-b
This link goes to Patricia's Block B, from where you can access all the other blocks too.
21 October 2024 - Day 4 report - Mulcahy gets first game win
Patricia Mulcahy won her first game this morning and so nearly the 'best of three' match versus Paul Neubecker (USA), to break her duck at the Championships. Showing tremendous spirit to come back from a 1-7 first game reverse, Mulcahy won the second 7-6 and then, in an exciting finish, she hit a game 3 saving clearance at hoop 13, all the way from beyond hoop 1 (corner to corner!). This earned her a hoop shot for the match, but then she had the heartbreak of accidentally touching her ball in preparation and had to watch Neubecker steal the result: 1-7, 7-6, 6-7.
Mulcahy was cock a hoop with the first game win and even more enthused for her second match v Amr Hamdy (Canada) which took place around 2130 our time - she was competitive again but went down 4-7, 3-7.
Mulcahy has one game block game left to play and it's' the 'big one' versus the top seed in her block and second seed in the whole Championships, Ahmed Elmahdy (Egypt) who is ranked Number 2 in the World. Elmahdy is have a storming tournament, has won all hsi matches and only dropped 1 game in 17 so far.
20 October 2024 - Day 3 report
Patricia Mulcahy continues with spirted performances, scoring more hoops in the second games of her matches against her string of illustrious opponents This morning (USA time), she got some hoops off Greg Fletcher (Australia international and world number 99) in a 1-7, 4-7 defeat.
Thais afternoon, she lost to Andres Alvarez-Sala (Spain international and world number 29) 2-7, 3-7,
19 October 2024 - Day 2 report
Patricia Mulcahy came unstuck in her third 'best of three' match of the Championships this morning, and went down to the 10th seed Mohamed Walid (Egypt) 1-7, 4-7. This afternoon it was more of the same, 2-7, 4-7 to David Maloof (USA).
Although Mulcahy is yet to win a game, it should be remembered that there is a gulf between her ranking position and those of all her opponents at these Championships.
19 October 2024 - Over a dozen happy new mallet owners on our Mike Pervical Mallets Day a Phyllis Court
Although the heavy overnight and morning rain put paid to any on-court action at Phyllis Court today, there was plenty of excitement in the ballroom where, friend of Phyllis Court CC, Mallet Maker Mike Percival and his wife Ann made their fourth visit to the Club.
Coaches Frances Colman & Chris Roberts were on hand to advise and several members (and visitors from High Wycombe, Eynsham and Thames Valley Clubs) all tried Mike's mallets for size and then placed orders.
Mike has given us a new mallet to add to our club stock by way of commission :O)
18 October 2024 - Day 1 report
Patricia Mulcahy got off to a good start in her opening match versus Dom Aarvold (England) today scoring hoop 1 and trading hoops thereafter round to 5-5, before Aarvold broke 'serve' to win 7-5 and then followed up with a 7-3 for the match win.
Mulcahy was competitive again in her second match, a 4-7, 4-7 loss to Te Kiri King (New Zealand).
18 October 2024 - Chairman Mulcahy debuts at Full GC World Championship in the USA (preview) - STARTS TODAY -
Patricia in the green of Ireland at the Opening Ceremony
Chairman Patricia Mulcahy takes her croquet career to the very top of our sport today, when she debuts at the full GC Would Championships in the U.S.A.
Mulcahy lines-up as the only representative of Ireland in an 80-strong field at Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Virginia, with play starting tomorrow (18th) and running through to Saturday 26th October.
She is the lowest ranked player bar one in the field, so has nothing to loose, in what will be a fantastic and probably once in a life-time opportunity.
The programme for the tournament - https://issuu.com/uscacroquetnews/docs/2024_croquet_news_fall_edition-cnm24v3?fr=sNjc3ZTc3NjE1NjY
The Programme includes profiles of all the players, and Patricia of course gives Phyllis Court a mention!
Live Streaming - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0acGDxvi0Vo
Former World Champion Chris Clarke will be commentating on the Live-Stream, so you can follow all the action from the comfort of your own home.
However, the link is currentl saying that coverage is not going to start until the block play-offs on Tuesday 22nd.
That seems a bit odd to me, so it could be worth trying it out at about 1430 today, Thursday, (remembering that Virginia is 5 hours behind the UK)
Follow on CROQUET SCORES - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/wcf-golf-croquet-world-championship/block-b
This link goes to Patricia's Block B, from where you can access all the other blocks too.
Good luck Patricia!
17 October 2024 - Robinson retains the AC Poulton Handicap Cup in some style
Russell Robinson beat Chris Roberts in some style and ease this morning, to retain one of our oldest trophies, the AC Poulton Handicap Cup.
Robinson was near flawless in restricting Roberts to just three stokes with mature use of less than half of his 11.5 bisques allocation, which always looked like being too many for Roberts to defend.
Using two bisques to set-up a neat four-ball-break, Robison took his first ball round to the peg without putting a foot wrong, and then left Roberts with a 20 plus yard hit-in, which he got close but missed.
The investment of one more bisque to deftly set up a break for his second ball was another wise move and Robinson was unphased when he made his first error of the game, blobbing in hoop 2.
Excellent placement of his advanced pioneers kept Robinson from further mishap, save for a careless over-run at penult (hoop 11), by which time, with multiple bisques remaining, Robinson was home a dry.
He pegged-out a few strokes later for an emphatic 26-0 win which was thoroughly deserved.
President Frances Colman was on hand to present Robinson with the Poulton Cup (pictured), and he was further rewarded (for this and other performances) with a handicap reduction from 11 to 7 by Club Handicappers Colman & Roberts.
Congratulations Russell
10 October 2024 - Phyllis Court players end the Corfu AC Open with honours & trophies
Frances Colman was a semi-finalist in the Handicap Singles Main Event
Frances Colman & Chris Roberts WON the Handicap Doubles (photo left)
Patricia Mulcahy & Paul Franklin were 2nd in the Handicap Doubles (photo below right)
Rob Eagle picked-up the 2nd place prize in the 14-point consolation Singles (photos below left and centre)
Today, the main singles event final was won by Charles Harding (Bowdon) whilst the 14-points Consolation Singles ran to its conclusion with play well inti this last afternoon.
Chris Roberts picked up three wins in his last three games today to end on 72.7%, to finish with the second best record, and only just ahead of Charles Harding and Rob Eagle both on 71.4%.
Because Roberts and Harding were picking-up other prizes, it was Eagle's very good 5 wins from 7 games that earned him the presentation of the runners-up trophy at this evening's Gala Dinner at the Corfu Town Yacht Club.
At the end of a super time away, the 12 strong Phyllis Court contingent mostly fly home tomorrow, leaving only Maureen and Kevin Ward to enjoy an extra day in the sun.
09 October 2024 - Colman bows out at the semi-finals of the Corfu AC Open Handicap Singles main event
Frances Colman, lost an exciting and very good natured semi-final of the Corfu AC Open, when Peter Wilson (Fylde), made a crucial hit-in right across the court and from that, went round to peg making half a dozen hoops along that way.
Colman had done well after burning a number of bisques (extra turns) early in the games and a couple pf excellent breaks established a commanding lead as time began to runout the experience Wilson.
He missed a number of long-hit-ins before hitting with the last in great display of patience and holding of nerve.
For Colman, this event has seen a return to the very best of her play and she should be pleased to be ending on a high.
In the consolation 14-poing event:
Rob Eagle had only lost once in six games and so was pitted against the undefeated leader of the event, Fiona Crompton (York), and he lead by some way going into the final phase of the game. A crucial unwise decision to leave his balls joined-up, was punished mercilessly by Crompton, who hit in well, established a break and rattled through six hop points to rob Eagle of the victory in the last turn of the game!
Chris Roberts is emerging as a contender (probably for second place given Crompton is seemingly invincible form)
Patricia Mulcahy's winning percentage has been pegged back and, despite playing lots of games, she is out of the running for a 'podium' finish.
The other PCC players mentioned below, are mostly participating in this event, but a someway off the winning pace of playing enough games to qualify for the final winning percentage analysis.
08 October 2024 - Colman is sole Phyllis Court survivor for the semi-finals of the Corfu AC Open Handicap Singles main event
Day 4 of play in the main 26-point Singles event saw the end of the road for two more Phyllis Court players, but one still remains to fly our Club flag at the Corfu AC Open.
Frances Colman, who took had taken the longest route to the second round (of 16), revelled in the hard earned opportunity and defeated David Boyd (Guildford) by +2 this morning and then beat Carol Steinberg (Bowdon) by +3 in her quarter-final.
She is the only Phyllis Court player to reach the semi-finals and will face Peter Wilson (Fylde) tomorrow morning.
Rick Lilley lost his quarter-final this morning by just -4 to Sue Longcroft (York)
Helen Essa got even closer to victory in her quarter, and went down by a single point to Charles Harding (Bowden)
In the consolation 14-poing event:
Patricia Mulcahy is playing lots of games and winning most.
Rob Eagle has played less but, crucially, has a better wining percentage.
Chris Robbers is holding back a bit as the manager but starting to chalk up victories too.
The other PCC players mentioned below, are either struggling results wise or playing few (or no) games in this event
07 October 2024 - Phyllis Court trio still in the Corfu AC Open Handicap Singles main event
After three days of Singles play there are three Phyllis Court players left in the main 26-point event at the Corfu AC Open.
Rick Lilley is through to tomorrow's (Wednesday) Quarter-Finals to face Sue Longcroft (York), having beaten Frances Colman (Phyllis Court) and John Crompton (York) in earlier rounds.
Helen Esssa (photo left) has also qualified, and will play Charles Harding (Bowdon, Cheshire), thanks to wins over Peter Allan (Blewbury) and Liz Wilson (Fylde).
Frances Colman, who came through the repêchage route after that first round defeat by Lilley and had to beat Liz Taylor-Webb (Bowdon) and Jon Diamond (Tunbridge Wells) to get back into the main event. She will play her Round of 16 game versus David Boyd (Guildford) tomorrow morning in a bid to join Lilley And Essa in the quarters.
- The other Phyllis Court players are all out of the main event:
Kevin Ward beat Chris Roberts (Phyllis Court) handsomely +26 in the first round but then lost -8 to Fiona Crompton (York) -8.
Paul Franklin beat Cas Sinclair (Bowdon) +6 but then lost to Carol, Steinberg (Bowdon) -3.
Patricia Mulcahy beat Liz Taylor-Webb (Bowdon) +1 but then lost to Charles Harding (Bowdon) -7.
Bob Eagle lost to David Boyd (Guildford) -8 and then lost his repêchage game to Charles Ostler (Pinchbeck, Norfolk) -10
Raghu Iyer lost to Peter Wilson (Fylde) -7 and then lost his repêchage game to Jonathan Toye (Downham, Norfolk) -9.
Chris Roberts lost heavily to Kevin Ward (Phyllis Court) -26 and then lost his repêchage game to Cas Sinclair (Bowdon) by a single point.
- All six are now contesting the 14-point consolation event.
03 October 2024 - Colman & Roberts win Corfu AC Open Handicap Doubles title
Frances Colman and Chris Roberts won the Handicap Doubles event at the Corfu AC Open today.
The record will show they they were undefeated in their five rounds of play, but the detail is that four of their games were won by the narrowest of margins by a single hoop.
And three of those four were in the extra time period where the next hoop wins - the so called 'golden hoop' situation.
The pivotal result was actually in round three, when they faced fellow Phyllis Court club mates Patricia Mulcahy partners Paul Franklin who also went into the game undefeated.
Most of the filed elected to play the alternate strokes variant of doubles play, and the Mulcahy and Franklin combination led for the whole game and by three hoops as 'time' was called in their turn, meaning that Colman and Roberts had one last visit to the court, and crucially had their balls fairly close together.
Colman played a necessarily gentle stoke to roquet her team's partner ball into a scoring position in front of the hoop required by both balls, and Roberts capitalised by peeling the partner ball before Colman scored with the strikers ball for a double score.
The pair needed one more hoop to tie, and two to win, and did well to achieve the first objective at hoop eight and then had a good chance to win at hoop nine but not without a significant risk, so they chose to lay-up in a safe position back hoop eight which was needed by the partner ball.
This line of play gave Mulcahy a long shot to wrestle back the innings for her side, and when she missed Colman and Roberts scored the golden hoop decider.
The pair went on to win twice more on the second day of play to establish an unassailable lead at the end of round five which ended the event with a one-two for Phyllis Court with Mulcahy and Franklin wearing just that one loss as runners-up.
The final standings involving Phyllis Court players were:
Frances Colman & Chris Roberts - (5 wins) - winners
Patricia Mulcahy & Paul Franklin - (4 wins) - runners-up
Helen Essa & David Boyd (Guildford) - (3 wins) - 3rd=
Rob Eagle & Peter Allan (Blewbury) - (3 wins) - 5th
Raghu Iyer & Sue Longcroft (York) - (2 wins) - 6th=
Rick Lilley & Jonathan Toye (Downham) - (2 wins) - 6th=
Kevin Ward & Fiona Crompton (York) - (1 win) - 11th
Rob Eagle in aactio at the Cqouet Club of Corfu. Photo by Paul Franklin
3 October 2024 - Bob Clapp wins 10+ Evening Series
Russell Robinson reports - After an earlier postponement due to waterlogged courts, the final of the 10+ Evening Series took place under lovely, sunny skies today, involving two of this season’s most promising beginners, Bob Clapp and Paul Wooldridge. The format was a single 19-point game. Wooldridge made the better start with a ricochet into the jaws at hoop one, and was in the jaws again at hoop two, but Clapp was able to clear and ultimately claim the hoop. At hoop 3, it was time for Clapp to put a ball in the jaws, which Wooldridge narrowly failed to jump over, but the latter was able to claw back to 2-2 at the next hoop. Both players were positioning very well throughout, but Clapp consistently had the edge and cleared and ran hoops more decisively than his opponent in a run of five consecutive hoops that took him out to a formidable 7-2 lead. Wooldridge then upped his game with some excellent approach shots which enabled him to cut the deficit to three at hoop 15, but with Wooldridge’s black only dribbling though and so being severely hampered, Clapp played an excellent yellow to six feet in front of the next hoop, which he calmly slotted on the next rotation to take the game 10-6. Very well done to both players for performances throughout the season’s competition which belie their inexperience in the sport and which show great promise for next season and beyond. - Congratulations Bob!
01 October 2024 - 11 Phyllis Court players are in Corfu
11 Phyllis Court players are in Corfu for the Greek Open AC Championship which starts with the Doubles event today and tomorrow.
President Frances Colman partners Chris Roberts
Chairman Patricia Mulcahy partners Paul Franklin
Raghu Iyer will play with Sue Longcroft (York)
Kevin Ward will play with Fiona Crompton (York)
Rick Lilley will play with Jonathan Toye (Downham)
Helen Essa will play with David Boyd (Guildford)
Rob Eagle will play with Peter Allan (Blewbury)
Joanna Iyer and Maureen Ward will play in the single day golf croquet event on Saturday and Rick Lilly's wife Jill Meredith is also in the Phyllis Court party.
29 September 2024 - Four members are flying the Phyllis Court flag in NATIONAL FINALS this weekend - Day 2 report
Andy Jones continued with a short Day 2 at the rain threatened A-Level (0+) Series National Final at Sidmouth today.
He was already through to the Plate semi-finals having won his quarter last evening.
Today he beat Chester's Sarah Clements 10 - 6 to reach the Plate Final, where he put up a good fight against the vastly experienced Mike Bilton.
Jones wens down 5-7 2-7 to finish a creditable 10th overall.
There is a digest of results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/sodmouth-a-level-series-0-national-final/block-b
Rob Eagle, Michael Marcel & Pete Falle all had mixed second days at the C-Level (7+) Series National Final at Watford today.
The completion of the big 16-player 'all play all' block required another seven games to be played today, on the back of eight games yesterday - so it was quite a punishing schedule.
Marcel could not repeat his shine of yesterday and he lost his opener to Falle, which somewhat dented his chances of getting at least a share of the lead.
He still did well enough today to eventually finish with 9 wins from his 15 games, which as three behind winner John Lane (Dowlish Wake), and well placed in fifth overall.
Eagle and Falle both scored twice as amy wins as the two this they had each won on day 1, and so can draw some comfort from their tall of six apiece.
There is a digest of results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/england-c-level-7-series-national-final/all-play-all-block
28 September 2024 - Four members are flying the Phyllis Court flag in NATIONAL FINALS this weekend - Day 1 report
Andy Jones is at the A-Level (0+) Series National Final at Sidmouth and he got off to a good start by winning his first block game, but that was his sole success before lunch.
He recovered with two more wins later onto give himself a chance of qualifying for tomorrows main event knock-out, with a last block match victory.
But that game was lost putting Jones in to the plate event, which was started early due to the threat of very heavy rain tomorrow.
Jones won his Plate quester final 7-3 against Tom Grieveson (Chester) and will face Sarah Clements (also Chester) tomorrow morning.
You can follow the results as they happen in ‘real time’ on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/sodmouth-a-level-series-0-national-final/block-b
Rob Eagle, Michael Marcel & Pete Falle are all at the C-Level (7+) Series National Final at Watford, where competition Director, Chris Roberts was also the manager today.
The format is a challenging 16-players all play all 'block' with eight games today and seven tomorrow.
Marcel was cross with himself for losing his first game of the day, having been well on front, but he recovered really well to end the first day on 6 wins from 8 games, which puts him in joint second place being over-night leader David Artingstall (Bury).
Eagle and Falle both had tough days, winning 3 and 2 games respectively.
You can follow the results as they happen in ‘real time’ on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/england-c-level-7-series-national-final/all-play-all-block
24 September 2024 - Eagle beats Tonks in quality 10+ Singles Final
Rob Eagle (left) beat Doug Tonks in a 10+ Singles Final this evening, that defied its high handicap title and was a credit to both players.
Decision making and advanced mallet skills that included the promotion of the partner ball to position, wiring (hiding in line with a hoop) and the deeming of stokes were all in evidence in a close contest that was good to watch.
Pre-match underdog Tonks was unfortunate to peel Eagle's ball through hoop 7 of the firts game having traded hoops with the favourite up until that point, and the inadvertent action allowed Eagle first approach to hoop 8 and establish a crucial two hoop lead, as springboard to a 7-3 win.
The second came mirrored the first with hoops traded evenly to 5-5 amid excellent play from both players.
Tonks was then unfortunate though, to only just run hoops 10 and 12, leaving himself hampered for the next hoop on both occasions and this was little short of disaster for his chances at hoop 13 especially.
Eagle placed his first approach well enough, if rather further out than ideal, and Tonks responded right alongside.
Eagle was then short with his second ball and only saved by Tonks' own second being forced wide due to the hampering.
A mature decision by Eagle to clear and maintain position, rather than risk the hoop shot, forced Tonks to shoot from an angle because he was out-numbered, and when he hit the upright, Eagle calmly took the game and match 7-6.
Congratulations Rob
21 September 2024 - Lilley is our GC Club Champion
Rick Lilly became only the 10th name to be added to the GC Club Championship trophy on a day of drama on our Finals Day today.
The new Champ outplayed a below par four-time winner Chris Roberts and thoroughly deserved his win with repeated long and strong clearances featuring high in his quality play.
The first game turned on a fortuitous well played hampered stroke at hoop five, when Lilley hit his target ball wide of hoop six and deflected into the jaws of that hoop, which establish a two-hoop lead that Lilley was never to lose.
Roberts hung in but the 7-3 score line was as much as he deserved and, buoyed by this success, Lilley with tail up, raced to a 2-0 lead in game two and was soon in the jaws of hoop three op to boot.
Roberts then pulled-off an excellent bouncing jump shot to stay in the game at hoop three and the pair traded hoops thereafter to arrive at the deciding 13th.
Roberts missed a far from difficult clearance which shifted balance firmly in Lilley's favour and following Roberts' closely missed desperate full length of the court defensive shot to stay in the game, Lilley scored the winner in sure style from three yards to win 7-3, 7-6.
Congratulations Rick
Finals day was a big hit for Champ Lilley & five other winners
Left: GC Champion Rick Lilley with President Frances Colman
Right: 3+ Singles winner Raghu Iyer with Tony Peperell
Left: 7+ Singles winner Helen Essa with David Young
Right: 10+ Plate winner Graham Pattie with Pippa Wynne-Ellis
Below right: 10+Doubles finalists Eva Kompanik & Des Walsh with winners Liz Smith & Carol Wadsworth
Left:
7+ Plate
winner
Pete Falle
. . . and five other Club titles were decided on our successful 'Finals Day'
There were five other Competition Finals played today and the morning action saw three close contests.
The 3+ Singles Final provided the senior action and Raghu Iyer romped to a first game win 7-3 against Tony Peperell, but the latter improved to construct a commanding 4-6 lead in second game, before disastrously peeling Iyer though hoop 11, which altered the course of the game entirely.
Having been gifted the hoop, Iyer took full advantage of his first approach to hoop 12, won that to tie at 6-6, and, scarlessly able to believe his luck, wrapped up the game and match wining hoop in some style for a 7-3, 7-6 victory.
Congratulations Raghu!
The score line of the 7+ Singles Final was only one hoop different, but was achieved in more convectional fashion, with Helen Essa winning the first game straight forwardly 7-3 and than having to hold off a rally by David Young who ed a hoop trade right round to hoop ten.
here, Essa nailed a game changing six yard clearance to finally win tow hoops in a row, and when Young missed his target at hoop twelve, Essa pounced for the match winner, for victory 7-3, 7-5.
Congratulations Helen
The morning 10+ Doubles Final eventually became the afternoon 10+ Doubles Final whn the first two game took over three hours.
Favourites Liz Smith and Carol Wadsworth won the first game 7-4 but were paced throughout the second game by Eva Kompanik and Des Walsh who defied their low seeding to win 6-7.
The decider took the match close to a fifth hour before Smith & Wadsworth wrapped it up at hoop eleven to win 7-4, 6-7, 7-4.
Congratulations Liz & Carol
The days' action was completed this afternoon by two Plate finals.
In the 7+ Plate Final, Pete Falle was always in control over John Howie, who had perhaps used-up his best competitive play in squeezing past Steve Morton 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in last night's semi. Falle won 7-4, 7-2.
in the 10+ Plate Final, the boot was on the other fool, when Graham Pattie, riding high on victory in his own late played semi, he maintained that good form to get past his challenging opponent Pippa Wynne-Ellis 7-4, 7-4.
Congratulations Pete
Congratulations Graham
19 September 2024 -
PCC 5 - 2 Meldreth
Phyllis Court are the National Advantage Champions for the second year in a row, and for the third time in four years!
They beat Cambridgeshire side Meldreth 5-2 in the National Final of the GC Federations Shield at the neutral venue of Northampton CC today.
Convincing though that score line sounds, Meldreth put up a very good fight and lead the team match 0-1 in completed games at the the lunch break.
Phyllis Court's Andy Jones (handicap 2) could not catch Meldreth's number one player David Edwards, who enjoyed a -2 to zero starting score advantage over the Henley player who lost 5-7, 3-7.
The other morning singles also looked to be going Meldreth's way when Phyllis Court's Patricia Mulcahy (handicap 4) fell 2-7 in a quick time opener to Roger Wallbridge who also enjoyed starting score advantage.
However, Mulcahy has a wealth of big match experience to draw on, and she recovered superbly to win the second match of three 7-3.
In the morning doubles match, Chris Roberts (-1) and Paul Franklin (7) also had to concede a hoop on handicap to their Meldreth opponents but unwound that advantage and more when Roberts ran a strong hoop one down to hoop two and won that as well!
We are National Advantage Champions!
Our team beat Meldreth in the GC Federations Shield final
The Phyllis Court pair cruised to a 7-4 first game victory but were pegged pack 5-7 in the second by tow wonder jump shots by Meldreth's Sue Bishop, and a careless own goal peel from Roberts.
The deciding game of the doubles match and Mulcahy's singles decider were put on hold so as not to delay the afternoon program of four head to head singles matches.
This meant that Phyllis Court had an uncomfortable lunch break in which to ponder the 0-1 score line and accept that they had a fight on their hands to retain their national title.
The break seemed to them good and both Franklin and and Jones scored straight games victories for Phyllis Court over Meldreth's Wallbridge and Sue Bishop 7-6, 7-4 and and 7-6, 7-6 respectively.
Mulcahy again lost her first game 5-7 to John Bishop but came back well for the second time in the day to with games two and three by the same scores, but Roberts had reversed fortunes after repeatedly hitting Edwards to the boundary to win his first game 7-3.
But defending a -2 to +2 starting score line was never going to be easy, and when Edwards settled into a very calm and accomplished second game performance, he was rewarded with a 5-7 win to set up their decider which was an excellent game.
Roberts slowly reeled in Edwards advantage to be level 5-5 going to a pivotal short hoop 11, where Roberts nailed his second ball clearance having noted that his first ball had settled in an old hop hole.
Edwards missed his clearance leaving Roberts a routine jump shot for the lead in what would have been the team match deciding game, but in the heat of the moment, the Phyllis Court player forgot about his ball being in the old hoop hole and his jump launched the ball high over the crossbar and with it went that hoop and, due to being woefully out of position so went that match, 7-3, 5-7, 5-7.
So, with Phyllis Court sitting on a 3-2 lead and four points needed for the team win, it was a return to the suspended morning third games in the doubles and Mulcahy's singles match with Wallbridge, with Phyllis Court needing to win one and Meldreth needing both.
Franklin and Roberts were fairly confident going into the doubles decider and played like it, winning the first four hops to unwind Sue and John Bishop's Advantage head start.
The never looked like losing and cruised to crushing 7-1 victory to settle that match and the overall team victory, following which they were able to join team mate Jones watching Mulcahy ice the Phyllis court cake with a 7-4 victory over Wallbridge.
Competition Director and England International player Lionel Tibble was thanked for hosting the day and for his refereeing duties before he complimented Meldreth on a spirited fight in defeat and Phyllis Court on another ground out victory earning the presentation of the GC Federations Shield for 2024.
There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here -
PCC - Chris Roberts (-1), Andy Jones (2), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Paul Franklin (7)
Meldreth - David Edwards (4), Sue Bishop (4), John Bishop (4), Roger Wallbridge (5)
15 September 2024 - Mulcahy earns runner-up spot at the NATIONAL FINAL of the All England Handicap Competition
- DAY 2 report: Patricia Mulcahy came agonisingly close to winning the National Final of the All England Handicap (Advantage) competition at Guildford & Godalming CC today.
She ended up just one game victory short of the winner's (Sandra Guildford of Woking CC) tally of nine (out of 13).
An analysis of hoop scores separated Mulcahy from two other players tied on 8 games wins and gave the Phyllis Court Chairman second place on hoops percentage.
Kevin Ward had a better Day 2 and took his winning tally to 7 game wins to finish in a creditable equal fifth.
Croquet Scores has the results detail here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/all-england-adv-final-at-ggcc/block
15 September 2024 - Colman & Roberts win the AC Handicap Doubles trophies
Frances Colman and Chris Roberts won the final of the AC Handicap Doubles today, defeating the very game Helen Essa and R0b Eagle this morning.
Essa and Eagle rain through a good number (perhaps too many) of their 13 bisques on their way to a good lead on the two hours mark before Roberts and Colman got the decisive break that eventually won them the game 22-13 on time.
AC manager Paul Franklin was back from his holiday to present Roberts & Colman with the lovely Greenbury Bowl trophies.
14 September 2024 - Clapp and Wooldridge to meet in all-beginner final of the 10+ Evening Series
Russell Robinson reports: Several of this year’s 45 new members that we have welcomed to the croquet club are showing real promise and two of those, Bob Clapp and Graham Pattie, were pitting their skills today against the more experienced Sue Rumford and John Howie in the second semi-final of the 10+ Evening Series.
Both novices set the tone for the afternoon with Pattie defeating Rumford in the first game 7-4, while Clapp and Howie played out some very keenly contested hoops to be only 3-3 after 45 minutes, before Clapp moved into another gear to secure a 7-3 win. Clapp then defeated Rumford in a much faster-paced game by the same margin, while Pattie and Howie had a titanic battle culminating in the advantage swinging both ways at the 13th hoop before Pattie finally prevailed. That set up a decider between the two newcomers for a place in the final and Clapp set the early pace.
Pattie then launched a spirited comeback and seemed well placed to level the game at 5-5, when Clapp ran a slightly fortuitous hoop from long distance, from which position he was able to close out the game at 7-5, to set up an all-beginner final showdown against Paul Wooldridge at a date to be arranged.
Wooldridge, who had completed his training only in July this year, had come through a very closely contested semi-final group on 30th August, comprising himself, Liz Smith, Sally Batty and Martin Cranstoun. All four players won one of their first two games, all bar one of which had been won 7-6 or 7-5, so any of the four could still prevail going into the last pair of games, which were equally close affairs. Wooldridge defeated Cranstoun 7-6 and Smith got the better of Batty 7-5.
With Wooldridge and Smith both on two wins, the tie was resolved in Wooldridge’s favour by virtue of having defeated Smith 7-6 in their head-to-head game.
14 September 2024 - Mulcahy & Ward play in the NATIONAL FINAL of the All England Handicap this weekend
Patricia Mulcahy & Kevin Ward fly the Phyllis Court flag today and tomorrow in the National Final of the All England Handicap (Advantage) competition at Guildford & Godalming CC.
They qualified from Area Finals at Phyllis Court and Surbiton respectively to line-up in a filed of 14 players for an 'all play all' format of 13 games over the weekend.
You can follow Patricia & Kevin's progress on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/all-england-adv-final-at-ggcc/block