2011 Croquet Report
RYDE LAWN TENNIS & CROQUET CLUB
CROQUET LEAGUES – 2011
The Ryde Croquet section have had a busy period at the end of the season as they managed to reach either semi finals or finals in the Southern Federation Leagues. Play-off matches have had to be arranged and all of these have now been completed.
In the Association Handicap League the club were runners up to Winchester in the Southern Division through one match being completely rained off in August. Ryde had to play the Northern Division winners, Eynsham (near Oxford) in the first semi final and at the conclusion of play it looked like there was a draw. Top player, Philip Kennerley (Handicap 1) had lost by 19, but Richard Harris (11) playing at 3, beat his opponent by 21. The two remaining games went to time with very similar scores. On a count up, Chris Cockroft (8) had won by 3 and Pamela Sim (11) had lost by 4, so overall Ryde were the winners by the slender margin of one hoop. The other semi final was also close, with Winchester drawing with High Wycombe, but winning by four hoops.
The final was played at Hamptworth on 8th October using Secretary’s Shield rules so that there would be two rounds and an odd number of games. In the morning session, Chris and Richard lost the doubles and Pamela bravely battled against the top opposition player with a handicap of minus ½ and left with only one ball to play went down by 3 hoops just before time. Harry Oldham (20) played steadily using his bisques (free turns) well and was 5 ahead on time, giving a lunchtime score of 2 - 1 to Winchester.
The singles after lunch was in team order and saw a turn around in favour of Ryde, with Chris making quick work of beating Nigel Hind (- ½) by +20 to even the score, and Harry beating his opposite number +18 to put Ryde ahead. The remaining two matches went the distance and were decided by Pamela pegging out with a lead of 12, and Richard not hitting form until the end and going down by 19.
A win of 4 rubbers to 3 means that Ryde retain the cup for a second year and have another opportunity to play in the national Secretary’s Shield in 2012 against winners from the eight other Federations.
Others who played during the season were Roy Tillcock, Alan Truckel, Chester Watson and Mollie Deakin.
The following Wednesday, a team travelled to Blewbury near Harwell for the semi final of the Golf Croquet Handicap League. This morning match gave the chance for the winners to play the Southern Division leaders, Littleton in the final. Two key members of the Ryde team were not available, although handicaps theoretically put all on an equal footing. Ryde found themselves giving away extra turns, and although games were close, only Richard Harris (2) and Stewart Peters (5) in doubles and singles were able to make wins. A scratch pairing of Karin Townson (7) and Mollie Deakin (9) played well together, but were unable to make a score. Ryde lost by 9 rubbers to 2 with one being unplayed through lack of time. An enjoyable, but disappointing day out.
The following day, the Golf Croquet Level League team returned to Hamptworth for the play-off. Five teams had competed, including Bransgore, Harwell and Phyllis Court, but Ryde and Winchester had equal points, and on the head to head result in the box leagues their match had been drawn.
The first round saw a marathon first game with Roy Tillcock and Robin Thornton battling it out to lose after 2 hours and 15 minutes, and it was decide to hold over the second game. Alan Truckel and Dave Willett had meanwhile drawn their doubles match. In the singles, played in team order, Roy lost to Roger Barnacle and Robin lost to Nigel Hind, both in straight games. To counter this, Alan had beaten Keith McKenzie-Ross and Dave had beaten Jo Burnaby, also in straight games, so the score was now 6 -5 in favour of Winchester. To achieve a result, or to force a draw and hoop count back, the second doubles match had to be played. Unfortunately this ended in a 7 – 4 loss to Ryde, and an overall score of 7 rubbers to 5 against one of the strongest teams in the league.
Finally a similar team, with appearances from Richard Harris and Kohn Sim, took part in the South East Federation Golf Croquet Level A League. Eight teams competed, playing four matches each, all being the best of three games, and with a play off if a tie results. This year, the team still lost to last year’s winners, Woking, but by the narrower margin of 4 rubbers to 3. Otherwise, the three other matches resulted in wins, being 4 – 3 against Sussex County, 4 – 2 against Tunbridge Wells and 7 – 0 against Compton (Eastbourne).
The winners of the League were Dulwich given full points through a walkover, but Ryde had 10 points as equal second, but given third place over Woking on percentage of games won to games played. This was an excellent result for a new team in a strong league, and an improvement from fourth place in 2010.
Richard Harris
