2016 Tournament Reports

AC Doubles Weekend at Southwick 21/22 May

When entries were first made for this competition it appeared that the slide away from competitive AC was continuing yet again as only eight teams had applied. Fortunately when Southwick went looking for players, the support was extremely good and they ended up asking for two additional places making a total of ten teams which is a good basis for the event. Most players arrived on the Saturday morning complete with full sets of water proofs as the weather forecast had been pretty dreadful. Yet again we were extremely lucky with only a short drizzle on the Saturday. Unfortunately Medway arrived with only three players, having seen one of their number taken off to hospital at the last moment. However true to the SECF belief that the show must go on, Medway were allowed to compete with one player playing as a singleton on the condition that Medway could not win the trophy.

The handicap range of the entrants was ideal from a Federation point of view in that we had several minus players sharing the lawns with at least two 20 handicappers. The chosen format provided three games on the Saturday, each with a time limit of 2hr 45 mins with reduced hoops for the higher handicappers. The Sussex B team surged ahead with five wins out of six and gave themselves a commanding lead for the Sunday sessions.

Sunday started with bright sunshine and Sussex B continued in their winning ways with two more wins giving them a cushion of two wins over their nearest rivals plus a very large net points. Only two large losses could take the trophy away from them. Caterham 1 tried to oblige by beating Sussex B1 by 3 and the result of Sussex B2 vs Sussex A1 was eagerly awaited. A few minutes before time and Sussex B were well in front but Luc Berthouze (-1) got the innings and started a lengthy break which included a partner ball peel and a peg out. Unfortunately he missed the peg out and left scores level giving the Manager a chance to finally make 4 back as the golden hoop and ensure that Sussex B claimed the trophy. Incidentally Luc had forgotten that both balls have to be rovers for such a peg out in the handicap game.

The final results are shown below, but as agreed Medway cannot claim second place.

Bill Arliss, Manager

Team Wins Points Position
Sussex B 8 82 1
Medway
7
19
Not placed
Sussex A
5
27
2
Reigate Priory
5
19
3
Ramsgate
5
3
4
Caterham
5
-14
5
Sussex C
5
-36
6
Guildford & Godalming
4
-23
7
Purley Bury
3
-34
8
Rother Valley
3
-39
9

 

3

The winning Sussex B team

Thanks to our wandering
photographer Jo Kavanagh for all the photos in
this report

One Ball Teams Day

This was hosted by Roehampton on 18th June. It was a rather bijou tournament with only four teams entered due to late pull outs. The teams were Surbiton, Reigate Priory and Roehampton A and B. The weather was fine, an exception this year,and the courts fast. The format was adjusted to suit the small entry with an American block team event and a six round Swiss event for the individuals. The individual results from the team event counting as the first three rounds of the Swiss. A condition of entry was that total handicaps must be a minimum of 32 in order to encourage the higher handicap players

The team event was won by Roehampton A with two wins and a draw. The individual event was a tie between Trudi Pulsford (Surbiton) and Doug Dykes (Reigate) both with 5/6 victories. The tournament was played in a great spirit and there was unanimous compliments for the lawns and the arrangements, however it was pity the full eight team compliment was not filled. So come on northern SECF teams; support your local event. If we get better support we will run more events in the north of the federation. We will look to avoid the clash with the Surbiton handicap weekend. Any suggestions for alternative dates should be sent to adavidmooney@sky.com before the AGM next year.

Report by David Mooney

All the one
ball team players

The Southern Challenge

It is very pleasing to report that interest in this GC event is growing year by year and with 24 entries in 2016 we were able to run the second division in two halves with a north and south division. As a policy we allow clubs to enter more than one team if they had players of suitable standard to form an additional team. Alternatively we also allow two clubs to enter a joint team. It is considered that our main aim in running federation competitions is not to find the best teams or best individuals but to promote the enjoyment of playing competitive croquet and both of these moves follow this philosophy.

All matches between two teams in all divisions include two singles and one doubles game. Thus a basic team of four is required per round. However the substitution policy is rather relaxed and clubs are allowed up to four substitutes which can give a complete change of team on the second day. Although Captains may choose which players play singles and which doubles in any round, there is a strict requirement that there may not be a difference of more than one between the number of singles and doubles games played by any player. How this latter requirement is accomplished varies from division to division depending on the number of teams involved and the format chosen. It is recognised that if we did not control who played singles and who played doubles, two strong players in all the singles would ensure a win. With the different numbers of teams in each event, it is not possbile to use identical formats throughout and the final choice of format is dependent on providing the correct number of games for the standard of players concerned and trying to balance single/doubles roles.

Although this competition is sponsored by the SECF, it was started as a joint venture between the SECF and Sussex County Croquet Club and entry is not limited to SECF Clubs. Entries are accepted from any clubs in the southern area. Although we do have entries from teams who have to take overnight accommodation, most are able to travel daily

It is recognised that many of the second division teams would use this competition to introduce new players to competitive croquet and thus we were likely to have a number of rather inexperienced players on the lawns. To overcome any problems from lack of knowledge of the laws and normal tournament practices, we formalised our refereeing practices this year and created Supervising Referees. This term is defined in Tournament Regulations but is not often used. Effectively this puts a referee In Charge of a number of games and he can thus intervene at any time without a request from any players involved in the game if he sees a fault occurring or likely to occur. Two wandering referees were used at each second division venues This appears to have been very well received.

The First Division

This was held at Southwick 1/2 July with an entry of ten teams which included two teams from Sussex County. The format started with an all play all giving us nine rounds. On completion of the block all teams were ranked first by number of match wins and then then by net games and split into two fours and a pair. The two fours then played a second all play all whilst the bottom pair played each other twice, changing their doubles and singles role during the second playing. In the two fours, no player was allowed to repeat his doubles/singles role at the second meeting. This could mean that in the second mini block a player had to play all doubles or all singles, depending on what role he had taken in the first block.

Dulwich, champions from the previous four years, started as if they meant to retain the title, only losing one game in the first three matches but then lost the plot with a series of three losses. The challenge was taken up by Ramsgate who with their strong team lead by Tobi Savage and James Goodbun managed a clean sweep of all the first block matches, with only five games dropped. Ryde, Sussex 1 and Winchester collected sufficient wins to ensure a place in the top 4. The second quartet ranged between 3 and 5 wins.

The final three rounds produced quite a surprise with Ramsgate managing to lose all three matches but as this format required both blocks to be taken into account, Ramsgate keep the first place. In the second quartet, Dulwich posted three wins which gave them the top place in the second four.

Team
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
R8
R9
Wins
Games
Posn
S1
S2
S3
Wins
Final Position
Ramsgate
2-1
3-0
3-0
3-0
3-0
2-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
9
22
1
1-2
1-2
1-2
9
1st
Ryde 3-0 3-0 3-0 0-3 2-1 1-2 1-2 2-1 3-0
6
18
2
3-0 3-0 1-2
8
2nd
Sussex 1 2-1 1-2 0-3 2-1 2-1 3-0 2-1 2-1 1-2
6
15
3
0-3 2-1 2-1
8
3rd
Winchester 1-2 2-1 3-0 3-0 1-2 2-1 0-3 1-2 2-1
5
15
4
2-1 2-1 1-2
7
4th
Dulwich 1 3-0 2-1 3-0 0-3 1-2 1-2 3-0 1-2 1-2
4
15
6
2-1 3-0 3-0
7
5th
Tunbridge Wells
2-1
1-2
2-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
1-2
1-2
0-3
5
13
5
2-1
1-2
0-3
6
6th
Sussex 2 1-2 1-2 0-3 1-2 2-1 3-0 2-1 1-2 2-1
3
13
7
1-2
2-1 2-1
5
7th
Reigate Priory 1-2 0-3 1-2 2-1 1-2 0-3 2-1 2-1 1-2
3
10
8
1-2 0-3 1-2
3
8th
Canterbury 0-3 2-1 0-3 1-2 0-3 0-3 1-2 2-1 2-1
3
8
9
1-2 1-2
*
3
9th
West Worthing 0-3 0-3 0-3 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2
0
6
10
2-1 2-1
*
2
10th

 

The winning
Ramsgate Team
Ramsgate
Captain receives the Simon Carter Rose Bowl
The final
scoreboard
The defeated
champions from Dulwich drown their sorrows
A beard gives
that air of authority
Don’t move
until you have hit it Robin!
You can do it
Grim
determination
I cannot miss
this one!
Tobi scores
another from the boundary
Gently does it
The black one
is in the way
Thanks to Jo Kavanah for all the pictures

Second Division North

This was held at Surbiton 1/2 July with an entry of eight teams which included a joint Dulwich2/Cheam team. It is also understood that Woking were ably assisted by players from Dogmersfield, Surbiton and G & G. Cheam showed their superior strength in the first block with a 100% record, however the Woking team were just behind with only one loss. The results from the other teams gave clear indication of the pairing for the final blocks. It was interesting to note that in the final block games three of the four pairs showed a tie when the doubles/singles roles were reversed and gives good backing for choosing such a format. When there were ties in the final blocks, the first block results predominate.

Team
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
Wins
Games
Posn
S1
S2
Wins
Final Posn.
Cheam
3-0
3-0
2-1
2-1
3-0
3-0
2-1
7
18
1
2-1
1-2
1
1
Woking
2-1
2-1
3-0
3-0
0-3
2-1
2-1
6
14
2
1-2
2-1
1
2
Merton
3-0
1-2
1-2
1-2
3-0
2-1
2-1
4
13
3
2-1
1-2
1
3
Ryde 2
3-0
2-1
2-1
1-2
3-0
0-3
1-2
4
12
4
1-2
2-1
1
4
Dulwich 2/Cheam
0-3
2-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
1-2
1-2
4
10
5
2-1
3-0
2
5
Purley Bury
0-3
1-2
0-3
3-0
1-2
3-0
1-2
2
9
6
1-2
0-3
1
6
Surbiton
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
0-3
1-2
3-0
1
8
7
2-1
0-1
1
7
Sydenham
0-3
0-3
1-2
0-3
0-3
0-3
3-0
1
4
8
1-2
1-0
1
8

Second Division South

This was held at Southwick on 8/9 July with an entry of six teams. The format was an all play all repeated twice giving an initial ten rounds. Rottingdean went out of the starting blocks like a rocket and swept all before them winning all ten first stage matches. Trailing slightly in their wake were Sussex 3 and Littlehampton, both with seven wins out of ten, but with the honors going to Sussex who had a better net games score. After completion of the ten rounds, all teams were ranked on matches won and separated where necessary by net games won. All teams were then split into three ranked pairs with each pair playing each other twice with the singles and doubles role of each player being reversed in the second game.

Sussex started the second stage well by claiming a 3-0 victory over Rottingdean and put the pressure on Rottingdean as the final result only depended on the second stage. However Rottingdean showed their metal with a 3-0 win in the final match causing the first stage matches to be taken into account, thus giving them an overall victory. The full results were as below.

Team
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
Wins
Games
Posn
S1
S2
Wins
Final Posn.
Rottingdean
2-1
3-0
2-1
2-1
2-1
3-0
3-0
2-1
2-1
2-1
10
23
1
0-3
3-0
1
1
Sussex 3
1-2
3-0
2-1
1-2
3-0
3-0
2-1
3-0
1-2
2-1
7
21
2
3-0
0-3
1
2
Littlehampton
2-1
2-1
1-2
2-1
2-1
0-3
3-0
1-2
2-1
2-1
7
17
3
2-1
2-1
2
2
Cheyney
2-1
0-3
2-1
1-2
0-3
1-2
0-3
2-1
1-2
1-2
3
10
4
1-2
1-2
0
3
Medway
1-2
0-3
1-2
2-1
1-2
0-3
1-2
1-2
2-1
1-2
2
10
5
3-0
2-1
2
4
Rother Valley
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
1-2
2-1
0-3
0-3
1-2
1-2
1
9
6
0-3
1-2
0
5

 

Presentation
of the new salver by Club Chairman, Clive Hayton
The final
score board
The victorious
Rottingdean team
Now where did
that go wrong!
If I put it in
front, he will only knock me miles away
Got it!!!

Ladies Day

This was held at Southwick on Wednesday 6th July This year five clubs entered seven teams which, with a combined team from two clubs, made a total of eight teams battling out for their name to be engraved on the Shield. The weather was perfect and the lawns were in very good condition which made for a good tournament.

The format for Ladies Day was the same as in previous years i.e. playing two singles and a double with play starting at 10.00am. The teams played an eighteen point game before lunch and another after lunch. The day ended with a fourteen point game finishing at 6.00pm. After all the seventy two games had been played Sussex Sizzlers (Sussex County) and the Queen Bees from Purley Bury Club had each won 7 games and pegged out in 3 of them. So the deciding factor was the number hoops scored. Sussex Sizzlers had scored 113 hoops and Queen Bees ran 100 hoops. So the Sizzlers carried off the Shield for the second year in succession.

The gentlemen served a delicious lunch of salmon and salads. Apart from a squirrel cavorting on Lawn 3 and Daphne Gaitley’s brown ball getting stuck in a hoop during the last game of the day, the day went like clockwork.

A big thank you to everyone at Southwick who make this annual event so welcome to their club.

It is quite permissible for smaller clubs to make up a combined team as Rottingdean did with Preston Park this year. We can easily accommodate more than eight teams for this event.

Anne Sugarman, Manager

Chairman’s Note: I would like to thank Anne Sugarman who has taken over from Pauline Davey who ran this competition for many years. Pauline was a hard act to follow, so well done Anne, many more I hope. Bill Arliss

 

The Successful
Sussex Sizzlers with Club Chairman, Clive Hayton
Our once a
year Bar Maid for Ladies Day only

Golf Croquet Day

The most popular of all our competitions kept up its reputation this year with a full complement of 22 teams plus a reserve standing by in Canterbury if needed. The entries came from 15 of our clubs with seven second teams making up the full number. The normal format of four round of doubles in the morning plus six rounds of singles in the afternoon was used. The day started rather dull but dry and reasonably warm and continued like this until mid afternoon when the sun appeared for the rest of the event.

Sussex 1 led all the way in the morning doubles with 4 wins from 4 and were followed by five teams with 3 wins from 4 games and so finished clear winners. The singles event was more balanced with no real indication of a winner until the final results were collected. As the figures below indicate it was extremely close and so close that the actual winners, Dulwich 1, did not think they had done sufficient and had to speed off to catch their train home before the Manager had finished counting, not knowing they had won. In fact their two wins in the last round pushed them up to 8.5 wins and just clear of the following pack of five all with 8.0 wins.

After last years sandwich only lunch, Chrissy Isaacs and her team put on a magnificent salad lunch.

A few facts that I am sure will be of interest to you all. A total of 94 players registered for this event with only 14 players having a handicap of less than 5. The full analysis of handicaps is shown in the attached table. The event is quite obviously attracting the higher handicapper which was our intention but having a small number of the more able players is ideal for demonstrating the standards that many of the new comers would like to attain. In the doubles competition only 20 out of 44 games reached a maximum score of 7 whilst in the singles the number was 111 from 132. Admittedly the time limit for doubles was only 40 minutes but it was single banked. A 50 minute limit was imposed on the singles but they were all double banked. Well done singles players. Do we have a tad too much discussion in the doubles????

Handicap 1
2
3
4
5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
No of players
3
2
6
3
8
11
16
8
19
13
3
2

Many thanks to Mike Oulton, our wandering referee.

Bill Arliss
Manager

DOUBLES
 
SINGLES
CLUB
PLAYED
WON
POINTS
POSITION
CLUB
PLAYED
WON
POINTS
POSITION
Sussex 1
4
4
16
1
Dulwich 1
12
8.5
15
1
Guildford & Godalming 2
4
3
9
2
West Worthing
12
8
23
2
Littlehampton 1
4
3
5
3
Guildford & Godalming 2
12
8
22
3
Dulwich 1
4
3
5
4
Reigate Priory 2
12
8
14
4
Littlehampton 2
4
3
4
5
Sussex 2
12
8
13
5
Cheam 2
4
3
3
6
Rottingdean 1
12
8
11
6
Guildford & Godalming 1
4
2.5
7
7
Sussex 1
12
7.5
15
7
Reigate Priory 1
4
2
3
8
Littlehampton 1
12
7
12
8
Tunbridge Wells 1
4
2
2
9
Littlehampton 2
12
7
8
9
Rottingdean 2
4
2
1
10
Cheam 2
12
6.5
-3
10
Cheam 1
4
2
0
11=
Dulwich 2
12
6
7
11
Reigate Priory 2
4
2
0
11=
Guildford & Godalming 1
12
6
2
12
Sussex 2
4
2
-1
13
Reigate Priory 1
12
6
1
13
Canterbury
4
2
-3
14
Cheam 1
12
5.5
1
14
Rottingdean 1
4
2
-5
15
Tunbridge Wells 2
12
5.5
-7
15=
Tunbridge Wells 2
4
1.5
1
16
Canterbury
12
5.5
-7
15=
Rother Valley
4
1.5
0
17
Rottingdean 2
12
5
-11
17
West Worthing
4
1
-2
18
Preston
12
5
-19
18
Preston
4
1
-7
19=
Tunbridge Wells 1
12
4
-12
19
Dulwich 2
4
1
-7
19=
Angmering
12
3
-24
20
Worthing
4
0.5
-10
20
Worthing
12
2.5
-36
21
Angmering
4
0
-21
22
Rother Valley
12
1.5
-25
22
Graham Tucker,
the Sussex 1 Captain, receives the doubles trophy
The winning
Sussex 1 team