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B-Class Golf Croquet Competition at Surbiton August 2006

 Handicaps may not necessarily be good predictors of the outcome of a competition. That was the opinion of manager and players at the recent B-Class golf croquet competition at Surbiton where the range of handicaps for the 10 competitors ranged from –2 to +4. Competing in the final were the two players at either end of this range, something probably not predicted at the start.

 The event was well managed by Derek Old and catering was ably provided by Christine Osmond and Aideen Phillips and up to traditional Surbiton standards. For a change, it was agreed to take a picture of all attendees at the table since they were enjoying their lunch.

 Derek had decided that with 10 competitors everyone should play everyone else with a 13-point game, giving everyone 9 games initially followed by either one or two for the final placings. Time limits were generous and just two matches went to time in the whole event. With 6 games on day 1, it left 3 for day 2 before players were matched for final positions. All games were played with good humour and the weather was kind.

 To determine the final order, the top 4 played off for their places in semi-finals with the top player against the 4^th position player, and the 2^nd and 3^rd players competing. The winners of these games played the final, the losers played for 3^rd and 4^th positions. The remaining players were paired up with 5^th v 6^th, 7^th v 8^th and 9^th v 10^th.

 The semi-final saw the 4^th player beating the 1^st player to earn his right in the final, whilst the 3^rd player beat the 2^nd player to compete in the final too. Thus the remaining players were all able to watch a +4 handicap newcomer to the golf croquet competitive scene, Robin Hoare, competing against a 19-year old –2 handicap player, Tom Brant, who has some competition experience of some 3 years. Patricia Duke-Cox refereed this 19-point match, a new experience for both players.

 Experience showed, as Tom Brant scored hoop 1 with blue on turn 5, and then hoop 2 on turn 13. Although yellow scored hoop 3 on turn 20, blue again scored hoop 4 on turn 25, black scored hoop 5 on turn 31 before blue again scored hoops 6 and 7 and black scored hoop 8. The game progressed with both competitors scoring until Robin played a wrong ball at hoop 15 under the eyes of the gallery. The final score was 10:6 to Tom Brant of Woodhall Spa.

 Thanks must go to Jennet Blake who initiated this competition at Surbiton in 2005 and arranged its inclusion in the CA Fixtures book for 2006. Golf croquet players with handicaps between 0 and 4 are urged to look out for the competition and other similar B-class events in 2007 or urge their federations to host one.

 It should be noted that the handicap at the time of entry was the factor for acceptance and the –2 competitor had enjoyed a good showing in a competition at Colchester where his handicap reduction was reduced by another step by the manager there.

 Final results in descending order are: Tom Brant, Robin Hoare, Nigel Polhill, Bob Prichard, Patricia Duke-Cox, Max Stokes, Pam Yates, Peter Yates, Jennet Blake, Jacqui Old.

Patricia Duke-Cox

Last modified: September 13, 2006