[<<] [>>] by Phil Cordingley
13th June 2004 (CqE Official News)

The 2004 Solomon Trophy competition will take place from Wednesday 30th June to Saturday 3rd July inclusive at Heaton Park, Manchester, with play commencing at 09:30 each day.

The Solomon Trophy was inaugurated in 1985 and is competed for annually, with the right to host alternating between the US and GB. GB has won each of the 14 encounters to date, their best wins being 20 matches to nil at Surbiton in 2001, and 20 - 1 at Cheltenham in 1988.

The CA Selection Committee has selected Matthew Burrow, Chris Clarke, Robert Fulford, John Gibbons, Jonathan Kirby and David Maugham to represent Great Britain. Robert Fulford will captain the side.

This is an extremely strong side, containing as it does five time World Singles Champion Robert Fulford, former World Singles Champion Chris Clarke, and two other members of the team that retained the World Team Championship (MacRobertson Shield) in Florida last November, Matthew Burrow and David "The Beast" Maugham. In contrast to these four, John Gibbons and Jonathon Kirby are making their first appearance for GB, and have an early opportunity to impress, with a view to selection for the next World Team Championship to be held in 2006.

The USCA Selection Committee has selected Bob Cherry, Doug Grimsley, Rich Lamm, Mik Mehas, Kenster Rosenberry and Jeff Soo to represent the United States. Jeff Soo will captain the side.

Whilst Kenster Rosenberry is the only player who played in the last World Team Championship, Jeff Soo and Doug Grimsley were reserves, and Mik Mehas and Jeff Soo have previous World Team Championship experience.

Heaton Park is being used for the first time as a major Croquet Championship venue. Its international pedigree is not in doubt, however, as it hosted the lawn bowls competitions at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. It is the home of Bury Croquet Club. This year, the event is being sponsored by The City of Manchester.

How to Get There

By Public Transport

Take the Altrincham/Bury Metrolink towards Bury. Heaton Park station is by a pedestrian entrance. Once in, turn sharp left and the Commonwealth Facility is about 500 yards. See http://www.metrolink.co.uk/pdf/local_maps/heaton_park.pdf

Bus 135 runs along Bury Old Road. Alight at St. Margaret's Road. See http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=382212&Y=404544&A=Y&Z=1

By Car

Leave M60 (late M62) at J17 to the south, signposted Prestwich
Follow road through traffic lights; avoiding turn into Tesco and then there's a pedestrian set
Turn L at the lights by a small Marks & Spencer on the left
Road has Catholic Church L and construction site R - go on under bridge and bear R at junction (Heys Road)
Go along that all the way, including straight at mini-roundabout, then turn L at T-junction of Bury Old Road
After not very far there's a pub called St Margaret's L and Church R - turn R after the Church (RBS branch visible)
The park entrance is to the R a few hundred yards along; the greens are visible from the car park.

Further Information

For further details, please contact:
For Bury CC: Geoff Young, +44 0161 766 6048, gandb.young#btopenworld.com

For the CA: Phil Cordingley, +44 020 7609 3040, phil_cordingley#tiscali.co.uk