[<<] [>>] by Kevin Carter at Nailsea & District Croquet Club.
24-25 Jun 2005 (AC)

Somerset is in a state of shock as it is revealed that local wunderkind, Marcus Evans, did not win his home club's advanced level event at the weekend. The editor of the Nailsea and District Echo must be suffering apoplexy as this much-vaunted star, unlucky runner-up in the Men's Championship, was expected to romp away with the event as just a minor stepping-stone to World Championship glory. Marcus enjoyed support of Henmanian proportions and everyone is now asking if the 20 year-old will retire from competitive croquet.

The second seed, winner of the Western Championship, Dave Kibble - who notably decided to bypass the Worlds to concentrate on this event - also crashed out. Neither Marcus nor Dave completed a single sextuple all weekend. Maybe Nailsea's gently undulating sward contributed to this astonishing statistic.

To manage the event Peter Dyke invented a new format, half way between an American Block and an Egyptian. It needs a name - what about The Azores? Nobody seemed to know how it worked, possibly including Peter.

Roger Tribe emerged as the day one leader, but did not stay the distance. Ben Green's comeback foundered on the rock of eighth seed Alan Newman. Louise Bradforth stalked around the lawn with assurance but rather less success than she would have liked.

So, it was left to a couple of old codgers, Paul Smith and Your Truly to contest the final. This high-class affair was closely observed by a discerning crowd, who both applauded loudly at its conclusion, in favour of Mr Krypton.

1. Paul Smith 5/7 (winner)
2. Marcus Evans 5/7 (devastated)
3. Kevin Carter 4/7 (runner-up)

Results

Format: Egyptian.

• Smith P L (Final rating 61, 5 wins/7 games) beat Carter K +4, Bradforth Miss L +20, Evans M T +10, Green B +10, Carter K +6.
• Evans M T (60, 5/7) beat Carter K +17, Green B +19, Kibble D +9TP, Newman A C +20, Tribe R +17.
• Carter K (54, 4/7) beat Newman A C +6, Bradforth Miss L +12TP, Kibble D +16, Tribe R +4.
• Kibble D (54, 4/7) beat Newman A C +16TP, Green B +25TP, Smith P L +2, Bradforth Miss L +10.
• Tribe R (48, 4/7) beat Smith P L +16, Evans M T +18, Kibble D +26TP, Green B +13.
• Bradforth Miss L (45, 2/6) beat Newman A C +22, Tribe R +16.
• Newman A C (39, 1/5) beat Green B +6.
• Green B (39,1/5)* beat Bradforth Miss L +12