[<<] [>>] by D Watts, D Maugham, G Curry at Tyneside Croquet Club
3 Aug 2008 (AC)

David Maugham retained the Tyneside Advanced Tankard weekend with 5/6 wins including 1sxp and 3tp.

In successfully defending his title, David Maugham lost the first game of this event for some years to James Hopgood, who held his nerves to complete a turn after David broke down on a peeling turn at Penultimate.

The combined playing experience of the tournament was getting scarily high, with several of us in excess of twenty years - and still just as fallable on the easiest of shots. However there were some less experienced players, the youngest of whom was 16 year old Jacob Carr, playing in his first advanced event and, not being too phased by the company or the competition. Most games were finished within the three hour time limit, the one notable exception being the Gail Curry (yes had to be didn't it) and James Hopgood game. There were four minutes remaining and James was a fair way behind, requiring to go to the peg and do one peel to draw level. He successfully managed this, going almost twenty minutes after time was called. Gail hit the lift and pegged the peg ball out - but couldn't count and was informed by the 'crowd' that it was now level - oops! The players managed to get into an 'impasse' position, both requiring penultimate. The manager couldn't cope with the 'faffing about', so set the limit of five more turns each then it would go to golf croquet rules. On the final turn of Association, James took on a long hoop but bounced off to the side and then Gail hit and finally put the end to the story to win by the infamous +1t.

Ten players gathered from a wide range of destinations, from Woking to Edinburgh, ably managed by David Maugham. The lawns were suitably impressive, being neatly mown just before play on Saturday. The weather forecast was for showers, with sunny interludes - about as accurate as the first shot of the day. The first games got off to a start in sunshine but as lunchtime approached so did the thunder and black sky from the west. The ensuing downpour and lightning show sent all of the players running for cover - lawn 1 having the safety of the pavilion, lawn 2 the metal framed gazebo - but we did have a journalist held captive in there and did our best to break his predetermined ideas of croquet - but then he was going to Sunderland in the afternoon, poor chap, so we were gentle with him.

The tournament was relaxed and good humoured, we were well catered for by Sheila Watts, and the event is commended to anyone for consideration next season.

Final Placings

DB Maugham 5/6
GE Curry 4/6
J Hopgood 4/6
DR Appleton 4/6
P McDermott 3/6
J Carr 3/7
PM Errington 3/7
MA Stephenson 2/6
P MacGowan 2/6
G Brightwell 1/6

Results

DB Maugham bt J Carr +20
J Hopgood bt DR Appleton +5
P MacGowan bt G Brightwell +4(t)
MA Stephenson bt P McDermott +24
GE Curry bt PM Errington +8
Maugham bt Stephenson +26tp
Hopgood bt McDermott +3
Errington bt Appleton +24
Curry bt Stephenson +20
McDermott bt Carr +22
Maugham bt MacGowan +15sxp
Hopgood bt Errington +5
MacGowan bt Curry +23
Errington bt Brightwell +19
Appleton bt Carr +2
Carr bt Brightwell +4
Maugham bt Errington +16tp
Curry bt Hopgood +1(t)
McDermott bt MacGowan +19
Stephenson bt Carr +26
Appleton bt Brightwell +23
Hopgood bt Maugham +8
Curry bt McDermott +2
Carr bt Errington +7
Appleton bt MacGowan +3
Brightwell bt Stephenson +3
Maugham bt Curry +24tp
Carr bt Hopgood +5
Errington bt MacGowan +8
Appleton bt Stephenson +4
McDermott bt Brightwell +4