Dee McKibbin won the GC C-Level (+7hcp) series final

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Dee McKibbin receiving the trophy from Jonathan Isaacs

After a fiercely contested season in the GC 'C' level (+7handicap) national series, 16 qualifiers met in the national final held at Compton (Eastbourne) on Saturday 27-Sunday 28 September.

The hot weather throughout the year has made life difficult for all clubs' lawn managers, but Compton's John Crisford and Kevin Weeks brought our lawns into prime condition for the weekend, albeit they were a little slower than some might have liked.

The 'All Play All' format saw several players set off strongly on the first day, during which eight games were played. In fact, play went on until well into the evening, with one game having to be suspended as it had become too dark for the players to continue, and was completed first thing the following day.

But Dee McKibbin of Phyllis Court, with her accurate hooping and tactical inventiveness, was well out in front at the end of the first day, taking eight straight wins. Three players - Cheam's Alan Dickerson, Carol Huntington, also of Phyllis Court, and Leicester's Gillian Baverstock - were jostling for second place with five wins each.

Over the second day Dee consolidated her lead, winning six out her seven games to give her an unassailable lead, only losing to High Wycombe's Ian Prince. Meanwhile, other players came into contention for second place, notably Andrew Maclay, also of High Wycombe, and Eynsham's Liza Furnival; however this finally went to Carol Huntington, with ten wins and five losses, and +18 net hoops.

But Dee McKibbin ran out the unchallenged overall winner, with 14 wins, a single loss and an extraordinary +36 hoops.

Thanks go to Jason Carley, for refereeing the tournament; and to Jonathan Isaacs, Croquet England's president elect, for presenting the prizes.