Andy Sherwood & John Picken Won the National Forest GC Doubles

[<<] [>>] by Arthur Rowe
1st September (GC)

The 7th year of this popular competition was contested at Ashby over the bank holiday weekend by eight pairs in contrasting weather, with heavy downpours on Saturday and sunshine on Sunday. The block format was double games.

Top seeds Andy Sherwood and John Picken didn't get off to a good start on Saturday, but qualified in 2nd place in their block behind John Tidy and Ki Hulme from Sheffield. In the other block, Arthur & Judith Rowe had a clean sweep and won all their games, which earned them the right to play Andy & John in the first semifinal, by which time the top seeds had regained their expected form and made short work of dispatching Arthur & Judith. In the other seimfinal, John Tidy & Ki beat Mike O'Brian and Penny Manton in straight games.

The final was a closely fought affair, but Andy Sherwood & John Picken emerged victorious with 7-6, 7-6 wins against John Tidy & Ki.

The plate was won by Andrew Grant & John Palframan on hoop difference from Andrew & Lindsay Hobbs.

Full results on croquetscores:
https://croquetscores.com/2026/gc/national-forest-doubles

Photos by Janet Sherwood (players) and Judith Rowe (winners).