Roehampton beat Bowdon to win the Inter-Club 4-1

[<<] [>>] by Tim Russell at Northampton
3 Oct (AC - Inter-Club)

The 2026 AC Inter Club final was played between Roehampton and Bowdon at Northampton on a pleasant day. The morning doubles were won by Roehampton with Harry Fisher and Mark van Loon completing an alternate shot TP to win 26-10. Bowdon played own ball and Angharrad Walters had got the first ball round after a couple of turns. Jack Good did have a couple of chances of a finishing turn particularly when Harry missed hoop 1 with Jack's ball down near hoop 2. Fortunately for Roehampton he missed.

On. Northampton's far lawn Christian Carter played Simon Jenkins and Joel Taylor played Andrew Winn. With a few more brown patches the lawn had a few slopes and was noticeably slower in the morning than the afternoon. Christian's game saw him lay a tice with yellow, his first shot, a rather insulting 4-5 yards from the North boundary, north of hoop 6. Not surprisingly Simon decided to shoot at it, which he did centre ball but unfortunately with the red ball. He placed his black in corner 3 and Christian went round. Simon did hit a lift shot and made a couple of hoops but Christian won 26-2 without trying anything extravagant.

Joel tried a triple after Andrew had got a ball round. His penultimate peel left his peeled ball directly behind the peg. He managed a very good bombard to hit it south of the peg but unfortunately over hit his rush. He left both balls in corner 4, for peg and rover, but Andrew missed the lift shot and Joel finished for a 26-10 victory and a 3-0 lead for Roehampton at lunch.

In the afternoon games, Harry Fisher won the toss and played a super shot west and north of hoop 5. Jack responded with a shot between 4-5 level with the peg. Harry aimed softly at that ball and can't have been too surprised that it didn't stay completely straight. Jack hit and went round. Harry missed the lift and Jack duly completed a 6th turn triple 26-0.

In the game between Angharrad and Mark, Angharrad got her first ball round to hoop 6 before sticking in the jaws of 7. Mark peeled it and got a ball round. After some inter-activity Mark then started a triple turn which broke down when he missed a return roquet after hoop 9. Angharrad made hoop 8 but missed a roquet allowing Mark to get his four back ball to peg. A missed lift shot then allowed Mark to finish but not before some misplaced balls at 12 ended up with him having to take an angled jump shot to make the hoop.

On the other lawn Christian had a finishing turn but played a poor rush to 11 and then a short croquet stroke leaving him a longish hoop which he ran but left himself hampered. After missing Andrew's ball in corner 2 they settled for a draw, as did Joel and Simon.

Many thanks to Northampton Croquet Club for their hospitality and for keeping two lawns open to host the final and particular thanks to hoop setter and organiser Lionel Tibble, who also presented the fine Beddows Cup the winners on behalf of Croquet England.

1 Christian Carter beat Simon Jenkins +24
2 Joel Taylor beat Andrew Winn +16
3 Harry Fisher & Mark van Loon beat Angharrad Walters & Jack Good +16TP
4 Jack Good beat Harry Fisher +26TP
5 Mark van Loon beat Angharrad Walters +18