Stuart Smith won the Centre Stage Competition

[<<] [>>] by Gill Brent at Northampton
13 Sep 2009 (GC)

The final of the Centre Stage Competition was held at The Northampton Croquet Club on Sunday 13th. September.

This tournament, which is held every year, is a singles golf croquet tournament for players with a handicap of between 5 and 8. Groups play preliminary rounds at their own clubs and the winner (and runner up, depending on the number of players who have entered from the club) comes through to the final.

This year there were 10 finalists from around the country and despite the somewhat chilly weather everyone seemed to enjoy the day. The players were split into two groups and played each member of their group - one level play game of 13 points.

In the semi finals the winner of Group 1, Janet Bedford from Broadwas who won all 4 of her games, played Judith Gaskell from Bury, the runner up in Group 2 who won two of her games and was placed second by virtue of the fact that she had the most net points. From Group 2 the winner was Stuart Smith, also from Broadwas and also winning all his games and he played Brian Hitchins from Eynsham who was second in Group 1 with 3 wins.

Both semi finals were nail bitingly close, Janet beating Judith 7 hoops to 6 and Brian losing by only one hoop too to Stuart who won 7-6.

So whatever the final result, the EGG Cup Trophy would be going to Broadwas. And in the event it was Stuart who had to carry it home as he took the tenth hoop of a very hard fought game against Janet to win 7-3.

The trophy and medals were presented by John Bowcott who directs the tournament on behalf of the Croquet Association. Our thanks go to him and to The Northampton Croquet Club hosting the event once more.

Gill Brent