[<<] [>>] by Bernard Jones at Woking Croquet Club
7 Jun 2011 (GC)

Simon Carter won the Woking GC Mid Summer Open Tournament beating Jeff Dawson in the final 7-6, 7-6.

The third annual level play tournament at Woking Croquet Club was disappointingly attended, with only eleven players of the twelve originally entered. It was organised as an all-play-all block with the top four going into a knock-out play off. After weeks, even months, of dry weather it had rained continuously for eighteen hours and the lawns, though not actually under water, were sodden. Sterling work by the groundsmen, David Shrimpton and Chris Gay, in mopping up much of the moisture, enabled the tournament to start almost on time in light rain that eventually petered out.

After the first day's play seven rounds had been completed and Jeff Dawson was a clear leader, unbeaten with six wins but followed closely by three players on five wins. At this stage nine of the eleven starters still had a theoretical chance of winning.

Day two began and continued in warm sunshine and faster lawns. Before the commencement of the final round the four semi-finalists were decided but not pairings. A late lunch was taken after completion of the block stage, with Jeff still leading with nine wins, Simon Carter on eight and Malcolm Bigg and Mike Town each with seven.

Contentiously, the manager had decided to play two-game semi-finals, with the appropriate block game to be the decider in the event of a tied score. In one semi-final Jeff won both his games against Mike but Malcolm went out having lost to Simon in the block stage. In the crucial second game Simon ran hoop thirteen from the north boundary.

The best of three final between the holder, Jeff, and Simon was fiercely contested with long-range clearances a feature of both players. The final score, 7 - 6, 7 - 6, to Simon was testament to the closeness of the match.

As usual at Woking all the players were grateful for the excellent catering provided by Yvonne Cunnane, Annette Jacot, David Mumford and Michael Holland (yes, two men!), Sara Anderson and Maggie Holland.

Results

Final

Simon CARTER beat Jeff DAWSON 7 - 6
Simon CARTER beat Jeff DAWSON 7 - 6

Semi-finals

Jeff DAWSON beat Michael TOWN 7 - 2
Jeff DAWSON beat Michael TOWN 7 - 4
Malcolm BIGG beat Simon CARTER 7 - 3
Simon CARTER beat Malcolm BIGG 7 - 6

Don BECK beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 4
Jeff DAWSON beat Simon CARTER 7 - 4
Malcolm BIGG beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 3
Michael TOWN beat Nelson MORROW 7 - 4
Stephen PIERCY beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 5
Malcolm BIGG beat Michael TOWN 7 - 6
Roger BARNACLE beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 0
Victor STILWELL beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 2
Simon CARTER beat Don BECK 7 - 3
Jeff DAWSON beat Nelson MORROW 7 - 4
Stephen PIERCY beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 4
Nelson MORROW beat Don BECK 7 - 5
Michael TOWN beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 3
Jeff DAWSON beat Malcolm BIGG 7 - 1
Simon CARTER beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 2
Jeff DAWSON beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 2
Malcolm BIGG beat Don BECK 7 - 4
Nelson MORROW beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 3
Roger BARNACLE beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 5
Carol PIERCY beat Simon CARTER 7 - 6
Roger BARNACLE beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 6
Michael TOWN beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 6
Malcolm BIGG beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 5
Geoffrey CUTTLE beat Don BECK 7 - 6
Simon CARTER beat Nelson MORROW 7 - 4
Michael TOWN beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 5
Nelson MORROW beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 1
Jeff DAWSON beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 3
Simon CARTER beat Malcolm BIGG 7 - 5
Victor STILWELL beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 5
Malcolm BIGG beat Nelson MORROW 7 - 5
Jeff DAWSON beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 1
Don BECK beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 6
Michael TOWN beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 5
Simon CARTER beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 4
Malcolm BIGG beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 2
Stephen PIERCY beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 6
Don BECK beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 5
Nelson MORROW beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 2
Michael TOWN beat Jeff DAWSON 7 - 6
Don BECK beat Michael TOWN 7 - 4
Simon CARTER beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 5
Geoffrey CUTTLE beat Malcolm BIGG 7 - 5
Roger BARNACLE beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 4
Jeff DAWSON beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 2
Jeff DAWSON beat Don BECK 7 - 2
Carol PIERCY beat Geoffrey CUTTLE 7 - 3
Simon CARTER beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 4
Nelson MORROW beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 4
Michael TOWN beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 4
Simon CARTER beat Michael TOWN 7 - 3
Nelson MORROW beat Roger BARNACLE 7 - 2
Don BECK beat Carol PIERCY 7 - 3
Malcolm BIGG beat Stephen PIERCY 7 - 6
Jeff DAWSON beat Victor STILWELL 7 - 3