Cabble & Thompson won the Seventh Yorkshire Open Doubles
[<<] [>>] by Dr Tim King
at Ripon Spa Hotel
06-07 Oct
2012 (GC - Championships)
Report
The Seventh Yorkshire Open Doubles took place at the Ripon Spa Hotel on what was almost the most pleasant full weekend of weather during the course of the 2012 season. Given the time of year, the mornings had a chill in the air but the cloudless sky soon meant the sun was able to warm the competitors during the course of their early games.
The entry of 13 pairs led to the format being an all-play-all block, requiring 13 rounds of play (with all three courts double banked). The manager, Freda Vitty, decided that time limits would not be necessary and that the "two-point ahead" format would be appropriate. In this format, the team wins by reaching seven points but only if two of more points ahead. After a game score reaches 6-6, play continues as if a 19-point game but one side becomes the winner if they pull two points ahead. If this does not happen by the 18th hoop then the 19th hoop decides the game (in 79 games over the weekend, 16 went beyond hoop 12, only 2 games of which went to the 19th).
The entries included defending champions Jacob Carr and Mike O'Brian, previous winners Freda Vitty and Samantha Thompson and Ryan Cabble and Richard Thompson (who have played as a strong pairing in other doubles events). Previous winners Tim King and Roy Ware were also competing but on this occasion with different partners, joining various other pairings, some new and some who have played several times in the Yorkshire Open Doubles.
The first day of competition resulted in all pairs having played between six and eight of their 12 games. And the consequence was a couple of additional, unexpected front runners. Roy Ware played with his son Richard. Since retiring to Lincolnshire a few years ago, Roy has played less on the national Golf Croquet circuit and Richard had played very little since being a teenager growing up in South Africa. However, the latter has clearly retained much of his innate ability and the Ware pair achieved noticeable victories against Carr & O'Brian and Cabble & Thompson. Meanwhile, the Crossland brothers Dennis and John from Sheffield were also playing some very strong croquet and, by the end of Saturday, had the advantage of having already played all top five seeds (achieving three wins).
The overnight standings were such that the following pairs looked in best shape: Carr & O'Brian (6 wins out of 7 played), Ware & Ware (6 out of 8), Vitty & Thompson (5 out of 6), Cabble & Thompson (5 out of 7) and Crossland & Crossland (5 out of 8).
Unfortunately for the pairs based on family ties, results did not go well on Sunday morning. Both Ware & Ware and Crossland & Crossland lost their opening two games and this put them out of touch with the leaders. Meanwhile, the pair of Tim King and William Bromley came into the reckoning. Bill had been due to play at the Egyptian International GC Open but decided that recent protests against the USA made this plan rather daunting. Fortunately, Ripon is not renowned for rioting, so was a more attractive option. Bill's wife Cheryl had represented the USA at the Women's World Championship in New Zealand, getting to know the England players and then came to the Yorkshire Women's Championship earlier in the season.
King & Bromley made their presence felt after losing their first two games. Bill took time to adjust to unfamiliar conditions (what he did not realize was that the English players were all totally unfamiliar with such fine weather in October!). However, they then won 7 out of their next 8 games (including beating Carr & O'Brian) and although they then had an unexpected defeat to Bob and Anne Connop, this did not make any difference to the need to win their final game to sneak into the top two in the block.
The rest of the results fell into place and, despite the occasional shock, the manager hit the jackpot in terms of the last round including two games that covered the only four pairs left in contention for the top two places in the block. These two games were Carr & O'Brian (8 wins) versus Cabble & Thompson (9 wins) and Vitty & Thompson (8 wins) versus King & Bromley (7 wins). Various combinations of result were possible and all the pairs had full motivation to win. The prize was a place in the final for the top two pairs. Both games were tight. But Bill seemed to reach the point where he realized how well he had played during the weekend and potential success became a source of pressure. Sam also played really well despite the fact she was struggling with illness. Her consistent clearing made the difference and Vitty & Thompson became the first to qualify for the final. Meanwhile, Carr & O'Brian took a 4-1 lead in their game, making them strong favourites to reach the final. However, Cabble & Thompson began to get into the groove of making their contrasting styles gel into the formidable partnership that they had been demonstrating throughout the weekend. Jacob and Mike never panicked and as usual in GC a few millimetres here or there would have made a difference. Many of the hoops were keenly contested. However, Carr & O'Brian won only one further hoop and, thus, lost 5-7 to end up in third place in the block (they also had the distinction of losing to all the other top five seeds but winning against all the other pairs).
Given how ill she was feeling, Sam was not entirely delighted to be playing even more croquet. However, she continued her determination and successful play into the final. The format for the final was best of three "two-hoops-ahead" games but with the block game between the two finalists counting as the first game of the final. Thus, Cabble & Thompson took a 7-5 win into the final. The "second" game was tight and neither pair managed to gain a significant advantage. However, Sam and Freda could not quite break the resolve of their opponents and in the end Cabble & Thompson won through 8-6 and, thus, a third, deciding game was not necessary in what would have been increasingly fading light.
In the end, every pair won at least one game. And many of the players had passages of play where they performed with great skill and success. The usual hospitality at the Ripon Spa Hotel was a perfect complement to the weather and made for a fun but competitive weekend. Richard and Ryan were worthy winners, having only lost two games over the two days.
Freda Vitty exercised her role as handicapper and, after consultation with senior players, allocated Bill a handicap of 2 to take home with him to the USA. In the meantime, he had made he own set of new friends, giving every other competitor a pin of his home state Florida to every single player.
The Yorkshire Doubles Roll of Honour
2006 - David Barrett & Barbara Young
2007 - Tim King & Roy Ware
2008 - Chris & Ray Mounfield
2009 - Chris & Ray Mounfield
2010 - Samantha Thompson & Freda Vitty
2011 - Jacob Carr & Mike O'Brian
2012 - Ryan Cabble & Richard Thompson
Final Block Table
| JC&MO | RC&RT | FV&ST | TK&WB | RW&RW | FT&JP | DO&JO | DC&JC | DP&MC | JC&VH | BC&AC | TF&RI | SA&GB | Played | Won |
Net
|
Hoops
|
Position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN | --- | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 8 (W) | 8 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 12 | 8 | 14 | 75 | 3 |
| Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON | 7 (W) | --- | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 2 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 5 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 12 | 10 | 27 | 77 | 1 |
| Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON | 7 (W) | 5 | --- | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 10 (W) | 7 (W) | 6 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 5 | 7 (W) | 12 | 9 | 15 | 82 | 2 |
| Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) | 7 (W) | 5 | 5 | --- | 7 (W) | 6 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 5 | 6 | 8 (W) | 12 | 7 | 12 | 77 | 5 |
| Roy WARE & Richard WARE | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 4 | 5 | --- | 4 | 7 (W) | 4 | 7 | 8 (W) | 7 (W) | 3 | 7 (W) | 12 | 6 | 6 | 70 | 9 |
| Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 (W) | 7 (W) | --- | 7 (W) | 8 (W) | 7 | 7 (W) | 5 | 10 (W) | 7 (W) | 12 | 7 | 2 | 78 | 4 |
| Derek & Jacqui OLD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | --- | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 4 | 3 | 12 | 4 | -11 | 59 | 10 |
| Dennis & John CROSSLAND | 4 | 7 (W) | 8 (W) | 1 | 7 (W) | 6 | 4 | --- | 7 | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 12 | 7 | 3 | 72 | 6 |
| Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 (W) | 9 (W) | 2 | 9 (W) | --- | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 7 (W) | 9 | 12 | 6 | -3 | 77 | 7 |
| Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | --- | 4 | 4 | 7 (W) | 12 | 1 | -28 | 54 | 13 |
| Bob & Anne CONNOP | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 (W) | 3 | 7 (W) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 (W) | --- | 7 | 7 (W) | 12 | 4 | -15 | 62 | 11 |
| Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON | 5 | 2 | 7 (W) | 8 (W) | 7 (W) | 9 | 7 (W) | 3 | 5 | 7 (W) | 9 (W) | --- | 4 | 12 | 6 | -1 | 73 | 8 |
| Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 (W) | 5 | 10 (W) | 3 | 5 | 7 (W) | --- | 12 | 3 | -21 | 59 | 12 |
Full Results
Block
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 8-6
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON - 7-2
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 7-5
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) - 8-6
Derek & Jacqui OLD beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-5
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-5
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-5
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-3
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON - 8-6
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) - 8-6
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 9-7
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 9-7
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Dennis & John CROSSLAND - 7-4
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE - 7-2
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-5
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-5
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 7-4
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-4
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 7-5
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-4
Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-3
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Dennis & John CROSSLAND - 7-1
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-5
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE - 7-2
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 8-6
Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 10-9
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-3
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 7-3
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-2
Derek & Jacqui OLD beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 7-2
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) - 7-5
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE - 10-8
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-3
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-2
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Dennis & John CROSSLAND - 9-7
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-3
Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 7-4
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN - 7-3
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON - 7-5
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Roy WARE & Richard WARE beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-4
Bob & Anne CONNOP beat Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE - 7-5
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 7-3
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-3
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 8-6
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Dennis & John CROSSLAND - 8-6
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 7-4
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 7-3
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN - 7-4
Derek & Jacqui OLD beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-3
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN - 8-6
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-3
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON - 7-5
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 7-5
Derek & Jacqui OLD beat Dennis & John CROSSLAND - 7-4
Bob & Anne CONNOP beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-5
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 7-2
Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) beat Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN - 7-5
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-4
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 7-4
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 7-5
Bob & Anne CONNOP beat Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) - 7-5
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-4
Dennis & John CROSSLAND beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON - 7-5
Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-3
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Roy WARE & Richard WARE - 7-4
Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE beat Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON - 10-9
Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN beat Bob & Anne CONNOP - 7-3
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Jane COLLIER & Valerie HARDING - 7-4
Daphne PEPLER & Maggie COWMAN beat Fergus THOMPSON & Jane PRINGLE - 9-7
Bob & Anne CONNOP beat Stuart ARTHUR & Gill BRENT - 7-5
Ted FLEXMAN & Roger I'ANSON beat Derek & Jacqui OLD - 7-4
Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON beat Tim KING & William BROMLEY (USA) - 7-5
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Jacob CARR & Mike O'BRIAN - 7-5
Final
Ryan CABBLE & Richard THOMPSON beat Freda VITTY & Samantha THOMPSON - (7-5 - from block), 8-6
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