Alan Cottle won the Veteran's Championship

[<<] [>>] by Richard Hoskyns at Sussex County Croquet Club
22 Jun 2013 (AC - Championships)

The 2013 National Veterans' Championship was held at Sussex County Croquet Club (Southwick) from 17th to 22nd June, with the club being as usual friendly and excellent hosts. Despite the poor forecast the whole week's play went without any rain although, apart from a very sunny and hot Wednesday, the weather was rather miserable with very strong winds on the Saturday. Regrettably entries again were poor with only four entries to the actual Championship with two of those who in fact qualified for the Over-75s.

The Doubles were played on the Monday and Tuesday as an American block of six instead of the usual X and Y. The winners taking the Sussex Trugs were Alan Cottle (Sussex) and Avril Rangoni-Machiavelli (Blewbury, Surbiton, and Sussex) with 4 wins out of 5 but having beaten Gerald and Pam Gooders (Sussex) who also had 4 wins out of 5 taking the Gilbert Spoons.

The Unrestricted Handicap Singles (Meredith Cup) was played as a 5-round Swiss with 12 entries. Jonathan Isaacs (Sussex) triumphed with 5 wins out of 5, and Denis Cross (Hurlingham) was runner up with 4 wins out of 5.

The Veterans' Championship (The Rothwell Cup) was played as an American block of four with each match being a best of three. The last round was the decider as both Dave Mundy and Alan Cottle had beaten the other two. This year Alan Cottle at last managed to beat Dave Mundy (Cheltenham) two games to one. The Over 75s Championship (The Pidcock Trophy) was played as an American block of 6 and was won by Bill Arliss (Sussex) who overwhelmed John Taylor (Sussex) in the final round - both having 4 wins at that stage. The Advance Play Singles (The Felixstowe Cup) was played as two American blocks of four with a play off in which Jonathan Isaacs beat John Bee (Watford).