Carole Jackson won the Golf Croquet Veterans Championship

[<<] [>>] by Bill Arliss at Southwick
29th July 2013 (GC - Championships)

A truly international field met at Southwick to challenge for the 2014 Alan Oldham Memorial Trophy. A strong UK contingent competed with players from Australia and South Africa for what is becoming an increasingly popular tournament.

10 rounds were played in 2 blocks and from this the top four in each block were selected to enter the knockout stage.

David Wise from Australia was the runaway leader in Block A and David Hopkins won Block B.

The result for the other 3 players in Block A was clear cut with Carole Jackson, Richard Brooks and Dick Strover going through to the knockout stage. Block B was less clear cut. David Hopkins and John Bowcott had 7 wins however 4 players had 6 wins. Having applied the CA tournament regulations in the event of a tie Tony Hall (AU) and Jonathan Isaacs went through to the knockout stage.

The quarter finals produced a shock defeat for the tournament favourite David Wise (AU) beaten by Jonathan Isaacs 7-4, 3-7, 7-6 & in a tightly fought match Dick Strover beat David Hopkins 5-7, 7-4, 7-6. John Bowcott and Carole Jackson went through in 2 straight games.

The final was contested between Carole Jackson and Jonathan Isaacs in a lengthy match on newly tightened hoops with Carole winning 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.

The plate was won by rapidly improving Janet Hoptroff who is a Croquet Academy Coach.

The weather was superb, Southwick's lawns unusually fast and as ever, excellent food and drink, and a warm welcome from the Southwick members making it a great celebration of GC for us oldies.

Jonathan Isaacs.