Oxford University Cuppers Tournament Enters Final Week

[<<] [>>] by Ian Plummer at Oxford University
13 Jun 2014 (CqE Official News)

With the summer term entering its last week, the Oxford Croquet Cuppers (intercollegiate competition), sponsored by the Croquet Association, is entering its last phase. The elite 32 students out of the initial 1936 are competing the Quarter Finals. The matches are played as teams of four playing two doubles.

The quality of play is certainly reaching high standards ? for some. I have seen polished Aunt Emma tactics but today I watched a clinical 12-hoop 4-ball break which really demoralised the opponents. The tension as some games approach Time is palpable.

The earlier rounds were played on college lawns but the Quarter Finals and above are held on the full-size University courts with standard club equipment. The quarter finalists are:

Magdalen 1st team vs Pembroke 17th,

Worcester 4th vs Worcester 33rd (Worcester 4th won)

Merton 1st vs Pembroke 14th, and

St Hilda's 2nd vs Magdalen 2nd

The full draw can be seen at www.oxfordcroquet.com/oucc/.

Irrespective of who wins a huge number of students have been introduced to the sport and will take away fond memories of playing croquet at Oxford. The University Club hopes that the students who fail to make the finals will come back for more next year, get coaching or possibly investigate their local clubs over the summer.