Maggie Cowman and Freda Vitty win Women's GC Doubles Ripon Spa Hotel

[<<] [>>] by Freda Vitty at Ripon Spa Croquet Club
31 Aug 2014 (GC)

Maggie Cowman and Freda Vitty won the Women's Doubles at Ripon with 9 wins out of 10. Ann Brookes and Jane Collier were second with 8 wins out of 10.
With an entry of only 6 pairs, the manager suggested a number of formats and went with the preferred option of all play all in 5 rounds of one 19 point game on both Saturday and Sunday.
The weather was kind to us and without time limits, all games were completed within an hour, with only one exception; this involved a pairing of Andrea Widdison and Chris Wood, playing in their first ever competition and needing to consult over most shots. After an hour, with the score at 6 all, the manager imposed a time limit of 15 further minutes and the game ended with a win for their opposition at 9 -7. The new pairing ended the weekend with 3 wins out of 10 and had obviously benefitted from the experience, both being keen to enter other competitions.
Without a final, it could have been a bit cut and dried, but there was still all to play for in the final round; a win for Brookes and Collier, would put them on 8 wins, while if Wright and Buxton beat Cowman and Vitty, then all three would be on 8 wins. In the event, Cowman and Vitty won, leaving them clear winners with 9 wins out of 10.
The 19 point format was new to some but received an unreserved popular vote; it irons out some of the vagaries that can occur in a one game 13 pointer - as Anne Brookes put it after a game where they were 2-6 down, pulled back to 6 all and then lost 9-10, it can be a game of three halves!
Apart from the lovely weather, lawns played well, food, as usual was excellent and the atmosphere was friendly.