East Dorset AC June Week
[<<] [>>] by David Williams
at East Dorset
8 Jun
2019 (AC - Mixed)
East Dorset AC June Week 3/8th June report. (all players East Dorset unless stated)
A - Class: Dorset Salver - Jonathan Powe retained his title as was expected, without dropping a game - 26tp,26tp,26,25,15 - Anthony Dix, David Harrison-Wood and David Kendrick were joint runners up. DH-W making the only quad peel of the tournament.
B - Class: Weldon Trophy - James Brind from Cambridge won all his games in fine style and looks well on the way to soon becoming a scratch player. Tim O'Donnell (Hamptworth) who only took the game up two years ago, was runner up and during the week achieved a fine triple peel.
C - Class: Cope Cup - Hannes Hamann played Sue Longcroft to decide the winner of this block winning +6 and, in the process, completed an all-round break without bisques achieving a C A Bronze Award.
Handicap Singles: 'X' Cripps Memorial Bowl - Another battle for Sue Longcroft this time against the steady play of David Kendrick. Having used all her 12 bisques and just needing to run rover and peg out, the "rover curse" hit, leaving David to fight back from some way behind eventually pegging Sue's peg ball out and winning by 2.
Handicap Singles: 'Y' Evans Rose Bowl - Won by a fast-improving Chris Weedon (Hamptworth) in his first year of croquet, beating his clubmate Tim O'Donnell +12.
Handicap Doubles: Summer Doubles Cups - Yet another "first" with Mike Rice in his first year and first tournament partnering James Brind, against John Pollard and for her third final, Sue Longhurst, with one and a half bisques against them. Rice and Brind failed a double peel but eventually got both balls to peg and a subsequent big hit in by newcomer Mike from hoop 2 to corner 4 earned them the win +8.
Handicap Doubles Plate: The week was concluded with John Freeman and David Harrison-Wood beating Chris Weedon and Tim O'Donnell in a proverbial +1 on time.
The week didn't produce the "barmy" June weather we were all hoping for with bitterly cold winds coming off the sea, and a day of rain that threatened to take the tournament into the Sunday. However, the ever-skilful management of the extremely tolerant Andrew Gregory brought the week to a close as planned.
Lots happened over the 6 days, John Freeman had a "grievous", Hannes Hamann earned a Bronze Award, Sue Longcroft was runner up three times and we had a visit from the Red Arrows Display Team on finals day flying low over the courts, great planning Nigel Parkins! James Brind in his short winner's speech paid credit, on behalf of the guest players, for the warmth of the hospitality they had all received throughout the week and complimented the club on the condition of the courts.
East Dorset were delighted to have hosted the week and hope that other players will take advantage of the club and it's first class facilities in the future and the flexibility that Andrew offers all participants to fit in with any special requirements for time off during the week.