Thirteenth Time Lucky for Richard Brooks at the Veterans' Festival Of Golf Croquet 21/22 July 2020

[<<] [>>] by Richard Carline at Southwick
21-22 Jul 2020 (GC - Championships)

The 14th running of the Alan Oldham Memorial Trivet took place at SCCC over two days in bright sunshine on six wonderfully prepared courts. Well done to Ben Harwood of Complete Turf Care and his team for their dedicated hard work.

18 players were divided into three (now familiar) bubbles - A, B and C. Six players from each group played all-play-all format 13-point games.

At the end of day one, the top two from each group were put into Group 1 to contest similar formatted 19-point games. The two lower Groups were made up of Groups 2 & 3 and played 13-point games as on day one.

The Tournament was instigated by Bill Arliss in 2007 and was first won by Derek Old. Last year's victor John Bowcott (Hurlingham) returned to defend his title, but without success. Another previous victor's name that catches the eye on the trophy is that of Chris Sheen (2016). Chris (Colchester) is a regular player in the Tournament and made the top six again.

The final game of the Championship Block became the decider. Richard Brooks (SCCC), playing in his thirteenth Vets' played Roger Barnacle (Dogmersfield) playing in his first. Although Roger won at the 19th hoop, Richard took the Trophy on better overall hoop-difference. Both men winning four of their five games.

For Richard this was a well-deserved victory, he had reached three finals in the past and last year played in the GC World Qualifiers (and qualified) in preference to this event.