Anthony Elliott won the GC B-Level at Ealing

[<<] [>>] by Dr. Ron Carter at Ealing
5 Aug 2020 (GC)

It's been a funny old season, but at last we had Tournament Croquet at Lammas Park deferred by Corona from our original date of the 1^st.July, and thankfully with nearly all of the original Entry as well. Our 12 GC disciples arrived, washed their hands, listened to the Covid-19 Rules, picked up their Mallets and played in their staggered start "Bubbles" of four players per Lawn through a long hot morning. The dearth of Tournaments has patently concentrated the quality of competitors into fewer slots, so at Ealing the field was packed with 3 and 4 Handicap players.

On Lawn One the only "foreigner" was Peter Adams from Caversham who more than held his own against the Ealing trio of Anthony Elliott, Bridget Goodman, and Jane Powell, all still ruminating on their very, very narrow loss to Hurlingham in the Murphy Shield Quarter-Final match. Jane Powell had a really BAD day losing all her matches, whilst the other three beat each other emerging with 2 wins each.

On Lawn Two, Michelle Leonard from East Dorset dominated with three straight wins, chased by Ealing's Charles Sale with two.

Lawn Three was a very up and down affair, particularly for Andrew Fall from Enfield, who sadly lived up to his surname and gashed his shin, forcing him to retire hurt to be stitched up after only two games. Robert Cook from Cheam, Gavin Taylor from Surbiton, and Hilary Bird from Caversham all progressed on to the Knock-out stage of the Tournament.

Three of the four Quarter-Finals were very close affairs, with Anthony Elliott, Michelle Leonard, and Gavin Taylor winning through, whilst Charles Sale on home turf overwhelmed Hilary Bird 7-3, looking to be the " form " player of the 4 semi-finalists. Not so as Gavin Taylor swept him aside 7-2 in short order, then had a long wait for his Final opponent to emerge as Anthony Elliott 7-4 eventually prevailed over the previously unbeaten, but exhausted Michelle Leonard. Anthony, still hot from his semi-final, blew away Gavin 7-1 for his best win of the day in the Final. Gavin could barely walk, his right foot afflicted with fasciitis had stiffened painfully during his wait.

Charles Sale took the third place match 7-4 against Michelle Leonard, and Bridget

Goodman took fifth by virtue of her 7-4 win over Robert Cook.

Slow Starter John Gosden from Guildford played better and better through the course of the day, and with 3 straight wins took the Plate and the Prosecco !!