Canterbury (NZ) GC Singles Advantage Sunday 24 September 2023

Well, this tournament has been quite a challenge, but all worked out well in the end.

There was an original field of 30 players which gave a format of 5 blocks of 6 with players having 5 rounds of play followed by quarters, semis and finals. Two venues were needed so Cashmere stepped up as the second venue with Gay Jones as manager. However, the day before the tournament I had three withdrawals due to ill-health and there was a big question mark over lawns able to be used because of weather. So plenty of last minute re-arrangements and discussions and decisions. Two replacements stepped up to play so I ended up with 4 blocks of 6 and one block of 5. And late on Saturday afternoon the decision was made to go ahead on the lawns at both venues.

Add to the mix that Sunday was daylight saving time, so players had to ensure they arrived on time…and they all did!

There was a lot of learning using the Advantage format, but players took it all in their stride and there were some very close games with players going to the 14^th hoop for the last point. I must thank the players for their sportsmanship and cheerfulness in the event of some rain disruption during the day and having three of the games scheduled at Cashmere having to be played at Fendalton as lawns at Cashmere were unplayable after midday. However, we managed to get the top 8 players identified and were able to continue with quarters, semis and finals.

Jill Smithies from United did not lose a game during the day, except in the final against Terry Green from Rangiora when she lost 7-6 at the 14^th hoop. A great game to watch and congratulations to Terry Green for becoming the GC Singles Advantage winner for 2023. Carol Pilbrough from United beat Vince van den Dorpe from Rangiora to take third place.

Full results are on croquet scores.

My thanks go to Grace Leitch who was assistant Manager for me at Fendalton, to Gay Jones for managing and being second referee at Cashmere and helping in all the discussions, to Mike Dawson and Tim Slack for being the referees at Fendalton and to Sylvia Macfarlane for being referee at Cashmere. My thanks also go to those folk who looked after the catering at each venue, it was great.

Vilna Gough-Jones
Tournament Manager