A great day held in sunny warm weather at St Martins Croquet Club on SUnday 22 September 2024. This season the tournament was held in 2 divisions.
A full field of 16 Canterbury and South Canterbury players enjoyed the challenge and for some their first games of Advantage.
We started the day at 8:45am and after 6 rounds the daylight hours were quickly evaporating. As the finalists were decided by wins and percentage of hoops made v hoops required (net hoops not used in Advantage) we were able to determine the finalists. Unfortunately there was not time to hold a semi and a final – the final round would be a playoff between the top 2 players and the 3rd and 4th placegetters who chose not to play
Final: Terry Green, Rangiora was ready to defend the title he won last year playing against Mike Bunce from St Martins. Both players winning 5 of their 6 games.
Terry started on – 1 and Mike Bunce on 0.
Winner: Terry Green – well done to both players and look forward to seeing you back next season
Gay Jones Tournament Convener
Mike Bunce (runner-up), Terry Green (winner), Gay Jones (manager)
Congratulations to Steve Costigan, Jonathan Hart, Betty Hall and Gaylene Jones on winning this event, played at Waireka Croquet Club in Ashburton on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th April. This year 6 Associations fielded teams which is the most for a number of years.
The weather was very cool in the morning with the sun warming the day in the afternoon. A wonderful social event was arranged at a local restaurant (Nobel 600) on Saturday evening.
The Canterbury team won 3 games in the 0 – 9 and 3 in the 10 – 24 sections and finished equal with South Canterbury on wins. However on net hoops Canterbury were successful with 36 net hoops over their opposition
Well done to the team, backing up the win in 2022.
This relatively new Tournament was held at St Martins Croquet Club on Sunday 10th March 2024.
There were only 5 Teams with 4 of the Teams having players representing different clubs.
The format of play was a Round Robin with each team having a bye within the 5 rounds. A knockout was then played with the 4th and 5th positions after the Round Robin playing off for the 4th position in the semi final followed by the Final.
With such a small field no games were timed and it was some what of a very long day. However, the weather was perfect and daylight was not an issue as we finished before 7:30.
Sincere thanks to the catering team from St Martins for the effort they made throughout the day providing continuous morning tea and then afternoon tea.
Thank you to Sylvia, Vilna, and John who were able to assist with ensuring a referee was present during the day.
Congratulations to the winning team of Josh Winter (Cashmere), and Paul Kaiser (United). Runners-up Gay Jones (Cashmere) and Sue Cleveland (Geraldine).
A very successful day providing some very exciting play throughout.
Janet Scott Tournament Manager
Manager Sue Scott with winners Paul Kaiser (United) and Josh Winter (Cashmere)Runners up Sue Cleveland (Geraldine) and Gay Jones (Cashmere), Sue Scott and winners Paul Kaiser (United) and Josh Winter (Cashmere)
The 2024 Carol Hayward AC handicap singles competition was played at United Croquet Club over five Tuesday mornings from 6 February to 5 March. The weather was good each day.
Each morning an 18-point game was played with a time limit of two and a half hours with a break halfway for morning tea and a chat.
A total of 12 players entered the event with the manager, John Yarrall, filling in if there were an odd number of players. Thanks to Tony O’Donnell who filled in as manager on one day.
The format was flexible Swiss to allow players the option of not playing any week. Four games had to be played to be considered for a place.
The winner was Sue Stott for the third time winning 4 out of five games. Gay Jones was runner up also with four out of five wins, but with net hoops of 37 compared to Sue’s 41. Although opposition strength was not declared for tie-breaking, the average strength of Sue’s opponents was 58% compared to 55% for Gay.
Both Lyn Dawson and Tony O’Donnell had three wins out of five and both had 11 net points. The strength of Lyn’s opponents was 46% and Tony’s 44%.
For future years, consideration needs to be given to the means of resolving ties, using some combination of strength of opponents, who beat whom and net points.
Many thanks to Ryman for continuing to sponsor these events.
Lynne Bretherton from Ryman presenting first prize to Sue Stott
Lynne Bretherton from Ryman presenting second prize to Gau Jones
Lynne Bretherton from Ryman presenting third prize to Lyn Dawson
The GC Open Singles was held on Sunday, 11th February at Fendalton Park Croquet Club.
Heavy rain the night before left one lawn unplayable until later in the morning. With a field of 16 playing a round robin in two blocks, double-banking was the order of the day. Players were happy to use our fifth lawn during the early rounds, until Lawn 2 became available, so as not to delay the finish.
Mike, the groundsman said the hoop holes were filled with water when he arrived on Sunday morning. Knowing the hammering the hoops would get he packed them for the start of the day, and had to repeat the procedure before the final rounds.
Although cold there was very little rain. Some of the younger men braved it all day in shorts while the older folk were adding layers. The sun was shining at 5.30 for the finals.
In Block 1 after six rounds Duncan Dixon and Josh Winter had each won six games, and met each other in Round 7. It was a close hard fought game with Josh taking it 7/6. In Block 2 after six rounds Levi Franks and Paul Kaiser had each won six games, and met each other in Round 7. Not as close a game, Levi won 7/4.
The final between the two Cashmere chums was a repeat of the Premier Grades. Levi overcame Josh 7/4 and took the title which Josh had won the previous two seasons. On the other lawn the two United men, Duncan and Paul were battling it out for 3rd and 4th. Duncan took this one 7/2.
The first CCA Doubles Advantage Croquet Tournament was held at Fendalton Park Croquet Club on Sunday 28 January 2024. There were 16 pairs from a number of Canterbury Clubs. The format of play was two blocks of eight as a round robin with winners in each block playing a finals for Overall winner and runner-up and the second placed in each block playing for third place. All results are on Croquet Scores.
The weather was good, all players arrived on time, but it was a very long day!! As one player said – “This was a marathon of croquet!”
Players liked the Advantage format of handicap play – every team won at least one game and many scores were 7-6 or 7-5. Most players had picked up by the second or third round how to determine the starting score, what pegs to take out, and how to keep the score during the game. And it was down to the last round to determine the top two teams in each block with some very good croquet being played.
Games were untimed (as recommended by WCF) but took longer than usual because: a) more hoops need to be run, b) doubles partners do have some discussions, c) double banking takes up time.
Games for each round averaged at 1.5 hours per game – by the time the game was played with double banking, AHS cards completed, and players had some refreshment. And there were 8 rounds played! Some refining of the tournament will happen for next season.
However, all credit to the players who entered. There was great sportsmanship throughout the day, a willingness to get out and keep things moving, and a number said they had learnt a lot during the day, and were much more confident about playing the Advantage format for handicap games. A big thank you must go to the catering team of Fendalton Park who provided a delicious morning and afternoon tea.
Thanks must also go to Mike for getting there very early and setting up five lawns. And of course to John Borner who was referee for the whole day and had a wonderful calm manner when called upon for a number of decisions during the day.
Congratulations must go to the winning team of Geoff Price and Lorraine Adam from Cashmere; the Runners up Jill and Alistair Smithies from United; and third place to Pat Pidgeon and Hanne Lelieve from Akaroa playing against Sarah Polson and Helen Webber from Hornby. All in all, a very successful day.
The regional playoffs were held on Sunday 10th December 2023. This year there were representatives from Cashmere, St Martins, Fendalton, Hornby, Akaroa and Holmes Park, who had each won the right to participate by dint of winning a club feeder competition. This year the entrants were all longstanding players with handicaps ranging from 2 to 6. Format was Round Robin over five rounds.
The level of play was excellent and the small group of supporters were treated to some great croquet. Mike Bunce from St Martins won the right to represent the CCA at the national finals in Dunedin, and Grace Leitch from Fendalton was runner-up.
Reasonable weather with good lawns drew three contestants from South Canterbury and made for an enjoyable tournament. With five entries, the 0 to 3.5 grade played a round robin of five games. The 4 to 9 grade, with four entries, a round robin of three games with a finals round deciding the placings from first to fourth. With thanks to John Doyle agreeing to “play up”, there were four entries in the combined 10 to 24 grade who played the same game format as the 4 to 9 grade.
The Cashmere “young guns” swept the board, each of them winning their four games in each grade Josh Winter the 0 to 3.5 grade, Levi Franks the 4 to 9 grade and James Duggan the 10 to 24 combined grade. They were also awarded the Silver Badge for their respective grade and Gay Jones won the 18 to 24 grade. Runners-up in the three grades were John Hearnshaw, Leo van Oosten and Sue Stott.
The grades tournament for premier, senior and intermediate players was held in hot conditions on Sunday November 12th.
St Martins hosted the Premier and Intermediate divisions while the Seniors played at Cashmere. Players from as far afield as Blenheim and Queenstown competed against our locals.
The Premier division was won by Levi Franks beating Joshua Winter 7/3 in a 13 point Final. In the preliminary round Joshua had taken the 19 point game over Levi 10/8. The Final had been reduced to a shorter game to avoid finishing in the dark. A long day at the office.
The Senior division at Cashmere was first to finish. The eventual winner was Terry Green ( Rangiora) over Patrick Conolly ( Cashmere). Earlier in the day these two had been down the list but came through at the end with Terry winning 7/5.
The Intermediate division was won by Brent Cowan (Holmes Park) beating Diana McIlwrick (Wakatipu) 7/4. Brent who still works full time and plays only occasionally was overcome by his win. He qualified 4th after the round robin, but won his semi- final 7/4 to reach the final.
The winners are also winners of the Silver badges.
Janet Scott with Terry Green and Patrick ConollyCheryl Morrall with Brent Cowan and Diana McIlwrickCheryl Morrall with Levi Franks and Joshua Winter
The event was held at St Martins Croquet Club on Sunday 29 October 2023 in fine weather albeit with the dreaded easterly wind.
A field of 20 players contested for the title and Silver Badge. This year we had players representing 8 Canterbury Clubs and also a player from Waireka Club in Ashburton.
With the All Blacks game also being played everyone arrived on time and games were underway by 8:30am This was not a distraction to the excellent games that were played throughout the day. It was encouraging to have a number of players, new to CCA tournaments and we look forward to them playing in more events.
Thanks to all players, assistant manager Janet Scott, referees John Borner and Sylvia MacFarlane and St Martins Croquet Club members for morning and afternoon teas
Results: Winner: Derek Kinley, Cashmere (centre) Runnerup: Cathrine Boyle, St James (left) Third: Geraldine Lummis, Fendalton (right)
Croquet Canterbury 