Club tournament results

Heritage Association Tournament
16-18 Nov 2012
Maitland Croquet Club
 
Bill Munns ponders
just what he has to do to win
With a backdrop of Maitland’s historic St Paul’s Church framed by dazzling Jacarandas and brilliant Bougainvilleas, the Maitland Heritage Association Tournament, generously sponsored by our local Building Society THE MUTUAL began under cloudy skies.

Four quality and even Blocks assured close finishes and this is exactly what happened.

John Piggott has shown great
improvement in recent months
With a minute to go in Block D Bill Munns (Toronto) needed to run 5 hoops to win. He runs hoop 4 successfully.

Block C saw John Piggott (Urunga) and Judith Squelch (Newcastle NP) win their first four games. Unfortunately for John, Judy was on fire and raced through their final game 26-0. Great effort Judy. Alan Pearson and John Compton from Maitland, Toronto’s Pam Durie and Lesley Fransen (Cammeray) played well and enjoyed some close games.

Winner of Block C ...Judith Squelch, Runner Up ...John Piggott.

Bill runs hoop 5.

Beverley Oldfield showed lots of skills
and enjoyed her visit to Maitland
Block B saw local gal Pam Gentle play her usual consistent game to win the group from John Fransen (Mosman) Congratulations Pam. The rapidly improving Chris Lavina (Cammeray) showed his skills by running 12 hoops and pegging his own ball out, but it was not enough to defeat the wily Newcastle veteran Max Wiltshire. The North Coast’s Beverley Oldfield was a very welcome participant as was Maitland guru, Fred Harvey who both showed wonderful skills.

Local mentor and sage, Fred Harvey
took great care lining up this shot
Winner of Block B...Pam Gentle, Runner Up...John Fransen.

Hoop 6 now in Bill’s bag.

It was anticipated that Block A would be closely contested by Alix Verge (RSGC) and John Levick (NNP) . After some excellent endeavours by Bill Blaikie (Forster) and with Steve Harden (Tamworth) giving Alix a fright, the final game of the Block saw a stellar contest. A crowd of almost 50 were enthralled as Alix ran to 4 back, John missed and Alix meticulously peeled 4 back, penultimate and rover only to be cursed by the Croquet Gods when she found herself stymied with her shot for rover. John then ran 9, and later peeled 4 back before coming unstuck at hoop 6. Alix pegged out to be a worthy winner of Block A. Christine Pont and Trevor Black had lots of fun in illustrious company.

John Fransen was methodical
in his determined attempt to win
Winner of Block A ...Alix Verge, Runner Up...John Levick.

With the crowd now moving from the Block A game, Bill approaches within 3 yards of 2 back, lines up for the winning hoop only to see the ball rebound off the near leg. Bill’s, misfortune saw the winner of this Block being Steve Dilley Jnr (Maitland) playing in his first Association Tournament. Glen Coulton (Toronto) had consistent play rewarded. Manly’s Bernie and David Gibson are improving rapidly as is Dale Edwards (Maitland) also playing his first competition.

Steve Harden played impeccably at times
and was a force to be treated with great care
Winner of Block D....Stephen Dilley, Runner Up... Glen Coulton.

Thanks to all who played with fine sportsmanship , determination and with the Tournament’s goal of having FUN foremost in your mind. Come again next year.

T.Black
Tournament Manager

Glen Coulton is another player
showing lots of promise
Dale Edwards showed great promise
in his first AC tournament