Report by Philip Jay
YCF Short Croquet Team Event – Saturday 25th May 2024
This years Short Croquet Team Event was exceptionally well supported by the Federation Clubs – all the AC League Teams were represented, York managed to field an impressive three teams and there were more players wanting to play than places available. In all, six teams and 24 players assembled at York Croquet Club.
The teams had a wide range of handicaps – at the low end were Sheffield with an aggregate
handicap of 9½ bisques & 1 peel and at the high end were York 3 with 28 bisques between them.
The preceding few days of torrential rain had left everyone with a sense of trepidation as to what conditions would be like on the day. However, Saturday morning was bright, warm and sunny; the lawns were green and lush after a good watering and well prepared, as usual at York. The afternoon turned cloudy and cool, but remained dry, so it was a case of jumpers and coats for warmth but we were all grateful, none the less, for the better than anticipated weather conditions.
After a day of friendly but intense and competitive croquet, fuelled by copious scrummy cakes, the results turned out to be very much in favour of the high handicappers, both in the team and individual events.
York 3 were clear winners of the team competition with two wins and two draws in their four matches – congratulations to Richard, James, Philip and Tom.
There were three players on four wins from four games in the individual competition, who had to be separated on hoop points – the winner was Philip from York 3 (with a handicap of 8), second was Pete from Huddersfield (with a handicap of 10 and playing in his first competitive games outside of his club) and third was Robin from Beverley.
Many thanks to all at York Croquet Club for hosting this event and for all the hard work behind the scenes that made it such an enjoyable day for everyone.
