The York lawns welcomed players from newly formed Driffield CC to the YCF SC Tournament 2022 on 17th July 2022.
The Driffield team + David Wilson of Ryedale
They joined entrants from York CC, Huddersfield, Ryedale and Beverley & East Riding to make a field of 16. Overcast skies and a smattering of rain greeted our arrival, but soon the forecast sun and extreme heat materialised as we played 4 rounds of 14 point short croquet.
York Smarties and BERCC contested the final, with Smarties emerging winners with 3 wins from 4 games in the final round. Congratulations to Wendy Robertson, the young emerging talent of York, Cathie Dance, Sue Longcroft and James Pitt. Mo Atkinson of Driffield and Wendy were runners-up for the Armada plate, with Debbie James of BERCC taking home the silverware.
Debbie receives the ‘best performer’ silverware from Dave Hudson
An enjoyable day of croquet under the management of Dave Hudson and Fiona Crompton. Well played all and thanks for the day!
A YCF team of Beverley & East Riding and York CC players travelled to Bury for R1 of this season’s national Inter-Club SC competition. Well prepared lawns, but less well organised weather, greeted our arrival. A mixed day of fortunes, a fast and testing lawn 1, tactical play with bisques and good hoop running from both sides, saw Bury emerge the eventual winners after 11 games.
Thanks to the YCF players – Sue Longcroft, Debbie James (Captain), Helen Griffiths and Denise Foster who made up the team so willingly and endured an early start from home.
The 3 heats of the Charity 1-ball, at Ripon Spa, Sheffield and York croquet clubs, resulted in 6 players from clubs in the YCF travelling to Nottingham on Saturday 7 May for the national Final (in the north). From York: Callum Johnson and Fiona Crompton, heat winner and runner-up from 2021, also Cathie Dance and James Pitt; from Ripon Spa: Andrea Widdison; representing Sheffield: Eugene Chang.
Congratulations to Cathie on winning the runner-up prize in the national Final. As James observed, “It was a nail-biting finish. But Cathie held her nerve and concentration. Her tactics were superb and her accuracy just about perfect. She deserved this!” The crystal goblet awaits a christening as it was not large enough for Cathie’s celebratory beer! Congratulations also due to Callum on making a successful defence of his 2021 title at York, and to Chris Atkinson who, in his 2nd season of croquet, was runner-up in this heat. Sadly Covid intervened to prevent his travelling to Nottingham to compete.
A total of £270 was raised from the YCF heats in aid of this year’s nominated charity, Mind. Since 2007 £54K has been raised for various charities from regional heats. Big thanks to players in Yorkshire clubs, including Beverley & East Riding and Ryedale, for supporting the event, and let’s do it again next year.
Cathie in play at NottinghamYork players Fiona and James (right and 2nd from right)Callum in play at NottinghamYork heatSelfie from Sheffield heat
