CROQUET

Croquet Club Championships

The Croquet Club Championships are keenly contested every year by a wide range of players with abilities ranging from complete beginner to seasoned veterans of the game. There were four events this year. A golf croquet singles championship which was run as two blocks with the top two players from each block progressing to the semi finals. The Harrison Cup which is golf croquet doubles, a hugely enjoyable form of the game which all the players thoroughly enjoy. The Keith Cup is a handicap singles association croquet championship which allows the top players and beginners to play on a level playing field and finally the Chatooga Cup which is an advanced championship for the clubs top players.

 All of the events were played during the months of July and August with the three cups as knockout events and the golf singles as a block event. The finals day was held on Sunday 21 August.

 No final took place for the Harrison Cup as it was run as a draw and process knockout and both the draw and process were won by the same pairing, Alan Looney and Geraldine O'Rourke. Gerard Osborne Burke and Joyce Wood played Alan and Geraldine in a semi final on the morning of the finals day but were unable to win to take it to a decider. 

 The semi finals of the golf croquet singles croquet championship started at about 11am on a beautifully sunny August morning.

Semi final number one was between Sandy Greig and Jane O'Neill and semi final number two was Alan Looney and Gerard Osborne Burke.

Sandy Greig took firm control of the first semi final and stormed into a 3-0 lead. Meanwhile the other semi final was a much closer affair, neither opponent being able to get clear and in the end the match was decided on the 13th hoop. Both Gerard and Alan had hoop shots and misses before Gerard finally took it 7-6 with a foot long hoop shot. Sandy Greig had kept control in the other semi and the game finished 7-1 in his favour.

 The final was played straight after on lawn 1. It was a slightly one sided game, Sandy came out the winner with a score line of 7-2. Sandy is a player who has improved rapidly and was a worthy winner, playing very well throughout the championship. 

Next up was the Keith Cup which was contested by Sandy Greig and Nigel Werner. Nigel was the more experienced player and was giving Sandy bisques but there was a lot of interaction during this match. I think it was safe to say Sandy had a bit of an off game and soon didn't have many bisques to rely on. Nigel had a wonderful break only breaking down on the final hoop. Nigel was the winner, +20.

 The Chatooga Cup was running simultaneously to the Keith Cup and this was a match between Simon Williams and Nathaniel Healy. Simon was favourite and soon showed us why with good shooting and break play. He won the first game +25tp. Nathaniel proceeded to take control of game two going a break up and then starting a delayed triple peel. There were a few nervous moments, a very angled 3-back hoop amongst them but he managed to get two peels done only to miss a roquet on the way to penult. Simon then missed a roquet near Nathaniel's backward ball giving him another chance. But Nathaniel failed to run penult giving Simon another chance. Simon laid up for a sextuple but Nathaniel hit the tea lady (30+ yard shot). After both players made a few visits to the lawn Nathaniel finished it off +16 with a nice peg out taking it to a deciding game. Simon was always ahead in the final game and did a nice triple peel to clinch the championship +18tp.

 Many thanks to Mary Dobbyn for organising the afternoon tea which was served after the prize giving and to Simon Williams for keeping the lawns so well.

 Well done to all the winners and thanks to the players for their cooperation throughout the championships, I hope you all enjoyed it.

 Kieran Murphy
Acting Croquet Director

Championship of Co Dublin results

Championship Singles: South Easter Railway Cup:

Winner: Mark McInerney +14tp +26tp;  Runner up: Patsy Fitzgerald

Handicap Singles: Boxwell Cup: 
Winner: Kieran Murphy+6; Runner up: Nathaniel Healy

Handicap Doubles: Coronation Bowls

Winners: Ed Cunningham & Joe McGowan +7; Runners up: Andrew Johnston & Piers White

Advanced Singles (3.5-8 h’cap): Duff Matthews Cup
Winner: Stephen Strong +4; Runner up: Gerard Osborne Burke

 Singles Level Play: (9-14 h’cap)
Joe McGowan +12ot

14 Point Singles Level Play
Winner Cathal Cooney - Won both draw and process so no final

Plate Event: Hilary Webb Cup
Winner: Kieran Murphy

Many thanks to Evan Newell for his great Managership of the Championship.

Croquet success at Hurlingham:

Congratulations to the Carrickmines Croquet team of Paul Fallon, Simon Williams, Joe McGowan, Alan Looney, Nigel Werner. Anne Marie McGowan, Jane O'Neill and Sandy Greig who travelled to The Hurlingham Club in London last weekend - Carrickmines won the match, proudly regaining the trophy after some years of it being retained by the Hurlingham Club. 

Carrickmines Croquet winning team at Hurlingham 21-22 May 2011

Pictured: Paul Fallon, Simon Williams, Joe McGowan, Alan Looney, Nigel Werner and Jane O'Neill. Not pictured - Sandy Greig