SHORT CROQUET FOCUS By John Harris THE SHORT CROQUET SEASON SO FAR
Short Croquet continues to expand at Club level, Federation level and nationally. The handicapping system makes for a wonderful melting-pot, in which high and low handicappers can meet on equal terms and make a game of it regardless of differences in skill and experience. Blewbury’s May tournament welcomed players from eight different clubs. Games, timed to 75 minutes, followed a Flexible Swiss format, with five games spread over six rounds to create extra spaces for some players from the waiting list of an oversubscribed tournament. Secondaries started at the other end of the lawn, compensated for by the red hoop being placed as the final hoop for secondaries – an arrangement which players soon got used to. Hilary Bird (Guildford) and Karen Newbould (Bromley) clung to the top of the leaderboard with four wins apiece out of five; Hilary finally prevailed on the last tie- break. Peterborough’s inaugural two-day June tournament attracted a wide range of handicaps, including several players with peels to complete. In the end the peelers had the best of it, perhaps aided by the generous 90-minute time allocation. Debbie Lines (4 peels) offered an exhibition in lawn mastery, indulging herself setting up intricate wired leaves while judiciously fitting in her peels as she went. She won all her games and romped to victory to take home the Adrian Kirby Cup. The Watford tournament, another inaugural Short Croquet event, combated predictions of a heatwave by offering competitors the option of standing down. Manager Simon Hathrell niftily organised the ten braving the conditions into two blocks, all in Block A playing all in Block B, and, between the block winners, who-beat-whom determining the overall victor. PETERBOROUGH SC 13-14 JUNE 2026 Debbie Lines won all her games to become the first ever champion of this new tournament at Peterborough. With only eight
Good performances from Andy Evason (Blewbury), Peter Adams (Guildford) and John Hutchinson (Ealing) kept the final result in the balance. Finally, it was Andre Machell (Watford) who prevailed by winning all his games, with Eddie Chung as a worthy runner-up. The Hamptworth tournament meanwhile gave several Tisbury CC players plenty to celebrate, including a strong showing from the club’s David Honour, playing in his first ever tournament. Otherwise the more seasoned players found themselves having to work hard to get the bisques of less experienced players out of the ground. Swindon’s Margaret Murray and Tony Mayer turned in notable performances in ideal croquet weather – sunny with a pleasant breeze. By close of play three players had each won every game bar one. The hoop-count tiebreaker established Jan Kot (Tisbury) as overall winner with fellow Tisbury member Clive Camp as runner up. L-R at the Watford SC tournament Cliff Jones (Old Brentwoods), Eddie Chung (Watford) and Hilary Bird (Guildford) check the SC wiring and peg-out laws Photo: John Harris
The title ultimately hinged on her clash with Owen Pugh, who had also won all his games, and it turned into a gripping tactical battle. Debbie secured the win by pegging Owen out and then repeatedly managing to either wire him or leave him only long shots, all while completing the required four peels. It was close, with her
stealing the win with only a few minutes left on the clock. The all-play-all block wrapped up by lunchtime on Sunday, leaving the afternoon free for some Hi-Lo Alternate Stroke Doubles. This was followed by a quick, chaotic game of Pirates before everyone headed home.
players, we enjoyed the rare luxury of single-banked games, ensuring everyone could play comfortably without having to look out for other balls or players.
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