EAST MIDLANDS CONTINUED
Viewing point over lawn 6
Finals day starts with a protest at the Hockey Centre opposite where Ultimate Frisbee World Masters is taking place. If you’ve never seen it, you must - it’s great, mad, but great. There are a multitude of protesters, police and officials at the entrance gate, with an unexpected “no parking available here today”. The poor person on the loud hailer had obviously been shouting for a while and was now quite hoarse. I honestly couldn’t work out what they were protesting about - one minute shouts of “Palestinians” and then I’m asked if I’m aware about Russia and Belarus… I acknowledge my ignorance, mutter “just here for the croquet” and I’m waived away to find parking elsewhere. First game for me to watch today is the catch-up game for James Death vs Aaron Westerby to complete the Draw, then we can start finals proper. Aaron wins it with another simple, neat triple, and play moves on. Manager rubs his hands, delighted that play is moving on at a good pace. Sideline : I first met Aaron in 1990 when Debbie and I were “travelling with mallets”. This has spurred me on to look at old gazettes for reports I made back then. (See Croquet Gazette Issues on Croquet England site for back issues). Fun to research, crazy fun to see old pics of players and friends from the 90’s. Noticeable is the men’s fashion in shorts! So relieved to look up and see that shorts are now longer (apart from one culprit). Underpants are also less visible, thankfully, memories of being able to see Homer Simpson as a player bends down to take croquet still clear in minds – can’t remember who they belonged to though. Back to play. Plate Knock-out has been on-going today, and the final is between Nigel Polhill and Rick Harding. Nigel had been staying at Rick’s, and the night before (over a bottle or two) they had agreed that Rick would set up for a sextuple – he didn’t, claims he didn’t remember the conversation. Nigel did get to 4back, but Rick was already there, and competently played a triple to claim the East Midlands Plate title. Back to the main event and Aaron has won the Draw, and Robin Brown beat James in the Process final - meaning that we have Aaron vs Robin in the main final. Players decide not to go for best of three (Manager refused them the option of best of five). Sadly for Robin, the hitting just didn’t work, but the spectators were given another successful triple to watch from Aaron. He has played very smoothly all weekend and it is a well-deserved title of East Midlands Champion 2026 for him.
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