MCCLEMENTS CUP [EASTER AC HANDICAP]
By Minty Clinch
Cheltenham Croquet Club opened its CqE season with a fierce handicap competition for the McClements Cup. 22 players arrived on a bitter Good Friday to find James Death, a last minute replacement for Peter Petrie, in full control of the organisation as well as the catering he’d already signed up for. Nine hours later, he announced the skilful octet who’d fought their way to the Saturday knockout to three heavily muffled survivors in semi darkness. Most would have put their money on Sarah Hayes and Dave Kibble; others who had risen to the occasion included the Nottingham couple, Mike Hedge and Nicky Newberry, Liz Webb from Bowden, Kibble’s fellow Bristolian, Neil Kingston, and Cheltenham’s own John Gilden and Brent Watkins. By the time James served his pork pie lunch on Saturday, eight had become four with the two minus handicappers, Dave and Sarah, in one semi and Neil (2.5) and Nicky (18) in the other. James grabbed a pint and sat down to wait. And wait. Games between experts are often played with swift dispatch, but not this one. ‘It’ll be over when one of us stops messing up’ Sarah commented, on her way to a narrow win. An all women’s final? Only if Nicky’s forest of bisques could hold out against Neil’s rare errors. As it did. James sighed and pulled another pint. Nearly everyone else went home.
Nicky used her bisques to build an early lead in the final, only to see Sarah close in ominously as time was running down. At 22‐ 23, she miscalculated the clock and failed to run the vital equalising hoop, allowing Nicky to survive +1 on time. A shame so few were there to applaud her as high bisquers rarely hold their nerve to ride so high against an irrepressible force like Sarah Hayes. Thank you to James for his organisation, even the also rans had a great time!
07929 940893 mlstuchfield@gmail.com Marie Stuchfield
Beautifully crafted mallets from South Africa.
Aluminium or carbon shaft, peripherally weighted.
Ex stock or bespoke. You choose.
A delight to play with. From £155 including postage.
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 16
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting