Sidmouth Herald published 17 July 2014
Photo LtoR:
Back: Rob Mathews, John Dixon, Peter Nelson, Ian Friedlander, David Temple, Derek Andrews, David Butler, Philip Harris, Mike Taylor
Front: Anne Reece, Graeme Pryor, Pam Bowra, Nancy Temple, Barbara Clark, Sue Rodgers, David Clarke
Last weekend Sidmouth Croquet Club held its annual Association Croquet Doubles Tournament, playing for the Colclough and Sidmouth Cups, writes Helen Pryor.
This year there were only eight pairs playing, whereas in the past this tournament attracted twice that number.
The pairs were divided into two blocks, with everyone playing the other couples in their block (three games each).
On Saturday afternoon, after the three games were played, there were two semi-finals to be played by the winners and runners-up in each block.
Mike Taylor and Rob Matthews, (Block A) had won all three of their games and now played Derek Andrew and Ian Friedlander, runners-up in Block B, both winning two games.
The other semi-final was between David and Barbara Clarke, winners of Block B (two match wins) and John Dixon and Anne Reece runners-up in Block A (also with two match wins).
While this was going, on all the other players played a ‘friendly’ game with players from the other block.
The finalists then elected to have tea, before contesting the final rather than returning to play it on Sunday morning.
The forecast rain never came and the final was played to a conclusion with David and Barbara Clarke taking on the pairing of Mike Taylor and Rob Matthews.
After a slow start, this proved to be a very entertaining match to watch as some hoops seemed to be almost impossible to run.
Barbara’s first two hoops were run for her by the opposition and Mike took five attempts to run his final hoop!
Mike and Rob, who because of a higher combined handicap than David and Barbara had two bisques to play with, pushed ahead and towards the end were well in the lead.
With David, then Mike reaching the peg, followed by Rob it was up to Barbara to catch up.
After a valiant try, with time passing, she was set an impossible task, and Rob ‘pegged out’ to finish the match and land he and his playing partner an 18-12 victory.
This was certainly a most enjoyable two days of play, enjoyed by all, with the mostly sunny weather helping with the general atmosphere of the fun and friendly tournament which is really what a weekend of doubles is all about!
Phot double 17 Jul 14
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