Scottish Croquet Association

Aberdeen Tournament 2025

6-7 September, Albury

Bruce Bennet won on his first visit to Aberdeen, beating John Henderson (holder) in the final.

ACCC held its annual AC Tournament for the Aberdeen Quaich on 6/7^th September at Albury Community Sports Hub. Eight players entered: John Owen (-½), Stefan Colling (1), David Houston (3), John Henderson (4), Bill Strachan (7), Bruce Bennet (14), Dave McLaughlin (14) and Robert Bell (16). It was strange not to see Roger Staples playing, having supported the event since its inception, due to health problems. I wish him well for the future.

The format was two blocks of four players, with the block winners and runners-up going through to a knockout; 18pt, AC handicap rules, 2hr 30mins duration.

Saturday play in rather pleasant conditions saw some unexpected results. In Group 1 Dave McLaughlin won all his matches, with wins against John Owen and David Houston 18-0. Winning all his matches he qualified as group winner. The other players all won one match with John Owen runner-up thanks to scoring 35 hoops against Robert Bell’s 33 hoops.  In Group 2 Bruce Bennet and John Henderson qualified on 2 wins, Bruce winning the group by 2 hoops.  A surprise result was Bill Strachan’s 18-0 win over Stefan Colling, although it proved Bill’s highlight of the event.

Bill and Meg, Stefan and Zosia, Bruce and Sandy, John Owen, David Houston and Dave McLaughlin enjoyed an excellent evening meal at Al Fresco, an Italian restaurant, after play on the Saturday night.

Sunday’s playing conditions were as pleasant as Saturday’s. John Henderson produced an excellent performance in beating Dave McLaughlin 18-6, despite giving away seven bisques. Bruce Bennet with the help of 11½ bisques proved too strong against John Owen, winning 18-0. In the play-off matches Bill Strachan beat club mate Robert Bell (6 bisques) in a close match 14-12 and Stefan Colling’s form returned with a convincing win against David Houston (1½ bisques) 18-4.

In the final, Bruce Bennet (7 bisques), having lost to John Henderson in the group match, was looking to avenge that earlier defeat. He controlled the match with effective use of his bisques to construct a commanding lead. John never really got the opportunity to progress and Bruce was soon lining up a peg out from about five yards but over-hit his front ball and then missed with the back ball. John failed to make any further progress and Bruce then produced a good hampered roll shot close to the peg. This time he remembered he had an outstanding bisque, which he used, but his short rush shot was over-hit and pegged out his front ball in a grievous. John now faced the monumental task of finishing with only three balls but could not produce a break and Bruce then hit in and with a ball close to the peg took off and finally pegged out his ball to win 18-4.

Of the 18 matches played over the weekend only four went to time and there were three 18-0 wins.

Thanks to John Owen and David Houston for acting as referees, special thanks to John Owen for helping set up the lawns in the mornings and everyone who helped dismantle them at the end of play, Albury Community Sports Hub for the use of their facilities, Keith for supplying the large sweeping brush to remove the early morning dew and to the players for supporting our tournament.

Bill Strachan

Results

Finals

3rd/4th place play-off: Dave McLaughlin beat John Owen +17

Places 5-8