Spalding Trophy 2018

25-26 August, Knightswood

Eight pairs contested the Spalding trophy at Knightswood this year, teams largely consisting of one low handicap and one high handicap player.  Favourites, inasmuch as they had won the first two playings of the trophy and were the lowest of the low bisquers and the lowest of the high bisquers, were John Surgener and Bill Strachan.  However the manager had introduced a complication by giving all the other teams a small number of bisques.  He intended these to be used to allow promising breaks, particularly peeling ones, to continue after errors.  In the event quite a few were used to pick up breaks. The competition was as usual played as alternate stroke doubles to the laws of advanced play.

Read more: Spalding Trophy 2018

The Fergus McInnes Tankard

The Fergus McInnes Tankard is awarded annually in recognition of a personal best peeling exploit by an SCA member: it could be your first triple, your first straight triple, your first fifth or sixth turn triple, the first time you had two triples in a best-of-three. The circumstances of the game might matter: a triple to win +2tp would be special, or indeed a three-ball triple for a +1tp victory. It might be the first time you managed four, five or six peels, though if you regularly complete triples, performing your first quadruple by sticking in 3-back and having the innings gifted back by your opponent would not be particularly highly regarded.

If you manage a peeling exploit which is a special one for you, please email a description of your achievement, including details of the tournament, venue and opponent, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., who will collate submissions for the consideration of the executive committee at their end-of-season meeting.

Read more: The Fergus McInnes Tankard

Aberdeen Tournament 2018

8-9 September 2018, Albury and Westburn Centres

Hosted by Aberdeen and Crathes Croquet Club, 14 entered this year’s event with the regulars from the North of England and the Central Belt along with local players.  At the end of Saturday’s matches played in very pleasant sunshine, Block 1 was headed by George Plant,  Block 2 by Jola Jurasinska and Jamieson Walker was unbeaten in Block 3.  Sunday saw the Block 1:2 play offs with George winning through to the final and Malcolm Robertson qualifying for the Wine final for the second year running.  Jamieson continued his winning ways and qualified for the final before losing his last game to Robert Bell who then qualified for the Wine final as runner-up.

Read more: Aberdeen Tournament 2018