Golf Croquet Handicap 2019

16 June 2019, Meadows

The event was played at the Meadows Croquet Club. Fortunately the anticipated rain kept off and it turned out to be ideal weather for playing croquet. There were only four entrants: Brian Cosford (6), Tom Dewar (6), Bruce Bennet (6) and Rachel Frith (11). This was disappointing and next year we must make more of an effort to ensure that GC players who are not SCA members are aware of this tournament and encouraged to enter.

As there were only four players everyone played everyone twice. We played six games, finishing at about 3.30 pm. There was some excellent play and several remarkable flukes such as running hoops one and two with one shot. As everyone had three wins the overall winner was decided on net points.

Read more: Golf Croquet Handicap 2019

Basil Townsend Quaich 2019

21 July 2019, Auchincruive

In a close competition with most games going to time, four teams competed for the trophy: Auchincruive (Kevin Wright), Edinburgh (Kathy Brown), Glasgow (Richard Sparrow) and Meadows (Roger Binks), each team playing three 18-point games. The weather was fine apart from the last 20 minutes when the heavens opened on Kathy and Kevin who were still playing, and with the score level, had to play the ‘golden hoop’ in the torrential rain. Auchincruive, won all their games and took the trophy.

Read more: Basil Townsend Quaich 2019

Scottish Short Croquet Championship 2019

18 August 2019, Balgreen

With eight entrants, the format this year was a single American Block with all-play-all. The 14-point games, played on half lawns and with a one hour time limit, meant that, although some games finished quickly, nobody had to wait long before returning to the lawns.

The laws allow for all but the very low handicap players to have a suitably adjusted number of bisques in every game. Not only did Jane Morrison, the lowest handicap entrant, not receive bisques but the short croquet handicap table showed that she also was required to do two mandatory peels in every game. Jane accepted that this would be excellent practice for all the triples she will be doing next season and, to her credit, she still went on to win 43% of her games.

Read more: Scottish Short Croquet Championship 2019