EVERY year Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club organise and host a Golf Croquet Open Doubles Tournament. This event is part of the general round of national GC Tournaments and, because it is one of the few tournaments exclusively for doubles play, it attracts people from all over the South West.

Results are not recorded on handicap cards so it is a very relaxed event;but still competitive.

Twenty-two pairs applied for the 2025 tournament but, even with double banking on all four lawns, only sixteen could be accommodated. When divided into four blocks the morning play was in the ‘All-play-All’ format. The event was ‘seeded’ using the average ‘D’ grade for each pair, which determined the starting order. The ’Block’ play slightly favoured the top seeds, but as always there were one or two surprises.

The morning rounds ran to time but, as the generous hospitality and friendly chat in between games became longer, the time schedule slipped a little. In the afternoon it was a ‘Knockout’ for places 1-8 and a ‘Plate’ for places 9-16.

Nigel and Peter Balchin from Glamorgan CC won all three of their games, going on to win the Shield, with Phil Harris and Steve Pearson, from Sidmouth CC, snapping at their heels. The ‘Plate’ was dominated by Matt Pearson and Rob Ware from Bradford on Avon CC, the Plate winners from 2024.

As the Shield was presented tournament manager, Mo Boys, summed up the day saying; ‘The standard of play was generally very good, keeping the Tournament Referee, Brian Wilson, on his toes. The appetite and thirst for tea and cakes was as healthy as ever and this kept CPCC members Jill Parker and Sue Wagstaff busy all day. Thank you to them and all those who helped to put out hoops and make sure that the four CPCC lawns were ready for play.