It was only a month ago that sprinklers were required to rejuvenate Camerton & Peasedown Croquet Club’s lawns for the climax of the season. With SWF league playoffs and finals, as well as an open doubles tournament looming, everything had to be perfect.
Luckily the weather had not broken for the GC South West Region Doubles Tournament, that attracted sixteen pairs from twelve clubs around the South West. The success of a similar event last year encouraged the club to make this an annual tournament.
Pairs were randomly grouped into four blocks, the winner of each of these mini-leagues formed the top block for the second round in the afternoon. The teams coming second in each block in the morning became the next lower block in the afternoon and so on. The winning pair were Dave Kibble from Bristol and Linda Shaw from Nailsea – a fitting triumph to their recent engagement.
The SWF AC Intermediate League playoff was a different story. CPCC’s match against Kington Langley, to go onward to the final, was badly affected by rain. Previous days’ showers and a deluge overnight left puddles on three of CPCC’s lawns. A postponement was out of the question.
Although by the afternoon two more lawns became available, it meant in the morning two games had to be played on the same lawn.
With no pavilion close and gusting winds, those sitting out as well as those on the lawns had to enjoy squally showers that even affected the mallet’s swing. Lunch was a blessing even at one-all. When the clouds broke after lunch, the sun beamed down on CPCC, who won the last three games, with Tony Brooks once again winning both of his. CPCC triumphed, and go on to play Lym Valley in the final at Bristol.
Malcolm Evans