"I didn't know you can play croquet in the winter"

We all may have heard something similar.  Yesterday, eight people from six different clubs showed that you most definitely can, as they took part in the first of the GC level play Winter Tournaments for 4 and lower handicaps.

​Handicaps ranged from -2 to 4, yet there were some very close contests between people of differing standards on paper, 13 out of the 20 games going to 7-6 or 7-5.  As the afternoon went on, Peter Adams (Caversham) and Geoff Johnson (HWCC) progressively emerged as the two main contenders, but in the end Peter came home to lift the prize bottle of bubbly through a better net hoops total.

Everyone got to taste victory, tea and homemade cake.  Serious and skilful play, cheerful chat between games, all before the sun went down.

(The event also served as the first try-out of a new app for managing Swiss format tournaments, designed by Keith Pound and his IT wizard son.   HWCC never stands still!)

Chris Webbley