Partner-swapping comes to croquet...

The last of the club’s winter AC tournaments took place on Sunday 15th March and was a brand-new format (for us): a doubles tournament but one in which players had a new partner each game.

As a doubles tournament, we had capacity for more players than usual and a field of 12 - all club members - was assembled. 

Players were divided into two groups by handicap, and high-bisquers were paired with  low-bisquers to play handicap doubles. Time limits of 90 minutes meant that there should be time for five games each (but more of that later).

The plan was that players should have a different partner for each game, and should only play each individual opponent once.  Manager Mike Porter had drawn up a spreadsheet to magically ensure this would happen… only for it to transpire at lunchtime that Richard Coward was scheduled to play Heather Hanshaw in all five games!  Back to Excel school… (Oh, Mike, I DO sympathise!  Chris Webbley, GC Competition Manager)  

On to the croquet - in the morning sunshine, we had some excitingly close games, with two of the first round matches being decided by a single point, including one dramatic comeback after time had been called. After two rounds, Mike Porter was the only low-handicapper to have won both games while Neil George and Mike West were unbeaten among the high-handicappers.  

After a convivial lunch in a crowded clubhouse, Mike P and Neil continued their unbeaten runs in the third game, and Neil teamed up with Gabriel Furse to beat Mike P and Kevin Ward in round 4.

At this point, the heavens had opened and by common agreement the tournament was brought to an early close. Mike P and Neil were declared the winners of their respective groups, with Alan Clark and Mike W taking the runners-up spots.

Despite the rain and the early finish, everyone enjoyed the format.  As one participant put it, “The good thing is that you’re not stuck with the same partner for more than one game”!  

Thanks to everyone for playing… and particular thanks to Patricia Mulcahy, who provided wonderful home-made cake and biscuits!