Raouf wins national title

Raouf Allim won the National Selectors Second Eight GC tournament last weekend to bring a National title to High Wycombe.
 
The 'Eights' sit in a trio of top-class tournaments at the pinnacle of UK croquet, just behind the British Open and the English Singles Championship.  They bring together the best players in the country, this time at Southwick, near Brighton.
 
The tournament is played as best-of-three matches throughout and is a real test of concentration and stamina.  The first phase is a seven match 'all play all' block over two and a half days, followed by same length matches for the semis and the final.
 
The blocks were very close indeed with only one player winning enough games to ensure qualification for the second phase ahead of the last round of block games. The  others including Raouf and Chris Roberts had to play yet more matches to qualify. Raouf won his match against Tim King (Ashby) but Chris lost to Guy Scurfield (Dulwich).
 
Allim stepped up a gear in his semi to beat Steve Leonard of Winterbourne Valley 7-5, 7-6. He hen had two terrific games with Scurfield in the final, both of which went to the final hoop for a 7-6, 7-6 victory, earning him the coveted Kate Jones Memorial Glass Trophy.
 
Well done our Raouf!

​Richard Peperell

---