Kevin Carter won the IW Championship. Picture by Ashely Vaughan.
CROQUETMAINLAND players took the spoils at Ryde Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’s annual Festival of Croquet.
The three-day competition, which featured three IW players and five from across The Solent, incorporated the IW Croquet Championship for A Class players, and the Mary Robinson Challenge Shield, a handicap contest for B Class players.
Taking part were Graham Thompson (handicap 3) and Mike Cockburn (4.5), from Compton, Eastbourne, Derek Beard (6), from Taunton. First timers were Avril Machiavelli (6) and Kevin Carter (0), from Surbiton, while Ryde was represented by Philip Kennerley (1), Pamela Sim (11) and Richard Harris (11).
In the end it was Kevin who reigned supreme in the IW Championship, winning all nine of his matches across the weekend. Phillip was runner-up with four wins, with Avril and Graham each winning two games.
The Mary Robinson Challenge Shield was played in a group format with knock-out stages later.
On the first day, Mike and Richard had two wins each and Pamela and Derek one each, but Pamela produced excellent form on day two, with three wins to give her the lead. Richard also had two wins to keep in touch.
Sunday’s semi-finals saw group winner Pamela taking on Mike, and this turned out to be the closest game of the weekend, lasting three hours, and Mike winning by just three hoops. Meanwhile, Richard was in sparkling form against Derek, winning by seven hoops.
The final was again close, but Mike was hitting in from ever-increasing distances, while Richard was more off target in similar situations.
On time, Richard needed to make a break with black from hoop 3, but ended up missing the rush so putting paid to any hopes, as Mike eventually won by 11 to retain the trophy.
In addition to the main competition, Mike also won a One-Ball competition, which was held between games when time allowed.
He donated his prize of a bottle of wine to the club manager, who had donated it in the first place.
• More pictures in the Friday, June 1 edition of the County Press.