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24 September 2000

SWF Intermediate Final, All England Handicap Final, Advanced league qualifier.

Double Celebration for Nailsea Croquet Club

On Saturday they won the Final of the South West Federation Intermediate League and over the weekend 15 year-old MARCUS EVANS won the Final of All England Handicap Championships, which was held at Nottingham Croquet Club.

SWF Intermediate league Final

In the Intermediate League Final PAT LONG and MARY BARNES narrowly lost the doubles, but with a comfortable win by GEOFF HUGHES and a narrow one by ROY HAWKINS Nailsea took a 2-1 lead in the morning. In the afternoon PAT, GEOFF and ROY all won their singles to secure a 5-2 win over Plymouth who had beaten the Nailsea Club by the same margin in the ‘B’ League earlier in the season.

Results:

PAT LONG & MARY BARNES lost –1(T)

GEOFF HUGHES won +25 & +10 ROY HAWKINS won +2 & +18

PAT LONG won +7(T) MARY BARNES lost –14

All England Handicap Final at Nottingham 23 - 24 September 2000.

In the Final of the All England Handicap MARCUS EVANS won all three games on Saturday to win his block and qualify for the semi-final. His second game included a 12-hoop break, which gains him a Croquet Association Silver Award. In the semi-final on Sunday, he beat a Nottingham player and in the final he had a convincing win over a member of The Hurlingham Club, London. This is the best performance ever in this event by a Nailsea member.

Hamish Hall presents Marcus Evans with his Trophy

In the 1980’s JOHN MANN was runner-up two years running, but no Nailsea member has ever won the Tournament before this year. At the end of the Tournament MARCUS gained a handicap reduction from 10 to 7. Since the beginning of the season his handicap has come down from 22 to 7 showing how much he has improved this year.

Results:

1. MARCUS EVANS, 5 wins out of 5, block +14, +4, +15, semi-final +12, final +25.

6. FRANCES RANSOM (Bristol), 3 wins.     16. HAMISH HALL (Bristol), 1 win.

Advanced League Qualifier Final

On Sunday the Nailsea Club hosted the Final of the Advanced League Qualifier. This was won by Bath who beat Budleigh Salterton by 3 games to 1. The final game had to be abandoned because the lawns became waterlogged and unplayable due to heavy rain.

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