National Competitions 2017
Golf Croquet Inter-club
Letchworth beat Surbiton 5-2
By Nick Mounfield at Surbiton
11 Jul 2017
Unable to field their strongest line-up, last year’s champions lost out on home soil to Letchworth.
After the first two singles matches left things all-square - Don Beck (Surbiton) beating John Skingsley (Letchworth), and David Tutt (Letchworth) beating Alison Jones (Surbiton) – all eyes fell on the deciding game in the doubles match.
Although it didn’t prove decisive, this game was definitely the turning point. Nick Mounfield and John Noble (Letchworth) eventually beating Chris Farthing and John Spiers (Surbiton) at the 12th hoop. The game looked destined to go to the 13th, but a wonderful clearance from the South boundary by John Noble left himself in a hoop running position and Chris (next to play) blocked from both oppo balls and the hoop. Surbiton would now need to win three of the four afternoon singles matches to progress.
After lunch - an excellent vegan curry prepared by George Noble (no relation to John) – proceedings resumed.
Chris (weighed down by a second portion of curry) struggled to find his form and quickly lost the first against Nick. The second was a much closer affair, going the all the way to the 13th. Chris looked favourite to take the match into a decider when, from distance, he cleared Nick from just in front of the hoop to the North boundary, retaining his own hoop-running position in the process. The shot didn’t receive the reward it deserved though as Nick turned down the chance of a clearance and ran the hoop instead. Chris thought Nick might have found Surbiton’s usual number one, Stephen Mulliner, a tougher nut to crack. Nick agreed.
So, 3-1 to Letchworth, with the other three singles matches all going to a third game. Unfortunately for the hosts any flicker of a comeback was soon extinguished when John Skingsley won his decider against Alison. John, who has an excellent record in the Interclub, rarely gets rattled and this proved to be the case again.
The final two matches were then shared, with Don’s usual solid play getting the better of David, and John Noble netting himself a hatful of handicap points by beating John Spiers. Final score, 5-2 to Letchworth.
Letchworth will now face Dulwich in the semi-final.
Full results:
Chris Farthing (-3) & Jon Spiers (-3) lost to Nick Mounfield (-3) & John Noble (-1): 7-5, 2-7, 5-7
Don Beck (-1) beat John Skingsley (2): 7-5, 7-4
Alison Jones (3) lost to David Tutt (0): 6-7, 4-7
Chris Farthing lost to Nick Mounfield: 0-7, 6-7
Alison Jones lost to John Skingsley: 1-7, 7-5, 4-7
John Spiers lost to John Noble: 7-5, 3-7, 5-7
Don Beck beat David Tutt: 7-3, 6-7, 7-6
GC Inter-Club
Letchworth beat Watford 6-1
by Nick Mounfield at Letchworth Croquet Club 5th May (Golf Croquet Inter-Club)
Letchworth prevailed 6-1 in their first-round all-Hertfordshire tie against Watford.
The day started well for the hosts, with Nick Mounfield and John Noble winning their doubles match in two games, and John Skingsley also winning his singles match in two games. The third match of the morning was a much more protracted affair, with Letchworth's David Tutt eventually winning through against the tenacious John Smallbone in three games. All of which gave Letchworth a 3-0 lead going into the afternoon session.
Sadly for the visitors, the afternoon session also started well for the hosts. John Noble and David Tutt both winning in two games. 5-0 Letchworth. With the tie in the bag all eyes turned to the remaining two matches, which by this point were both level at one game each. Nick Mounfield won his decider against Nick Archer thanks to a series of spectacular hoop runs (H7 from the boundary near corner 2, H8 from about peg high, and the deciding H11 from the centre of the north boundary). The final match to finish saw John Smallbone secure a point for Watford. Unfortunately a case of too little, too late for the visitors.
Final score, 6-1 to Letchworth, who now face the winners of Surbiton and Sussex.
Results (Letchworth first): Nick Mounfield (-3) & John Noble (-1) beat Nick Archer (-2) & Steve Dennis (1): 7-4, 7-5 David Tutt (0) beat John Smallbone (2): 6-7, 7-3, 7-5 John Skingsley (2) beat John Walker (1): 7-4, 7-5 Nick Mounfield beat Nick Archer: 7-1, 5-7, 7-4 John Noble beat Steve Dennis: 7-3, 7-3 David Tutt beat John Walker: 7-4, 7-5
Letchworth beat Watford 6-1
by Nick Mounfield at Letchworth Croquet Club 5th May (Golf Croquet Inter-Club)
Letchworth prevailed 6-1 in their first-round all-Hertfordshire tie against Watford.
The day started well for the hosts, with Nick Mounfield and John Noble winning their doubles match in two games, and John Skingsley also winning his singles match in two games. The third match of the morning was a much more protracted affair, with Letchworth's David Tutt eventually winning through against the tenacious John Smallbone in three games. All of which gave Letchworth a 3-0 lead going into the afternoon session.
Sadly for the visitors, the afternoon session also started well for the hosts. John Noble and David Tutt both winning in two games. 5-0 Letchworth. With the tie in the bag all eyes turned to the remaining two matches, which by this point were both level at one game each. Nick Mounfield won his decider against Nick Archer thanks to a series of spectacular hoop runs (H7 from the boundary near corner 2, H8 from about peg high, and the deciding H11 from the centre of the north boundary). The final match to finish saw John Smallbone secure a point for Watford. Unfortunately a case of too little, too late for the visitors.
Final score, 6-1 to Letchworth, who now face the winners of Surbiton and Sussex.
Results (Letchworth first): Nick Mounfield (-3) & John Noble (-1) beat Nick Archer (-2) & Steve Dennis (1): 7-4, 7-5 David Tutt (0) beat John Smallbone (2): 6-7, 7-3, 7-5 John Skingsley (2) beat John Walker (1): 7-4, 7-5 Nick Mounfield beat Nick Archer: 7-1, 5-7, 7-4 John Noble beat Steve Dennis: 7-3, 7-3 David Tutt beat John Walker: 7-4, 7-5
Longman Cup match
Match played at Colchester on Tuesday 23rd May
On a lovely sunny morning I was joined by Jeremy Scott (who was so eager to play he arrived so early at my house that I was still in the shower) then Heather Bennet for the drive over to Colchester. Peter Ross, the other member making up the Letchworth team, drove himself direct from Cambridge. The satnav decided that the best route for the morning was up the A505 to Duxford, down the M11, then across on the A120, which took us straight into Colchester. By chance Peter arrived moments before us. The Colchester lawns all looked to be in fantastic condition, a lush green, beautifully cut, and which proved to be reasonably fast but true once play got underway. Our opponents consisted on three ladies and just the one chap, who having previously played off 6, currently an 8, let it be known that he had not forgotten what to do. We played in lovely sunshine, and drank plenty of water. The lunchtime scores showed just the one point difference. For lunch we drank beer, wine and water to accompany a delightful selection of quiche, salad, dressings, and as it got hotter early in the afternoon, undressings. Puds consisted of an Etonian mess reconstituted which meant it was in one piece, and a chocolate roulade, which had to be tested a second time to check that it really was a chocolatey as the first piece. Suitably fortified, the afternoon games commenced with great gusto. There was a good mixture of thrust and parry, matched by parry and thrust, in all the games. Only one game went to time, after which we had to sit and eat home-made cake, although it was commented upon that there were no cucumber sandwiches, regardless of whether they would have had the crust on, or more properly removed. The tea and coffee served with the cakes was a delight to behold. After fond farewells to our kind hosts we set off for North Hertfordshire. This time the satnav took us on the A120, but from Stansted directed us through the notorious hold-up pinch point at Little Hadham, to Puckeridge, then Buntingford and so to Baldock for Bygrave. Despite the different route, we were not held up at all. And so ended a wonderful day outdoors with great teammates and fun opponents.
Oh yes, the result. Of the seven games played, Letchworth lost by one. Next year maybe?? Peter Whiting
Match played at Colchester on Tuesday 23rd May
On a lovely sunny morning I was joined by Jeremy Scott (who was so eager to play he arrived so early at my house that I was still in the shower) then Heather Bennet for the drive over to Colchester. Peter Ross, the other member making up the Letchworth team, drove himself direct from Cambridge. The satnav decided that the best route for the morning was up the A505 to Duxford, down the M11, then across on the A120, which took us straight into Colchester. By chance Peter arrived moments before us. The Colchester lawns all looked to be in fantastic condition, a lush green, beautifully cut, and which proved to be reasonably fast but true once play got underway. Our opponents consisted on three ladies and just the one chap, who having previously played off 6, currently an 8, let it be known that he had not forgotten what to do. We played in lovely sunshine, and drank plenty of water. The lunchtime scores showed just the one point difference. For lunch we drank beer, wine and water to accompany a delightful selection of quiche, salad, dressings, and as it got hotter early in the afternoon, undressings. Puds consisted of an Etonian mess reconstituted which meant it was in one piece, and a chocolate roulade, which had to be tested a second time to check that it really was a chocolatey as the first piece. Suitably fortified, the afternoon games commenced with great gusto. There was a good mixture of thrust and parry, matched by parry and thrust, in all the games. Only one game went to time, after which we had to sit and eat home-made cake, although it was commented upon that there were no cucumber sandwiches, regardless of whether they would have had the crust on, or more properly removed. The tea and coffee served with the cakes was a delight to behold. After fond farewells to our kind hosts we set off for North Hertfordshire. This time the satnav took us on the A120, but from Stansted directed us through the notorious hold-up pinch point at Little Hadham, to Puckeridge, then Buntingford and so to Baldock for Bygrave. Despite the different route, we were not held up at all. And so ended a wonderful day outdoors with great teammates and fun opponents.
Oh yes, the result. Of the seven games played, Letchworth lost by one. Next year maybe?? Peter Whiting
