National Competitions 2017
GC Interclub Final 23rd September
Report by Dr Tim King
Peterborough Croquet Club became the twelfth different venue of the GC Inter-Club final and witnessed Ashby coming out top in a tight encounter with Letchworth.
The match score was close but only the deciding rubber went to three games, so the number of swings in fortune were relatively limited during the course of the day.
Letchworth were appearing in their first final, having beaten previous winners Surbiton (quarter-finals) and Dulwich (semi-finals) in earlier rounds. Both those ties were away. Letchworth had a settled team of the same four players for the whole season.
Ashby, in contrast, were competing in their tenth final. Their team consisted of players with a total between them of 27 previous appearances in finals. The team was at an unexpected disadvantage when David Bell picked up a bout of tendinitis a couple of days before play. His replacement Mike O'Brian, however, had appeared in all three of Ashby's previous winning teams (2010, 2012, 2015).
The other main feature of the final was a Mounfield as captain of each side, with Ray (non-playing) for Ashby against his son Nick, who was the only Letchworth player with any experience of GC Inter-Club finals, having represented Ashby in 2004 (when they lost against Colchester). The latter became only the third player to represent two different clubs in finals, with the others being Nelson Morrow (Hurlingham and Surbiton) and John Spiers (Blewbury and Surbiton). John is the only player to have won with two different clubs (Blewbury in 2007 and Surbiton in 2011).
The teams arrived for a 10:00 start to discover the weather at odds with the forecast: a light drizzle was in the air. They were suitably keen to start, however, and their enthusiasm was rewarded with the rain soon ceasing. The weather eventually became much brighter and acceptably mild.
Ashby made the first breakthrough of the day with Tim King winning his first game against John Skingsley, 7-2.
In keeping with the rest of the day, balance was quickly restored by John Noble beating Mike O'Brian 7-4.
In the meantime, the doubles was much tighter but Ashby prevailed at the golden hoop.
All three rubbers showed little change in their second games other than the doubles being slightly less close and Skingsley performing better against King. The consequence was a morning session that was shorter than many and Ashby gaining a 2-1 lead at lunch.
The Peterborough club put on a fantastic catering effort to make the finalists feel most welcome and very satisfied at the end of their meals.
Lunch appeared to give Letchworth the better effect and, although Mounfield only won at the golden hoop against Will Gee, they were looking in good shape with winning the first game in three of the rubbers.
Rachel Rowe was the one immediate success for Ashby, with a 7-4 win against David Tutt. She then had a closer second game but when she won at the golden hoop, Ashby were one point from victory.
Gee gave the Ashby team hope by clinically restoring parity in his rubber.
O'Brian and King though were not making enough headway to overcome their deficits. The former fell first and when the latter could not prevent Noble taking their second game 7-6, Letchworth had drawn level.
Fortunately for Ashby, although the crowd all rushed across to the remaining court, there was not a great deal of tension as Gee had established a 5-3 lead in the deciding game of the deciding rubber. He proceeded to keep the pressure firmly on Mounfield and the score went to 6-3 and then 7-3 without too much further drama. Ashby had become GC Inter-Club Champions for the fourth time (each at a different venue).
The Peterborough spectators were highly attentive to the spectacle of the final. They were generally not familiar with high-level competitive play and had plenty of questions for the Ashby club members who had travelled to support their team. These questions covered rules and tactics, with the whole experience hopefully inspiring Peterborough to join the competitive circuit with greater confidence in their ability to understand and execute the sport.
As Tournament Director, John Bowcott left home at an early hour and was in attendance for the whole day. He handed the trophy to the winning team and thanked Peterborough for the enthusiasm and success with which they hosted the final.
Key statistics
Letchworth vs Ashby
Nick Mounfield & David Tutt 6-7 4-7 Will Gee & Rachel Rowe
John Noble 7-4 7-4 Michael O'Brian
John Skingsley 2-7 5-7 Tim King
Nick Mounfield 7-6 0-7 3-7 Will Gee
David Tutt 4-7 6-7 Rachel Rowe
John Noble 7-5 7-6 Tim King
John Skingsley 7-4 7-5 Michael O'Brian
Matches Letchworth 3 Ashby 4
Games Letchworth 7 Ashby 8
Hoops Letchworth 79 Ashby 90
Report by Dr Tim King
Peterborough Croquet Club became the twelfth different venue of the GC Inter-Club final and witnessed Ashby coming out top in a tight encounter with Letchworth.
The match score was close but only the deciding rubber went to three games, so the number of swings in fortune were relatively limited during the course of the day.
Letchworth were appearing in their first final, having beaten previous winners Surbiton (quarter-finals) and Dulwich (semi-finals) in earlier rounds. Both those ties were away. Letchworth had a settled team of the same four players for the whole season.
Ashby, in contrast, were competing in their tenth final. Their team consisted of players with a total between them of 27 previous appearances in finals. The team was at an unexpected disadvantage when David Bell picked up a bout of tendinitis a couple of days before play. His replacement Mike O'Brian, however, had appeared in all three of Ashby's previous winning teams (2010, 2012, 2015).
The other main feature of the final was a Mounfield as captain of each side, with Ray (non-playing) for Ashby against his son Nick, who was the only Letchworth player with any experience of GC Inter-Club finals, having represented Ashby in 2004 (when they lost against Colchester). The latter became only the third player to represent two different clubs in finals, with the others being Nelson Morrow (Hurlingham and Surbiton) and John Spiers (Blewbury and Surbiton). John is the only player to have won with two different clubs (Blewbury in 2007 and Surbiton in 2011).
The teams arrived for a 10:00 start to discover the weather at odds with the forecast: a light drizzle was in the air. They were suitably keen to start, however, and their enthusiasm was rewarded with the rain soon ceasing. The weather eventually became much brighter and acceptably mild.
Ashby made the first breakthrough of the day with Tim King winning his first game against John Skingsley, 7-2.
In keeping with the rest of the day, balance was quickly restored by John Noble beating Mike O'Brian 7-4.
In the meantime, the doubles was much tighter but Ashby prevailed at the golden hoop.
All three rubbers showed little change in their second games other than the doubles being slightly less close and Skingsley performing better against King. The consequence was a morning session that was shorter than many and Ashby gaining a 2-1 lead at lunch.
The Peterborough club put on a fantastic catering effort to make the finalists feel most welcome and very satisfied at the end of their meals.
Lunch appeared to give Letchworth the better effect and, although Mounfield only won at the golden hoop against Will Gee, they were looking in good shape with winning the first game in three of the rubbers.
Rachel Rowe was the one immediate success for Ashby, with a 7-4 win against David Tutt. She then had a closer second game but when she won at the golden hoop, Ashby were one point from victory.
Gee gave the Ashby team hope by clinically restoring parity in his rubber.
O'Brian and King though were not making enough headway to overcome their deficits. The former fell first and when the latter could not prevent Noble taking their second game 7-6, Letchworth had drawn level.
Fortunately for Ashby, although the crowd all rushed across to the remaining court, there was not a great deal of tension as Gee had established a 5-3 lead in the deciding game of the deciding rubber. He proceeded to keep the pressure firmly on Mounfield and the score went to 6-3 and then 7-3 without too much further drama. Ashby had become GC Inter-Club Champions for the fourth time (each at a different venue).
The Peterborough spectators were highly attentive to the spectacle of the final. They were generally not familiar with high-level competitive play and had plenty of questions for the Ashby club members who had travelled to support their team. These questions covered rules and tactics, with the whole experience hopefully inspiring Peterborough to join the competitive circuit with greater confidence in their ability to understand and execute the sport.
As Tournament Director, John Bowcott left home at an early hour and was in attendance for the whole day. He handed the trophy to the winning team and thanked Peterborough for the enthusiasm and success with which they hosted the final.
Key statistics
- Letchworth fielded the same team of Nick Mounfield, David Tutt, John Noble and John Skingsley in each of their four ties in 2017.
- Ashby fielded Will Gee (4 appearances), Mike O'Brian (4), Tim King (3), Rachel Rowe (3) and David Bell (2) in their four ties.
- Peterborough became the twelfth venue to host the final in the 18-year history of the Championship. Peterborough is the second most northerly of the venues (after Nottingham) to date. Nottingham (2000, 2001, 2003) and Wrest Park (2008, 2009, 2010) have both hosted the final three times. Letchworth (2011, 2012) and Cheltenham (2015, 2016) are the only other venues to host more than once.
- Letchworth became the 13th club to reach a final of the Championship.
- Ashby have appeared in ten GC Inter-Club finals. This year, they appeared for the third year in a row (from 2007 to 2012 they appeared in six consecutive finals). The next most appearances is from Surbiton (nine). No other club has appeared more than twice.
- Ashby are Inter-Club GC Champions for the fourth time (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017). Surbiton are the most successful club with six titles (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016). Dulwich (2013, 2014) and Tyneside (2000, 2002) are the only other clubs to have won more than once (twice each).
- Letchworth and Ashby have played each other four times in the Inter-Club GC Championship (2009, 2010, 2015 and 2017). Ashby have won all four of those matches.
- Letchworth have appeared in every season of the Championship since 2008 (10 consecutive years). Letchworth are the only club ever to have fielded two teams in the Championship in the same season (2008).
- Ashby have appeared in every season of the Championship (which started in 2000) except for 2001. This is a total of 17 appearances, the last 16 of which have been consecutive.
- The players (from all clubs) with most appearances in finals are: Tim King (10), Samir Patel (8), Will Gee (8), Don Beck (7).
- Samir Patel (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016) and Don Beck (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015) are the only players to have played five times in a team winning the final. Will Gee, Mike O'Brian and Tim King have played in all four of Ashby's winning teams (2010, 2012, 2015, 2017).
- By being unavailable for the semi-final against Bowdon, Tim King ended a run of 20 consecutive appearances for the Ashby team. He has played 38 out of 42 ties that Ashby have played in the Championship. Ashby have used 14 players in that time (including Nick Mounfield, who captained the Letchworth team for each of their ties in 2017). The other top appearances are Mike O'Brian (28), Will Gee (28), Ray Mounfield (25) and Rachel Rowe (20).
Letchworth vs Ashby
Nick Mounfield & David Tutt 6-7 4-7 Will Gee & Rachel Rowe
John Noble 7-4 7-4 Michael O'Brian
John Skingsley 2-7 5-7 Tim King
Nick Mounfield 7-6 0-7 3-7 Will Gee
David Tutt 4-7 6-7 Rachel Rowe
John Noble 7-5 7-6 Tim King
John Skingsley 7-4 7-5 Michael O'Brian
Matches Letchworth 3 Ashby 4
Games Letchworth 7 Ashby 8
Hoops Letchworth 79 Ashby 90
Golf Croquet Inter-Club
Letchworth beat Dulwich 4.5 - 2.5
By Nick Mounfield at Dulwich Croquet Club August 7th
Letchworth have reached the GC Interclub Final for the first time thanks to a hard-fought win away to Dulwich.
The morning session saw Letchworth's doubles pairing of Nick Mounfield and David Tutt beat Dulwich's Pierre Beaudry and Guy Scurfield. The two singles matches were shared (Sue Lightbody of Dulwich beating John Noble, and John Skingsley of Letchworth beating Andrew Dymond).
With the doubles finishing first, it was decided to play the first game of these players' singles matches. Dulwich won both games (Pierre beating Nick and Guy beating David), meaning the score at lunch was Letchworth 2, Dulwich 1 - with Dulwich one game up in two of the remaining four singles matches. Very evenly poised.
After an excellent lunch the two singles matches resumed and two more started afresh.
Guy wasted no time in winning the second game against David to level the overall score at 2-2.
Nick took the second against Pierre to level their match, and Letchworth's John N and John S both took a one game lead against Andrew and Sue respectively.
Nick then won the decider against Pierre to leave Letchworth needing just one more match win to progress. They didn't have to wait long: John N won his second against Andrew to give Letchworth an unassailable 4-2 lead. Sue rallied and won the second game against John S, at which point both players decided to shake hands and eat cake.
Letchworth will play Ashby in the final.
Full results:
Pierre (-4) and Guy (-3) lost to Nick (-3) and David (-1): 5-7, 2-7
Andrew (-1) lost to John S (2): 5-7, 5-7
Sue (-1) beat John N (-1): 7-5, 7-4
Pierre lost to Nick: 7-5, 5-7, 4-7
Guy beat David: 7-3, 7-2
Andrew lost to John N: 5-7, 5-7
Sue tied with John S: 3-7, 7-4
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