Association CroquetNewport, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th May 2008
Anderson Shield results
by year:
Meanwhile in the national Inter-Counties Championship, Suffolk and Hertfordshire came 1st and 2nd in Division 2 and are promoted to Division 1 for 2009 where they join Essex.
The late May Bank Holiday weekend sees two inter-county croquet tournaments taking place. At Southwick and Compton on the South coast, some 150 players get together to contest "the" Inter-Counties tournament, while over in East Anglia, a more select group of players represent their counties in the Anderson Shield. This competition pits teams of four representing Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk against each other over two days of competition. In the four years in which the tournament has been running, a different county has won each year - would it be Suffolk's turn this time?*
The format of the tournament is for each county to play two games of doubles against each of the others, to a three-hour time limit. A match win is counted if a team wins both games; otherwise the match is drawn. Match wins followed by who-beat-whom would decide the winners, with game wins and game wins within time as potential tie-breakers. Following some initial confusion arising from the tournament referee being unaware of the rules, the first day's play got under way in pleasant sunshine.
Approaching the end of the first day, it was clear that this was going to be a close-run competition. Of the seventeen completed games, no fewer than four had ended +1 on time, and no team had more than one match win. The one remaining game on court proved something of a thriller for the watching crowd, as Feargal Smith (Norfolk) completed a tough break after time had been called to send the game against Bedfordshire into sudden death. Tim Brewer had the first opportunity, but failed to run 2-back, and Feargal made rover to win the game and the match for his team, with yet another +1(T) result. Going into the second day, all six teams were still in contention.
Day two brought back memories of last year's competition, with heavy rain falling through the morning's matches. Hertfordshire beat Cambridgeshire to record their second match win and set up a deciding final match against Norfolk. A match win for Norfolk would give them the shield, while Hertfordshire needed only a draw to retain their trophy.
In the event, the competition was decided without too much suspense. Hertfordshire 2 polished off Norfolk 2 fairly rapidly, securing overall victory and, after an odd decision by Jeff Race to allow his partner to be pegged out, Norfolk 1 were also soundly beaten.
Despite the poor weather on the second day, this tournament was once again a great success, and enjoyment was had by all. Congratulations to Hertfordshire on retaining their trophy, and thanks to the Newport club for hosting the event. Maybe next year, eh, Suffolk?
*Apparently no.
Report & photos by Mike Porter
| result vs: | Herts | Cambs | Essex | Norfolk | Beds | Suffolk | Matches won |
Games won |
Games won within time |
Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertfordshire |
1: +21 2: +11 Win |
1: +1T 2: -2T Draw |
1: +4 2: +20 Win |
1: +23 2: -9 Draw |
1: +20 2: +6 Win |
3 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| Cambridgeshire |
1: -21 2: -11 Loss |
1: -8 2: +3 Draw |
1: +11 2: +5T Win |
1: +16 2: +6T Win |
1: +12T 2: -1T Draw |
2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
| Essex |
1: -1T 2: +2T Draw |
1: +8 2: -3 Draw |
1: -7 2: +1T Draw |
1: +14 2: +4T Win |
1: +24 2: +1T Win |
2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | |
| Norfolk |
1: -4 2: -20 Loss |
1: -11 2: -5T Loss |
1: +7 2: -1T Draw |
1: +8 2: +1T Win |
1: +?T 2: +16 Win |
2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
| Bedfordshire |
1: -23 2: +9 Draw |
1: -16 2: -6T Loss |
1: -14 2: -4T Loss |
1: -8 2: -1T Loss |
1: +21 2: +1T Win |
1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| Suffolk |
1: -20 2: -6 Loss |
1: -12T 2: +1T Draw |
1: -24 2: -1T Loss |
1: -?T 2: -16 Loss |
1: -21 2: -1T Loss |
0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
|
Herts: |
Mark Homan, Simon Hathrell, Terry Mahoney, Jeremy Scotta, Ian Mantleb |
|
| Cambs: | Jim Potter, Ian Storey, Bryan Saddington, Alec Osbornea, Ron Atkinsonb | |
| Essex: | Colin Hemming, Mike Porter, Ken Pickett, David Haslam | |
| Norfolk: | Terrey Sparks, Jeff Race, Feargal Smith, Neil Chalmers | |
| Beds: | Geoff Strutt, Tim Brewer, Quiller Barrett, Jon Palin | |
| Suffolk: | Peter Allnutt, Celia Pearce, David Kitson, Arthur Flutter | |
| a Saturday only, b Sunday only |
