Cornwall Croquet Club

Tue-Thu 10-12 Sep 2013 - Midweek Veterans (60+) Tournament - played at the Hurlingham Club

Success for Cornwall players at Hurlingham

Five players from Cornwall Croquet Club competed in the "Midweek Veterans" tournament, held over three days in September at the magnificent Hurlingham Club in West London. The tournament is divided into two competitions, with eight players in the under-70 year old section, who play seven games, all play all. The sixteen over-70's. play in the "Swiss" format, where as far as is practicable, players are drawn against competitors with similar results.

The Hurlingham lawns, used for tournaments at the highest level, are a real pleasure to play on, and brought out the best in the Cornwall players. The weather was kind, with only a little light rain on one evening, and no troublesome wind. In the under-70 section, Des Honey (handicap 11) had a hard day to start, having arrived at Hurlingham direct from Heathrow where he had just landed from the USA. Not surprisingly, his first day's results were not the best, but he soon made up for this on subsequent days, with good wins sufficient to leave him as runner up. His wins included two at 26-0! He received a cut glass whisky tumbler for his efforts. However, he was eclipsed by Cornwall's Peter Cutting (9) who won all seven of his games, to become the clear outright winner, and take home a pair of handsome engraved wine glasses.

In the Swiss, the competition was close, the winner having five wins out of six, with four players including Cornwall's David Edwards (9 initially) joint runners-up with four wins. Stephen Read and Paul Schofield obtained good wins in the Swiss section, Paul's play improving greatly as the tournament progressed.

However, the success brought a sting in the tail, as David Edwards had his handicap cut by three steps during the tournament, and Des Honey by three at the end. Peter Cutting will also have his handicap reduced, but to what is not yet known.

With all the party staying in the same hotel, the event was a great success not only on the lawns, but socially.

Winner: Peter Cutting (Cornwall). Runner-Up: Des Honey (Cornwall)


Peter Cutting receiving The Winners Trophy


Des Honey receives the runner-up Trophy


'Trelawney's Army' & supporters with Trophies


Paul Schofield taking a rush with black to run hoop 3


Stephen Read taking a rush with brown to run 1-back

Photos by Stephen Read