If you have any queries about the following please e-mail me at tom.berryman@xtra.co.nz, phone 04 236 8877 or 022 4690309.

Doubles (Saturday 18 - Monday 20 February - Venue Plimmerton Croquet Club.

Play started at 8.30am each day, players on deck by 8am on day one for Opening Remarks, etc, 8.15am thereafter.

We had 12 teams and played two blocks of 6. Time limits were 3 hrs plus Law 61. Placings were determined by the number of wins and net points if tied. Post prelim play comprised BO3 SFs. The final was a 4.5 hour single game because one of the players had to catch a flight which precluded a BO3 final.

The BO3s had 3.5, 6.5, 9 time limits per match. SF losers chose not to play-off for 3rd & 4th. The 8 teams that didn't make the KO played in the Plate in two blocks of 4 followed by a single game final.

Singles (Tuesday 21 - Saturday 25 February) Venues Paraparaumu and Waikanae Croquet Clubs

Play generally started at 8.30am each day.

With 24 players we played 4 blocks of 6. Three rounds were played on day one, two blocks at each venue. On day 2 the blocks swapped venue to play the remaining two rounds. Time limits were 3hrs 15min plus Law 61, if double-banked, or else 3 hours plus Law 61.

The top 4 from each block qualified for the KO with ties on wins being broken by net points and, if necessary, who won the game between tied players. The 8 non-qualifiers entered the Heenan Plate, played at Waikanae. Time limits for the Plate were 3 hours plus Law 61. Further details below.

The Players Choice draw for the 16 qualifiers took place at Paraparaumu following the completion of block play on Wednesday. Updated player rankings, including Tuesdays play, were obtained to support the draw. Play started at both venues as soon as the draws were available. KO at Paraparaumu, Plate at Waikanae.

The KO time limits were 4/7/10 through the round of 16 and the QFs. Two games of the round of 16 were attempted on Wednesday with the final game to be played next morning, as necessary. Although not all matches completed with two games on Wednesday, they did so in the first round played on Thursday. This enabled an early start to QF play. The 8 losers from the round of 16 could enter the Bronze Medal event but only six elected to do so.

The first two rounds of the Bronze Medal were played at Waikanae. This enabled the KO QFs to be single-banked and this round easily completed on Thursday. Unfortunately, three of the four players knocked out of the QFs elected not to play any consolation games. This left John Versey out on a limb with no play for the next two days.

On Friday the Bronze Medal returned to Paraparaumu using the two spare courts now available.

The SFs were played on Friday, BO5, with times of 3, 2.5, 2, 2, 2. Play started at 8am. These were both completed by 1pm. SF losers elected to have a BO3 match for 3rd & 4th placings on Saturday. The KO final was also played BO5 with same time limits. Play started at 8.30am.

Greg Bryant set-up video-streaming for the SF and the final,

The Bronze Medal team of 6 played two rounds of block play on Thursday afternoon at Waikanae and three rounds on Friday at Paraparaumu. Time limits of 3hrs 15m plus Law 61 if double-banked, otherwise 3 hrs. The top two placegetters played a BO3 final on Saturday at Paraparaumu. Time limits of 3.5, 3, 2.5.

The Heenan Plate with 8 players played 7 rounds of block play at Waikanae. 1 round on Weddnesday afternoon, three on each of Thursday and Friday. The top two place-getters played a BO3 final on Saturday at Paraparaumu. Time limits of 3.5, 3, 2.5.

Final Court Hoop Relocation

This was done following the completion of the SFs which allowed the Bronze Medal games to use the other three courts. Hoop relocation commenced at 2.30pm on Friday. Hoops on the other courts were not relocated.

Double-banking and Clock-stopping

There were a number of games double-banked. Clocks could be stopped for any of the three reasons outlined in Law 61.4, including double-banking delays, where it was predicted that the delay could exceed two minutes.

Practice

Plimmerton courts were available 1pm - 4pm on Friday afternoon 17 Feb for pre-tournament practice.

Waikanae and Paraparaumu courts were available on Monday afternoon from 1pm - 4pm for those players who were not entered in the doubles event.

All players were allowed five minutes practice prior to their first game of the day. During this time hoops could be run but only with strokes that would send the ball no further than seven yards if the hoop was run cleanly. Players who had byes in the first round of the day and were due to play someone who had played a game could have 15 minutes practice. Players who had a bye but had already played that day could have a 5 minute practice.

Catering

A Clubhouse fee of $5 per playing day for all players. This included morning and afternoon tea.
Lunches could be ordered at all venues. The cost depended upon what was ordered. The Club filled orders from local catering suppliers.

Officials

The Tournament Referee was Graeme Roberts. Graeme sourced other referees locally and from Manawatu/Wanganui.

The Appeals Committee members were: Graeme Roberts plus any two of the following as appropriate, Nelson Morrow, Stefan Horrer, Greg Bryant, Chris Shilling, Toby Garrison and John Christie. No appeals were lodged.

Assistant Managers were: Tony Le Petit - Plimmerton, Bob McKenzie - Paraparaumu, Yvonne Fraser - Waikanae.

Tom Berryman, Manager