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Croquet England AC Open Championship
Doubles Saturday by Andrew Gregory
Good morning from Surbiton.
05 Jul 2025 10:13AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
I wasn't going to do this but now I am.
05 Jul 2025 10:14AM (Tournament); 2 Readers
I'm by court 3 for the most attractive 1st round match: Harry Fisher and Gabrielle Higgins v Mark Suter and David Fuller.
05 Jul 2025 10:15AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
We've just started. Both pairs are playing normal rather than alternate stroke.
05 Jul 2025 10:16AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller and Suter won the toss and elected to start.
T1 Fuller blue 11y N of IV
T2 Higgins Red just S of II
T3 Suter black at blue, missing
T4 Fisher Yellow at blue / black, missing to IV
05 Jul 2025 10:18AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
T5 Suter just fails to get cannon.
Makes 1 off yellow.
05 Jul 2025 10:20AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
T5 Suter has left himself a 5-yarder at red
Copes. Now approaching 2 putting red to 3. Good shot. Runs 2 from 4 or 5 foot, has break.
05 Jul 2025 10:24AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Court 4
J Clarke and Mulliner are 1 and 3.
Polhill (playing with A Maugham) has just misapproached 1-back.
05 Jul 2025 10:28AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Back to L3.
Black clip is on 4.
05 Jul 2025 10:29AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Apparently Suter gravelled thru 3 and couldn't hit anything.
Higgins misses a 7-yarder.
Fuller misses a 20-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 10:32AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher misses an 18-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 10:33AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Overcast skies. Did I just feel a drop of rain?
05 Jul 2025 10:34AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
There are two balls in III, one just South of III one just N of I.
05 Jul 2025 10:35AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
After discussion Suter decides to play as he can get a corner cannon.
05 Jul 2025 10:36AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
In the past Surbiton has had use of an eighth lawn on a nearby bowling green, but not this year. So there is one double banked lawn.
05 Jul 2025 10:38AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Suter fails 4 off partner.
05 Jul 2025 10:38AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Higgins hits 28-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 10:39AM (Tournament); 3 Readers
On L4, Jenny Clarke and Stephen Mulliner are playing ASD. They have a break with red.
05 Jul 2025 10:42AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Higgins makes 1 but only just. Fortunately she has an 8-yarder available. Unfortunately she misses it.
05 Jul 2025 10:43AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter misses a 9-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 10:44AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
On lawn 2 joe King has a break.
05 Jul 2025 10:45AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fisher hits a 20-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 10:46AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Much discussion. Difficult to pick up a break here.
05 Jul 2025 10:49AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Clip reminder
Fuller Blue 1
Suter Black 4
Fisher Yellow 1
Higgins Red 2.
Fisher has leave.
05 Jul 2025 10:52AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Clarke and Mulliner now 3 and 4-back.
You could call the leave an OSL.
Or a B-spread.
05 Jul 2025 10:53AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Patel and Death doing ASD things on 1.
They are double-banked with the top seeds Avery and Burch.
05 Jul 2025 10:56AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fuller finessed.
05 Jul 2025 10:56AM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Annabel wanders past with a coffee.
I think they ate on lawn 6.
Oppos have had a ball round.
05 Jul 2025 10:59AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Are not ate.
05 Jul 2025 10:59AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Higgins tries to pick up break by approaching 2 and loading 3.
Good shot, but then fails hoop.
05 Jul 2025 11:00AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Alison Maugham has a break on lawn 4.
05 Jul 2025 11:01AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter misses 13-yarder.
Maugham fails 6.
05 Jul 2025 11:03AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Higgins snicks 5-yarder.
Approaches 2 from W boundary.
Overhits.
05 Jul 2025 11:05AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Lawns are variegated brown and green.
About 12 Plummers.
05 Jul 2025 11:07AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter and Fuller have an 11-yard wide join.
05 Jul 2025 11:08AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Higgins makes 2 then misses short return roquet.
Suter misses 11-yarder.
May have been 12 yards to be fair.
05 Jul 2025 11:15AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Higgins decides not to take an aggressive 11-yarder. Corners.
05 Jul 2025 11:16AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Definitely raining now, not hard.
We retreat under the marquee.
05 Jul 2025 11:17AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Is this Fuller's first croquet stroke?
He's approaching 1 from S bdry.
Overhit.
05 Jul 2025 11:18AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Clarke and Mulliner on a triple (ASD).
05 Jul 2025 11:20AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
A player who shall remain nameless walks past.
"I f*ing hate doubles!"
05 Jul 2025 11:22AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fisher corners.
"This could be a long game."
I think the time limit is 4 7 9.
05 Jul 2025 11:24AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Suter black approaches 4 from 4th corner.
Good approach.
Longish rush to blue near W bdry. Instead it ends up 2y N of 5.
Take-off approach yields short angled hoop. ("Big hill.") Maybe 40 degrees?
Fails hoop.
05 Jul 2025 11:29AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
On L4, J Clarke is lining up straight rover peel.
It does not go well.
Two clips on rover.
05 Jul 2025 11:31AM (Tournament); 7 Readers
L3 has been playing an hour and a quarter. Hoop score is 4-2.
05 Jul 2025 11:32AM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Higgins Red hits black.
Thick take-off is 7y short of yellow, hits.
Could try approaching 3 from corner
Has leave instead.
05 Jul 2025 11:35AM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Ormerod and Bulloch having an ASD break on L2.
I think this is the second season for which the regulation is that if a pair want to play alternate stroke, they can. Either pair in the match can choose differently
05 Jul 2025 11:38AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Suter corners.
05 Jul 2025 11:40AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Higgins makes hoop 3.
05 Jul 2025 11:40AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
No useful rush after 3, so rolls toward and indeed off the east boundary.
05 Jul 2025 11:43AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Fuller wide join.
Proper rain now.
05 Jul 2025 11:43AM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Higgins misses 3-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 11:44AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Red ends up near hoop 5, which is Black's hoop.
Suter Black hits 13-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 11:45AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Good take-off from Suter gives him break.
05 Jul 2025 11:47AM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Heavy rain now. I don't think this was forecast.
05 Jul 2025 11:50AM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Four pairs are seeded in this event.
I believe it's based on the average ranking of the pair.
The issue is that Chris Clarke has a grade of 2740, but hasn't played a ranked singles game for ten years.
Clarke and Burridge are thus seeded, probably at the expense of Fisher and Higgins.
05 Jul 2025 11:56AM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter is approaching 3-back from around 5 yards, for some reason.
Not a great approach.
Good hoop, but can't see the near ball.
Misses 13-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 11:58AM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Red and Blue are by the peg for the putative spread. By chance red at blue is impossible as the peg allows no swing.
Higgins Red hits yellow at 4 (10 y).
05 Jul 2025 12:01PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Red approaches 4 from 3y east.
Good stroke.
Runs 4, rush to blue (by the peg) ends up 2y W of 5.
Good half-roll is followed by poor rush.
Takes off from 8' east.
Thru 5.
Black is still near 2nd corner.
Croquet stroke after 5 parks Red on wire at 6, unable to continue.
05 Jul 2025 12:06PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Red retires to 3rd corner.
1 and 4-back v 1 and 6.
05 Jul 2025 12:08PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Not only is it raining, it's also cold.
Glad I brought my fleece.
05 Jul 2025 12:11PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Suter is not playing at the rain is really heavy.
Opponents persuade him he really should play.
05 Jul 2025 12:14PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Apologies for two "really"s.
I should really read what I write before sending.
05 Jul 2025 12:15PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
They now decide it might be Fuller to play after all.
Fuller misses 7-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 12:16PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fisher Yellow's shot at blue black is slightly hampered by hoop 6.
Misses 15-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 12:18PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Death and Patel won the first game +20.
05 Jul 2025 12:18PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
I think Clarke and Mulliner must have won their first game.
05 Jul 2025 12:20PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fuller blue's first little croquet stroke is shy of ideal, overcut rush is well short of 1.
Leave.
05 Jul 2025 12:24PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Yellow off east boundary.
It couldn't see 4th corner.
05 Jul 2025 12:25PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Clarke and Burridge have won their first game.
Fuller makes a hoop.
Now needs advice apparently.
This is partly why doubles takes so long.
My advice to doubles partners is:
"Just play as you would in singles."
05 Jul 2025 12:28PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Fuller has made hoop 2.
Work required to pick up break.
05 Jul 2025 12:31PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fuller now approaching 3 from 3rd corner, loading 4. Not bad, but fails angled hoop.
05 Jul 2025 12:35PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Higgins Red misses 20-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 12:37PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fuller doesn't get rush to 4.
Leave.
Lunch.
05 Jul 2025 12:45PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Nick Parish and Sophie McGlen are game up v Annabel McDiarmid and Rick Harding.
05 Jul 2025 1:19PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Mark Avery and Jamie Burch are game up but break down v Brian Cumming and Doug Grimsley.
05 Jul 2025 1:21PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Surbiton lunch up to the habitually excellent standard. Especially the rhubarb crumble and custard.
05 Jul 2025 1:26PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
There are 3 matches still in game 1.
05 Jul 2025 1:29PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
We are about to resume on lawn 3.
Timers are being synchronised.
05 Jul 2025 1:30PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher Yellow has 11-yarder at Red.
Centre ball.
It is no longer raining.
05 Jul 2025 1:31PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Croquet stroke is an ambitious pass roll. Leaves himself 6-yarder. Hits. Now needs to rush to 1 from N bdry by 3. Pretty good. I think this is Fisher's first hoop approach of the game. Angled hoop, fails.
05 Jul 2025 1:34PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter, Black takes off 4 yards short, misses.
I'm not sure I picked the best match on which to comment.
05 Jul 2025 1:39PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Suter hit his foot on the take-off.
Higgins hits 16-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 1:40PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
The Blue is 5y W of 3rd corner.
The Black is 4y E of 2nd corner.
Red takes off from yellow in A-baulk to black.
8 yards short so back to mother.
05 Jul 2025 1:42PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Suter Black at Blue (17y).
Misses into 3rd corner.
05 Jul 2025 1:43PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Higgins Red rushes yellow off east boundary level with 5. Croquets yellow halfway between 6 and 1-back, hits black (4y). Take off to blue is short. Cuts it halfway between 3 and 6. Stops blue toward 2-back. Runs 3' hoop 6, only just. Hits hampered yellow.
05 Jul 2025 1:50PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Higgins Red fails to approach 1-back. Leave.
05 Jul 2025 1:51PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Higgins Red fails to approach 1-back. Leave.
05 Jul 2025 1:51PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Sorry for repeated comment.
05 Jul 2025 1:51PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Fuller blue at yellow (18y). Misses.
05 Jul 2025 1:52PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Higgins Red eschews 7-yarder at blue. Instead going for what most players call a stopshot approach from North boundary. (With my mallet it's more of a half roll.)
Good approach, thru hoop, misses 5y return.
Black is just out of 3rd corner.
05 Jul 2025 1:55PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
1 and 2-back plays 4 and 4-back.
Fuller blue rushes black to about 2y NW of 4. Poor approach, good hoop.
Rushes black near end of A-baulk.
05 Jul 2025 1:58PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Fuller blue takes off to red.
Red is sent to 6.
Pretty good rush to 5.
Take off gives 3' hoop.
Runs hoop into peg.
Hits 5y return.
05 Jul 2025 2:02PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Take off to Black does not yield a rush.
Big croquet stroke from S bdry.
OK but it will be another take-off approach
Fuller is thru 6 with, dare I say it, a break.
05 Jul 2025 2:06PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
We think about half the pairs are playing ASD.
05 Jul 2025 2:10PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Samir Patel is sat by me wearing his Mac shirt. It has the number 62 on it, as he is the 62nd player to play for England (or GB, or GB and Ireland).
The new convention is that players debuting simultaneously are deemed to start alphabetically. In the past it was in playing order, but that might disclose said order to opponents beforehand.
05 Jul 2025 2:17PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Fuller is thru 4-back.
05 Jul 2025 2:18PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Clips:
Fuller Blue peg
Suter Black 4-back
Fisher Yellow 1
Higgins Red 2-back
05 Jul 2025 2:24PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Diagonal spread coming up.
Yellow nicely placed at the peg.
On lawn 2 Reeve has just run rover with his partner's clip on 4-back. Oppos are 2 and 4-back.
05 Jul 2025 2:28PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Fisher lifts Yellow to B-baulk.
Misses into 4th corner. (22y)
05 Jul 2025 2:30PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Suter black rushes blue beyond red, stops blue 4y w of peg, rushes red into hoop 6, fails to approach 4-back.
Are they going to join up in the middle of the lawn?
Yes indeed.
05 Jul 2025 2:34PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Higgins Red at blue or black (15y). Misses.
05 Jul 2025 2:36PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Suter rushes poorly, approaches OK, runs good 4-back.
Rushes near enough to penult.
Tentative approach.
Ends in middle of hoop.
05 Jul 2025 2:39PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
"I think we should take the shortest shot."
"Well that's you at me isn't it?"
"I think it's you at blue."
"Er we have a lift."
"Oh yeah."
Fisher misses 8-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 2:41PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
On lawn 2 Joe King pegs out to win game 1 (with Duncan Reeve).
05 Jul 2025 2:43PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Suter is lining up a long pegout - 5 or 6 yards.
Gets it.
Fuller and Suter win game 1 +19.
With 12 minutes to spare.
And a half.
05 Jul 2025 2:45PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
G2T1 Higgins Red 10y N of IV
T2 Fuller Blue just S of II
T3 Fisher Yellow hits red from A-baulk
05 Jul 2025 2:49PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
T3 Fisher takes off to blue, 3 or 4y shy, misses.
Hit his foot.
It is gusty.
05 Jul 2025 2:51PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
T4 Suter Black misses Yellow (13y).
05 Jul 2025 2:52PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Andy Myers and Joel Taylor won game 1 +18.
05 Jul 2025 2:54PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
T5 Fisher makes his first hoop of the day.
05 Jul 2025 2:55PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
After 1, Fisher Yellow rushes blue near end of A-baulk. Sends blue to 3 but goes off lawn next to red.
05 Jul 2025 2:57PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Back to the ASD thing, there is some doubt whether you have to stick with it for the match or change with a new game.
After (too) much thought, Fuller corners.
Fisher makes hoop 2 with no rush. Red is halfway between 3 and 4.
Big roll is just short of requirement.
Tries to approach 3 from middle of east boundary.
Fails hoop.
05 Jul 2025 3:06PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Suter Black misses. (18y)
05 Jul 2025 3:09PM (Tournament); 9 Readers
Fisher has another one hoop break.
05 Jul 2025 3:12PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Fuller misses 20-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 3:13PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Death and Patel have won their match.
05 Jul 2025 3:13PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Fisher takes on 7-yarder for the break.
Misses.
05 Jul 2025 3:15PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fuller has chance for a break.
He's through 1.
05 Jul 2025 3:17PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fuller has played a couple of good croquet strokes to pick up this break.
Should go round now.
05 Jul 2025 3:19PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
On lawn 4 there are 3 clips on 4-back, with the red on 6. Mulliner has just hit in with yellow.
05 Jul 2025 3:28PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Lawn 5 Clarke is on penult, Burridge on 2-back.
Hallam and Waterman are 4 and 4-back (ASD)
05 Jul 2025 3:30PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Lawn 6 has clips 1 and peg (nick and Sophie) v 1-back and peg (Annabel and Rick)
05 Jul 2025 3:34PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fuller is just thru 1-back by the way.
05 Jul 2025 3:35PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Lawn 7
Joel and Andy have just made 4-back with their other clip on 1-back. Oppo tells me they are conceding contact.
James and Robert are on 1 and 4.
Both pairs are playing ASD.
05 Jul 2025 3:39PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Indeed a contact leave on L7.
1-back and peg v 1 and 4.
05 Jul 2025 3:43PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Still 4 balls on L6.
05 Jul 2025 3:45PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Clarke and Burridge penult and penult.
Hallam and Waterman 4-back and break (just thru 2-back).
05 Jul 2025 3:47PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
L4 Clarke and Mulliner 6 and peg.
Polhill 4-back.
Maugham's ball is no longer on the lawn.
05 Jul 2025 3:50PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
And back to lawn 3.
Fuller's clip is on 3-back.
One presumes unintentionally.
Higgins Red has 4-ball break.
She's just thru 6.
05 Jul 2025 3:52PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Avery and Burch have won their match.
05 Jul 2025 3:54PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
L2 Reeve is for 2, King for 4-back
Ormerod and Bulloch for 1 and currently 6.
05 Jul 2025 3:55PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
L3 clips
Fuller Blue 3-back
Suter Black 1
Higgins Red 4-back
Fisher Yellow 4
NSL with Blue at 4.
05 Jul 2025 3:59PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller lifts Blue to B-baulk.
Hits red.
05 Jul 2025 4:04PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 6 is game all.
Nick and Sophie v Annabel and Rick.
05 Jul 2025 4:05PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller makes 3-back, misses 5y return.
05 Jul 2025 4:06PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Taylor and Myers win game 2 +23, match 2-0.
They now play Death and Patel.
How soon is now?
05 Jul 2025 4:09PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fisher Yellow hits Red (6y).
Red is sent to 5.
Now approaching 4 from S bdry off Blue.
I'd take off, but he drives Blue 4y E of 6.
Yellow is underhit.
05 Jul 2025 4:12PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Red / Yellow join up by hoop 5.
05 Jul 2025 4:14PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fuller Blue at Red (16y). Hits.
05 Jul 2025 4:18PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Leave: Red 5y W of 1, Yellow 4y E of 4.
Black 3y E of II, blue 4' E of black.
05 Jul 2025 4:26PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Yellow to 4th corner.
05 Jul 2025 4:26PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Suter Black rushes Blue East, takes off to yellow.
Big croquet stroke isn't as big as desired.
Approaches 1 from W bdry.
Good shot.
Chance of standard TP now.
05 Jul 2025 4:31PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Clarke and Mulliner should be finishing shortly.
05 Jul 2025 4:32PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
After some poor shots Suter fails 2.
05 Jul 2025 4:34PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Hallam and Waterman win game 2 +2 v Clarke and Burridge.
Clarke and Mulliner win 2-0.
05 Jul 2025 4:39PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Fisher's rush to 4 was not the best but he copes.
Now has break.
05 Jul 2025 4:40PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fisher is thru 2-back.
No thought of a triple (as yet).
05 Jul 2025 4:56PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Clips
Fuller blue 4-back
Suter black 2
Fisher Yellow peg
Higgins Red 4-back
05 Jul 2025 4:57PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Cross peg leave.
05 Jul 2025 4:59PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
L2 Reeve and King 1-back and 4-back.
Ormerod and Bulloch 1-back and break.
05 Jul 2025 5:02PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fuller and Suter are squinting at the cross peg.
Is there a sliver?
Yes indeed, Suter black hits blue as it lies.
05 Jul 2025 5:06PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
L2 Ormerod and Bulloch break down at 1-back.
King is in play.
05 Jul 2025 5:08PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter fails 3.
05 Jul 2025 5:10PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Fisher Yellow hits Black (18y target).
05 Jul 2025 5:12PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Fisher attempts to cross-wire blue and black at 4-back. Higgins wisely checks his work.
05 Jul 2025 5:16PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
L2 is interactive. Ormerod has stuck in 1-back giving Reeve everything.
05 Jul 2025 5:17PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
L3b black is 5y N of 4-back. Blue is 2y S of 4-back. Red and Yellow near 1st corner.
Surely black shoots here?
No, Blue corners.
Maybe red decided not to line up a perfect rush.
05 Jul 2025 5:22PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Higgins Red rushes yellow to middle of E bdry.
Rolls to Black.
Stuffs black toward 1st corner.
Blue is in 2nd corner.
Deciding where to leave Red.
On L2, Reeve's clip is on 2-back.
05 Jul 2025 5:24PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Myers and Taylor v Death and Patel has started on lawn 4.
05 Jul 2025 5:25PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter Black hits Blue.
Unfortunately I have moved inside to charge upmy phone so not sure how far that was, at least 25y I'd say.
There are 2 balls at Suter's hoop.
05 Jul 2025 5:28PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Conflab on lawn 2.
Four players plus referee.
Wrong ball perchance?
05 Jul 2025 5:29PM (Tournament); 8 Readers
Fisher and Higgins 4-back and peg.
Fuller and Suter 4-back and break.
Suter black rushes blue north after 4, has optimistic peel attempt. Misses hoop altogether.
05 Jul 2025 5:33PM (Tournament); 7 Readers
Suter fails hoop 5.
05 Jul 2025 5:34PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Higgins Red has 4- or 5-yarder at Black in 5.
Umpire on.
No problem.
Two balls at 4-back!
05 Jul 2025 5:35PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Red inadvertently rushes yellow into blue, but it should not matter.
It does mean that the penult pioneer isn't great.
05 Jul 2025 5:37PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Higgins fails penult.
Four foot straight, maybe.
05 Jul 2025 5:40PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter black misses 9-yarder.
That leaves trivial finish for Higgins.
I'd be disappointed not to finish from here.
I mean, I wouldn't.
But I would be disappointed.
05 Jul 2025 5:42PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher and Higgins win game 2 +15.
05 Jul 2025 5:43PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Two hours 15 minutes for the decider on lawn 3.
05 Jul 2025 5:45PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
G3T1 Fuller Blue 10y N of IV
T2 Higgins Red seems to be in II.
As she was in game 1 I'm told.
05 Jul 2025 5:48PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
T3 Suter Black misses Blue from A-baulk.
T4 Fisher Yellow at blue/ black from B-baulk.
Misses to 1y N of IV.
05 Jul 2025 5:49PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
T5 Suter Black rushes Blue 1' N of Yellow.
Makes 1 off Yellow.
Rushes yellow 5y W of IV.
Doesn't get rush on blue.
Has leave east of hoop 3.
05 Jul 2025 5:53PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
King and Reeve won game 2 +5(t).
And the match 2-0.
05 Jul 2025 5:56PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher misses 20-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 5:56PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter Black hits 4-yarder at yellow.
Doesn't get good rush on blue.
Rushes blue near end of A-baulk.
Takes off to red.
6, 7 yards short.
Doesn't fancy it.
Back to blue.
Turns into a scatter shot.
Blue is 8' east of black.
05 Jul 2025 6:01PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Controversy as the Mangler threatens to put the Avery Burch King Reeve fest double banked on lawn 3.
After objection they are removed to lawn 7.
05 Jul 2025 6:04PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Yellow into 3rd corner.
05 Jul 2025 6:04PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter Black rushes blue to east boundary.
Takes off to yellow
Takes off to red.
Approaches 2.
Runs long hoop (8'?)
05 Jul 2025 6:07PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
After 2 black rushes red between 1 and 1st corner.
Takes off to blue.
Rushes blue off east boundary, peg high maybe.
Takes off to yellow.
Rushes yellow 1y SW of 3.
Makes 3.
05 Jul 2025 6:10PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Suter has 3-ball break.
I dare say he'll pick up the fourth ere long.
05 Jul 2025 6:13PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Given that you're not going to start the second round match at 8pm, I don't understand why the time limit isn't 4, 7, 10 so that you get at least 3 hours for the decider.
05 Jul 2025 6:14PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Suter grovels thru 6, cannot hit ball nearby.
Hits what was going to be his 1-back pioneer (7y).
05 Jul 2025 6:17PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Suter fails 1-back.
05 Jul 2025 6:17PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fisher Yellow hits blue (12y).
That should be a ball round now.
05 Jul 2025 6:20PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher has 4y roll up to 1.
Copes.
05 Jul 2025 6:22PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 4
2nd round
ASD (both)
SuperAdvanced
Taylor and Myers 6 and 4-back
Death and Patel 1 and 1-back
The latter pair has messed up the leave.
05 Jul 2025 6:25PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 5
Game 3
Burridge 3-back
Clarke 4-back
Hallam and Waterman 1 and 5.
05 Jul 2025 6:27PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 6
Game 3
Parish and McGlen possibly finishing.
Penult and peg.
Harding and McDiarmid 2 and 4-back.
05 Jul 2025 6:30PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 7
2nd round
Game 1
Avery and Burch have had first ball round v King and Reeve.
05 Jul 2025 6:33PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Lawn 6
Nick and Sophie optimistically left their ball in front of penult. McDiarmid hit the lift.
05 Jul 2025 6:35PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 5.
One hoop has been scored since my last visit.
05 Jul 2025 6:37PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Lawn 4
Zero hoops have been scored since my last visit.
05 Jul 2025 6:38PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Lawn 3
Fisher has made 9.
NSL.
05 Jul 2025 6:39PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Fuller lifts Blue from 4 to B-baulk.
Hits yellow with help from a hill.
For the second time complains the oppo.
05 Jul 2025 6:41PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Fuller makes 1, misses 4- or 5-yard return.
05 Jul 2025 6:45PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Higgins Red misses 25-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 6:46PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Fuller Blue hits 7-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 6:47PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Poor croquet stroke requires a 6-yarder.
That's hit.
Now rolling up to 2 from 6 or 7 yards.
5 foot hoop.
Failed.
05 Jul 2025 6:52PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher decides to join up.
Hits 32-yarder.
Clearly blue and black are poorly placed as Fisher has a leave.
05 Jul 2025 6:59PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Blue retires to east boundary.
Higgins Red fails hoop 1.
Suter Black hits 25-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:00PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
On lawn 4 Death and Patel have given up on a sextuple and are essaying a tpo.
Second penult peel attempt fails before 2-back.
05 Jul 2025 7:03PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Back to lawn 3.
Suter's hit in accidentally nudged red directly in front of 1 so that it could be rushed to 1-back.
The rush shot was then played so badly that red is still for hoop 1.
05 Jul 2025 7:05PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Lawn 4
We believe the second peel of the tpo was effected with a rush before 3-back.
05 Jul 2025 7:06PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Lawn 3
Higgins misses 23-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:06PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Fuller Blue picks off red from 4 yards.
Some nice strokes and he has a break.
05 Jul 2025 7:14PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
It's all over on lawn 5.
Clarke and Burridge are through to round 2.
05 Jul 2025 7:16PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Death and Patel completed the TPO.
05 Jul 2025 7:16PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Avery and Burch have won game 1 24tp v King and Reeve.
They'll resume in the morning.
05 Jul 2025 7:22PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Lawn 6 is exciting.
McDiarmid and Harding have pegged out the oppo. (McGlen and Parish)
It's now penult and peg v rover and box
05 Jul 2025 7:24PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
McDiarmid runs penult.
They're not in front of rover.
Trying to lay a wired rush.
Hill!
05 Jul 2025 7:25PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Parish misses 25+-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:25PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Harding misapproaches rover.
05 Jul 2025 7:26PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
McGlen misses 8-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:27PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Harding hits 8-yarder.
There is still a ball near rover.
05 Jul 2025 7:28PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
McDiarmid plays OK take-off.
Harding rushes into rover.
Finishes in worse than death position!
05 Jul 2025 7:29PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Yellow is so very nearly in the jaws.
Can they not try the bouncing off the wire thing?
Maybe doesn't work with these hoops.
They opt for reverse irish peel.
Red runs rover.
It can't see yellow.
05 Jul 2025 7:33PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Sorry for fans of lawn 3 players.
It looks like Suter is on the lawn.
05 Jul 2025 7:35PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Finally McDiarmid persuades Harding of the correct choice of retiring to A-baulk.
05 Jul 2025 7:36PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Parish Blue hits yellow (11y)!
05 Jul 2025 7:37PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
McGlen plays good approach.
05 Jul 2025 7:37PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Parish runs rover!
05 Jul 2025 7:37PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
McGlen and Parish win game 3 +2.
05 Jul 2025 7:38PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Death and Patel win game 1 +7tpo v Myers and Taylor.
05 Jul 2025 7:40PM (Tournament); 2 Readers
Back to lawn 3.
Higgins' red clip is on 1.
Fisher's yellow clip is on 4-back.
Fuller's blue clip is on 4-back.
Suter is on a break.
He has just run 4-back.
05 Jul 2025 7:43PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Time is about 8pm.
05 Jul 2025 7:44PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
This is the last main event match in play.
There are a couple of consolation games on lawns 1 and 2.
05 Jul 2025 7:46PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Suter has reached the peg.
The leave ain't great, but it still needs someone to hit a 13-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:49PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Fisher misses a 13-yarder.
05 Jul 2025 7:49PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller plays a couple of rushes. His approach to 4-back leaves a missable hoop, but he makes it.
Good rush to penult.
05 Jul 2025 7:55PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller runs penult, but not well.
He calls for a ref.
Partner also comes on.
Just less than 4 minutes to go.
Fuller hits hampered shot.
05 Jul 2025 7:57PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Fuller Blue takes off to Black.
OK rush to rover.
Approach puts Blue behind rover.
Runs rover into blue.
05 Jul 2025 8:00PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
Sends black toward 2nd corner with the intention of pegging out Blue.
Blue collides with rover!
Retires to middle of east boundary.
05 Jul 2025 8:01PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Higgins runs onto lawn, lifts red, misses yellow.
Red is in 4th corner, yellow 1cm to the west.
05 Jul 2025 8:03PM (Tournament); 3 Readers
Time is called.
Suter puts black in second corner.
05 Jul 2025 8:04PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Higgins approaches 1 from South boundary.
Long hoop. Eight foot?
Runs it to 5y from Black.
05 Jul 2025 8:05PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
Higgins Red hits Black.
Partner is called on.
Minimum requirement is 2 peels and pegging out for a tie.
Three peels and pegging out one ball wins.
05 Jul 2025 8:07PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Big croquet stroke yields rush on yellow to 2. She was hoping for a rush to blue.
Higgins fails hoop 2.
05 Jul 2025 8:08PM (Tournament); 6 Readers
Fuller and Suter win game 3 24-10(t).
05 Jul 2025 8:09PM (Tournament); 5 Readers
That's all folks.
Sadly I have to work tomorrow.
I'm hoping to return on Friday for the final weekend of the Singles.
Cheers Andrew
05 Jul 2025 8:11PM (Tournament); 4 Readers
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