Good morning from sunny Cheltenham.

I have set myself up in the shadiest corner of the tea room, affording a reasonable view of all 4 lawns currently in use for the main KO (1, 2, 7, 8).

Temperature in the shade is approaching 30 degrees.

(That's centigrade/Celsius, for any American early birds/night owls. I know it's a British summer but even we wouldn't get 30 degrees Fahrenheit in July).

On court 1 we have Stephen Mulliner (competing in his 50th consecutive British Open Singles event - a record that will never be beaten) against Levi Franks, the young(est) Kiwi present.

(I forgot to mention that I have a cup of coffee and pint of water situated dangerously close to my laptop, which is on its last legs anyway, so this whole enterprise could finish abruptly at any time. Especially when the coffee is in due course replaced with a pint of beer.)

Court 1 was one of two to see the first game of its last 16 match completed last night, with Stephen Mulliner impressively completing a tpo. Levi (predictably) hit a few long shots in the endgame but was never quite able to get a 3-ball break under control and Stephen eventually won by 6.

In the second game, it appears Levi had the first break but it has unexpectedly stopped at hoop 6.

Possible correction: it probably wasn't the first break, as I see Stephen's clip was on hoop 5. He has just run 5 following Levi's error to re-establish his break. He has all the balls, hoop 6 pioneer looks about 3.5 yards NNE of the hoop but he should cope.

A quick word about lawn conditions: you will have seen from the scores that all players have found conditions a real (and welcome) challenge much of the time. Yesterday morning I made a point of personally thanking the 4 people I could see working hard on the lawns and hoops just before play started, there are many others. I gather this event requires all lawns to be cut every day, which as you can imagine with 10 lawns in use is a huge effort, not only to do this job but also to then reset the hoops afterwards. Given that, although a few hoops have needed adjustment during play, this is an excellent achievement by the club.

I will say however that it was slightly disappointing that automatic watering system (which had been switched off for a week prior to and during the event, generating some real pace in lots of areas) was activated on a couple of occasions - apparently to make it easier to put the hoops into new holes. As a hoopsetter myself, I fully understand how hard it is to bang hoops into hard ground. However, I would argue that watering the hoop areas only (while still not ideal) would at least preserve the pace of the rest of the lawn. I gather this was done as well as irrigating the entire area, with the result that yesterday, the lawns and hoops were considerably easier to play on than the day before.

That said, I don't see a viable solution (without a small army of fit young volunteers - or, as they have at the NCC in Florida, a paid grounds crew), so it's perhaps unfair to have a little moan about it. To reiterate - the club and volunteer effort has been top notch this week and we (the players) are very grateful.

Anyway, back to the croquet - while I was wittering on there, Stephen made it to 4-back with a tidy diagonal spread.

It's very diagonal (i.e. boundary balls are only about 3 yards N of hoop 4). Probably by design.

Levi misses the long lift. Big advantage to Stephen now, strong favourite for game and match even if he doesn't manage a triple.

Being game and (potentially) 2 breaks ahead.

On to lawn 2, the other last 16 match that saw a game finish last night. Rick Harding was going round on a triple but decided to make his favourite leave instead (4 balls round rover). Jack was for 2 and 4-back but underhit a few shots (this was at about 8.30pm, so the lawn would likely have slowed significantly since his previous break on it) and failed hoop 2, allowing Rick to finish.

In game 2 I think Jack is on 1 and 4-back, Rick has a clip on 3 and is just running 3-back with his other ball. There is already a ball near hoop 2 so I assume Rick is aiming for the MSL.

On lawn 7 we have an all-Kiwi affair of Felix Webby (number 7 seed) vs Greg Bryant. In the warm-up they decided a few hoops were too wide (they reported running hoop 1 from 10 degrees with no wire) and so kindly reset them for me (I arrived to help just as they finished - I'm the Tournament Referee, chiefly because I was one of the only Championship referees playing both the doubles and singles this year).

Felix was my conqueror yesterday, he shot incredibly well in the endgame to beat me +1 in the first (a genuine 26-25, not on time). He then took a big lead in the second game which I was unable to overhaul. Meanwhile on the same lawn Greg made hard work of beating Robbie Dodds (possibly in his first Open Championship - does anybody know?) in 3. Robbie played really well and should be proud of his performance.

Both players are here 'warming up' for the MacRobertson Shield, which starts in 2 weeks' time.

Greg has just made 1-back, all other clips are on hoop 1. He plays at a steady pace, not entirely uncaprine in fact.

To be fair they did start a bit later than the other games due to the hoop issue. Still, the manager may regret not asking them to start their match at 7.30pm yesterday. At some point the players are going to need to complete more than one match in a day, otherwise the tournament won't finish. I predict a best of 3 final.

And finally, on lawn 8 we have David Fuller vs James Carlisle. David overcame Jenny Clarke yesterday (a repeat of last year's quarter-final, but with the opposite result). James had a titanic battle with Richard Huxley (another up and coming top player), winning the third on time at around 8pm.

David has had the first break (to 4-back), but James hit the lift and has just made hoop 5. His other clip is on hoop 2, so he'll be looking for an equalising break I imagine.

Apologies for the delay, Pete Trimmer distracted me with a laws question.

Also watching on with me are James's parents, Hugh and Veronica Carlisle, croquet eminences who will be well known to most readers.

They've just asked how long David Fuller has been playing - I reckon 4-5 years, so very impressive to be competing at this level after such a short time.

I have not had a chance to measure the lawn speeds yet today, I will see what I can do later. I suspect they will have quickened up again after their watering.

Court 1: Stephen has just roqueted oppo in corner III. Other oppo appears to be about 4 yards N of corner I. Not sure what happened there - maybe some interaction? Sorry, I'm not very good at this. He has now rushed partner from near hoop 3 to near corner I.

Rick's MSL on court 2 turned into an OSL - maybe the ball at hoop 2 was open from B-baulk so he had to move it? Jack missed the short shot at Rick's balls in corner IV. Rick is in play sending partner to 4-back, I think he's for hoop 4.

Court 1: Stephen approaches hoop 1 off oppo with a stop shot sending it to in front of 4. Good shot. Makes 1 yard hoop 1 and can see partner. Other ball is pretty much directly between 2 and 3 so he now has a good opportunity for a standard triple for the match.

Court 2: I misled you, Rick is obviously much quicker than I thought as he's just made 3-back - but only by an inch, so now has a missable hampered shot.

Court 7: Greg has just made 2-back. Nah, I'm kidding (sorry Greg) - he got to 4-back but left the diagonal spread open, Felix hit and has just made hoop 3 I think. He has all the balls but no ball as close to hoop 4 as you'd like.

Court 2: Rick hit his hampered shot and may have a look at an stp for the match (partner is his 4-back pioneer and about 2.5 yards due south of the hoop).

Court 1: Stephen is rolling to partner at hoop 3 from north of 6, good shot gets a rush and puts out an escape ball (he already has a perfect hoop 4 pioneer). Slightly overapproaches so has a press-up, is now walking off the court without playing a stroke - possibly looking for relief or repair from some court damage?

His hoop 3 looks to be about 40 degrees from 6 inches.

Court 7: Felix is up to hoop 6, still only has a 3-ball break but should get to 4-back with a good leave.

Court 8: James's clip is on 2-back, didn't see what happened and don't like to ask but seems he's struggling a bit. David has all the balls, plays a nice cut rush to hoop 4 to make up for not having a good pioneer. I'd expect him to go to peg with a good leave.

Court 1: Stephen makes 3 but has not got the peel. Peelee remains near the hoop so he'll be looking to have another go before 6. Other balls are perfect.

Court 2: Rick didn't get the 4-back peel so should be going to the peg with a leave that Jack will need to hit to stay in the tournament.

Court 7: Fellix has overhit a big split shot going to his 1-back pioneer by about 6 yards. Knocks it 5 yards NE of the hoop with the roquet. Excellent approach to 2 feet straight but then runs it 10 yards.

In fairness it could have been longer than 2 feet, perspective plays tricks at this distance. Knocks off his 7 yard return roquet with ease. But his 2-back pioneer is a good couple of yards south of the hoop, and the other ball appears to be in the jaws of 3-back. Plays a good roll to it from W boundary level with 2. Easy roquet and he can now take off behind his 2-back pioneer.

Short by a couple of yards but should cope.

Court 1: Stephen has a textbook delayed triple position, just lining up his peel at 4-back getting a rush to 6.

Court 2 - Rick is still in play, has just made rover and it looks like it will be another OSL.

Court 8: David is approaching hoop 6, still has all the balls in reasonable positions but I fancy he'll need to improve the accuracy of his pioneers if he wants to progress beyond the quarter-finals.

And he's stuck in 6 from not very far away, slightly angled. Probably the trickiest hoop (but on the easiest lawn).

It's off partner, but James has a 5-yarder.

With his 2-back ball.

Court 1: Stephen didn't even jaws the peel, but has made hoop 6 and now sending partner to 2-back. Will he play for the straight triple, or settle for 4-back and peg with a good leave? Levi is such a good shot that straight triple is more tempting than usual.

Court 2: Jack is again taking the short shot at Rick in corner IV. Red is up near penult, so if he misses this, it should be curtains for him.

And miss he did. Can Rick hold it together? I'm not sure he's ever made an Opens quarter-final. Really enjoyed playing doubles with him earlier in the week, he was showing signs of brilliance and has really grown into the week.

Court 1: for some reason a ball is near the south boundary near 2-back. Stephen approaches the hoop off partner, then runs the hoop to the boundary to retrieve the other ball again. The straight triple is still a possibility.

Court 2: Rick's rush to 4-back only gets to within 3 yards. Approaches to a yard, slightly off straight. Gets it to the boundary - good stroke.

He has a good penult pioneer, and it's a partner, so the proverbial full-figured female is strongly clearing her throat.

Rover pioneer is 3.5 yards from the hoop. So my comment about David (above) also applies to Rick. I'm sure both will be well aware.

Court 8: James has made 2-back and 3-back and is looking like going to the peg rather than having a leave. Hasn't got a good pioneer at 4-back or penult but has all the balls and a rush to 4-back.

Court 1: Stephen has not got the 4-back peel and will be going to the peg with a leave.

Court 2: Rick failed to get a rush on his wayward rover pioneer so is approaching from 3 yards.

Approaches to 1 yard straight.

Runs it smoothly but now has 5 yard return. Sweaty in all respects!

Strikes it well, gets it. That's all over, well played Rick Harding. Probably the biggest upset so far.

Court 1: Stephen grovels through penult and needs a ref.

Went on to referee it. It was trivial.

(Not a criticism)

Court 8: James ran a 2-foot penult by 13 yards. Has a 15-yard return roquet at partner, misses to near corner II.

He had a 6-yarder available but that missed into baulk (and moved the ball by far nearest to rover), so not an unreasonable choice in my opinion. He is now 1 and rover versus 6 and 4-back, which is winning in my book. David has no shot shorter than 12 yards.

Apologies to any Kiwi readers for neglecting Court 7 for a bit. It's really hard to cover 4 games (and referee) at once!

Especially as Stephen and Rick are so quick.

Court 7: I assume Greg missed the lift, but Felix stuck in hoop 1. I think Greg didn't have an easy shot so missed partner near corner IV. Felix has made 1 and then hit Greg in IV. Rushes to 6 yards south of hoop 2 with partner lurking near hoop 3. There is a still a ball near corner IV so I don't think he'll be risking a peel after 3.

Good roll up (again) leaves a 2 foot straight hoop that he smashes through to the boundary, where yellow is waiting.

Court 1: Stephen has made another spread, not quite as tight as the last one, looks like yellow (the ball near hoop 2) has a double on Stephen's balls, but it's quite deep, so Levi decides to lift it. Taking the short shot from end of A-baulk at Stephen's balls.

Hits.

Court 8: David hit partner (12 yards) without taking his lift (it was the shortest shot that joined up). Is now approaching 6 from 3 yards.

Gets a 1 yard slightly angled hoop. Longer than the one he just failed. But he's generally been good at these this week (and over his career, in fact).

Through to the boundary and has a 6 yard return. He's good at these too.

(I'm not trying to 'curse' him - I don't believe in all that, it's bad luck to be superstitious).

Court 1: Levi has a ball at 1-back and a rush to 6 (his hoop) on the ball at the peg.

Court 8: David hits. "Commentator's curse" needs to be renamed "confirmation bias".

Court 7: didn't see what happened (sorry) but Greg has hit something.

Felix's clips are 3 and 4-back.

Greg has sent a ball to hoop 1 and will be joining partner near corner IV, with Felix's other ball near hoop 6.

Ah, actually he's sent his ball off the lawn in the stroke, so has a 10 yard join on the south boundary. Oops.

Felix is looking at his shortest shot, a very aggressive 12 yarder at Greg's nearest ball.

But he does have partner near-ish his hoop (3), so gains a lot if he hits. Especially if he rushes it near Greg's other ball.

Court 8: David has 6-yarder at his 1-back pioneer, for reasons that are unclear to me. Misses it to corner III. His clips are now a deeply disappointing 1-back and 4-back. If James misses though, David is likely to have some sort of free shot balls all over the place.

Court 1: missed what happened but I think Levi may have stopped and Stephen missed (all I saw was Stephen standing off the court rehearsing his swing in the manner of someone who's just missed a shot). Levi has just made 1-back with 3 balls in front of him.

Court 8: James missed a 13-yarder at David in the middle of the court. David joins partner in corner III. James's balls are next to hoop 2 and 4 yards north of corner I. So this will now likely devolve into some defensive play for a bit. Still advantage James I say, even though he doesn't currently have the innings. He's shooting from hoop 2 at partner (~20 yards). Misses.

Court 7: Felix missed his shot, Greg is making penult with a ball at rover.

I can't remember if he started the turn on 4-back, I think so.

Court 1: Levi is looking to make a diagonal spread for 1 and 4-back versus 4-back and peg. 3-back pioneer is a touch wayward but has rushed past it and should cope.

Sorry, took a short break to get myself a second coffee, then realised it's already beer o'clock, so it's time for the first pint. We are only on the second 72-pint barrel - I was surprised James was willing to share the first one.

James Death, that is - James Carlisle has been teetotal for many years now, I understand.

Which may surprise those who knew him in his youth!

Court 1: Stephen has the innings, presumably hit the lift, possibly with his peg ball. he has a 3-yard rush pointing at 4 back, level with the hoop on the east boundary. Levi is shooting at this from level with hoop 5 on the same boundary. Hits. Other ball is by hoop 6 (possibly it was wired from Stephen's balls).

Levi shot with the hoop 1 ball, so could equalise with a standard triple here. Which would be an extremely good turn in the circumstances.

Court 7: I've moved my seating position slightly to try and get a slightly better view. Greg has just made hoop 2 and doesn't have anything particularly near hoop 3.

Court 8: no hoops have been made since my last update, so my assessment proved correct. James is attempting to roll off hoop 2 from a couple of yards north of 6. His ball hits the wire, not runnable. However he can return to partner between hoop 3 and the corner.

The other ball is a few inches north of corner I.

Court 1: Levi didn't get in front of 1 and has joined on the south boundary. Stephen is shooting from hoop 2 at partner near hoop 3. I think it's the peg ball he's playing, so a relative defensive shot. Misses by not much.

Court 7: Greg has done well to manoeuvre (thank you built-in spellcheck) the balls to get an easy hoop 3 with all balls ahead of him. All he has to do is take this break round and peg out to win game 1. In under 3 hours, too. If he does it. Strong favourite to take the game from here.

Court 1: Levi decided to try and make hoop 1 off partner without splitting Stephen up, failed it. Stephen has hit his 4-yarder with the 4-back ball and just needs to take off across to Levi's balls to arrange a rush to 4-back.

Court 7: Greg appears to have run hoop 4 into the yard line area, leaving himself a 6.5 yard return roquet. Enthusiastic ringing of the lunch bell interrupts his stalk.

Restalks, hits it half ball.

Court 1: Stephen has a 2yard straight rush to 4-back. Underhits it, needs to roll up from 8 yards straight. Decent shot yields 4 foot slightly angled hoop. Press up time.

Gets it to the boundary, yellow (Levi's 4-back ball) was also underhit so needs a 6 yard return.

Misses it.

Walks away, returns to the spot, and rehearses the shot again.

Levi will now have the option of a 6 yard lift with his hoop 1 ball. Black has missed to the east boundary near hoop 4, and blue is near the east boundary level with 6, so a far from trivial pick up.

Court 8: James has now made hoop 2 and just played a good approach to 3 with 2 balls ahead of him, not near 4. Runs the hoop but needs a ref.

Had to play a sweep, but had a double, struck it well, made the roquet.

Apologies, Hugh just asked me about a Laws situation from 1973. And when Hugh asks you a question, you don't just break off to start typing. Contempt of court or something.

(I'm embellishing - but only slightly. And to give Hugh his due, he did ask me if it was a convenient time to put the question to me, and I said yes.)

Court 2: Logan is practising. From that I assume (without looking it up) that he'll be playing Rick soon. You can look it up if you want.

Court 1: Levi has just played one of his amazing cut rushes (genuinely amazing, not like one of my amazing cut rushes that are the last stroke of my turn).

He is rushing partner to 3 from not very far away, with an escape ball up there, and a hoop 4 pioneer that looks like a hoop 5 pioneer.

Oh, I beg his pardon - it is a hoop 5 pioneer, he was rushing a ball up to 4-back after making 4, to set up a delayed triple. Takes off from partner to 4.5 yards south of the hoop 5 pioneer.

Court 8: James's break (to win - other ball for rover) is progressing, he's under-rushed to 1-back but plays a nice take-off to 1 foot straight position.

Court 7: Greg runs rover and has a 4 yard return. No problem. partner is 4 yards from peg, so this is over. Well played, Greg - decent pace also.

Court 1: Levi is lining up and angled 4.5 foot peel that he can play with a straight stop shot to get a rush to 6.

Court 7: Greg wins game 1 +15, I expect they'll now break for lunch.

Court 1: Levi gets the peel (by 6 inches - perfect) but then rushes 5 yards south of 6. Sticks in jaws of 6.

Stephen has a 4.5 yard shot with his penult ball at yellow (that has just been peeled through 4-back. Hits the hoop and somehow misses yellow, ending about a foot away.

That's a really bad miss. That was for a very easy chance to close out the match.

Levi runs 6 from the jaws to a position that gives him a 6-yard double at yellow and black. Hits and now just has a double peel to equalise the match at 1-1.

Court 8: James has had to leave a ball behind near 2-back but is making 3-back with control and can now rush back to retrieve the fourth ball. However his 4-back pioneer is a good 7 yards south of its hoop. And he still has a rover peel to do if he wants to peg out and win this turn. My guess is he gets to peg and rover with a leave.

Court 7: blue is on the court, but I'm sure it's spurious. Felix is lunching next to me, Greg has disappeared.

Court 2: Logan is still practising. I'm not sure where the quarter-finals will be, but I'm fairly sure the manager will make them single-banked.

Court 1: Levi is lining up a 2-yard death roll going to a 2--back pioneer 3 yards due south of the hoop. Gets the peel by a yard but only reaches level with his pioneer. Snicks it a bit closer, backward take-off yields 2 yard straight hoop that he runs to the boundary.

Court 8: James is taking off to improve his rover pioneer, has a good penult pioneer. Rover pioneer is also prospective peelee, so he has a good chance to do a straight rover peel. Decides to rush partner up to penult pioneer and croquet it back, underhits it to yard south of penult pioneer. Considers just taking off to get a good rush to penult (despite then having no rover pioneer). Changes his mind (wisely in my view), stops partner to rover giving a 3 yard rush to penult.

Hits it on the nose to a couple of yards north of the hoop. Peelee is 2 yards north of rover. I'd say he's 60% to finish from here.

Court 1: Levi rushed to the middle of nowhere after 2-back and has just failed an angled 3-back. Stephen has a choice of 7 yard shots with his peg ball, or an 8 yard lift with his penult ball. He's decided to take... lunch.

Smart move by Stephen given his last shot was missing a 4 yarder.

Like the opposite of taking lunch just after you've done a break to 4-back and the opponent has missed the lift.

Court 8: James is only going to have one escape ball for his rover peel. He's overhit his approach to peelee but can still cut it to a better position.

Good shot - peelee is now 2.5 feet north of rover.

Escape ball is 3 yards southwest of the hoop, not ideal but perfectly playable.

2.5 feet I find a really awkward distance, as my stop shots are poor. Even on a fast lawn I think I'd play an Irish peel from here. James Death or Reg would probably do a stop shot - albeit no deep ball also argues against that.

Have I got time to refill my pint glass before James plays his next stroke?

I mean, I could anyway and you'd never know.

Plays a sort of Irish stop shot. Perfect outcome - peel through by 2 yards, striker's ball in middle of jaws.

Hit it quite hard - a clean peel would have threatened the boundary, a less good peel would have interfered with striker's ball. Still, it's the result that counts in the end.

Court 7: Rick has removed the spurious ball. Surely the manager isn't double banking his quarter-final with the remainder of Greg and Felix's last 16 match?

He is, you know. Brave!

No good having tidy lawn allocations for the semi-final if you run out of time to play the final...

Rick plays a standard east boundary ball, about 9 yards north of corner IV. Logan goes to just south of corner II.

Court 8: James is still lining up his peg out, from 3.5 yards.

He's stood his mallet up just behind the peg, presumably to help him sight the lining up - interesting, never seen that before.

In addition to this being Stephen Mulliner's 50th consecutive Open Singles, later this year he will (in all likelihood) compete in his 48th President's Cup. Both astonishing records. A viewer asked if my assertion that these records will never be broken is predicting the demise of AC. My answer is: not necessarily (and of course I hope not) - I just think people have different lifestyles these days.

Court 8: James pegs out to win the first game, +11.

Court 7: Rick's ball is about 2 yards south of corner II - I assume deliebrately.

Turn 4: Logan misses partner in corner II. This should give Rick a chance of a cannon that could yield a break.

Turn 5 - Rick hits on the wrong side so doesn't get cannon. Doesn't get position at hoop 1 so joins partner on east boundary. Logan misses from by hoop 1.

Sorry folks, seems I lost connection for a bit there. I blame too many people in the lunch room.

But fortuitously, not much has happened on the courts, and it's allowed me to fill my glass and plate.

Court 7: Rick is up to 2-back.

Felix and Greg had an opening where all 4 balls were on the east boundary around hoop 4/corner IV. Greg managed to get a cannon that he could play to promote a ball to hoop 1, as the fourth ball was nearby. He played it well and was going nicely but seems to have failed 5.

Stephen has finished lunch and is surveying court 1. Probably wondering how he's going to hit a 9-yarder when his previous stroke was missing a 4-yarder. The answer, as I've said, is lunch.

Stephen lifts his penult ball to the end of A-baulk, misses 9-yarder to near 6.

Levi missed Stephen's other ball, ending in corner II. Stephen hits the remaining 8 yarder with his peg ball and is now in corner III with partner laying a rush to penult. Oppo is still in corner II, and near corner I. Strong position for Stephen. I'm guessing Levi will shoot at partner from corner II to corner I.

I can also report that lunch today is excellent, once again. Is there a more satisfying experience than eating a scotch egg with a runny yolk? I'm a simple man with simple tastes!

How do they know it's going to be perfectly runny? Although, assuming it's trial and error, I wouldn't mind testing the 'failures' too.

Court 1: Levi shot at Stephen's balls in corner III, from corner II, missed. Stephen is now doing a press-up in front of an easy penult.

Forced it through getting a rush he can cut to rover.

But instead, taps it and will be taking off to red (near 4-back) to get a rush to rover.

Court 7: Felix has a clip on hoop 2, Greg has just made hoop 1 with a 4-ball break ahead of him.

The inevitable "he didn't play like that against me" thoughts are running through my head.

Court 1: Stephen has to run rover from 1 foot for the match. Does so.

Court 8 has resumed, James Carlisle 1-0 up against David Fuller. David hit third turn and has a DL, James misses from A-baulk. He either missed really badly or was shooting at the in-lawn ball as he comes on 3 yards away. David hits this and pokes the ball into court getting a rush on partner towards the fourth ball, which is about 8 yards SSW of hoop 2.

Court 1: Stephen wins the game +7 and the match 2-0. Not exactly convincing, but you can never, ever write him off. He won this event in 1988, 1990, and 2000.

Wow, that was close to being the biggest error of the week.

I nearly forgot to get myself pudding before it's cleared away.

Court 2: Rick is (literally) sitting on the east boundary, eyeing up a shot on court 7. Not clear why.

There are a lot of clips on top of hoop 2 on court 7. Felix is back in play.

Court 8: David has a 4-ball break, just making hoop 2. He's not a slow player, but being quite 'new', still encounters unfamiliar situations that sometimes require more thought than an experienced player might require. I predict his clip will be on 4-back at around 2.25pm.

Court 7: Rick makes hoop 2 and removes the clip, needs one good shot to split a ball to 4 going to a distant hoop 3 pioneer.

Felix has a four ball break at hoop 5.

I hope David isn't superstitious - he's stuck in hoop 2. James has a double from 7 yards away, but might just be able to hit the wire in the middle of the double and bounce away. It would be some shot though.

I'd go for the middle - but I'm out and he's not, so what do I know?

James has a brief conference with David, then calls an umpire (Stephen Mulliner) to watch the shot.

Hits the ball that wasn't in the hoop. It should rush to hoop 1, but will need a fairly precise shot next up. I don't think it rushes to the other ball (which is near 3).

Instead he rushes it north (peeling it to 3) and will now roll across to 3 trying to get a rush on partner, not unreasonable.

Court 7: I think Rick nipped round to 4-back when I wasn't looking, as he's just made hoop 4 and appears to be setting up a delayed triple.

Felix has just made 1-back.

Hopgood (surprising nobody) has made the same error I narrowly avoided. Fortunately for him, a helpful club member is extricating some Bakewell tart for him. They are discussing the appropriate portion size for the cream accompaniment - he's gone for "a healthy downpour" as a fair compromise between "a splash" and "a drench".

After hoop 4, Rick rushed too close to the hoop 5 pioneer, so had to settle for a standard hoop 6 pioneer (with partner still hovering around 4-back). However something bad must have happened after 5 (mishit croquet stroke?) and he's missed his hoop 6 pioneer. Logan has a ball in B-baulk for a nice easy hit in.

Court 8: there has been some interaction, the end result of which is David approaching hoop 1 off partner from 4 yards east.

Court 7: Felix made an NSL, but after Greg missed, he was unable to rush the ball by hoop 4 over to 1. He rolled over and then retreated. Greg shoots from 1 to partner near 2, misses. Felix rushes to Greg's balls and should now have a good chance at a standard tp, as long as he rushes well to 1.

Court 8: David makes 1 and appears to have a 4-ball break ahead of him, but plays a poor roll shot to only get 8 yards away from opponent ball in the middle of the north boundary. Hits it anyway and has a ball right by hoop 2, so should now be away.

Court 1: Samir is practising.

Court 7: Logan has a 5-yarder on a ball near hoop 4 that he needs to hit on the right side to have a straightforward approach. He's waiting for Felix, who rushed to and approached hoop 1 poorly, but has smashed through an angled hoop from 4 yards and just needs to hit a 5 yarder for his break (the other 2 balls are both north of 2, one of which is the prospective peelee). Hits.

Correction: Logan was not for 4, I think he may have been trying a 5 yard rush from near hoop 4 up to hoop 2. Middles it off middle of west boundary.

Nope, wrong again - he's now split a ball to hoop 5 going to get a rush on a ball near hoop 1.

Which he has rushed (from 3 yards away) to near corner III. He has a ball near hoop 3, so my next guess is he'll send this to 4 and make hoop 3.

Nope - he's just taken off from the ball on the east boundary to get a rush to hoop... 4.

So I was kind of right the first time, to be fair.

But by going all around the court, he has got a good hoop 5 pioneer.

Taking off to 4 from 4 yards behind it, gets a 2 foot straight hoop - good shot.

Meanwhile, Felix has smashed through an angled hoop 3, and come out at a greater angle, missing partner that was just behind the hoop. Makes it to south boundary, where happily for him, red is waiting, being a deep hoop 4 pioneer. Safe to say it won't be a standard triple.

Court 8: David has made hoop 4 with a ball near 5.

Earlier I averred that Rick beating Jack might be the biggest upset in the event so far. A correspondent has suggested whether Pete beating Mark yesterday may match or exceed this? Pete is offended by the suggestion.

He is still awaiting the winner of Bryant/Webby. Bit surprised he arrived before lunchtime to be honest.

It's an interesting question - Pete has a lot more 'pedigree' than Rick, he won the Men's Championship here in 2003 or 2004 (I think it was), beating Fulford (who he?) 3-0 in the final, and is precisely the sort of player who has the game to produce upsets. Apparently Mark was shooting superbly yesterday but, very unusually for him, was struggling to get the balls where he wanted them. Certainly a very fine win for Pete.

You could also say Rick has the game for upsets, especially in tricky conditions. Shoot well, keep it simple, go round, make a leave, do it again.

Court 7: it appears Felix misapproached 4 and retired to corner III. Greg has hit partner on the south boundary near 4. I believe the ball he's playing with is for 2 (other ball is for 5). He's taking off to III, other ball is near 6, so he'll be hoping to get a rush on the latter for an immediate break.

Logan is about to make 2-back with all the balls in position for making a spread.

Court 8: see above, but for David.

Also, Samir has started his quarter-final against Stephen. He's hit third turn and is having a DL.

So to recap, currently in play we have:

Court 7: Greg Bryant leads Felix Webby 1-0 (winner plays Pete Trimmer in a quarter-final).
Court 7: Logan McCorkindale vs Rick Harding (quarter-final).
Court 8: James Carlisle leads David Fuller 1-0 (winner plays James Death in a quarter-final).
Court 8: Stephen Mulliner vs Samir Patel (quarter-final).

Mac players featuring in the quarterfinals: England 2, NZ 2, USA 0, Australia 0.

Bit surprised not to see some US players here but in fairness a few of them do have young families, so it's understandable.

Sorry, another ref hiatus. That's ref(ereeing) and ref(ill).

Samir hit his slightly hampered shot after making hoop 1 and has just run 5 on his first break.

David missed his hampered shot after 3-back but James was unable to make much of it. Subsequently James missed David's balls in corner II and David is now waiting for Samir to clear the middle of the lawn so he can play some sort of cannon. He's playing his hoop 3 ball, rushing to a ball near hoop 5 which he'll now hope to get a rush on, back to 3.

Greg's break has progressed to 1-back (other clip is on 5) looking under control. Felix is still 4 and 4-back.

Logan looks cross at something up at 1-back.

Looks like he misapproached hoop 2, so Rick must have missed the lift. Clips are Logan 2 and 4-back, Rick 6 and 4-back.

Logan has a 3-yard join on the east boundary with his hoop 2 ball in corner IV (that he has just run to).Rick's balls are near hoop 3 (a bit NNW) and 3yds E of 2.

So could be a case of a 'must hit' 12 yarder - cornering either ball still leaves Logan with an easy 3-ball break.

Court 8: David failed to make 3 and joined partner near north boundary, James has hit. He's still for 1 and 1, the other ball (his partner) is near hoop 4.

Court 7: Rick shoots from hoop 2 to hoop 3, missing.

A quick word on the lunches - they have been excellent all week, particular highlight for me was yesterday's home-cooked Bakewell tart, courtesy of Adam Moliver's wife (I'm sorry I don't know your name). We also had a superb pork in mustard sauce earlier in the week. And one day we were treated to freshly baked pizza from a local company. But they've all been good, thanks once again to all the volunteers who've made it happen.

Court 8: Samir has reached 4-back but made a B spread (oppo balls completely open on each other), so joined up tight in corner IV with a rush north. Stephen played the ball near hoop 2 from where it lay at the ball by the peg, hits the peg full and stops 1 yard from partner. I'd lay 4-1 against him taking croquet this game.

James has got himself a very angled, 2 foot hoop 1. Removes all the clips, jump shot fails to go through. David's hoop 3 ball is lurking menacingly between 5 and the peg.

Oops, nattering in the bar again and a few things have happened.

Court 8: Samir ran hoop 1 hard and somehow missed the reception ball 1 yard straight behind it. Managed to hit the pivot and recovered well enough to make hoop 2, but then has misapproached 3 and has retired to corner III. His partner is 2 yds NE of corner IV (overhit hoop 4 pioneer). Stephen misses partner to middle of south boundary (8 yds).

David is approaching 3 off partner with a ball 2yds W of 2 and the other ball 2yds WSW of 4, makes it with a rush pointing at hoop 5 - should make progress.

On court 7, Felix has the innings, we weren't sure if Greg was trying to move a ball from near corner IV to corner II, or if he was shooting at Felix. Either way, he hit the peg fairly full and finished near 6. Felix has now had another leave, joined up on the east boundary level with 4 with a rush to 4. Greg is well south of 1 and middle of north boundary. I imagine he's pondering another defensive shot.

Meanwhile Logan missed a 6 yard return roquet after 4, but is now back in again and making 1-back.

Greg moves the ball from south of 1 to corner III.

Manager's nightmare is Greg winning 2-1 late this evening.

Court 8: David has stuck in hoop 4 off James's ball. James is still 1 and 1. He still has a ball near 2 so just plays for a rush to 1, gets a 1 foot straight rush.

I get the impression that conditions are getting more and more challenging by the hour.

Meanwhile, Samir missed partner in corner III, Stephen hit, but can only engineer a rush to middle of south boundary. Croquets brown up to hoop 2 trying to get in front of 1 (where partner is waiting, but already roqueted of course).

Error! Felix made hoop 4, rushed to corner III, then to Greg's other ball, rushed to 5, grovelled through it. As I came on ready to referee the hampered shot, he realised the colour of the ball didn't match the colour of the clip he was holding. We determined he must have swapped with the partner ball when rushing up after 4. So hoop 4 counts, but not hoop 5. His balls had to go in contact 1 yard from Greg's ball in corner III.

So, Greg is now looking to rush partner to 4-back (other clip is for 5). Plays the rush poorly leaving a 4 yard scoop.

Gets it.

Meanwhile, Rick is taking a lift shot at partner from south of hoop 1. Misses badly to a couple of yards east of II.

Court 8: Samir has the innings, he's in corner I croqueting partner towards 4-back going to his hoop 5 pioneer. Actually partner might go to 6.

Yes, it does.

Ish.

4 yards south. Has all the balls though.

James's break has reached 2-back, the pioneer for which is 5 yards north.

I'm off to measure the speed of lawn 2.

Lawn 1 is running at about 12 seconds on average - 11 uphill and into the wind, 13 the other way. Lawn 2 is probably a bit quicker in places but also running around 12 seconds overall (with less of a gradient).

Right, where are we?

Court 7: Felix has just run rover and looks like he plans to peg red out. Yellow is for 5 and black is for 6

In the other game, Logan is in play and rushing partner to the other ball which is behind 4-back. I think he may be for 4-back with that ball.

Court 8: Stephen is making 1-back with all the balls, his other clip is for 3. Samir is 3-back and 4-back.

In the other game, David has dug out a break well and has just made 2-back. His other clip is still on 4-back. James's clips are 1 and 4-back.

Felix has indeed pegged Greg out and is leaving his balls in corners IV and II.

I think they're breaking for tea.

Logan has run penult by 12 yards - because he has a ball down there. He then he comes back to the other 2 balls to get a rush to rover. I think his other ball is for 4-back. Rick is 4-back and 2-back.

Greg is looking at the 13-yard lift shot from end of A-baulk to Felix's hoop 6 ball in corner IV.

Logan has hoop and roquet at rover.

Court 8: Stephen has reached 4b with another diagonal spread, his balls about level with 5. Samir picks up his 4b ball from by the peg and misses from III to IV.

Court 7: my bad, Logan's other ball was already for peg. Wins game 1. Looks like they will have a tea break.

Court 8: David sticks in 4b. Asks for hoop to be checked for a jam, Stephen (waiting for double banking) does the honours, no dice.

James has all the balls to make hoops with his 4b ball (other ball for 1) so will be looking for 2 or 3 hoops and a leave. 2 hoops would be my choice. Still leaves an easy finish (and one he already accomplished in the first game) but doesn't make it easy for the opponent to peg you out if they get in.

Manager has not ruled out a best of 5 final yet!

Some debate among the crowd as to whether time used after time counts against time for the next game, or not.

We shall appeal to Cyndi Lauper for a definitive ruling on the matter.

In the meantime, the croquet continues,.

Some players are playing some shots.

As there's no livestream, I could describe anything I like, and you have no idea if it's true, or just a figment of my imagination. Of course, as far as I'm concerned, you're all a figment of MY imagination, so it evens out in the end.

Anyway, one thing is clear - I shouldn't drive home yet.

Court 7: Felix has made 1b and split up, peg ball about 5yds S of II and other ball about 5yds N of IV. Greg misses the ball near II from the end of B baulk.

Rick and Logan are still teaing.

Court 8: Samir missed the long lift (oh, I told you that) and Stephen has all the balls and is about to make 2b, no look at a peel yet but partner is his 2b pioneer so straight triple is a possibility.

James is in with his hoop 1 ball, having got to rover as I predicted.

Court 7: Felix's rush to 2b from IV hits the hoop and stays there, would have gone a few yards past. Makes the hoop, cuts the return rush slightly towards yellow that is in the middle of W boundary, ends up too far away so just rolls both balls off near III.

Rick and Logan are about to finish teaing.

Court 8: James failed to make 1 and David has hit, and failed to approach 4b. James is shooting at red near IV from 8y SSW of 2.

No, he's changed his mind and is shooting at David's balls.

No, changed his mind again.

Stephen has made rover so will be 4b and peg vs 3b and 4b.

Great shot from James, hits the edge of partner. The front edge.

Court 7: Felix feathers the ball at 3b where he is attempting an angled hoop. It's a fair way from the hoop, so probably not a critical ball. Replaces it, runs the hoop and bounces off 4b. Thinking about where to go. Greg is in corner I.

Court 8: Stephen has a diagonal spread, Samir will need to hit to avoid being 1-0 down.

Samir has indeed hit his lift, He's overapproached 4b off partner. Fails it.

Stephen has an 8 yarder for the game.

David has also failed 4b (from a longer distance).

Stephen misses.

James hits partner in corner IV with 2 balls by 4b. Not easy to rush to 1 from there.

Court 7: Logan fails hoop 2. Guess which hoop his ball is now nearest to?

If you said hoop 4, well done.

Felix has now pegged his own ball out leaving 4b vs 5. Greg takes position at 5 from the north boundary. Runs rover to perfect position. Felix does nothing, Greg runs 5 and takes position at 6, Felix hits and tries to split Greg's ball to near 4 getting in front of 4b, doesn't get position. Takes position, Greg lags to 4ft W of peg. Felix runs 4b to boundary.

Court 8: Samir has run 4b, and penult to next to rover. Has a couple of balls near penult to try and get a rush to rover.

Court 7: Logan is 1 and 2, has a classic squeeze leave. Rick misses so Logan should go round (with the hoop 1 ball).

Greg hits his last lift.

At Felix in II.

Greg plays a great shot to get 2ft position at 6. But can't get enough pass on the pass roll to leave the other ball W of the hoop.

Runs hoop to boundary, no rush so needs another good shot,

Logan makes 1 with a break ahead of him.

Greg underapproaches 1b and takes position.

Court 8: James approaches 1 with a backward take-off, gets a 2.5 yard straight hoop.

Bounces off.

Court 7: Felix goes to N boundary between 3 and 6. Greg hits. Crowd experts' consensus is Felix was too close. Greg underhits his approach much worse than the previous effort.

Takes position - concedes wiring lift.

Felix misses Greg from end of B-baulk.

Greg underapproaches 1b again. Takes deep position. Felix goes near penult. Greg shooting.

Misses to middle E boundary.

Felix attempts hoop, rejects back almost in a straight line to a spot the experts quite like as a choice.

Court 8: David Fuller wins game 2 on time.

Court 7: Greg hits, cutting it almost in front of 1b!

Stephen has hit Samir's OSL. Has a 1 foot penult, runs it with no rush and no ball at rover. Samir has pegged Stephen's other ball out, so he's just rolling up to rover.

Greg runs 1b, too far to get rush to 2b.

Stephen's roll to rover yields a 3y straight hoop.

Hits the left wire and bounces off to an unrunnable position. Also close to wired from green near IV.

Greg rolls down to 2b sending Felix to between 2b and 3b. Fails 2b.

Felix takes position at penult. Goes very wide but is runnable.

Greg is in front of 2b.

Samir hits partner near IV.

Greg runs 2b.

Fails to get position at 3b.

Felix takes position at penult, it was intended to be wired but is completely open for Greg.

Greg is taking on a 2y angled 3b.

Big rejecting straight back through his legs.

Felix runs penult to 5yds from Greg. Hits.

Samir spent some time looking at wired spots, then decided to move Stephen's ball. But then hits hoop 4 with next croquet stroke and decides to join partner (that he sent to 4b). Stephen decides to take position at rover and doesn't seem to get it.

Felix sends Greg to near 4b approaching rover. Runs rover, lags to 3y W of peg.

Court 8: James puts out standard E boundary ball. David duffer. James misses partner by some way from B baulk.

Greg hits.

David hits duffer.

Greg doesn't get in front of 3b, takes position. Felix hits peg from 8yds to win game 2.

Not the results that the manager, James Death (waiting for Fuller/Carlisle) or Pete Trimmer (waiting for Bryant/Webby) wanted!

Logan meanwhile has been quietly going to 4b. Looks like he's finishing with an OSL, which he'll presumably be a touch disappointed about.

I suspect that soon, as the heat of the sun abates slightly, the courts will slowly (and then relatively quickly later, when we get shadows) start to become slightly easier.

Court 8: David had the innings, but James has hit in north of 6 and will be taking off to David's balls near IV.

Sorry I totally lost control of Samir and Stephen's game - I thought they'd finished, but no, Stephen is now peg alone, Samir has the innings and has just played a good approach to rover.

Makes it with a rush that he has cut to within 4 yds of the peg.

Pegs out to win game 1 26-25.

Apologies to anyone keen to keep following, but I'm going to call it a day there, as I won't be around to report on the conclusion of these matches. I've enjoyed it as always - until next time, signing off.