This event has been growing in popularity over the past few years, and I even had to turn a couple of late hopefuls away this year. With the maximum of 12 players for the singles, play was divided into two blocks with an all-play-all structure of five 13 point games I didn’t make last year’s mistake of turning up on the day with a few rounds sketched on the back of an envelope. Instead, I picked Ray’s brains and plundered the Oxford Croquet website and made sure everyone knew exactly who they were playing and when.

The tight schedule meant games were timed to 45 minutes, but most completed. At the end of the blocks, David Collins was winner of Block A, with myself as runner-up, and Simon Gibbs came out top of Block B with Ken Watson close behind. This set up the semi-finals of David v Ken, and a grudge match between old rivals the two Simons.

Despite a strong performance from Ken, David went through to the final to face myself, having seen off the redoubtable Mr. Gibbs.

The final was a close fought game with myself winning 7-5. To sustain interest there was also an Egyptian running simultaneously which was won by Simon Gibbs.

Next day saw 8 pairs compete for the beautiful Goblets. This was played as a straigtforward all-play-all. It was great to see relative newcomers such as Debbie, Peter and Eileen take part and Debbie’s partnership with David Collin’s was very effective with great play from both. They came a creditable third. In the end a final emerged between husband and wife team Ken and Gloria and Peter and me. Despite some aggresive play from Ken, we managed to win 7-2 and I ignored the cries of ‘it’s a fix’.

The weather held up very well and I think everyone who took part would agree it was a fun and enjoyable tournament.

Simon Carter.