The Championship of the North of England, one of the four national regional championships, was held at Bowdon as usual over the August bank holiday weekend.
After the hot, dry, summer, the conditions were more difficult than usual with significant bare and brown patches, tight hoops set in firm unforgiving ground, and also new Invictus balls which behave differently to the familiar Dawsons. All this made for highly interactive games, with even the best players regularly failing hoops and turning down the opportunity to try a triple peel – and games going to time.
Despite some twists along the way, perhaps the most dramatic of which was Andrew Winn having a chance of knocking out David Maugham in the semifinals, the final was between the almost traditional pairing of David vs Ian Lines. This contest continued into the Tuesday morning as the tournament had run so far behind schedule. A live commentary was available on the Croquet Scores website, telling the story of David beating Ian 2-1 to retain the trophy, winning the championship for an impressive 15th time. Debbie Lines won the Plate.
All in all the event was a resounding success, played in great spirit and well prepared for by the grounds team, aided by Angharrad Walters organising and tidying the clubhouse and smoothly managed by Ian Lines.
