Mark Avery won the East Anglian Golf Croquet Tournament

[<<] [>>] by Chris Sheen at Colchester Croquet Club
20 May 2012 (GC)

Mark Avery won the East Anglian Golf Croquet Tournament, beating Martin French in the final, 3-7, 7-6, 7-4.

In temperatures more akin to winter, 16 competitors played in two blocks on lawns rather slower than usual with top seeds Jack Wicks and James Goodbun heading the blocks. Ten double-banked games on the first day tested stamina and by Sunday lunch time the four semi-finalists were Rachel Rowe, Pierre Beaudry, Martin French and Mark Avery.

Rachel fought well in the first semi-final losing the first game 7-3, winning a close second 7-6 before finally succumbing 7-4 in the third to Mark, in his first GC tournament. In the other match Martin, who was also a semi-finalist last year, just beat Pierre 7-6, 7-5 in a close fought tussle.

In the final Martin's g.c. experience stood him in good stead and he took the first game 7-3 but Mark, who rarely missed clearances from a fair distance gradually fought back taking the second 7-6 and clinching the win 7-4 in the third. A more than useful recruit to this form of the game Mark was occasionally out done on tactics but more than made up for it with accuracy. A worthy winner and a new name on the trophy