Day 2 and cyclist supreme, Nigel Werner, is truly i mbarr a mhaitheasa (in the prime of his life) on the croquet lawns. He went round to penult' early doors in his handicap doubles morning opener before setting up his partner, Duncan Styles, in a great position to make hoop 1. The latter's tactical interjections belied his relatively new entry to the sport. A rapt Werner took on board the telling tactical observations as they plotted a collective path around the manicured surface. Styles' economical shot-making was to leave an imprint of class in a game of vacillating vicissitudes.

Saturday, July 31st 2021 was destined to be a special moment in time. The Olympics of Irish association croquet (by way of the Irish Championships) started in earnest today at Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club.

The entry form for the Irish Open linked to from the menu and sidebar has been updated.

However, the manager would prefer entries to made online using this link

The closing date is 26th July 2021

William Murphy Shield 19/06/21 Rushbrooke

There was another great turnout for this singles tournament at Rushbrooke.

Semi-finalists were Ken O Brien vs Mary O Connor on the top lawn and Colin Laffin vs Rory Canning from the middle lawn. 

There was a great standard of play again this week with play going to the death hoop again.

Colin Laffin won in the end but Ken O Brien put up a great challenge.

12th June 2021 Frewen Cup, Rushbrooke Cork

This Tournament was held on a beautiful summer's day in West Cork.

Semifinalists: Rita Dennis and Tiernan O Rourke vs Patricia Whitty and Patrick Whitty from lawn 2. Roy O'Connor and Phil Doherty vs Hillary Whitty and Rory Canning from lawn 1.

There was a nail-biting final between Hillary Whitty and Rory Canning vs Roy O Connor and Phil Doherty with play going to the death hoop.

Roy O Connor and Phil Doherty won the day at the 13th hoop watched by a great crowd on a glorious day on Rushbrooke lawns.

The result of the Coronation Cup, the handicap doubles event in the Co Dublin Championship 3rd/4th July 2021, is as follows:

Winners: Jane O'Neill and Mark Mc Cann.

Runners Up: Frank O'Neill and Nicola Kelly

(This event – Handicap Doubles – has been carried over from the truncated Championships of County Dublin.)
The arrangements and format of the event are as follows:
1. To be played on the weekend of 3/4 July.
2. Association Croquet Alternate Stroke Doubles.
3. Minimum combined handicap 12.
4. Play will start at 09.30 each morning. Double banking.
5. No arrangements made for food or refreshments, but drinks and a limited range of sandwiches will be available from the bar.
6. No entry fee for this event.

Carrickmines croquet players returned to competitive action for the Championships of County Dublin. This open Tournament, held at Carrickmines, was reduced from 4 to 3 days because of Covid, but still included 5 events. The weather was great and a good time was had by all! Thanks particularly to Tournament Manager Simon Williams, and to Club President John Hunt who turned out for the first time in Presidential blazer to present (in a socially distanced manner) the trophies.
The finalists in the events were:
Championship Singles – Winner Danny Johnston (Newcastle), runner up Sandy Greig.
Click Title for more...

There were eight invitees to the 2021 Silver Medal tournament, held in glorious sunshine last weekend at Carrickmines, where spectators were treated to some scintillating croquet.

By Sunday evening the ebb and flow of the round robin event produced only one player to have won all his games, so congratulations to Sandy Greig on winning this year's medal! His victories included wins over Danny Johnston, Simon Williams and Patsy Fitzgerald.

Details of results may be found on www.croquetscores.com.

A complete revision of the rules of AC came into effect on 31st March 2021.
Read a comparison with the previous version at worldcroquet.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AC-Laws-7th-edition-Changes-log_final.pdf
My own list of the headline changes that players need to take note of can be viewed by clicking the Title above.