Day of frights, upsets

Doubles winners: Lynn Davies (left) and Christine McCullough. Pictures supplied

The Barry Memorial Croquet Club held their first golf croquet tournament for the summer season.

It was a doubles tournament and it was great to see new members taking part and performing so well.

The eight pairs were arranged with low-handicap players being partnered with the higher-handicap players and beginners.

These tournaments are always an opportunity for the less experienced players to gain tips and learn various strategies from their partners as they play.

After Round 2 it was looking like Rob Hayes/Will Humphreys and Christine McCullough/Lynn Davies were the pairs to beat and they met in the third round.

What a battle it was. Each hoop was hotly contested and play was so close that at the bell the score was locked at 4-4. This draw gave other pairs a sniff of victory if they could win their games and these two pairs had another hiccup.

Round 6 was the round for frights. Hayes and Humphreys struggled to another 4-4 draw, this time with Denise Weavers and Maurice Allan.

McCullough and Davies were relieved to have a narrow win, 4-3 against Mark Bousefield and Glenis Ebbett.

While Round 6 was the round for frights, Round 7 — the last — was the one for upsets.

Hayes and Humphreys just didn't fire in their game and were well beaten, 7-1, by Per Elzen and Will Humphrey's wife Barb.

Meanwhile, on Lawn 2, McCullough and Davies were upset 5-4 by Ross Thomson and Anna Wells.

After the seven rounds, McCullough and Davies were the winners with five wins and a draw, Hayes and Will Humphreys were runners-up with four wins and two draws, and Elzen and Barb Humphreys were third with four wins and a draw. The tournament was sponsored by Jenny Virtue at Bronwyn Kay Agency.

The club is situated in Aberdeen Road and anyone wanting to try the game is most welcome to come along to club days on Friday and Sundays, starting at 12.45pm, or Wednesday's twilight play, starting at 4.15pm. All equipment is provided and free tuition is provided for games.

Playing in Section C in the Whakatane Level Singles tournament, Denise Weavers played exceptionally well, winning her games comfortably 7-2, 7-4, 7-4, 7-1 and 7-4 against opponents from Orewa, Rotorua and Whakatane.

She lost 7-2 to a player from Whakatane and although they both ended up with five wins and the same differential, Weavers was edged out of the winner's spot by virtue of the fact that she had lost to the other player in their game.

She was delighted that she reduced her handicap because of her great results.