Tournament heat tests endurance

DOUBLES WINNERS: Jenny Barns-Graham and Per Elzen played consistent croquet all day to win a handicap doubles tournament held by Barry Memorial Croquet Club.

CROQUET

GISBORNE croquet players had their endurance tested when they played back-to-back tournaments in temperatures that soared past 30 degrees at times over Auckland Anniversary Weekend.

On the Sunday, Barry Memorial Croquet Club players took part in a handicap doubles tournament won by Per Elzen and Jenny Barns-Graham, who played a steady, consistent game.

On the Monday, Ross Thomson defeated Christine McCullough in the final of the singles levels tournament. Several players withdrew from games due to heat exhaustion as temperatures climbed as high as 33 degrees.

In the handicap doubles on Sunday, high-handicap players were paired with those on low handicaps, and six pairs played a round-robin format that produced exciting matches.

Maurice Allan played exceptionally well in his first tournament. He and Rob Hayes drew 6-6 with Betty Thomson and Christine McCullough, and then handed eventual runners-up John Wilson and Ina Elzen their only defeat.

In the singles levels tournament on Monday, 10 players split into two blocks of five. In Block 1, Christine McCullough and Charles Ostler both finished with three wins and a loss. McCullough went through to the final on a countback.

In Block 2, Rob Hayes and Ross Thomson each had three wins and a draw. They had the same differential and the draw they had was with each other. They agreed to decide the block winner by the toss of a coin. Thomson won and then won the final against McCullough, 7-5. Ostler won the playoff for third with Hayes, 6-3.

These games were a good forerunner to the club championships this month.