Sixteen-times-champion Bob Jackson heads a strong field for the 2004-05 North Island croquet championships which starts in Havelock North tomorrow. Jackson, from Franklin-Manukau, a -4 bisque (handicap player), has been in excellent early season form. He won 13 of his 18 matches to win the NZ open invitation (Top 10) tournament inMorrinsville, finishing two victories ahead of runners-up Toby Garrison (Wellington) and Aaron Westerby (Waikato-King Country), and went through unbeaten to win the 65th NZ Gold and Silver Mallets tourney in Auckland. His toughest opposition in the North Island event is likely to come from defending champion and fellow transtasman international Robert Lowe (Auckland), current New Zealand open titleholder Dennis Bulloch (Thames Valley), 1991 winner Tony Stephens (Hawke's Bay) and former South Island titleholder Peter Parkinson (Canterbury). Also in the field are former NI men's champions Don Reyland (Hawke's Bay) and Michael Wright (Wanganui) plus NI open winner Creina Dawson (Franklin-Manukau). Jackson and Dawson are defending their open doubles title. The women's championship field includes Dawson, nine times winner and the defending titleholder, 1999 winner Colleen Stephens (Hawke's Bay) and 1995 champion Judith Edmonds (Wellington).
