Matt Holmes wins the John Beech Memorial Easter Tournament at Pendle.
Photograph and Report by Barbara Dutton.

Twelve contenders took part over the 4 days to win one of the five trophies on offer. Local man Roger Schofield battled hard to beat Roger Staples from Middlesboro to take the Low Handicap trophy, only to find he was in a shoot out for trophy with level score with David Turner from Tyneside (who also holds Pendle & Craven membership). They tossed a coin for which side to shoot from and unfortunately Roger lost out to David.

Joe Lennon from Glasgow took the High Handicap trophy.

A young player from Bury Matt Holmes who arrived with a handicap of 14, took the Overall Winner trophy and was also awarded a silver medal for running 12 consecutive hoops in a game which he won. This, his first tournament came with a mixed blessing as his handicap has now been reduced to 9.

Liz Wilson of Fylde and Pendle took the Fastest Game trophy in just 48 minutes. Playing time is up to 3 hours 30 mins for each game.

James Hopgood (Edinburgh) and Peter Wilson (Fylde & Pendle) shared the Most Games Played trophy, getting in 12 each over the 4 days.

The weather was mixed but mostly kind and players contended well with the odd puddle, unlike the member who drove onto the green car park and became bogged down and remained so in spite of several efforts to free him. Croquet whites do not go well with mud splatter, rendering those players, who offered to push, to a semblance of monochrome Jackson Pollock's.