Virginia-West Virginia Croquet
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             Three District Players Mentioned in Grand Prix Article

In the 2011 Volume 1 edition of the Croquet News, I came across the 2010 Grand Prix rankings. Listed at number 23 was our own Robert Whitmore, at number 9 was Doug Grimsley and listed at number 77 was Barry Williams. The young Zack Watson was mentioned as having won the 9-11 handicap grouping. Congratulations to Bob, Doug, Barry and Zack for a great year of play.
  Local Players Dominate Greenbrier Croquet Tournament


   Even croquet players benefit from home cookin’.  This past weekend’s Virginia – West Virginia District Croquet tournament held at The Greenbrier had several local players on the podium at Sunday’s trophy presentations.  A total of 18 trophies were handed out at the ceremony; twelve of them went to West Virginians.   This was easily the best showing by West Virginia in the 20 years that the tournament has been held.
    Most states have their own individual state croquet championships.  But since there are normally so few players participating from West Virginia, the two Virginias combined their memberships several years ago to form the Virginia-West Virginia Croquet District.  The annual tournaments have been thoroughly dominated by Virginians.  Only a handful of trophies have been won by West Virginians, and they have never had an overall champion, winner of the Championship Flight.  At least, not until this year.
    In tournaments, players are divided “flights” depending on skill level.  Second Flight is where the beginners play and intermediate players play in First Flight.  The “pros” play in Championship Flight. Second Flight was well represented by local players this year.  Gavin and Alice Larrimer from the Greenbrier Croquet Club were runners up in doubles to newcomers Ward Lefler of Gap Mills and Jim Strawn of Charleston.  In singles, Lefler made it to the final as well but was defeated by Lewisburg resident and business owner, Ellen Rothwell.  Rothwell had a solid tournament dropping only one singles game the entire week.  She played doubles with her sister, Beth Evans, also of Lewisburg.
    The First Flight doubles final may have set a record for the largest age differential between combatants in croquet history.  Last year’s First Flight doubles champion, Whickey Knight, teamed with former First Flight singles champion, 93-year old Wayne Herkness, both of Lewisburg.  In the final, they faced Becky Essick and her grandson, 12-year old Matthew Essick, both from the Riverview Croquet Club in Suffolk, Virginia.  Herkness ran an impressive break for several wickets early in the match and Knight played steadily throughout, but sixth-grader Matthew stole the show and amazed the crowd with precision shooting.  He proved his doubles win was no fluke by handily beating John Lee of Gloucester, Virginia in the singles final. 
    West Virginia was guaranteed at least a doubles champion as two West Virginians were pitted against each other in the Championship Flight doubles final.  Two-time district singles champ Garnett Turner of Fulks Run, Virginia teamed with Organ Cave resident, Barry Williams, to face Bob Whitmore of Suffolk, Virginia and Randy Synan of Princeton.  Turner and Williams withstood a late rally by Whitmore and Synan to win by three wickets.  This was the first overall doubles title shared by a West Virginian.  The real prize though was in singles and the West Virginia contingent still had a chance.   Williams faced Tommy Harrington from the Riverview Club in Suffolk.  An early attack gave Williams a break which he ran for eleven wickets to the peg.  A mental error on the leave, however, gave Harrington a chance to get back into the match.  A multi-wicket break on his last turn left Harrington with a chance to win, but an error on his part sealed his doom.  Finally, after 20 years, West Virginia had a singles champion! 
    The tournament was a huge success due in no small part to the facilities and hospitality of The Greenbrier.  The courts were near perfect and the Greenbrier staff was extremely accommodating.  Next year’s tournament will be held in the New Market area of Virginia, but it will return to The Greenbrier in the near future.
    Anyone interested in learning more about croquet can visit:  croquetamerican.com and virginiawestvirginiacroquet.com.

 
   
                        Barry Williams reporting
Tournament Name:VA/WV District Championships
Tournament Dates:June 16-19, 2011
Location:The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV

CHAMPION FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME        HDCPPLACETRK PTS
Barry Williams 2      1           19
Tommy Harrington  0.5   2           -6
Garnett Turner2       3           11
Zack Watson  2.5    4            7
Bob Whitmore       1.5    5            7
Travis Watson2.5    6           -3
Randy Synan  1.5    7           -9
Jack Chase     4       8           -2
Conrad Haas  4.5    9            4
Freeman Turley      3.5   10          -2

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME          HDCPPLACETRK PTS
Matthew Essick8          1           18
John Lee           7          2           15
Jim Coling        10         3           15
Andy Williamson       5          4           -3
Becky Essick     5          5           -5
Marie Haas        5          6           -2
Robert Lankford9          7           -8
Alice Larrimer   11         8           -5


SECOND FLIGHT SINGLES
NAME           HDCPPLACETRK PTS
Ellen Rothwell     13      1            11
Ward Lefler        14      2            13
Carter Richardson      13      3             -2
Dennis Koziol     16      4             17
Jim Strawn          15      5             6
Carl Johnson       15      5            -1
Hunter Smith       11       7            -6
Robin Smith        15       8            -1
Gavin Larrimer   14        9             1
Connie Coling    15       10            4
Robert McCreary      14       11           -4
Beth Evans         15       12         -10


CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES
NAME                   PLACE
Garnett Turner /   1
Barry Williams     1

Bob Whitmore /  2
Randy Synan       2

Travis Watson /   3
Zack Watson      3

Freeman Turley / 4
Jack Chase         4



FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES
NAME          PLACE
Becky Essick /     1
Matthew Essick   1

Whickey Knight / 2
Wayne Herkness 2

Conrad Haas /     3
Andy Williamson 3

Marie Haas /       4
John Lee             4

Robert Lankford /5
Jim Coling           5


SECOND FLIGHT DOUBLES
NAME     PLACE
Ward Lefler /1
Jim Strawn    1

Alice Larrimer /    2
Gavin Larrimer     2

Carter Richardson /      3
Robert McCreary 3

Connie Coling /    4
Carl Johnson4

Dennis Koziol /    5
Jane Koziol  5

Hunter Smith /      6
Robin Smith  6

Ellen Rothwell /    7
Beth Evans   7

  Champ Flight Champ
   Barry Williams
Click on Photos to Enlarge!
                 All photos by John F. Lee
Champ Flight runner up Tommy Harrington on the left.
First Flight Champ
Matthew Essick
First Flight runner up John Lee
Second Flight Champ Ellen Rothwell.
Second Flight runner up Ward Lefler.
Champ Flight Doubles Winners Garnett Turner and Barry Williams
Champ Flight Doubles runners up Bob Whitmore and Randy Synan
First Flight Doubles Winners
Matthew and Becky Essick

First Flight Doubles runners up Whickey Knight and Wayne Herkness
Second Flight Doubles Champs Jim Strawn and Ward Lefler.
Second Flight Doubles runners up Gavin and Alice Larrimer.
Assorted Photos from Tournament

MPCC and Confederate Hills Lock Mallets
                                                                                                                                                                            by Jack Chase

    In the only inter-club competition reported this year, the Middle Peninsula Croquet Club defeated the Confederate Hills club five to one on July 14 in Richmond.  MPCC took four players (Jack Chase 4, Doug Nagel 10, Jane 14 and Dennis Koziol 14) to play Freeman Turley 3.5, Betty Williams 8, Urchie Ellis 11, and Ben Spencer 12).  Regrettably, Ben had to withdraw and the Confederate team played short handed.   There were three singles and three doubles with all matches closely contested.  Jack beat Freeman in the opener and Doug took out Betty on the back half.  In the second block, Doug squeaked by Freeman while Jack and Jane beat Betty and Urchie. 

In the third time slot, Jack and Doug outlasted Freeman and Betty.  On the double bank, Joyce Ellis came off injured reserve (knee surgery) to team with Urchie to win over Jane and Dennis.

Two hybrid matches finished the day with Jack and Dennis beating Freeman and Jane in the first game.  In the second which was probably the closest match of the day, Jack and Freeman barely outlasted Doug and Dennis.

The scores do not adequately reflect  the fun and comradery that was on display.  Our hope is to see more clubs carrying out this sort of challenge.
Croquet By the Bay 2011

   A multi-state field of competitors took part in last week's seventh annual Croquet By the Bay, a six-wicket Waterford doubles tournament hosted by the Middle Peninsula Croquet Club.
   The three-day tournament was held Oct. 6-8 at the club's grass court croquet complex in Redart, with first and second-flight finals being contested at Bob and Susan McCreary's  private court at Green Mansion, their North home.
    Twenty-two players took part in this year's tournament, playing in rotating two-person teams. After two days of round robin play, the finals in each of two flights were set. The two person team of Bob Whitmore of Norfolk and Pinehurst, N.C., and Jim Coling of Middlesex defeated Jack Chase and John Lee, both of Gloucester, by two wickets in the first-flight finals.
    The team of Bob McCreary and Carter Richardson, both of Mathews, defeated Jim Fisher of Richmond and Jane Koziol of Mathews in the second flight finals.
     In addtion to teaching the game to interested players and sponsoring games among its members and guests, the Middle Peninsula Croquet Club also assists in charity fundraisers, such as WXGM-FM's "I'm O.K. You're Croquet" annual Alzheimer's Disease fundraiser. Also, the club is working with the Mathews Family YMCA to introduce the game to local youth.
    The club welcomes new players for either casual or tournament play.
   
          MPCC Bisque Tournament '11
The second annual bisque tournament to determine the 2011 club champion for the Middle Peninsula Croquet Club was completed at the end of October.  All 16 members of the club competed over what turned out to be about two weeks time.  The first round was a blood bath with the top seed, Freeman Turley (3.5) surviving 14 bisques against bottom seed Bob “Pit-bull” Hayes. Second seed Jack (4) choked a potential four-ball break at wicket 4 and was not seen again.  Conner Johnson used his 14 bisques to perfection and finished his match with one bisque still standing.  The number 6 seed, Jim Coling, ran into a buss saw when he played Carl Johnson who used some incredible long hits and his five bisques to run to the 3-back before Jim knew what hit him.

The remaining top seeds all won there first round matches.  Third seed John Lee took out Becky Lazos, four seed Ken James beat Jane Koziol, five seed Doug Nagel beat Dennis Koziol, eight seed Carter Richardson won over Bob McCreary and defending bisque champion Dick Foard eliminated Connie Coling.

Rain took out the start of the second round which was move to the following Monday.  That meant Carl Johnson had to withdraw due to his schedule and the rush to fill his second round spot began.  All eight “losers” played a  mini-bisque blitz for the chance to advance.  When the dust cleared, the Pit-bull was through and Jack and Jim are still wondering, “what just happened?”

When the second round was over, the semi-finals saw Dick fall to Doug and Carter beat the Pit-bull.  After a short break,..beer may have been involved, Carter and Doug began the final.  Carter had three bisques and played such a solid game that we insisted on inspecting his Miller Lite.  He used his final bisque with about five minutes remaining to tie the match.  Wife Nancy was working the crowd and keeping the board keepers in wine but it wasn’t enough.  In his last turn, Carter had a 5’ shot on wicket to tie but failed.

That left Doug Nagel as this year’s MPCC Bisque Champion.  He will no doubt be as insufferable as last year’s champion but we will all have to wait one more year to right the ship.  Congratulations, Doug!  By the way, your handicap is about to be lowered to an 8 for all additional club events.
Doug Nagel, standing on the right is the Middle Peninsula Club's Champion for the 2011 season!
                      Ken James                                 Doug Nagel
MPCC downs Confederate Hill over Thanksgiving Weekend
                                                                                                                By Jack Chase 

The second club teams challenge in the Virginia West Virginia District was played on November 26 between the Confederate Hills Croquet Club and the Middle Peninsula Club.  The weather was perfect at the Redart site and ten matches were played on two full size courts.

Urchie Ellis (10 hc) brought four more players along.  Joyce Ellis (11) as his doubles partner, new member to Confederate Hills, Ron Lastinger (1.5), Freeman Turley (3.5) and Betty Williams (8).  Matches were scheduled as singles and doubles, double banked as necessary, and matched for handicaps.

The opening games had Urchie and Joyce against Connie Coling (15) and Dennis Koziol (16)  Steady play from the Ellis team took the match 12/8  The second match on court one was Ron Lastinger against MPCC Bisque champion, Doug Nagel.  Doug started conservatively with Blue to the blue corner, Ron toward the yellow.  Doug took his second ball into the game and liked the 12’ wicket shot…oops and clang…When Ron had Yellow join partner, Doug shot Blue at Black and out of bounds about 10 ‘ away.  Doug’s next shot was about 30 minutes later…Ron was Rover with Yellow and had set the break for partner.  Too late, Doug asked, “How good is this guy?” Ron won 21/2.

On Court two, Ken James (8) beat Freeman Turley (3.5) 14/11 and Jim Coling caught Betty in last turn12/10.

Team captain Jack Chase sent Ken James out to face Ron for round two. “I wanted both Doug and Ken to get a chance to play him.  They had both played Bob Whitmore (1.5) just a few weeks ago and did well. Besides, I didn’t want to get clobbered that early in the morning.  It could be bad for morale.”    Ken fell 21/9.  “I may have forgotten to tell Ken not to give him ANYTHING”.  Sorry.”

On court two, Freeman and Betty took on Doug and Jack (4) while Urchie took Bob McCreary (14) to school 21/12. Doug, smarting slightly from his last match, played an inspired match and he and Jack won 16/8.  After lunch and the score at Confederate Hills 4 and MPCC 3, Doug and Bob had to leave as Jane Koziol (16) joined.  Betty opted for a non-challenge doubles match with Jane as partner against Bob and Dennis.

Jim got his long awaited rematch with Urchie on court two and won by one wicket.   All square.   Freeman and Ron wanted Jack and Ken for a doubles match…at least I think that’s what happened.  I KNOW Ken wanted them.  We took Blue and Black into the blue corner while they took Red and Yellow out of bounds just above the Number 4 wicket.  We spent several minutes setting rushes against one another…”you take it.  No that’s a terrible rush, you take it…Finally, Jack attacked and rushed Black to just behind wicket 4(Terrible rush but too late to panic) a take-off to Yellow, split Yellow to where Black can hit it, roquet Red and send Red above wicket 3 and Blue to wicket 2.  Great.  Three ball dead, no shot on wicket and mostly open on Red.

Ron just missed on hitting in on Red and Ken did his job, or at least part of his job.  He roquets Yellow and sent it to wicket three while he split to Blue at wicket two.  He made two off Blue but failed to get position to peal Blue (blame Blue) and then made wicket three off yellow…turn over as the three ball break was nowhere to be found.  Blue is still three ball dead but Yellow’s lead position allowed Blue and Black to delay Red and Yellow long enough  for Blue to get clean. 

It was a defensive struggle the rest of the way with Jack and Ken continuing a strangle hold and building a strong lead through the one-back for both into last turn.

With the matches at MPCC 5 and Confederate Hills 4 and the VA/Tech football about to begin, Urchie, Joyce and Betty left for Richmond.  Ron wanted one more game…me…and Freeman opted to join in non-challenge doubles with the remaining MPCC players.

Ron and Jack got off to an odd start with Jack’s clank, leaving Blue right in front of the wicket. but not in the game.  Red’s jump failed leaving Blue just in the game with  red in contact but not in the game.  Black’s jump failed to drag in Red but did get separation for Blue.  The next several minutes were spent with position changes along the West and North boundaries.  With Blue on the line about 40’ up from the blue corner and Black another 20’ above, Ron shot a Croquet-out leaving Red just north of Black and Yellow at wicket Two.  Jack took the 20’ line shot and hit partner, drove off Red and scored wicket two off Yellow but failed to develop the break opportunity.  The game remained a defensive struggle with both players missing opportunities until about two minutes left before last turn.  Blue and Black are for wicket 4 along with Red.  Yellow is for wicket 6.  Blue rushes Black out from the East boundary, then makes a horrible attempt at a pass roll and has to separate.  Red shoots in and scores wickets 4,5,6 and the one-back as time expires.  Up by 6 and a hampered shot back at Black, Red shoots at Black but misses. Black clears Blue, roquets Red and splits Red where Blue has a rush to 4.  Yellow shoots off near the 2-back.  Blue, last ball in last turn, runs seven wickets for the win and a for MPCC  6/4 challenge win.

It was a great day for VAWVA croquet!