CROQUET NEWS:  First Double Triple on Maui

20 January 2005
Waipuilani Park, Kihei, Hawaii, USA
by Leo Nikora

Leo Nikora ran two consecutive triple peels in one day -- the first double triple by a Maui Croquet Club member. In both games, Nikora's opponent was leading by a wide margin, and threatening to win in next turn, so triple peeling was necessary. The games were played as part of the Maui Croquet Club's Ladder.

Just two weeks prior to this double triple, Paul Billings ran the first triple peel in Maui Croquet Club Championship play. Nikora got the second triple in the tournament, and ironically it was against Billings. So triple peels are becoming familiar sights on Maui.

"The level of play is going way up at our club," said Nikora. "All the members help each other, and going to tournaments on the mainland shows us what good play looks like." Nikora also believes that Natural Handicapping contributes to improved play. "It has completely changed our club," he added.

The first double triple on Maui was run by David Foulser when he visited the Maui Croquet Club in March 2001. Ironically, Foulser ran his double triple against Nikora. One triple was a third turn 26tp-0, and the other was Foulser's first straight triple 26tp-3.

David Maugham of England pointed out:

[Robert Fulford of England] had a run of 19 in 1992, spanning the Easterns Plate, the Solomon Trophy and ending in the third game of the final of the British Open. It included two otps, a qp and an sxp (by deduction and from memory).

Chris Williams of Wales pointed out:

In 1999 Robert Fulford won 15 games in a row with peeling breaks (2sxp, 1tpo, 12tps)

Reg Bamford [of South Africa] had a 13 game run in 2001-2002 (6sxp, 2qnp, 4qp and 1tp)

Robert had a 12 game run in 1995 (4sxp, 3tpo, 5tp)