CROQUET NEWS:  MCC at SCCC Won by MCC

16-18 July 2005
Sonoma-Cutrer Winery, Windsor, California, USA
story by Leo Nikora
photo by Bruno Amby

Top players in their clubs, Erv Peterson of Sonoma-Cutrer Croquet Club (left) and Leo Nikora of Maui Croquet Club (right), accept prizes from tournament director Mike Orgill (center).

The Maui Croquet Club (MCC) bested the Sonoma-Cutrer Croquet Club (SCCC) in three days of play on the two courts of the Sonoma-Cutrer Winery. This evens the score between the two clubs at one win each.

Five members of the MCC traveled from Maui to compete against thirteen members of the SCCC on their home courts. A five-by-ten round robin was played. MCC won 27 games, and SCCC won 23 games.

MCC members played ten games each. Some SCCC members played five games each, but most played fewer games. Play spanned eight to ten hours each day, with some members playing four games a day.

Erv Peterson's record of 5/5 wins was top in the SCCC, and Leo Nikora's 8/10 wins was top in the MCC. Paul Billings, Tim Wheeler, Mike Orgill, Ruben Edwards, David Dill, Margot Leonard, and Marilyn O'Neil all had upset victories to help their clubs.

Advanced International Rules were followed. Games were limited to two hours, and were double banked. Barlow GT primary- and secondary-colored balls were used, but the secondary-colored balls swelled up in the sun, and were replaced with stripped balls. Mike Orgill and Leo Nikora were co-directors of the tournament, which was scanctioned by the United States Croquet Association.

For more pictures of the tournament, see the Maui Croquet Club Gallery of Events.

Everyone enjoyed the competition, and is looking forward to a tie-breaking tournament next year. Perhaps on Maui?

SCCC members and wins shown in red, and MCC in blue. Upsets (based on Grade) are highlighted.