CROQUET NEWS:  Resort Invitational Won by Robert Fulford

6-10 June 2007
Resort at the Mountain, Welches, Oregon, USA
by Tremaine Arkley

[See player biographies.]

Robert Fulford beat Reg Bamford in the finals of the Resort Invitational; –19TP, +20TP, +24SXP to have his name engraved for the second time on the Quaich Cup. Chris Clarke beat Jerry Stark in the match for 3rd and 4th place; +26TP, +26TP.

The finals were played in heavy and light rain, sunshine, overcast skies, wind and still air, a fine finish to this year’s event in typical Oregon spring weather. As usual the players had a great time at this quality tournament where they are treated very well throughout the week by the staff and owners Ed and Janice Hopper. By all accounts this is the model for international events to be able to attract the highest quality players from throughout the world.

One consistent throughout these events are the discussions and opinions given on a variety of events, people and politics in the world of international and national croquet. Who does what to whom and why? Over the years all of us have learned to trust each other so many of these points of discussion and concerns will remain here in Oregon, floating among the fir trees, staying lost in the Cascade foothills and mountains. Let those involved in the politics make the decisions hopefully influenced by the participants here based on our discussions.

The final qualifying round Sunday morning was, by all accounts, one of the most exciting and tense seen in a long time. At the start of play Clarke, Huneycutt and Stark were at 10 wins and Clarke’s net points were well below the other two. If Clarke beat Bamford then either Huneycutt or Stark had to lose so Clarke could get in. If Stark and Huneycutt won then Clarke was out no matter what he did. If Clarke lost he was out despite what the other two did. To add to the tension Jenny Williams was playing Stark and her efforts had a bearing on Clarke’s final position. She had to beat Stark to help Clarke! At the start Huneycutt was +1 on net points over Stark.

Clarke quickly beat Bamford +22TP and joined the rest of us to watch the double banked game; Huneycutt vs Landrebe and Stark vs Williams. Huneycutt’s game went back and forth with chances for both. Landrebe finally pegged out Danny’s ball and despite Danny’s efforts with some two ball breaks and three ball breaks he broke down and Pete won +4. So now all Stark had to do was win his game. Jenny came from behind and finally beat Stark +1 while Danny watched.

So. Clarke took third place in the block with his 11 wins and Stark took 4th place beating out Huneycutt by +2 net points.

In the last three games on Saturday before Sunday’s round Huneycutt lost his three games, –26QP, –26SXP and –26TP to Bamford, Fulford and Clarke respectively while Stark won his three +15, +17TP and +26TP from Bassett, Clarke and a critical last win over Maugham.

We are now looking forward to the 12th event again in June. Stay tuned.

Final Play

Block Play

Day One

Overcast weather, showers, broken skies, and a hint of sunshine; a typical Oregon early Junes day in the Oregon Cascades at the Resort at the Mountain.

Very fast courts this year. One topic of conversation among the players was why did the USA decide not to send a Solomon Trophy Team to England this year? Some saw it as an insult to the host country, others a reflection of the lack of time and interest by top USA players and others as a failure by the Selection Committee to reach down earlier and be prepared to select lower ranked interested USA players who would benefit from the international experience.

Pete Landrebe was delayed and will arrive from Australia tonight.

After play today the players relaxed with owner Ed Hopper, General Manager Scott Cruickshank and event coordinator Kara Buchikos for a casual evening buffet sampling PNW delights.

Day Two

Fast courts, rain, wind, low temperatures and occasional broken clouds and sunshine made for an exciting day of croquet on the two courts at The Resort at the Mountain in Welches, Oregon.

At the end of the day's play the trip to Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood was cancelled due to snow and 29 degrees at the summit. So we retired to the Tartan's café for some after play entertainment.

Day Three

Day three had five rounds, 20 games, the last game ending around 6:00PM, in time for us to make it to the BBQ. The first four games started at 8:00AM. The weather continues to be exciting; rain, wind, sunshine, broken clouds and warm temperatures. The courts continue to remain very fast due in part to the new roller used on the greens and the splendid condition of the courts.

Day Four

Today was actually warm, the sun was out and the rain was elsewhere. This tournament is a sanctioned event of the Portland Rose Festival held in June. Tomorrow is the 100th annual Rose Festival Parade in downtown Portland. It is an Oregon tradition that it always rains on the Rose Festival Parade. Tonight a huge Pacific Ocean front is heading towards Oregon promising to bring lots of heavy rain in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains in afternoon after reaching Portland a few hours earlier.

After today’s play the leaders have moved away from the bottom of the pack led by Fulford with 12 wins and Bamford and Huneycutt with 10 wins apiece. The next group all tied with 7 wins; Clarke, Stark and Westerby. Bassett broke the duck today with a +17 win over Bamford.

Right before lunch Stark was running his triple peel against Bamford, his balls at 3 back and penultimate. Both Reg’s ball for 1. Reg decided to break for lunch figuring Stark would finish. Stark did and then went to lunch and told Reg he broke down and was peg and peg. On the court Trevor and Peter set up the balls in a peg peg setting giving Reg an easy hit in to start his break. We embellished Stark’s grief to Reg at lunch. Reg finished lunch went on the court hit in and started his break. Stark then came on the court and swept the balls off and explained the situation. We all had a friendly laugh.

Day Five

The Pacific Ocean storm front hit us late in the morning and blew out by mid afternoon creating a different climate of broken clouds, light drizzle and warmish temperatures.

By the end of the day, with one set of games tomorrow morning the two leaders have been determined; Fulford and Bamford are in the finals.

Three players; Clarke, Huneycutt and Stark are at 10 wins and tomorrow two will make the cut. Here are the significant pairings for tomorrow; Bamford /Clarke, Huneycutt/Landrebe, Stark/Williams. Ties on wins are broken by net points. Currently Huneycutt is one net point ahead of Stark and 44 net points ahead of Clarke. You go figure the chances of each and who needs to do what to whom!

Sunday morning a few critical games will be held and the narrated best of three match Championship Finals will start at 1:00PM with the awards ceremony immediately following.

Tonight we are looking forward to the Players’ Dinner where we all get a chance to thank Ed and Janice Hopper, owners of The Resort, for their unflagging support of this event for the past 11 years. They are jewels in the croquet crown.

David Maugham's Report

Rob beat Reg –19tp +20tp +24sxp

Reg played the wrong ball turn 1 of game 1,
Rob split from III to near II and about 5 yards out of IV,
Reg missed the 8 yarder,
Rob hit and went to 1-b,
Reg hit the tea lady and went to 1-b with a pop,
Rob missed the tea lady,
Reg broke down peeling 3-b to 1-b by hitting his 2-b pioneer and missing a 10 yarder at the 1-b ball,
Rob missed a 7 yarder,
Reg had a leave,
Rob missed a 30 yarder,
Reg finished.

Rob hit down the e-b 3rd turn and went to 4-b failing to get any pops in, and leaving a double with all 3 balls by the w-b,
Reg hit and went to 1-b,
Rob missed,
Reg took off ~4-5 yards short of the hoop 1 ball and hilled off it,
Rob had a leave giving Reg a 30 yarder from I to near 3 with Rob's balls wired by 3 on the n-b,
Reg shot at the ball by 3, hit the peg and nearly hit Rob's balls,
Rob finished.

Reg had a supershot,
Rob went in II,
Reg missed,
Rob hit and went to 1-b with 2 pops,
Reg missed,
Rob finished.