St Martins Croquet Club in Christchurch hosted to the 3rd edition of the Women’s GC Invitation from 28 February to 2 March.
The strong field of 10 entrants assembled in Christchurch, including defending champion Helen Reeves (Hawkes Bay), Under 21 GC Championship finalist Jessica Bullen (Wellington) and New Zealand’s top female player and favourite Jenny Clarke (Canterbury). The format was a round robin block of best of three game matches.
Defending champion Reeves and favourite Clarke got off to a strong start, winning all six matches on days one and two in straight games. Bullen joined the two on six wins however dropping two games in the process.
On the last day it came down to the direct matches between these three to determine placings. In the first round on Sunday Reeves took on Bullen, and managed to score another win but had to concede her first game of the tournament. In the same round Clarke continued her unbeaten run by beating run by defeating Nicola Clement (South Taranaki). The second round of the day saw the only two unbeaten players facing each other and Clarke once again was too strong for her opposition, defeating Reeves in two straight games.
In the final round Reeves bounced back to win another match in two games and finish the tournament on an impressive eight wins from nine, and thereby securing second spot. In the other match of the top seeds Bullen was not strong enough to counter the in-form Clarke. With another straight games win against Bullen, Jenny Clarke secured her first win in the Women’s GC Invitation.
Clarke finished the tournament on nine wins from nine, 18 net games and an impressive 89 net hoops.
CNZ would like to thank the players, the hosting club, the manager and referees and all other volunteers for a memorable weekend.
The tournament was also livestreamed on the Whakaata Māori YouTube Channel and replays can be watched here:
Full scores here.
