The 108th New Zealand Open Championships were hosted by the Wellington Croquet Association from 3-10 January at the Waikanae and Paraparaumu Croquet Clubs on the Kapiti Coast.
14 pairs took part in the Doubles, played as a block played over five rounds with pre-drawn opponents of similar average strength. The top four pairs would advance to the best of three knockout, with the remaining ten pairs playing a single game knockout.
MacRobertson Shield Squad members Paddy Chapman & Edmund Fordyce (both Thames Valley) as well as Greg Bryant & Logan McCorkindale (MNWC and Canterbury) took the opportunity to play together and duly finished on top of the block with five wins each. They were joined by Levi Franks & John Versey (Canterbury and Central Districts) and Luke Rive & Andrew Stuckey (both Auckland). Chapman & Fordyce dominated semifinal 1 beating Franks & Versey 26:4 & 26TP(C):0. Bryant & McCorkindale were made to work harder against Rive and only narrowly beat their opponents 26:25 in game 1, followed by a 26:12 win in game 2. Paddy Chapman & Edmund Fordyce continued their dominance in the final beating Bryant & McCorkindale 26TP(C):0 & 26TP(C):0 and winning the Paul Skinley Trophies.
Doubles Winners Paddy Chapman & Edmund Fordyce
The Doubles Plate final was played between Peter Filbee & Graeme Fisher (Taranaki & Wellington) and Chris Shilling & Harps Tahurangi (Otago & Wellington). Peter Filbee & Graeme Fisher timed their run perfectly after only winning one game in block play, they reached the final and managed to overcome Shilling & Tahurangi 26:15 to secure the win the Doubles Plate Final and the Canterbury Centennial Trophies.
The Singles Championship saw again a strong field with 28 players. The field was divided into four blocks of seven. The top four of each Block would advance to the knockouts.
Logan McCorkindale dominated Block A, with six wins. He was joined by John Versey on five wins, John Christie (Thames Valley) on four wins and Nicholas Flood (Central Districts) on three wins.
Block B saw two players finishing on five wins with top see Aaron Westerby (Auckland) dropping one game against Levi Franks who in turn lost a game to Andrew Stuckey to also finishing on five. They were joined by Stuckey on four wins and Harps Tahurangi on three wins and net hoops. Carolyn Fordyce (South Canterbury) was unlucky to miss out on three wins due to inferior net hoops.
In Block C, Edmund Fordcye topped the group unbeaten on six wins and completing three triple peels in the process. Fordyce was joined by Chris Shilling on five wins, Luke Rive on four wins and Stefan Horrer (Central Districts) on two wins and superior net hoops. Alison Robinson (Wellington) was unlucky missing out on two wins.
Finally, Block D was dominated by 1989 World Champion Joe Hogan (Bay of Plenty) with six wins. The other three players reaching the knockout all finished on four wins, with net hoops determining the ranking. Vincent Commarieu (MNWC) finished second, ahead of Greg Bryant and Reece McCorkindale (Canterbury).
The Plate event was played at Paraparaumu in two blocks, one of six players with the other comprised of five players due to a withdrawal. The top two players from both blocks advanced to a knockout with a single game semifinal and a best of three final. Graeme Fisher and Geoff Gibson (Central Districts) faced each other in semifinal 1 while Doug van Belle (Central Districts) and Peter Filbee faced off in semifinal 2. Both semifinals were very competitive with Fisher winning 26:15 against Gibson. In the other semifinal van Belle won 26:22 against Filbee.
The final, played at Waikanae, saw both players having their opportunities. In the end Graeme Fisher prevailed beating van Belle 26:9 and 26:15.
The Championship knockout was played at Waikanae and the first knockout round of the Championship went largely as expected with the favourites progressing. However there two upset wins, with Harps Tahurangi eliminating Joe Hogan in two tightly played games 26:25 & 15:13. A more surprising upset came at the hands of Reece McCorkindale, who beat Aaron Westerby 26:1 & 26:9.
In the quarterfinals Edmund Fordyce proved too strong for Luke Rive, while the other three quarterfinals were harder fought. John Versey overcame Reece McCorkindale 26:25 & 26TP10, Greg Bryant defeated Harps Tahurangi 26TP:2 &26:23 while Andrew Stuckey gave Logan McCorkindale a scare by winning game 1 26:9, the first game of the tournament that McCorkindale had lost. Stuckey remained in the match with opportunities in games 2 & 3 but ultimately lost those games 26:13 & 26:21.
This meant Edmund Fordyce was facing John Versey in semifinal 1 while Logan McCorkindale met Greg Bryant in semifinal 2.
In the Bowl, Aaron Westerby and Chris Shilling advanced to the final. Game 1 was a close affair with both players getting their opportunities and going around. Westerby ended up prevailing 26:22. Game 2 again saw both players getting their first breaks under way but ultimately Aaron Westerby finished the game 26:9 and winning the Bowl.
In the Shield event one semifinal went to three games and only finishing on the final day, resulting in the final having to be played as an untimed single game. Reece McCorkindale face Andrew Stuckey in the final, with McCorkindale overcoming Luke Rive in the semifinal 26:9 & 26:18, while Stuckey progressed beating Harps Tahurangi 23:24, 26:10 & 26:14. Reece McCorkindale finished his excellent tournament with a 26:9 win in the final.
In the Championship semis, Logan McCorkindale seemed to be finding form, beating Greg Bryant 26-0, 26-0 to reach the final. In the other semifinal Edmund Fordyce lost his first game of the tournament going down to John Versey 23:26 in game 1. Fordyce bounced back immediately with two straight wins of 26TP:9 & 26TP:0 to secure his place in the final.
The final was played on lawn 1 as a best of five match. Both players showed controlled breaks and excellent shooting in game 1. Logan McCorkindale won the game 26TP:9. In game 2 Fordyce fought back, helped by some uncharacteristic misses by McCorkindale, and in his second break completed three peels only to find himself roqueting partner after running rover and unable to peg out. Fordyce decided to peg out one ball and biding his time. McCorkindale managed to claw his way back into the game, however Fordyce ultimately won game 2 26:18. In game 3 Fordyce managed to get the first break, only for McCorkindale to hit the lift shot and during his break peeling opposition for a peg off. Fordyce did manage to get a second break under way however failed three back to give McCorkindale the opportunity to win the game 26TPO:21. In game 4 McCorkindale opened with a supershot and hit opposition on the east boundary with his second ball. McCorkindale completed a three ball break going to four back and setting a three ducks leave. Fordyce took the shortest shot from the B baulk line and missed, before McCorkindale completed a well executed triple peel to win game 4 26TP:0. With the win in game 4 Logan McCorkindale secured his third New Zealand Open Singles title.
CNZ Board Chair Graeme Roberts with Singles Winner Logan McCorkindale
As part of prizegiving, Levi Franks won the Charles Jones Memorial Salver recognising the best player on a handicap of 0 or higher, while Edmund Fordyce won the Paddy Chapman Peeling Prize with 6 triple peels in the singles.
Congratulations to all the winners!
CNZ would like to thank the Wellington Croquet Association, the Waikanae and Paraparaumu Croquet Clubs who were incredible hosts, all the volunteers at both venues, the managers Tom, Yvonne and Bob with the support of others, our tournament referee Graeme and his team of referees from the Wellington and Central Districts regions travelling each day, the excellent caterers, supporters and the players for making this great event happen.
Full results can be found here.
