The CNZ AC Handicap finals, the Arthur Ross Memorial, were hosted by the Bay of Plenty Croquet Association and played at Croquet Mount Maunganui from 28 to 30 March. Fourteen champions from around New Zealand represented their regional Associations.
The field was divided into two blocks with each participant playing seven cross-block games to determine the top two finishers in each block to qualify for the semi-finals.
The event saw players of all skill levels, with some on handicaps as low as minus 2.5 all the way up to 18.
Block 1 saw Paddy Champan (Thames Valley), Simon Dell (Counties Manukau), Pip Rive (Auckland) and Bryan Blencowe (Taranaki) finish on four wins from seven games. Blencowe and Dell progressed to the semifinals due to superior net hoops.
In Block 2 two players finished on five wins, with another three players on four wins. There was no need to consider net hoops with Steve Hopkins (Northland) and Nicholas Flood (Manawatu-Wanganui) progressing to the semifinals.
In semifinal 1 Hopkins faced Flood, with Hopkins having a picket fence of bisques up his sleeve. It was however not enough to keep Flood out of the game and once he got a chance he made it count. Flood prevailed in the end 26:20.
Semifinal 2 saw Block 1 top finisher Dell and Blencowe facing each other with Dell having to give away bisques. It was a tense battle which went to time with Dell ultimately prevailing 21:18 to qualify for the final.
The final saw both players playing positively with Dell only having 1 and a half bisques available. Dell was the first to take a ball around before Flood hit in and took his first ball to 4 back. Starting his next turn with his second ball Flood also started a triple peel. With the finish line looming drama unfolded when he broke down just before completing the triple peel. Dell took advantage of the opportunity to take his second ball around the lawn. But there was more drama and just as Flood stumbled, Dell broke down on rover with Flood’s ball right there. This time Nicholas Flood did not waste the opportunity and finished the game to win his first Arthur Ross Memorial Event Final.
Congratulations to all players qualifying for the national final and in particular to the two finalists. Well done.
This is the first year that both winners of the CNZ national handicap finals, the Arthur Ross and the Don Reyland Stars Memorial Events, are won by two players from the same club. Both Flood and Katie Zentveld, who recently won the Don Reyland Stars Memorial in Matamata, play for Rose Gardens Croquet Club in Palmerston North.
CNZ would like to thank the Bay of Plenty association, Croquet Mount Maunganui, the manager, referees and all volunteers for a well run and successful tournament.
