The NI AC Championships were held in Whakatane last week. The Championships started with the doubles. With only four doubles pairs competing the event was run as a straight knockout of best of three matches. Favourites Greg Bryant (MNWC) and Paddy Chapman (Thames Valley) advanced comfortably to the final where they faced local wife and husband pair Cindy & Steve Clarke (Bay of Plenty). Greg Bryant & Paddy Chapman prevailed comfortably to beat the Clarkes 26TP:1 and 26TP:1 with both TP’s completed by Bryant
The Singles event saw a field of 16 players divided into four blocks of four, with the winners qualifying for the knockout. The top seeds in blocks A to C Chapman, Bryant and Aaron Westerby (Auckland) comfortably topped their respective blocks, with only Block D seeing the second seed Andrew Stuckey (Auckland) qualifying ahead of local top seed Steve Clarke.
In the semifinal Chapman proved too strong for Stuckey and reached the final with two quick 26TP:0 wins. The other semifinal was a much closer affair between the two veterans Westerby and Bryant. Westerby took game one 15:13, before Bryant took control of game 2 winning 26TP:0. In the deciding third game Westerby bounced back to qualify for the final with a 26:1 win.
Top see Chapman took the momentum into the final and won game one 26:4. Game 2 saw Westerby having an opportunity before Paddy Chapman completed a triple peel to win the game 26TP:9. The win in the doubles as well as the win in the singles are Paddy Chapman’s first North Island AC titles.
The Plate event was held as two blocks of six players with the winners playing each other in the final. The final was held between Steve Clarke and Graeme Fisher (Wellington), who both went undefeated through the Plate blocks. In the final both players had their opportunities but ultimately it was Steve Clarke who came out on top with a 26:10 win.
The 0+ and 4+ are not held as separate events but are presented to the player who has had the best performance in the event. The 0+ was won by Graeme Fisher, who reached the Plate Final and the 4+ by Sally Hura (Bay of Plenty).
CNZ would like to thank the Bay of Plenty Association and the Whakatane Croquet Club for hosting the event, to the manager, referee and all volunteers to the event such a success. And finally congratulations to all the winners!
