A full field of 16 countrywide players met at Chester in fair weather to contest the inaugural Golf Croquet Tournament. Three ex-England players competed within the field.
New to this form of tournament, John G Dawson of Chester, and the more experienced Jane Pringle of Auckland CC, took the joint honours in first day. Each player easily qualified to play for the Maggie Cowman Trophy. But John fell in the semis to fellow Chester player Garry Greenwood, while Bob Connop of Culcheth took the quarter final game against Jane 7-5.
The final was played in a 19-point contest between Kath Wright of Nottingham and Garry Greenwood of Chester. In a superb demonstration of how a skilled player can manage the tricky slope at Chester, Kath took a commanding lead. Then the game changed. Garry fought back with very considered play interspersed with spectacular hoop running. Kath held her nerve though, and took the Maggie Cowman Trophy 10-8.
The Telford’s Warehouse Plate Tournament was won by Freda Vitty of Auckland CC.
