Four players contested this FEMCC 14pt handicap event on Saturday 2nd August, in an all-play-all format played to base 6 (meaning that everyone with a handicap above 6 got some bisques). This worked well with all the games being completed within the 90 minute time limit, although only just in some cases. Half the games were close, with a difference of 4 or less. Andy Sherwood from Ashby won all his games and took home the trophy, with Tim Ash from Nottingham runner up with 2 wins. Andy also earned a handicap reduction to 6.
Arthur Rowe our AC leagues manager presenting Andy Sherwood (Ashby) with the Jim Kirby Cup
The Jim Kirby Cup will take place at Ashby Croquet Club on Saturday 2nd August. It is open to any AC players who might be interested in playing but primarily players who are in their first few years of playing AC.
Games will be 14pt on full size lawns and handicap to a base of 6
There will be a maximum of 5 games
Entry fee is £5 which can be paid by cash on the day or by bank transfer
Entries to Arthur Rowe (acleagues@eastmidlandscroquet.org.uk) by 14th July who will be the manager
Start time is 10am, please arrive by about 9.45am.
There is drinking water at the club but you should bring food and other drinks for the day with you
There is a Coop nearby and the Welfare next door to the club will be open from 11.30am for drinks and some food.
Dixon Engineering have kindly sponsored this East Midlands Federation Competition hosted by Ashby Croquet Club. This competition has run for many years and was previously called the Coors Cup and Bass Shield.
Teams from Derby, Leicester, Long Eaton and Nottingham joined the two Ashby teams Ashby A and Ashby B.
The teams were divided into two blocks: Block B comprising Ashby A, Long Eaton and Nottingham and Block G had Ashby B, Derby and Leicester.
Ashby A and Ashby B both won their blocks convincingly and at the end of the block stage Tim Ash from Nottingham and Andy Sherwood from Ashby both had 4 out of 4 wins and were in strong contention for the individual trophy.
The finals rounds consisted of teams in each block playing the team in the other block in the same position so Ashby A played Ashby B, Nottingham played Derby and Long Eaton played Leicester. The cold weather from the morning had now been replaced by sunshine and the final positions were not resolved until the last games finished.
Andy Sherwood (Ashby A) played John Picken (Ashby B) in the crux match. Tim Ash had already won all his six games and Andy had won all his five so far with a strong hoop difference so if Andy won he would take the Dixon Cup and Ashby A would take the Dixon Shield, if John won then Tim Ash would take the Dixon Cup and Ashby B would take the Dixon Shield. In the event their game was drawn so Ashby A (Mike O’Brian, Andy Sherwood and Pete Bensley) took the Dixon Shield with a much bigger hoop difference than Ashby B and Tim Ash from Nottingham won the Dixon Cup.
The 2025 Coors Cup and Bass Shield will be held at Ashby Croquet Club on Saturday 17th May , start time 10.00am. The entry fee is £30 per team payable on entry and closing date for entries is 26th April 2025.
