The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
He only started playing the game just over a year ago, but Pinchbeck Croquet Club’s Gordon Mills finished a superb second in the first national tournament held since lockdown.
He won five out of six games at the Colchester three-day tournament that saw 12 players playing using a handicap system.
Mills currently plays off a handicap of 14 with all new players starting on 24.
With a handicap of 24 against someone with 10 you would get 14 extra goes called bisques.
The Colchester tournament was played over three days with the games lasting about three hours.
Winning all but one of his games, Mills only lost to the eventual winner from St Alban’s Croquet Club in a close match.
He was delighted with his performance and received a special Silver Merit award, though has now had his handicap cut to eight.
He said: “It was a great shame not to win, but it was the first time I’ve been runner-up in a tournament and on the second day I did achieve my first 12 hoop break without using bisques.
“This led to me earning the silver merit award, which is a big step up from the bronze last year.
“It is a real honour to be considered able to hold an eight handicap and is absolutely delighted with the reduction.”
Mills has been invited to play in club team events at Ashby and Nottingham in August and further tournaments are also planned, culminating in a September tournament in the beautiful park and private tennis and croquet club at Hurlingham in London where he’s hoping to be joined by four other Pinchbeck colleagues.
Mills said: “Activity at the club is building as the croquet season is getting into full swing.
“Our members have also been over to Great Dunham near Swaffham to support a new club over there and played as guests on a new lawn.”
