AC’s Best Battle in Florida

from 2023 Croquet News Volume 2: USCA Annual Awards

TheInbox

By Loretta and Tom Cooper

The Association Croquet Nationals was a docu-drama like no other. The field of 30 players included several national champions, previous and future national team members and three current members of the MacRobertson Shield team. The setting was the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, for eight long days that started on Saturday, April 15.

This tournament brings out extraordinary personalities. Jim Bast, a member of the national team who competed against John Jacques back in 1857, played with his partner Johnny Osborn, MIA for the last year or two, who played brilliantly and looks as good as ever. There was Ron “One is Enough” Eccles who always shoots Hoop 1 from 18 feet so he can earn at least one point. There was Steve “Taco Truck” Morgan, Leo “I’m a nice person” McBride and the list goes on and on.

And the vernacular … ask the status of a game and you get, “He’s for peg and box”? Or the curious inquiry of “Wasn’t that an accidental grievous?” When it was mentioned that a player scored a 26tp, we heard someone say there’s plenty of toilet paper in the bathroom. To an outsider, it’s hard to tell what’s going on. Even croquet players who are familiar with American rules and golf croquet are not quite sure what these players are up to. But up to it they were, asking to play games until dark, before the 8:30 a.m. start and right up until their planes left without them.

The results … in Championship Flight, 11 doubles teams participated and singles had three blocks of seven players each. First Flight had four doubles teams and one block of seven singles players.

Sunday and Monday were doubles play exclusively. In the Championship Flight, the knockout draw was two of three matches. The team of Matthew Essick and Kyle Maloof were able to upset the reigning champs, Sherif Abdelwahab and Stephen Morgan. It was Essick/Maloof’s first national doubles championship together.

In First Flight, after many block games and a double elimination ladder, the team of Sandy Knuth and Lynda Sudderberg managed to outlast Loretta Cooper and Steve Mednik for the title.

The singles got underway Tuesday afternoon and continued until Saturday. The three blocks of seven contained the most stacked group of players you ever want to meet in a national championship. It was like getting through the easy part of “American Ninja Warrior” and then facing the vertical ladder.

When the block play was completed, the 15 surviving players entered into a two-of-three knockout ladder. So, it was noon on Thursday, after strict seeding by consulting director Stuart Lawrence and input of many players, when the contest really got started. Tubing appeared (many thanks to Ruth Summers). The lawn was cut and rolled, the hoops tightened to contact and play was ready to start.

In the championship flight, Brian Cumming took fourth, Tom Balding claimed third place and the final had Zack Watson against reigning champion Matthew Essick. When the smoke cleared, Essick had won two games to one (26tp-1, 10-26, 26-3).

In First Flight, Randy Reid was third and the final was contested by Lynda Sudderberg and Arlene Parker. It should be noted that Parker agreed to a single-match final when she had the option of playing a second game if she were to lose. And she did come in runner-up to Sudderberg in a great match. Congratulations ladies.

With the weather cooperating from beginning to end, the NCC staff providing lovely food and beverage service and the players cooperating nicely, the event was completed. Many thanks to the USCA staff of Johnny Mitchell and Ursula Peck, head referee and consulting director Stuart Lawrence with a nod to Jeff Soo for help in the formatting. Additionally, we would like to thank Brian Hovis for his fine video work on many of the matches during the tournament.