BURY Croquet Club’s season reached its climax with their internal competitions reaching finals day.

In the Advanced final, Paul Rigge beat Barbara Young +10 to retain the trophy while Handicap (26pt): Tony Phillips overcame holder Graham Saunders in the Handicap (26pt) +4 after an entertaining tussle.

Handicap (14pt) Graham Good beat Tony Phillips +14 and Derek Deadman enjoyed a 7-5, 7-4 golf croquet success against Jean Oldfield.

In the North West leagues, Bury’s midweek side visited Bowdon and won soundly, 5-2.

The morning doubles was played by Barbara Young and Mac Hardman. Young started well but Hardman failed a number of attempts to get going through hoop one. Luckily, he warmed up enough to secure a +3 on time victory.

Hardman’s form continued into the afternoon when he won his singles game +4 on time.

Tony Phillips won both his singles games, although the second one went to “golden hoop”. Young also won in the afternoon. Bury Caesars went to Chester on Friday and Fylde on Saturday.

The Chester match was a 2-2 draw, abandoned soon after lunch because of the weather. At Fylde, Bury won 4-3.

Bury Peelers played at home to Crake Valley who could only raise a team of three so the final result was best of five, 4-1.

On the tournament scene, Matt Holmes emphatically won the Croquet Association’'s selection event, the Treasurers Tankard at Hamptworth Croquet Club in Wiltshire, beating seven players selected for similar ability from across the country.

After four days Holmes had 11 wins out of 12 games and could not be caught with two to play. Holmes finishes the season as Bury’s highest ranked player.

In golf croquet, Graham Good reached the National Finals of the Grass Roots competition having won the North West Regional final, but did not make the final in the last round at Ashby, finishing third.