Arizona Croquet Club Association Singles Championship 18-19 November 2000 Tournament Director: Paul Bennett Court Day Time Player Opponent ----------- ----- ------- ----------------- ------------------ Gainey Sat 8:00 AM Don Jr. 22 W VS Haden 14 Gainey Sat 8:00 AM VS Gainey Sat 10:00 AM Haden 1 VS Kelley 26 W Gainey Sat 10:00 AM Don Jr. 26 W VS Kraft 8 Gainey Sat 12:00 PM Kraft 26 W VS Haden 11 Gainey Sat 12:00 PM Don Jr. 19 VS Kelley 23 W Gainey Sat 2:00 PM VS Gainey Sat 2:00 PM VS Gainey Sat 4:00 PM Don Jr. 14 VS Bennett 19 W Gainey Sat 4:00 PM VS Kraft Sat 8:00 AM Bennett 19 W VS Dole 14 Kraft Sat 8:00 AM VS Kraft Sat 10:00 AM VS Kraft Sat 10:00 AM Roach 18 W VS Bennett 11 Kraft Sat 12:00 PM Roach 24 W VS Dole 15 Kraft Sat 12:00 PM VS Kraft Sat 2:00 PM Dole 6 VS Kelley 26 W Kraft Sat 2:00 PM Kraft 24 W VS Roach 23 Kraft Sat 4:00 PM Roach 10 VS Kelley 26 W Kraft Sat 4:00 PM Kraft 26 W VS Dole 8 Kraft Sun 8:00 AM Don Jr. 18 W VS Dole 16 Kraft Sun 8:00 AM Bennett 21 W VS Haden 16 Kraft Sun 10:00 AM Roach 26 W VS Haden 9 Kraft Sun 10:00 AM Kraft 9 VS Kelley 26 W Kraft Sun 12:00 PM Kraft 9 VS Bennett 26 W Kraft Sun 12:00 PM Haden F VS Dole F Kraft Sun 2:00 PM Don Jr. F VS Roach F Kraft Sun 2:00 PM Bennett 22 VS Kelley 26 W Official Finishing order Rank Players Wins Net Pts ---- --------- ---- ------- 1st Kelley 6 +86 2nd Bennett 4 +21 3rd Roach 3 +32 4th Donny 3 +19 5th Kraft 3 -54 6th Dole 0 -34 7th Haden 0 -70 Summary of Event The first Association Singles Championship of the new Millennium goes unanimously to Rory Kelley. Rory went un-defeated thru this weekends tournament. Bennett looked liked he was going to break the perfect record after having gained the advantage in the last game of the day. Paul had taken his Red ball to 4-back and later took the opportunity to advance Red to the peg and set a leave that would end the game with an easy break. Paul missed a short roquet after 4-back to give Kelley a second chance. Rory took this opportunity to advance his Blue ball past 4-back and decided to leave Red in the game with less than a minute remaining. Paul took the lift shot and placed his yellow ball in the blue corner tapping it out slightly. Rory took a quick shot to give black a short roquet - black being for 5, yellow for penult, blue and red for the peg. Paul shot yellow to red with less than a few seconds remaining on the clock. (Paul commented to Ren that he should have simply shot red off the court -- as Rory roquets his blue ball badly, and still makes a beautiful break with red and yellow taking black around to the peg. Bravo Rory! The weather for the tournament was sunny and yet a bit chilly in the shade. Paul and Donny wore shorts on Saturday. Donny wore shorts on Sunday, but Paul had switched to knickers -- hoping for finals. Frost covered the court when we arrived Sunday morning, requiring us to run the sprinklers and start a bit later than planned. The Kraft court was overseeded with Rye and Poa Trivialis about 6 weeks ago. Kraft, Bennett, Kelley and Roach helped spread out nine tons of engine sand to top dress the surface. We pledge to tend the court more this year and make this a priority. The north end of the lawn still needs attention. Gophers are happily content to make for a bumpy lawn. We look forward to the US Open coming up in December. This Association rules tournament is held in Palm Springs, CA each year and is the premier tournament of the ACA - American Croquet Association. Stan Patmor, founder of the ACA and the ACC, has joined back into the ACC. Donny, Rory, and myself will play in the US Open and we enjoyed play this weekend to get ready. The Association game is very enjoyable to play but many skills and techniques must be learned to master the game. One of the interesting skills in the International six-wicket game is the 3 ball cannon shot. This occurs often when a player leaves a ball in a corner and the opponent roquets a ball into that corner. When the roqueted ball in marked in play, two balls now in the corner are marked in contact. The striker, before taking croquet, places his ball in contact with the roqueted ball, and then may lift the third ball and place it in contact with the roqueted ball any way he wishes (not contacting the striker ball). All three balls go flying on the cannon shot. A good variety of cannon shots are possible -- some advance both balls, other shots advance only one of the balls, and occasionally the cannon shot is used to get a rush on the third ball. Several good cannons were noted during the tournament. So watch out! Another interesting note about the Association game is the maturity of the rules - actually called Laws by the British founders of the game. No disputes were raised during any of the games. No rulebook had to be consulted, although we have one or two on hand. We do sometimes tend to forget some peculiar aspects none the less, however. For example, in the game between Pat Roach and Ren Kraft several peculiar rules were mentioned between the spectators. When Pat had inadvertently pegged out one of his balls, Pat was no longer entitled to the Advanced lift shot rule when Ren clears 1-back or 4-back. However, Pat did not realize or remember that even though he was not entitled to a lift shot, Ren certainly still was and after clearing 4-back, Pat oddly enough placed on the balls very close to the B-baulk line (the line the opponent may "lift" his ball to). Another instance occurred later in the same game after time was called. Ren lifted to the baulk line and tied the game at 23 pts by peggin out one of his balls. Pat and Ren now were tied and both for penult hoop. Pat shot at Ren, but missed and ended up near the black corner. Ren lagged up to the penult hoop, and then Pat manuerved closer, but at a safe distance from Ren. Ren had an angled shot; hit softly and ended up in the jaws of the hoop. Now, with Ren surely to make his next shot and with the game decided instantly by whomever makes the next scoring point. Pat had to shoot at Ren. There was another problem. If Pat hit Ren, he had to do so gently or Ren would still win, since that was the tie breaking hoop. Pat missed and Ren cleared the hoop for the win. But all and all, play was good. Opportunities abounded for all players. And we all had fun. Much thanks to Gainey Estate croquet club and Bob Haden for hosting the club on Saturday. The lawn played beautifully and many of us enjoyed our day there. It looks like they are remodeling part of the club house, but this will be done by the time we play the Arizona Open during the first week of March. Our next club tournament is December 16 and 17th. It is the 5 pound note - a hi/low association doubles format. If you want to play, let me know. If you want to direct the tournament, let me know. I look forward to another great tournament and playing doubles with maybe YOU. See you on the court. Sincerely, Paul Bennett