Bude Croquet Club

Home friendly v Barnstaple — Monday, July 23

Bude 5.5

Barnstaple 3.5

AFTER months of hard work, Bude Croquet Club held their inaugural home fixture on Monday, July 23 and celebrated the occasion with a 5.5 to 3.5 victory over Barnstaple at the Downs Lawns.

The match consisted of three doubles contests and six singles matches.

Chairman and captain, Brian Donahue teamed up with Tony Trump to take on the highly-ranked Ray Young and Mike Wright in the first doubles, and after a tense struggle ran out 7-5 winners, although

Helen North and Judith Hilder couldn’t back them up to make it 1-1.

John Hilder showed great form to win his singles match 7-5 while North and visiting skipper Irene Fane battled out a 5-5 stalemate.

The singles match wasn’t as kind to Donahue as he lost heavily (7-2) to Wright before the closest contest of the day was played out between Trump and Young.

However it was the Bude man who emerged victorious, sealing a 7-6 success and in the process giving Bude a two-point lead at three-and-a-half to one-and-a-half.

In the final four singles, Donahue and the impressive John Hilder won their final matches to share the final four ends and produce an excellent victory.

Following the game, Donahue said:?“An excellent tea was served and a most enjoyable day was experienced by all the players and supporters.”

To get involved with Bude Croquet Club, call Brian on 07828167219 or Frances on 01288 355927.