CROQUET - The B League semi-final between Sidmouth and Nailsea (South East), last year s trophy winners, was played at Weston-super-Mare.

The B League semi-final between Sidmouth and Nailsea (South East), last year's trophy winners, was played at Weston-super-Mare.

It was a closely-fought match with Sidmouth winning 4-3 and going through to the final against either The Bear of Rodborough or Bath.

The host club has only recently moved to Bleadon (a few miles from Weston) and the lawns, which two years ago were cattle fields, gave rise to some interesting play!

Both semi-finalists were warmly welcomed on a pleasant summer day, which contributed to an enjoyable occasion.

The final match will be played on Sunday, September 27, and will be hosted by Taunton Deane.

l The Golf Croquet High Handicap Doubles tournament attracted 16 players. Although the weather was overcast and cold it did not put the players off their stroke and a very enjoyable day was had by all.

The winners were Elizabeth Bridges and Diana Davenport, who beat their opponents Janet Croud and David Jeremiah by three hoops in the final.

l The following day saw ten couples competing in the Open Handicap Cunningham Salver Doubles competition.

At the semi-final stage, Nancy/David Temple beat Pam Bowra/Keith Thorley by the narrowest of margins 7-6 and in a cagey game Graeme Pryor/Robert Hammond beat Elizabeth Bridges/Richard Mills 4-3. The final saw Nancy and David come out on top 7-4, taking full advantage of their two bisques and some fine hoop running.

Graeme Pryor ran the event to plan under marvellous weather conditions - a vast improvement on the previous day.

l The Sidmouth CA Handicap Weekend failed to attract entrants from far afield and it was left to 16 players from Sidmouth and Budleigh to fight it out for the Clarke Salver (holder Graham Harford, Sidmouth).

The tournament was run by Julie Horsley as a Knockout event with a 'Y' competition for first round losers, together with an ongoing Egyptian competition.

Keith Thorley and Barbara Clarke reached the main event final, having beaten Roger Hendy and Jackie Hardcastle respectively in the previous round.

Barbara, in common with opponents in earlier rounds, found Keith too difficult to handle and so, in his first Open tournament, Keith gained the Clarke Salver - an impressive achievement.

The winner of the 'Y' event was David Clarke, who beat Julie Horsley +3 in a closely fought final and the winner of the Egyptian competition was Mike Taylor.