Forty one players from all over the country descended on Budleigh Salterton for their traditional May Week, including 10 players from Sidmouth who did very well, writes Colin Walls.

The top class event was the Godfrey Turner Challenge Cup, won by Alain Giraud from Ealing whose eight victories saw his handicap come down from -0.5 to -1. Local player Cliff Jones actually beat Alain with a dogged triple peel in their game, but only won seven matches overall and so missed out on the cup.

In the JK Brown Memorial Cup, Sidmouth players Roger Hendy and Graham Harford each played superbly to win all five games in their respective blocks. The final between Roger and Graham was nip and tuck with both players having run 16 hoops after two and a half hours. Roger then gained the initiative and ran seven hoops to win +7.

In the Pat Tumner Cup, Roger Mills from Sidmouth won efficiently by winning all four games in his block; he is undoubtedly a player to watch. Ian Friedlander of Sidmouth won the Egyptian competition by winning 5 of his 7 games played, in the process reducing his handicap from 10 to 9.

The final of the Y doubles competition was an all Sidmouth affair with Derek Andrew and Philip Harris playing against Graham Harford and Peter Miller. Derek and Philip won +7. Philip Harris won a Croquet Association Silver Award for achieving a break of 12 hoops without bisques, a wonderful achievement for an 11 handicap player.

Weather conditions varied from atrocious to glorious, but the lawns held up well, and even in chilling conditions the warm welcome of the Budleigh club was much appreciated by all.