The Club s internal tournaments that run throughout the season are nearing the end of their group phase.

The Club's internal tournaments that run throughout the season are nearing the end of their group phase.

In the DEVONIA CUP, the first tournament for new players and open to those with a +18 handicap, Keith Thorley and Anne Reece have reached the semi-final stage.

The BELMONT CUP, effectively the club's handicap singles championship has so far seen Peter Miller, Nancy Temple and Sue Rogers progress to the quarter-finals and in the FERMOR ROSE BOWL, the ladies' singles championship, Nancy Temple and Sue Rogers are doing well.

The ADVANCED HANDICAP TROPHY is for those players in the 8-14 handicap range. Graeme Pryor and John Dixon have progressed from Group A to the semi-finals with Group B yet to be resolved.

The senior competition of the season is for the HUMPHREY HICKS TROPHY open to those with a handicap of 10 or less. Two blocks of five players are currently battling it out under Advanced play rules. This level playing field is quite a challenge for those at the higher end of the handicap range, who would normally be entitled to a few bisques.

Several block games are still to be played, however, both Peter Hills and Robert Hammond have got off to a good start.

The GOLF CROQUET COMPETITION has reached the quarter-final stage and will see Keith Thorley play Peter Hills, Pam Bowra play Richard Mills, Robert Hammond play Ann Ractliffe and Graeme Pryor play Dudley Ractliffe

Six players from Sidmouth achieved a respectable showing in the Budleigh Salterton August Tournament last week.

Overall, a total of 53 players, including two from New Zealand, took part and an outstanding performance by Sidmouth's Richard Mills saw him attain the second highest handicap index gain (+74), which left him only 4 points short of a 3.5 handicap - in doing so Richard also reached the final of the C Class event and, in total, won 10 of his 12 games.

l Richard Wood, one of Sidmouth's top players, recently took part in a B-level advanced tournament at Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club, doing battle with experienced players from as far afield as Cornwall and Cambridgeshire.

Despite some patchy form, Richard managed to win five of his six games to take third place. This resulted in a modest prize, which Richard expects to have drunk by the time this report appears.

Today sees the start of the Sidmouth B-level Advanced Weekend with 16 entrants in the 2-8 handicap range competing on level terms. This is a good chance for members to observe play of a high standard, hopefully in fine playing conditions.