The 8th Annual Rochester American Six-Wicket Croquet Invitational was held August 13 through 15 at the Grace & Truth SportsPark on North Greece Road. A full weekend of both singles and doubles play included eighteen players from Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina as well as from across New York state.
“It is a fascinating game to both watch and play as men and women of varying ages compete in a game that combines the advanced strategy of a chess game with the skillful ability to place two balls accurately as in billiards,” noted Sue Sherer, tournament manager. “Of course, there is the plan…and then there is the successful (or not) execution of the plan,” Sherer laughingly remarked.
Although popularized through the 19th century in paintings and Lewis Carroll’s “Alice Through the Looking Glass,” it is once again a growing sport here in the U.S. There are three clubs in western New York: the Buffalo Croquet Club at Delaware Park in Buffalo and the West Hill Croquet Club in Camillus, just west of Syracuse, in addition to the Rochester Croquet Club.
Games are 75 minutes each, providing ample time for either opponent to win. “I have witnessed many a game where the tables were turned in the final strokes of the game,” admits Sherer. “It makes you really happy when you are the one who comes from behind to make the win, but as I like to say ‘Every shot makes someone happy…it may not necessarily be you!’”
In Championship flight, the most elite players contended for the awards with local player, Rich Laging of Hilton barely edging out Bob Hafner of Louisiana in last ball of last turn to win 25-24 in block play. Not to be outdone, Hafner bested Laging in finals play to claim first place in singles for the flight.
First flight singles came down to a neck-in-neck competition between husband and wife, Ron and Deborah Millican of Missouri. Soundly winning in block play, Deborah was defeated in finals play to take second to her husband. “In all the years we have been playing, this is the first time we have had to play one another in finals,” remarked Ron. However, they were to face off again in doubles play and this time Deborah and her partner, John Joseph of Florida, captured first place to Ron and his partner, local player Peter Bowers of Hilton.
In second flight singles, 94-year-old Byron Lee of Annapolis, Maryland, had bested almost all opponents in block play, only to be defeated by Peter Sherer of Greece in finals play. “This game holds no favorites for age or gender when it comes to competition and Lee’s years of experience and consistent play make him a great competitor,” noted Sherer.
For more information on croquet in the Rochester area, go to RocCroquet.org or email RocCroquet@gmail.com.
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