Championships of Ireland: Croquet at Carrickmines

Eight days of croquet at Carrickmines concluded on Saturday 8th August in glorious weather befitting a great Championships. Despite the absence of international players due to Covid-19 there was an excellent turnout, including some younger Carrickmines members new to the Championships.

All told there were 177 games played on 4 lawns in 9 separate events: exhausting work made easier by the refuelling options provided by a generous supply of cakes, biscuits and sausages to go with the morning and afternoon tea and coffee. In an absorbing and high quality final Danny Johnston overcame the holder Andy Johnston (no relation) to claim the crown of Singles Champion of Ireland.

The winners of the events were:

Founders Cup (Handicap Singles) – Nathaniel Healy, runner up Max Miller.

Stonebrook Cups (Handicap Doubles) – Nicola Kelly and Sandy Greig, runners up Christopher and Frank Martin.

Newell Candlestick – Duncan Styles, runner up Richard Whelan.

USCA Salver – Max Miller, runner up Tim Furlong.

Green Cup – Gerard Osborne-Burke, runner up Alan Looney.

Steel Cup (Plate) – Christopher Martin, runner up Anne-Marie McGowan.

Ann Woulfe-Flanagan Trophy (Alternate Stroke Handicap Doubles) – Ross Brennan and Michael O’Shaughnessy, runners up Ryan Murphy and Danny Johnston.

Duff Mathews Salver (Singles Championship) – Danny Johnston, runner up Andy Johnston.

The photos, taken by Robert Miller, show Danny Johnston (middle) with Andy Johnston(left), Croquet Captain Myles McWeeney and President Gary Coburn,  and a busy period of play in splendid sunshine.

Click here to see more photos from the event