RiverRidge Croquet Association

Spring Fling

March 19, 2005

The RiverRidge Croquet Association held its first tournament of the year on Saturday, March 19^th.  The forecast for the day was up to an inch of rain with winds 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon.  Pierre Dunn came down from Vancouver, B.C. to participate in this event and Tournament Director Rick Alderson was not looking forward to having to cancel the tournament.  Rick’s prayers were answered as the inclement weather held off until the tournament was over and the equipment was packed up and put away.  The tournament was a two flight, Waterford Doubles format.  The name of the tournament was ‘Break the Bank’.  It was the first money tournament at RiverRidge, with most of the entry money being returned to the players in prize money.  Play started at 10:00 with ‘A’ Flight and ‘B’ Flight double banking.  The results of the first game were:

       ‘A’ Flight

Dunn & Arkley (11) over Bolton & Herzog (8)

‘B’ Flight

T. Lafferty & Alderson (16) over R. Lafferty & Patterson (8)

RiverRidge Golf Complex allowed us to eat our catered Mexican lunch in ‘The Nines’ Pro Shop.  It was nice to visit with friends we have not seen for a while.  Several of the players mentioned that they are looking forward to The West Coast Classic next month in Vancouver, B.C.

After lunch and before the next game, a new tradition was started.  This is a spin on the ‘Break the Bank’.  Rick brought out a small (3” X 3”) white porcelain piggy bank.  It was all painted up in UO colors.  Players drew a number and then went in order taking a shot at the pig from about 75’ away.  The first who broke the pig won the nice prize ($25.00 off the next two day croquet tournament at RiverRidge) inside.  Floyd Bolton had lucky number one and made a nice lag shot to within five or six feet of the pig.  The rest of the players made their shots in order of the numbers they drew, but no one hit it.  The second shots were played from where the balls laid.  Floyd went first again and made a soft shot, hitting the pig and knocking it over, but not even cracking it.  Pierre Dunn was up next and was not much further away than Floyd was.  Pierre is a fast learner, and was not about to let this piggy get away.  He made a firm shot and the piggy exploded after being squarely hit.  Several of the players assisted in picking up the remains of piggy, and tournament play resumed. The results of game two were: 

       ‘A’ Flight

Arkley & Herzog (26) over Dunn & Bolton (9)

‘B’ Flight

R. Lafferty & Alderson (16) over T. Lafferty & Patterson (11)

With one game remaining, and the prize money on the line, all were aware of how important this third and finial game would be.  The results of game three were:

‘A’ Flight

Dunn & Herzog (26) over Arkley & Bolton (11)

‘B’ Flight

Patterson and Alderson (19) over R. Lafferty & T. Lafferty (14)

At the end of ‘B’ Flights final game, both Jim Patterson and Ralph Lafferty had one win a piece, and each had scored 38 total wickets.  They shot from the south boundary for the winning post to break the tie for third.

Final Standings

‘A’ Flight

1^st Place       Jim Herzog

                                                2^nd Place       Tremaine Arkley

                                                3^rd Place        Pierre Dunn                                     

‘B’ Flight

                                                1^st Place       Rick Alderson

                                                2^nd Place      Traudl Lafferty

          3^rd Place      Jim Patterson

This was Tremaine’s first visit to RiverRidge and we enjoyed having him