Boss is, as far as I know, the only croquet tournament in South Africa that offers a chance to win cash prizes in return for its small entry fee.

That is possible because nothing is provided by way of refreshment, except that you can make your own tea or coffee.

As it is a handicap event, the chances of winning should in theory be equal.

That hasn’t proved to be the case in recent events. Three years ago Graham Goosen won every game in which he played, and had his handicap drastically reduced as a result. This year it was Tony Kromberg from False Bay CC who did nearly as well. He lost just two games in the round robin part of the tournament, and then won a semi-final and the final. I expect his handicap will have dropped, as well.

The other semi-finalists were David Frost, (FBCC), with nine wins, me, also with nine, and Anne Stafford, RCC, with eight. Had she lost her last game against Brian Roos, she would have been part of a four-way tie on seven. In that case the other semi-finalist would have been Ivan Christian, on net hoops.

In the semis, Tony beat David, and I beat Anne, just. Then Tony beat me in the final, 10/9.  I can now relate more closely to the pain of the losers of the finals at Wimbledon, the Masters, etc.

The rest of the contestants played in a plate event, in which the prizes were bottles of artisanal gin donated by Allan Ware of Triple3Three gin. Bert Stafford and Ivan won those and I got one as well, as a present. It’s good stuff!

Paul Fanner.