Good morning from Kelburn Municipal Croquet Club.

You think I'm Jenny, but I'm not! Andrew Gregory here. We are going to try to do the dual commentary thing for this final.

I had an early error in yesterday's commentary. I thought the cloud would burn off, in fact it stayed, also had some drizzle and mist.
Today looks similar.

Good morning everyone, not only Andrew, but Jenny too. We're sharing the commentary box this morning.

To clarify an incident from yesterday: Riva declared a fault as he tried to half-jump rover. One ball thru rover. Bamford chose to have balls replaced, thinking that had he not, the hoop would count. One cannot score a point with a fault.

He's really funny about the laws - extremely good natured.

Anyways, the forecast is for drizzle. The full-on rain forecast from earlier this week appears to have retreated. It was 100% the other day, now only 51% - so expect dour and drizzly. Bit of a shame as there was some hint of pace.

The hoops are still wide... 0.6mm. Bit of a shame for the worlds final. NZ Open final was about 0.2mm.

Last night we looked at the head-to-head between Bamford and Chapman. It surprised us.

NZ Open Championship Y 2008 Chapman wins 2-0.
Michael Wright had knocked Bamford out of the main event.

More pertinently:
World Championship 2013 Semi-final (Surbiton):
Paddy Chapman beat Reg Bamford +20tp, -11tpo, +17tp, +12

A rare Bamford TPO there.

And that's it, just 6 games.

Reg won the toss, he's going first, Paddy has chosen blue and black.

Stylistic clash, we have agreed to refer to players by first names. Shorter to type!

"the tighter the hoops, the better for Paddy" - I wish the (kiwi) manager had known that! (although that would be very naughty - however cricketing nations do create pitches that most favour the home team. And there was the 2014 Mac on FAST lawns with FIRM hoops.

Commentary team is seated in the veranda of the hut, not far from 3rd corner of the lawn [lawn 1].

Jenny Clarke 3.0 tuning in here! J-P Moberly the third commentator to provide excellent anecdotal comments.
Everyone recovering for the formal dinner last night, I managed to get away with 2 puddings and an extra bowl of just custard!

James Death in the Shield final. 8 players qualified, only 2 entered. Top competition that.

The custard was indeed excellent J-P, and thank you for sharing!

Shield Final: James Death (England) v Greg Fletcher (Australia)

I had 3 puddings. One was called Danish pudding I think. Seemed to be sort of bread-and-butter pudding. It came with custard.

_Bowl Final: Jonathan Powe (England) v Stuart Lawrence (USA) _ - Stuart has had a few triples in the Bowl, while Jonathan is one of the new stars of English croquet

Plate Final: Alain Giraud (England) v Stephen Morgan (USA)

Players are practising.

Sherif has turned up. Maybe some videoing?

Starting...

1. Reg playing red... playing to the East Boundary

That's about 11 yards north of corner 4

Red played, so we have black next - Michael Wright will approve. He's in the inside box with Callum Hyland (Australia) and Chris Clarke.

2. Paddy plays black as a short duffer. It's about a yard short of hoop 6. He was hitting it over a green area, but he is a man for a micro-tice from time to time.

3. Reg can't resist that, and is in the middle of the north boundary with yellow.

He'll shoot hard at this...

Taking his Zen posture, upright, mallet leaning against his body, and arms by his sides. Probably waiting for people to stop talking really loudly.

For Chris Clarke's report on yesterday, plus a brief preview of today, check out Croquet Network:
http://croquetnetwork.squarespace.com/croquet-network-home/2018/2/10/clarke-bamford-and-chapman-for-the-title-09.html

Ready - no casting from Reg.

Smooth backswing - not enough power to rush it all the way to hoop 1, but it's on the right line and south of the peg. I suspect he was just hitting that, but it's a very good shot - punishes the short duffer.

Or does he? - Unless he plays a big takeoff and some immaculate shots, Paddy has a shot for the first (easy) chance of a break.

In-clubhouse commentators suggest taking off to your hoop gives you two chances. What do you reckon?
1. chance to leave a 12 yarder for opponent
2. chance to fail hoop 1 and leave a 6 yarder for opponent.

Reg takes off thick sending black west of the peg, taking off to partner.

Roquets red, rolling up the boundary.

The lawns are looking a bit greener today, and with no sun they might stay that way.
Will Reg be employing 1-back tactics today?

Leaves a rush to black. This is a ball to 4back for the next person to make a roquet.

4. Paddy will take the short shot from the end of A baulk. Only choice - the boundaries are unreliable and someone will go around. C'mon Paddy!!

The hoops have been reset this morning, after a desperate plea to the President of Croquet NZ at last night's dinner. They are set to 0.6mm. Not sure what that is, but I dare say you can work it out.

Misses badly between the balls.

Bamford has chance for first break. C'mon Reg!

Many many thanks to Nick Chapman (Australia) who has just appeared with a white coffee with sugar - it was delicious yesterday. Took ages to drink, as it's v hot, but ..yumm. thank you :-)

J-P Moberly about to start video streaming. Go to his facebook page.

Reg has made 1 and has 4-ball break.

6 hoops or 9? My expert votes for 6.

URL for streaming... https://www.facebook.com/johnpaul.moberly/videos/1586201211434079/
You don't have to be a friend to watch the streaming, but he's a really nice chap.

Reg through 1, he has everything, we'll be back with you after hoop 4 when it's clear what's happening.

Shield final... Greg Fletcher having a 3rd turn ball around

After his morning coffee, I expect Nick will be back in action in Instagram. Check that out - there are plenty of short videos and photos.

I've remembered to sign up for lunch today.. Twice as expensive as Wellington but still OK value.

Just to clarify .. the hoops are 0.6mm. That's 1.5 64ths of an inch . 3/64ths would be slightly disappointing

It'll be a 1-back leave. Partner is halfway to hoop 1 and he's making the hoop off black.

People starting to arrive slowly...Trev with his Eskie -he's prepared. Jose Riva, Jim Nichols.

That's Jimbo and Jimbo standing together - James Death -Jimbo of the north, and Jim Nichols - the Australian Jimbo.

Comments to the commentary team: to [email protected]

Andrew is just threading cables through the back row audience. And he's powered!

Thanks to Manager Brian Boutel for sorting the cable!

Right - we are through hoop 6. The hoops are looking very benign. Rushes back after hoop 6. Cross wiring, fairly vertically, across hoop 1.

Blue 3 yards SSE of hoop 1, black 4 feet NNW of hoop 1 (provided that description describes wired balls!)

Rushing partner to corner 3.

Instagram, check out #acworlds

Looking at giving absolute maximum distance here - yellow's going almost into corner 3...

My fantasy team is unofficially back up to no. 11. Having both finalists I should make the top 10, especially if Reg completes some sextuples, and the match goes to 5 games.
I also have Jonathan Powe, who is playing in the Bowl final.

Yellow is about 6 inches south of corner 3, red played to 4 feet away - he'll leave Paddy one ball to shoot at with each of his. We'll get an update of that when it's polite to

Psychic outplayer James Death has already worked out we want him to report on the relative wirings.
Black has probably open on yellow, definitely open on red, blue can see everything.

Blue shooting...

Greg Fletcher sorting out his "3 ducks" leave

Shooting... through the middle again

Andrew's doing the sextuple, I'll answer some emails...

Thanks to Bruce Rannie for your kind words. Chris's back seems ok, and he has a more stable seat, and a bit of back support - he's ok. Congratulations passed on to Andrew for his semi-final analogy of goals for the breaks to explain what was going on more simply... I'm really interested in maybe developing that for coaching purposes also.

Joshy - The spotty dog - our wee dalmatian - was doing well when we saw her 9 days ago. The chap housesitting for us is (so far!) excellent with the dogs. Should be all good, and I look forward to being welcomed home by both the dogs tomorrow lunchtime.

G1T7 Reg Yellow embarks on his sextuple. Blue is croqueted to 3, Red is rushed shy of 1-back, takes off to Black. Makes 1 with rush pointing toward Blue.

People seemed to find my hoop / peel counter useful, so to remind you Reg wants to make 12 hoops and 6 peels.
1 hoop, 0 peels

oops - James Death is back. I do really enjoy his company - he was a fantastic addition to the house at the Australian Open - but it does mean he's missed his 4th turn shot

"they're as slow as anything with all the dampness around"

Alan Walsh and Barbara McDonald (Australia) join a 60-strong (and growing) crowd.

Total crowd size over 100 - 60 here, 45 watching streaming.

G1T7 Reg Yellow now rushing Blue to 2y NE of Red at 1-back. Has he rushed Red dead in front of 2? That would make peel after hoop trickier.

And they're probably all online with the commentary too - 76 readers!

Stuart Lawrence seems to be having the best of the Shield final on lawn 4, but it's early days.

G1T7 Reg Yellow lining up 1-back peel after 2. Escape ball is 3y SE of 2. 1y slightly angled peel with a bit of pull. Red sails thru to 9y N of 2-back.

Hoops 2 Peels 1

The fault discussion yesterday.... if Jose had felt a second contact (i.e. if there'd been one) in the short jump ...then there's no question. But the question was about when striker's ball bounced back and, having turned away in disappointment, the ball his Jose's foot after he'd taken a step and a half.

The straw poll only had one person (I believe) saying 'no fault', and many for fault. It's a very fine line how we interpret leaving one's stance "under control"

oooooo

in fact... ooooo

G1T7 Reg Yellow rushes Blue near end of B-baulk, croquets it 4y N of 2-back. Makes 3 off Black without rush. Rolls Black 2y WSW of 5. Yellow finishes 4 or 5y short of Red. Misses!

G1T8 Paddy hits his 4 yarder, rushing blue to hoop 2. Huge error from Reg - he had the opportunity to sit Paddy out for the whole first game. Won't be pleased with that

Takes off to black can rush this to yellow, and it'll be a ball to the peg

Approaches hoop 1

Al Honey has arrived. He's well named.

Makes 1, rushes yellow into black, but he'll cope - putting yellow to hoop 4

Through 2, and he's approaching hoop 3. Paddy's hoop 4 pioneer is a touch south of hoop 4, but these hoops have no bite.

Video item of interest

Nick Chapman has just showed me a slow motion version of his video of Jose's jump stroke...

There was no double tap

The striker's ball was stationary before Jose clipped it with the edge of his foot in his second step as he walked away.

I don't actually think it was a fault - so he should have replaced the ball to where he kicked it from, and I believe the peel was through.

Ok, Paddy approaching hoop 4 from just next to the hoop. He's through.

The hoop 5 pioneer is a bit northerly

Happened on some good tactics at the tournament dinner last night. Two bottles on table as we arrived, red and white. Majority went for white, just 2 of us for Red (which I usually prefer anyway). Also my drinking companion is an oenophile, so the second bottle was much nicer than the first!

Paddy having a go at a pop - taking yellow through to hoop 5 - this is Reg's ball, but it means that if Reg hits in at the end of Paddy's turn, it's much much harder for him to complete a quintuple peel - so giving away a point here is a really good idea

POP - Peel on Opponent. James points out that start after hoop 1 where he clattered yellow into black was because he tried to rush it across to POP it after hoop 1.

Jenny has fallen offline. I'm on the club wifi, she's on phone wifi.

Let's see if mine is still working...

Yay

Paddy has reached 1-back.

Hoop 5 pioneer is a little wayward, and he has to rush it in from yards north. No drama. The hoops are benign, the lawns are downright slow. Some hint of the less-green patches, but lots of moisture the last two days means they'll be very slow today. Shame this couldn't be taken into account to have much narrower hoops. (not just United do that - the Mac, Wellington usually to - Paul Skinley will have been weeping at the width yesterday) - the conditions do warrant this, and Atkins hoops are very easy to set accurately (probably any new hoops are - the bowed legs of the old United hoops from smashing them into hard ground each time were VERY hard to set consistently

I'm back. That's another $17.50 on J-P's account!

Makes 1back, yellow has hit the peg rather than going to 3back - that'll make the leave a little more messy??

partner going to 3back. He might have been planning a New Standard Leave anyway. ... maybe a Skinley New Standard Leave? - for the last few years he has often deliberately sent partner to 3back, made the hoop off it, rushed it to the east boundary, then taken off back to rush the oppo ball into position tight on hoop 4.

With often mixed results...

Through 2back, black is a good 3back pioneer, so this break will get to 4back.

I'll hand back over to Andrew when it's Reg's turn.

You may have received a Facebook thing from me. Housemates convinced me to sign up last night. Tentative steps into the 21st century. A lot of East European ladies wish to be my friend.
Also a friend whom I lost touch with 6 years ago was on there. How did Facebook know?

Paddy looking lovely in black - looks like a 2014 (winning NZ Mac year) Mac shirt he's wearing. Otherwise well presented in black. Looks like Adidas shoes - black with three silver stripes, I think it's a Nike cap, and Miranda has done a lovely job of painting a silver fern onto his mallet.

It's raining. But lightly. There are misty clouds adorning the surrounding hills.

Spots of rain.

Clips: Reg: Red 2-back Yellow 5; Paddy Black 1 Blue 4-back

We briefly saw the fresh cheese scones the club has gained some note for, but those in the clubhouse have fistfulls, and once again they made their way swiftly past the commentary bench. Good thing we brought our own nibbles!

Paddy made 2back off red, placed it to the peg, brought yellow across, ran 3back to it, and he'll have a diagonal spread with red by the peg, yellow deep towards the east boundary, and he has rushed red well, so can do a find takeoff back to partner to complete his leave.

Has a three yarder, but that won't trouble him at this stage of his break. Paddy has stormed back into the early stages of this match!

To reiterate: Clips: Reg: Red 2-back Yellow 5; Paddy Black 1 Blue 4-back

Meanwhile in the Shield final, Greg Fletcher is on a slowish 5th turn TP - has a peel done, doing delayed double - he's for 4back

Check out the leave... #acworlds - Jimbo Oz has a great photo of the leave.

What might be Reg's tactics from this clip position? 2 hoops with Red, then try to finish? Or Yellow to peg? Or Yellow delayed TPO??

G1T9 Reg thinking.

Must be careful today - live streaming and my mumcan catch snippets of the conversation!

It's 9pm in the UK, 10 am in NZ

Brilliant - more scones wandering past!

Past, being the operative word.

G1T9 Reg lifts Yellow to A-baulk. Shooting at Black or Blue (16y). Visualisation. Hits Black.

"Players and refs first" they say - as they walk past James Death without a glance!"

That's ok - I have a stash of yummy shortbread left from John Wall - let me tell you another heart-warming story about him. The shortbread has been shared. And Chris had some after he abandoned Wellington due to no back-friendly seating being left.

G1T9 Reg Yellow has Red by the peg as a hoop 5 pioneer. Yellow stops Black a few yards in lawn. Blue to 6, Red rushed to 5, and he's away.

Delayed tpo a rogue suggestion from my expert. Bamford doesn't do many TPOs. Having run 5, Reg looks confused.

Last night toward the end of the Tournament dinner I joined Annabel McDairmid and Alison Sharpe for a natter. As Ali was called away, I noticed Ali has a NZ International Representative badge, and I inquired after the origin on that being on a dark green Aussie blazer. Apparently it was a gift from John Wall to Ali - she and Alison Wall, who we lost a few years ago, had got on really well when they had occasion to meet (first Women's AC worlds?), and John gave Ali the badge as a token in memory of Alison Walls. Very touching, and very lovely that Ali choose to wear it here when John is a referee.

as a reminder.. time limits... 3hours, then after each game another 2 hours is added to the clock. Any extra time used by a game that goes over ("regulation 8" to kiwis) will not be taken off the time for the next game - so all games have at least 2 hours

G1T9 After 5, Reg Yellow rushes Red to E bdry. Red is croqueted 2y W of 6. Black is going to 1-back.

Ball to peg? Or ball to rover in case Paddy gets in with 4-back ball and wants to peg out Yellow?

Same as yesterday

(sorry - the time limits - Andrew slipped that in early!)

Greg Fletcher has a referee on - straight double finish - he put blue through past rover and has crept through penult. Has a ref on, but it's utterly trivial. Straight rover peel for Greg to win game 1.
Plate, Bowl and Shield finals all best of three - Shield is 4hrs 7hrs 9hrs..., presume the others are too

G1T9 Reg Yellow sending Red as 2-back pioneer. Might he slip in a peel?

Expert not buying my stopping at rover theory.

G1T9 Reg Yellow is doing weird stuff at 2-back. POP on Black? Straight quintuple??

Greg Fletcher having a straight rover peel - yet another pretty disappointing not-really-deep ball, level with 1 and 4. Yellow is an overly-deep side ball. Greg should cope though... no!!! - fails to rush in front - Greg looking at croqueting partner to the peg... no, contemplating popping partner into the jaws of rover and jumping? - that's my favourite option, but it's handy to have a deep ball for that! Croquet's blue east of rover. he'll have another hoop and a leave, for rover and peg. James hasn't been shooting well lately...

James conceding he hasn't made a roquet in 3 days

Thanks very much for your emails during this week Tobi - your support is much appreciated :)

G1T9 Reg Yellow jawses POP of Black thru 1 after 2-back.

Someone in the house asked Chris about the weighting of points for winning the various events - specifically that winning the Shield attracts less points than winning the Bowl. This is specifically interesting given that the Shield event has the losing round 2 players, while the Bowl has losing round 1 players, so the Shield is theoretically (and in fact) strong. Chris's answer last night was basically along the lines that the Sheild is a bit of a non-event in that very few players reaching that far into the World Championships are actually interested in playing in a consolation event. The Bowl is usually better subscribed as a lot of round 1 non-winners are keen to keep going - they're out a day earlier, and they also often didn't have such hopes of progressing further into the main event, so are happy playing in their own event.

In the bowl, Stuart Lawrence has failed a number of hoops, but is now on a turn to level things at break all (9-9 for some folks)
In the plate final: Stephen Morgan is 4back and peg, and Alain Giraud is 1 and 2 and is struggling with the slowness of the lawns

Another plate of cheese scones wander past. Jim Nichols reckons they're famous - I'm not sure as they never seem to stop near us. They smell quite nice though.

G1T9 Reg Yellow rushPOPs Black thru 1 before 4-back. Might he try to squeeze another POP in?

Good morning Sam Murray. Another very nice chap I've not had a lot to do with before. It looks like Elllen is staying home today. Dreary old day so the clubhouse is full of people avoiding the drizzle.

James Death has hit last shot... he's had some flack about his shooting... so goes out and spanks his "last" lift.

G1T9 Reg Yellow is making 4-back off Red, Black is 1y N of penult, Blue is 3y S of penult.

*Mallet in the air, yellow in hoop 2. "that's alright - it's a wedge"... "they're set to competition standard on the far lawn" - apparently the Aussies were recruited to set the hoops... "he's got an Australian referee so he'll probably get an Australian decision... omg...the scones are here.... the commentary team have scones!!! - yummmmm

those were Australian comments I was quoting. Mike Cohn isn't feeling kindly though, and James is on his way back. His Aussie opponent has a 5 yarder for the game.

G1T9 Reg Yellow croquets Red to rover. Makes penult.

turns out Trevor Bassett organised the hoop-setting team, and a set of Aussies - Callum? Kevin? Stephen Forster? Nick Chapman? set the hoops. James suggests there's some variation in the hoop setting, as hoop 1 was fairly wide, but hoop 2 by James' declaration is "a properly set hoop"

Jeff Newcombe and David Wise behind us. I first played Jeff at Wanganui on fast lawns in the 2004 New Zealand Open in the Heenan Plate. I hit EVERYTHING. I also lost narrowly. Deja vu...

Stephen Morgan has taken the first in the Plate Final, Greg Fletcher has taken the first in the Shield final

G1T9 Reg Yellow roquets Black in the hoop-stroke at rover. Red is 1' W of rover. Blue inches NE of peg. Croquets Black nr W bdry *y S of 2nd corner. Rushes Red off E bdry, maybe 8y N of 4th corner. Take-off to Blue. Adjusts Blue into diagonal spread position. Takes off back toward Red. Thinking about last stroke of turn...

Clips: Reg: Red 2-back Yellow peg; Paddy Black 2 Blue 4-back

G1T9 Reg Yellow leaves 1y rush pointing to peg.

Another cable car rattles along. There is an intermediate station just down the road, though the car didn't stop there when I used it. Maybe a request stop?
From near the top station of the cable car one has a spectacular view of some of these lawns, then the tall buildings of the city centre, then Mount Victoria, then the bay, then higher mountains in the background.

I received an email yesterday from a chap commenting that Wanganui lawns were now "paddocks" - unfortunately AC play hasn't been strong there for a long time now, and the lawns aren't maintained quite as enthusiastically.
Incidentally, that's that did for Phillip Drew's AC career. The young kiwi is a really talented player, but one NZ Open at Wanganui - around 2011 - he rolled from south to north boundary - a stroke I said to someone next to me "gosh, only a couple of players here could play that stroke [Chris Clarke being one of them] - and I'm not sure it's worth the risk [of physical injury] for Phil to do that!". Unfortunately he ended up with a painful shoulder injury that led to him withdrawing from the 2012 AC World Champs during block play, and also a Wellington Open. He's now a member of the Golf Croquet Teams World Championship winning NZ team, and also occasional coach in NZ. I learned to line up shots one-eyed through Phil

G1T10... Paddy lifted Black to A baulk from near the west boundary. Shoots at partner at the peg - presumably doesn't rush to 2..... looking - hits!!!!!

Snicked it a yard. That's enough. Paddy is 2 and 4back. Expert commentary "Reg is working to a game plan .. lost the first game in each of his matches and went on to win the match!"

Raining lightly, as Paddy takes off short, leaving a 5 yarder... chooses to hit the 4 yard inlawn ball instead. - looks like the peg was in play for the takeoff?

James reports that black could hit blue as it lay - ok, 9/10 for Reg's leave. Well, it wasnt remotely polarised - ie. Paddy could equally play his 2 or 4back ball - though he was always going to play the hoop 2 ball facing peg and 2 back. - at least the leave was reasonably long.

Runs 2 with a nice stroke. Hitting blue first has given him the opportunity for a standard TP. Reg had popped Paddy to hoop 2, but really needed that second pop on the way round.

Red played well to hoop 4, rushes yellow (a long way) south of blue, and it's a standard TP. ok, Chris would probably give that leave 5/10. I wasn't watching closely enough.

Kiwi great Graham Beale also wants to know "why one POP?" - very very good point.

Paddy has a 2 yard straight rush to hoop 3... hits it badly! - has about a 3.5 yard backward takeoff to the hoop!

pulls up very short - he has about a 45 degree angle. or more.

Jumping in the wet is difficult - the ball tends to drop and spin on the spot, rather than gripping and going through. The wet uprights won't offer any help either.

Jimbo would have gone for 2 yards past - you really do need to give yourself a shot at the hoop - though Stephen Mulliner would probably agree that getting a shot you can comfortably run the hoop from is also nice!

Clip off the side of hoop 3.. he's jumping - he really has to try.

Has a decent crack, but black bounces off 2 yards towards corner 3

Back row of the grandstand are suggesting "perhaps the hoop is a bit wider at the top". Nope.

At least Paddy failed the hoop off Yellow, so he'll have one more shot. May be a long one....

"bit adventurous" - nope also - there was absolutely nothing else to do given he was leaving a 6 footer. Only other option - hope for a miracle scatter, and that Reg missed something??

Back to those hoops... the uncoated uprights are also harder to jump - instead of losing a bit of energy hitting the slight cushioning of a coating, and having that slight surface to grip a little more, balls tend to slide along, or ping off the uprights. These hoops are harder to jump than standard painted/coated hoops.

Egyptian hoops are VERY hard to jump - however the Egyptian jumping has improved in recent years with more international golf croquet play - they had to.

G1T11 Reg Yellow rushes Blue near peg, rolls Blue to 3y NW of 4th corner. Black has been ignored - it is 2y NE of 4-back. Looking to rush near middle of W bdry. Now he's looking South of there, thinking of dolly rush wired from Blue...

From the home readers.. "Final, first game.

By my count Reg has hit twice and made one error, and Paddy has missed
twice and made no errors. Since Reg went first, I think he ought to
have won the first game by now (or at least been on a finishing turn).
But he didn't put out a supershot ball. Why not? Isn't this an obvious
error?"

Let's keep a count of that - it's interesting stats... now we have Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 2/2 (including the duffer, which isn't that long), Paddy 1/3.

G1T11 Reg Yellow leaves 4' rush to 2-back for Red, presumably wired from Blue.

No supershot - interesting - Paddy hasn't been hitting, so maybe that's the source of the preference for Reg?

G1T12 Paddy on... looking at blue (near 3back, Reg is laid up near 2back), but he'll probably shoot with black as he can win from there.

Jimbo Oz suggests calling incorrectly on the coin toss might be regarded as an error. James Death has suggested that turning up today was his own error! - Greg Fletcher is going around 4th turn after James hit third turn and pulled the balls into the lawn

Paddy shoots black at blue... hits!!!! - looks to have had a wee smile as the crowd applaud.

Greg "Greggy Fletch" Fletcher is going around 4th turn

Takes off to red and yellow, putting blue into the lawn a bit as a hoop 4 pioneer - it'll be a delayed TP. Hits yellow, rushes red.. rushes it well - it's 18 inches west of hoop 3. the crowd are a little more animated today. We should have called for locals to wear kiwi black today!

Approaches hoop 3. Runs it smoothly and he can cut red to the south boundary - an excellent shot would get it very close to yellow...

Plays the big cut - lawns are slow, so red slowly trickles towards the middle of the west boundary - it was a really good cut - black races off the lawn - hard... towards Reg.
Reg threatens - in a jocular fashion - to hurl black at Paddy.

Plays the big cut - lawns are slow, so red slowly trickles towards the middle of the west boundary - it was a really good cut - black races off the lawn - hard... towards Reg.
Reg threatens - in a jocular fashion - to hurl black at Paddy.

Red to 5. Cutting yellow to to blue which is well east of hoop 4… snicks it!!!

Taking off to blue – pulls up directly south of blue, but can cut it to a better position to approach the hoop. Paddy is approaching hoop 4 from a couple of yards NE.

Very good approach - only slight angle, and he's close. Good deep reception ball

Runs the hoop well, off the boundary, and he's away - ... James "bout an hour left in this game" - time limits - in a World Championship final - good lord!

Paddy is approaching hoop 5. Blue is 3.5 yards south of 4back, and yellow is 3 yards west of 4back as a good escape ball to peel 4back to getting a rush to hoop 6.

Approaches hoop 5 nicely getting a slight cut to the middle of the east boundary. - is it too early to call this one?? - Paddy favourite for game 1.

Across the cricket field, they've turned the fountain on - it looks like it'll rain as well - the foggy clouds are very low now and it's a lot darker.

It's raining "this is the proper stuff"

Peeling... rejection!!! Paddy has a nice cut to hoop 6, but blue bounces off to a feet WSW of 4back. That's a nuisance.

Red is a few yards due east of oneback, so he will be able to have a crack at the peel doing to 1back. Gets a rush out of hoop 6 pointing south of hoop 3 and doesn't rush it fully off the boundary.

Rushes yellow to a couple of yards in on the east boundary level with hoop 3. He'll croquet that to 2back getting a rush on blue - goes north of hoop 3 to get a rush to in front of 4back.

Yellow is level with the peg, and about 5 yards west of it. Black is good.

Nick tells me he has checked the weather radar and this gloomy stuff is set in. it's only misty drizzly wet stuff at the moment.

Takeoff peel from about 15 inches.

No applause as Paddy plays an excellent shot, peeling blue by a cm (will take some care to tidy up later), and gets a rush to 1back.

Josh Freeth has emerged. "who won the first game" ... "this is the first game"

Josh Freeth has emerged. "who won the first game" ... "this is the first game"

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 2/2 (including the duffer, which isn't that long), Paddy 2/4.

Through 1back, rushes off the middle of the north boundary. Red 4 yards short of 3 back - he's a bit west of the line of 3 and 4, but rushes partner back through the hoop well. Will have a bit of a thick takeoff here?

Thin takeoff from inside blue, gets a 2 yard cut to 2back - hits it pretty ok, but he'll be approaching 2back from 3 yards

Andrew’s keyboard is looking a little grubby. No, it’s totally grubby. The screen is a little grubby, the keyboard is another whole level of grub.

Approaches 2back… he’s through… has a 4 yard return which he rushes up to hoop 6. It’ll be a delayed double for game 1.

Rolls yellow out as a good escape ball for the peel, and rushes blue level with red - he has plenty of room to get a peelee out and get a rush to 3back

Meanwhile on lawn 3, Greg Fletcher got his 4th turn ball around, James hit his third long shot in a row, and had a leave, Greg misses, James had made sure of hoop 2

100 in attendance, 80 on the live stream, 121 on the text commentary

Paddy approaches 3back well and will have a rush out.. runs the hoop nicely - no hoop errors today -that hoop 3 by Paddy was just a poor rush to the hoop followed by a bad takeoff - the hoops are minding their own business.

You may have realised that Jenny is describing Paddy's turns, I'm doing Reg's. I suggest switching for the next game. "No, Paddy's mine!"

Rushes red a yard south of blue, it’s put a yard and a little south-west of penult, rushes blue nicely in front and will peel getting a rush on yellow to 4back.

Peels blue nicely geting a rush to 4back. Rushes it a bit short, but no dramas.

Blue is 2 yards south of the peg, has a 2 foot straight hoop – clubs through and has a 2 yarder pointing at peelee.

From NZ Mac player who we haven't seen enough of on the lawns in recent years Graham Beale... "Hello to John Prince, Paddy’s mentor and coach. Hope ‘the legend’ is enjoying this..."

I spoke to John Prince (the original “JP”) last night – he is indeed enjoying this!

Paddy rushes yellow down, puts it a few yards north-east of rover, Rushes blue west of rover and it's nudged closer in the takeoff to the penult pioneer.

Approaches penult well and he's through - it's an easy old straight rover peel now.

Jenny and I are using laptops literally on our respective laps. I don't like using the trackpad, so i have a mouse on my knee. Incidentally, does anyone know how to disable the trackpad? More than once I've accidentally brushed it and deleted a load of typing.

Callum reports 128 persons in attendance, not counting players in the various finals and referees. Suggests there could be more buried in the clubhouse. Probably best not to complain about the speed of the lawns or the reluctance of the scones to pause near us!

Raining hard now.

Red croqueted a few yards south of rover. That's all good, as he's going to be doing an Irish peel.

Rain.

Yellow's a side ball. He'll be Irish peeling this (both balls through at the same time) from 18 inches.

Paddy lining up the peel. Not lying down for this - he doesn't usually, and it's wet down there! He can fold himself down pretty low

Adjusts black... lining it up again. I hope Nick C is instagramming this.

Peels blue by 2 yards, black pauses in the jaws. runs the hoop by a foot, hits yellow. this is all over...

Paddy Chapman (NZ) wins game 1 of the World Championship final 26TP-17 against Reg Bamford (South Africa)

How to describe the rain? Not quite torrential, but pretty hard. Paddy already had his cap on.
I've failed to reserve my expert's chair. Someone moved it as it was getting wet. Luckily we're just under cover.

oops .... ##26TP-19

26TP-19

This game seemed to go for 2hrs 32 minutes. So there should be 2hrs 28 mins for game 2.

Players having a quick comfort stop...

A good anecdote from Andrew..

Pub quiz on Tuesday night, near the Smith house. Persuaded my house to go, but sadly discovered that when It said "Quiz starts at 7", they meant it. 10 minutes late, missed round 1. Suggested an effort to overhaul Smith house's start, but rest of my house left and I joined the Smith team as illegal 7th member.
I had 2 key contributions. One was a picture question: "What is this capital city?" For a few seconds nobody spoke, then I ventured "Isn't it Wellington?" It was!
The other question I don't remember exactly. Something like "The Russians call it the Polish disease, the Italians and Spanish call it the French disease [etc.]"
I shall now be known as the man who got syphilis.
Our MVP was Ellen (aka Mrs T-shirt). The picture round was "Identify these ten top-earning supermodels". First Ellen correctly identified 7 of them. Then we only got 3 points because of some obscure rule about the order of answers. Then Ellen persuaded the question-master of our ignorance as foreigners, and got an extra 4 points. Which proved to be our winning margin.

*update from lawn 3.. James misapproached 6, ran it firmly "found it was a wide one" - missed the return, glanced off teh peg, skimmed by the two balls he'd left at 2back.. it was going to be a 1back leave - ended up as a 1back leave anyway - glanced off hoop 1 also into the corner.

Lack of appreciation for the hoop setting team..."Callum set the width, Kevin monitored the spirit level, Stephen [Forster] held
the wood on top for the hammer to hit, Nick swung to big hammer. True team effort."

Northern Jimbo suggesting "a number of the hoops are quite narrow - 6 wasn't one of them"

Bamford v Chapman Game 2 Chapman leads 1-0

G2T1 Paddy Black supershot 4y SW of peg.
G2T2 Reg Yellow to max distance on E bdry.
G2T3 Paddy Blue at Yellow from 2y W of 3rd corner. Misses into 4th corner.

Rain has eased.

G2T4 Reg Red at Yellow from A-baulk. Hits.

Nick Chapman was on the line of the shot of Reg's - he was missing ...and he hilled on.

Keep us going spectator people - contributions, etc to [email protected]

G2T4 Reg Red croquets Yellow to midway between 2 and 6, short on Black. Now taking off to 1 from 6 yards. Looks good. Runs it 10' past Black. Hits gently, roll coming up. Overhits, Black halfway between B-baulk and 3, Red beyond Yellow. Approaching 2 from 10'. 4' hoop. Thru to boundary.

Greg Fletcher (MacGregor James Josiah Fletcher) looks like he's finishing off James Death.

Reminder on distances: y = yards, ' = feet, " = inches.

Young Westerby (James? - a good croquet name!) is being a tad loud in the clubhouse - cute looking fellow who is doing no harm at all

G2T4 Reg Red not in complete control yet, but not in bother either. Hoop 4 pioneer (Yellow) is 4y NNW of hoop, so after 3 chooses roll rather than take-off to 4th corner. Makes 4 off Yellow. Has rush to 4th corner Checks with oppo that Blue is corner ball. His rush of Yellow clips Blue 1' W of corner. He wanted a cannon there. Will he now be able to organise 1-back leave?

G2T4 Reg Red plays open cannon. A nearby Australian calls it a disjoint cannon. It goes well enough, we expect just 6 hoops here.

While Andrew follow's Reg on this early break, and Powe and Lawrence continue game 1, let's check out Reg's record in New Zealand... it makes interesting reading...
Lowest win % in any country... at 71%
He has won 44 and of 62 games here
Lost kiwi Mac player Toby Garrison in round 3 (the round of 16) of the 2002 Association Croquet world champs in Wellington (Toby hit a zillion tealady shots that match - well, 3, I think)
Went out to kiwi Mac player Michael Wright round 1 of the 2008 NZ Open Championship (Wanganui, I believe), then lost 2-0 to Paddy Chapman in the Y event)
Went out to kiwi Mac player Shane Davis round 1 of the 2008 Association Croquet World Champs in Christchurch (Chris won that event just over a week after we got married!)

I'm not trying to put Reg down here - just adding some colour and interesting background - he's a fabulous player - just it's hard to find an area where he hasn't just been entirely and utterly dominant.

Strat Liddiard has arrived :)

Four flags on the north boundary today... Croquet New Zealand logo, South African flag (I love that design and what it represents), the NZ Flag (which survived a $26m ??? investigation of should we change it!), and the WCF flag.

Crowd's umbrellas still up. Rain steady for now, not as hard as it has been.
G2T4 Reg Red's hoop 6 pioneer (Yellow) is 4y S of hoop. Is is this that persuades him not to have a 1-back leave? Or does he feel that making 9 is the correct tactic?
There is a 1-back pioneer.

Remember .. instagram.. #acworlds - some good photos coming from there. If you're at the venue - add your own photos and videos with this hashtag.

Jonathan Powe has won the first in a very scrappy Bowl final. Greg Fletcher has a straight rover peel to do - straight penult caroomed off the escape ball so blue is north of the peg.

My expert suggests 8 hoops not 9 is the order of the day, for fear of being TPOed.

G2T4 Reg Red makes 1-back off Blue, Black waiting at 2-back. Is blue going to 3-back? Yes!

I need a new expert.

There are trophies - 4 circular and very similar trays, one for each of Champion, Bowl Winner, Shield winner, Plate winner.

Very shiny lovely looking WCF medals, and the Wimbledon Cup is gleaming

Greg Fletcher tries to promote peelee towards rover as it was north of the peg.. the oppo ball just clipped peelee - moving it a little - but then the striker's ball ran into the peelee! Greg opting to not try to peel from peg high - I reckon Malcolm Fletcher would have!

Raining again. Persisting down.

Hello to Northern Jimbo's mum. I'm not sure if we've met, but she's enjoying the streaming - direct to the telly, so actually watching croquet live on TV- excellent!!

John-Paul's streaming should be showing a lot of James's Death's match in the background, but sadly we've seen little of James on the lawn. Great to have him near us though. I really hope he comes back to the Oz Open 2018

Time to join instagram Linda - it's a lot easier than it feels like it will be!

G2T4 Reg Red has made 9 hoops. Diagonal spread coming up...

Clips: Reg: Red 4-back Yellow 1; Paddy Black 1 Blue 1

The spectators are losing interest as their sugar levels drop. It's 12.07pm, it's raining, and the chap behind me is on the phone!!!

they have got really loud - many with their backs to the action - reminiscent of the Sonoma finals - lots of well dressed (in white) people used to attend the final - sit with their backs to the court havnig lunch during the final, and then buy and sell the same uber expensive bottles of wine each year.

When I went (as a spectator only, sadly), a golden labrador puppy was sold for $20,000!

Still, mine has probably got through that much in dog chow in the last few years!

Cicadas competing with the rain. James has his waterproof jacket on. Im' under teh waterproof porch. Runs out to take his turn... returns for his mallet. One of the true characters of croquet - huge hearted and run.

One of the Westerbys being very noisy now. Still, so is the crowd.
Brollies are up.

Rain getting harder again.

Blue is 6y SSW of 2 (ish), Black 1' ESE of peg, Yellow 10y N of 4th corner, with 1y rush on Red toward Black or Blue.

James has his hood up even. Shooting at a diagonal spread, left yellow at the peg and taking the short shot - I wouldn't fancy trying to rush a ball across these lawns

James hit! - 4 in a row!!!

Very cheesy grin for the camera from Reg as he strolls up to put his clip on the peg.

G2T5.. Paddy surveys the lawn. Reg's clip is on 4back - sorry - I was distracted by more applause

Lifts black from the peg (that's the peg reference)... taking the short shot again. Andrew reckons yellow and red area bit south of max distance, so this is 16-17 yards...

Casting.. narrowly misses yellow. And it's Andrew's turn to follow the actual action

Nick Chapman reports that he crowd inside, along the line were saying "hitting, hitting... " the ball came off the bat

My fellow commentator seems exercised by lack of applause for good shots and turns. Perhaps some consider each game as a symphony - one does not applaud between movements.

It is very wet - everyone outside is huddled under large umbrellas. Why is there no wind?? - Monday was pure wind. Wind that Wellington is famous for.

She is now exercised by the word "exercised". I check my online dictionary.
Exercise .... verb...3 Occupy the thoughts of; worry or perplex.

That's going to be very popular - they're kicking people out of the clubhouse to serve lunch to paying customers - that might be Chris heading home :-(**

James still going on lawn 3 - if he hadn't mucked around earlier he'd be inside and dry, with a beverage in his hand. Chris is off.

I have now traded lunch with JP - Chris is getting me something, JP is having my lunch... oh dear... I have actually paid for JPs lunch as well - he claims no memory...

G2T6 Reg Yellow taps Red, little take-off, rushes Black to Blue, Blue to 1,makes 1 without useful rush, This roll is underhit, I dare say he'll cope.
Note: he roqueted Red first because for a standard TP you don't want to be making 2 off peelee.

We are checking the trophies as we have the gem from South Canterbury...
Edmund's WCF plate for U21 GC Worlds 2017 Shield Winner (mailed post-tournament) has an error in the WCF logo - the words surrounding the logo are WORLD ROQUET FEDERATION (their error, not my typing!)
Perhaps this is actually a distinction between GC and AC that I am unaware of?
I hope that the 2018 AC plates have the correct logo.
His plate is still appreciated - but I'm not certain that the error increases the value like a rare stamp.

Phil Cordingley checking the spelling on the Plates...

Perhaps he has his dictionary out, as he's taking a while...

"it all seems to be in order" - Phew - gives more value to Edmund's plate!

Phil Cordingley is having my spare lunch. Rosemary Newsham has a spare lunch too - I'm having that if Chris fails to find an open bakery.

I explain to a spectator behind me that Reg has a standard Triple Peel to win game 2.
there is a pause. I explain to the spectators that "Reg is leading"
"who's Reg?".
I explain to the spectators "that's Reg"

Phil Cordlingley is moved out of the way by the spectators. now a lot of seating here. Very noisy intake of breath at that jawsed peel.lol

(that's my first lol in about 5 days of commentary, so please forgive me)

G2T6 After 2, Reg Yellow rushes Black 3y NE of 4, little take-off to Red. After 3 Yellow has 4' straight (unangled) peel. If he wants a good rush on Red there'll be a little pull, but maybe he can play it straight and cut-rush and / or roll. Does play it straight, Red is in middle of hoop. Cut-rush is fine.

Awww - from James' Death's mum "I remember Chris as a schoolboy playing at Southport when he was one of the bandits outplaying the old ladies."

More needle requested from the commentary team.

erm.. poke ?

Ellen (Mrs T-shirt) is putting in a heavy day auditing. She claims to be a "nice auditor". No idea about her auditing skills (probably excellent given her quiz skills - is that a reasonable place to draw a conclusion from? - but the first half is definitely very true!)

Hard to needle Andrew.. he's really really nice. But threatening to needle me !!!

Paul Rigge complaning: "So the hoops are set using French Napoleon but you use Yards, feet and Inches???...."

well, yes, I was a bit surprised. I think it's about the gauges they have.

Apparently we need more needle in the commentary. C'mon Reg!

G2T6 Reg Yellow makes 4 off Black, then can only rush 12y N of 4th corner. Rolls to give himself 7' rush-peel. Gets it. Taking off to Blue at 5.

So this turn we expect 12 hoops, 3 peels.
To date: 4 hoops, 1 peel.

Just for you Paul ... the hoops are set to a nominal clearance of 0.002 of a foot.

Yuss Tobi - Andrew was delighted with the trackpad email.
Have you befriended him on facebook yet??

Yes, Andrew Gregory is new to facebook - please send him potential profile pictures as he is thus far bereft.

I've been left in charge of the live streaming also, as John Paul checks out lunch - what a farce - it feels like we've paid for about 30 lunches after all this discussion

Reg has a dark waterproof jacket on -he didn't look like he wanted to wear it, but it is VERY wet

"I can confirm lunch is superb" reports John-Paul "I'd say: get involved"

Nope, with all due respect to sensitive sensibilities... it's downright piddling down now.

AAh - that's the polite version "it's really coming down now"

G2T6 Reg Yellow peels Red thru penult after 6.

Hoops 6, Peels 2.

Off to get lunch. Jenny will update in the event of something surprising.

I do highly recommend people turn up to croquet events with a laptop... front row seating in the shelter.

It is too wet - Graeme (best referee in the world ever) Roberts is off. For a while all we could see under his umbrella was his moustache :)

Request for more details of the lunches. From JP "we've got Chicken, beef, tomato and mozzarella (lovely combo that!), a carroty-onion coleslaw thing (his words!), Lovely potato salad, brie, nice bread, more cheese, lettuce and more tomatoes. Superb"

back to the game

Reg looks REALLY unhappy there - croquets blue towards 3back - it sogs to a halt north of the line of hoop 5, and he left the lawn. It's really wet. Doesn't look waterlogged, but wet and unpleasant.

Jacket off (it's still very warm here) and he is sheltering under the marquee set up for the player camp. (good idea that - nowhere here to get away from spectators and be warm - well, maybe our bench...)

Mike – there’s a video of the lunch table on Instagram #acworlds

“why did they stop?” – step outside folks – it’s hammering down on Finals day!

I hope he has stopped his clock (did I already say that?)

James clatters off 3back, Greg Fletcher is rover and peg, and has a 4 yard lift… hits the middle of it. Lunchtime for James. Greg’s not wearing waterproofs – he will be absolutely soaked.

It appears EVERYONE is on their devices now, as connections here have slowed down dramatically and it's very pixellated on my laptop

Greg Fletcher has a one yard hoop for the Shield - hoop and roquet! - very good option

Just to point out – Reg has completely illegally stopped for the rain. There is no standing water, everyone else is playing.

Pitch inspection from the manager - very wet underfoot - the others are playing - is he strong enough to get the big South African out to play.
John-Paul wants a fly on the wall in there - James Death buzzing over there

Jim Nichols does the key test (does anyone watch test cricket? - please tell me you do) - the key goes all the way in "quite soft" he reports.

Delayed applause for Greg winning the Bowl

Chris Clarke is back.. .the manager negotiates - Reg has his jacket on - He's back playing - Chris wants him off the lawn!!! - the two players have agreed to return tomorrow if needed to finish as they have left some time. Chris suggests 6.5 seconds. .. Jimbo Oz is going to time the adjacent lawn.

Havnig to play on on lawns such is this is what curtailed Chris’s career due to aback injury when forced to play on in the 2007 NZ Golf Croquet open.

“They’re well under 7”. I don’t believe Oz Jimbo can hit the ball hard enough to measure the speed. Reg had to power his rush to 2back. Runs the hoop into the reception ball – he can’t play the half roll hard enough to get past his peelee which is a bit south of the peg!!!

**Reg has rushed his 3back pioneer into absolutely "worse than death" position.

referee on...marking...he is trying to bounce off...placing striker ball partly through the hoop and will try to bounce back off the wire. He's playing it at nearly 90 degrees! ... needs to play it more 45 degrees. This is an easy shot - on faster lawns - with firmer hoops - need a bit of a ping here.

Horrible angle - looks like he should be rolling them back through then run to black

maybe playing it at 80 degrees.He's the multitime world champion, but I'm bad enough to have played this shot LOTS, and it's a shot I'm pretty good at - more angle!

copes

was a large angle tho

Thanks very much to Jenny for holding the fort. Nice lunch.

Absolutely ridiculous conditions. The Aussies time it at 8 seconds, but have to play several strokes to avoid the puddles!
A single ball stroke across the diagonal is impossible... Stuart Lawrence's long lift is thrashed as hard as he physically can - pulls up within a couple of feet of the corner peg.

Real concern that the lawns are (becoming) unplayable. Looking at other lawns, players struggling to hit length of lawn. These lawns drain quite well, but we need it to stop raining, or at least reduce to drizzle.

Powe tries to rush across the lawn (it was a spread, or a NSL with the hoop 4 ball lifted) - can't get anywhere near oppo ball.

Takes off - short (this is Powe).. hits oppo, tries to roll off hoop 1.. doesn't get south of the peg. Has to absolutely power into yellow to get it to corner 4.

Chris "it's very easy - just give the manager a mallet and tell him to hit a ball across the lawn"

Reg not happy.

G2T6 Reg Yellow is soldiering on. Approaching 4-back with 2 peels done. Red waiting at rover.

He'll cope though

From an intelligent distant spectator "Shame it has come to this when both are available tomorrow". Indeed.

Nick C reports that the worst of the weather is past us. The cicadas have packed up and are silent.

Hoops 10 Peels 2

Reg tries to put a side ball at rover. It stops 2y WNW of hoop! "Maybe the deep ball will get South of hoop!"

Rain is easing.

Nice narrative by Tom Weston on the Notts list- mostly accurate, but I'm not sure the discussion with the ref actually took place: I assume Jose had attempted to peel his partner ball, but it had stuck in the jaws of the hoop. He then attempts a half jump taking them both through. Unfortunately that also faIls. He then quits his stance under control, but being annoyed at the outcome, he carelessly walks away not looking where he is going and kicks his ball. He replaces it and then thinks he had better call a referee for clarification. When she arrives at the scene I think I hear her say "Did you quit your stance under control" and he says "Yes".
Therefore no fault." "Top Turn Tom" is a very witty entertainer - I once had a 5 hour game with him - it was a while ago - it was really good fun too.

Reg has irish peel at rover. Peelee goes 7y through, Yellow also through. Can he judge ( and achieve) the strength required to rush to the peg

Reg wins game 2 26TP-0 sixth turn

Jenny just posted that. Actually he still has 4' peg-out. Gets it.

Bamford v Chapman 1-1

There's a tourist on the lawn - having a wander... no.. it's the mangler. Reg waves to the crowd, but he doesn't look entire relaxed.

Some official coming of lawn 3. - Northern Jimbo has the power

Very long mallet though - the torque moment could be disastrous!

Stephen Mulliner has arrived. Most of the outside spectators have left.

Jimbo struggling - first shot is a yard short of hoop 2.

NExt - a yard north of hoop 2

3rd go - he's off!! - off by a couple of yards.

4th.. he's walking after this one.. 3-4 yards short of the boundary. Andrew distracted as a ginormous pizza arrives.

Reverse direction - slight pause as they let the Bowl match carry on first

Swinging... he's.. short.

Not as short as Stephen, but he can't get it there.

Reg congratulates Greg Fletcher, World champs Shield winner

They're not in a hurry to resume and the mangler and head referee are having a wander.

The players, mangler and ROT are discussing under the gazebo. They haven't taken lunch yet.
Surely better to reconvene tomorrow than to force play under current conditions.

Lawn 3 reported as 9 seconds.

Jonathan Powe still squelching round lawn 4.

That monster pizza was for Ned Wilson. He looks very much the worse for wear this morning. Didn't see him or any of the kiwi youngsters last night - I understand they were in no fit state to travel... Last night together though

Reg's cap is utterly soaked "I'm very attached to it" - good on ya Reg.

Thanks Tobi, trackpad disabled! Fn + F7 did it for me.

Paddy's having lunch. The lawns are draining, so if the forecast is right and we have no more rain, we may be OK. It will be dark before 11 hours' game-time has elapsed.

Expert is claiming that Death only reached the boundary because ball was airborne for the first few yards.

My co-commentator has accompanied northern jimbo back to Lawn 3. First shot is perfect! Applause!

Mangler and ROT checking lawn 1. Reg helpfully pointing out squishy bits.

Paddy joins conference. Reg using mallet as squeegee to demonstrate soddenness.

Apparently we start at ten to, ie 15 minutes' time. Or at least another pitch inspection.

On lawn 3 Death is attempting a Hogan roll. Not bad. Now all we need is Hogan to try a death roll.

Don't know what a Hogan roll is? (or a death roll?)..
https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=tech/other/jargon

Cicadas are audible again.

We think the correct verb is "chirp". The cicadas are chirping again.
I have a versatile expert at the moment.

Definitely brightening.

Mangler on lawn 1 again.
I remember some rain at Cheltenham 2005, Bamford v Kirby was interrupted. Had trouble getting Reg to resume. He explained he was about to play some big shot to set up sextuple.. In the event he played the forward ball and made 3 hoops.

Bamford v Chapman Game 3 (Match score 1-1)

G3T1 Bamford Red 9y N of 4th corner.
G3T2 Chapman Black from A-baulk, to 1' N of 4th corner.

Expert approves.

G3T3 Bamford Yellow at Red from A-baulk. Hits.

G3T3 Bamford Yellow takes off to Black, taps it. Croquets Black 2y S of peg. Leaves 4' rush for Red to Black.

G3T4 Chapman Blue is near end of A-baulk. Shooting at Red. Big shot this. Misses.

J-P's live video stream has resumed.
I've forgotten today's house style. Back to first names!

G3T5 Reg Red taps Blue, stops it into lawn, rushes Yellow, next shot underhit, cuts Black 1y ENE of hoop 1. Makes hoop with rush pointng to 4th corner. Hoop 2 pioneer is 8y SSE of hoop, but if he can make 2, he'll have 4-ball break.

G3T5 Reg is still getting used to pace of lawn, but he plays a good rush to 2. Neither Black nor Blue is within 5 yards of 3.

I can't see Reg using 1-back tactics here. 9 hoops is his aim.
I'm missing my usual experts and my co-commentator.

Reg makes 3 and the balls are now behaving themselves.

Jonathan Powe has won the Bowl.

I assure Jonathan that I'm genuinely pleased for him. It's not just that he's in my Fantasy team.
Linesy has taken Jenny's spot. Seems reluctant to contribute.
G3T5 Reg Red puts out what I still believe is an early 2-back pioneer. Yes Yellow is going to 1-back.

Miranda Chapman is the current AC Women's World Champion, so should Paddy win that would be a unique household. Though the Clarkes have held a number of team World Championships jointly.

G3T5 Reg Red is making 9 hoops.

Streamer experimenting with split screens.
Sherif is on lawn 2 with a camera, no drone though. I think he's recording for posterity rather than live streaming.

Tobi is claiming World record for longest distance IT support.
Decent enough spread, tho the ball that's usually near the W bdry is just E of the hoops 1-2 line.
Also rolling Red and Yellow from a few yards.
Red and yellow further South than usual - level with hoop 4

Clips: Reg Red 4-back Yellow 1; Paddy Black 1 Blue 1

I am delighted to say that my co-commentator is back in time for Paddy's turn.

Well hello there - I'm back...

G3T6... Paddy has lifted black from the peg, and has found a shortish shot... black at blue - blue is well south, but also slightly west of hoop 2.

Casting... slightly onto his toes as he shoots at blue .. misses.

I am sitting next to a sand-bucket, into which I've just dropped my mouse for the nth time.
Anyone know how to get sand out of a mouse? Or how to reactivate a trackpad?

Paddy lines in black on the west boundary level with hoop 1. And it's Andrew back for Reg's turn

Black has missed Blue to 5y N of 1st corner.

G3T7 Reg Yellow rushes Red to Blue, Blue to 2y ENE of Black. Little take-off. Cuts Black in front of hoop. Runs hoop with rush of Black to Blue.
At least Paddy's shot meant Red is the hoop 2 pioneer, making standard TP a tad trickier.

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/4, Paddy 2/8

That tells a bit of a tale. Reg's error was drifting past a 6 yarder at partner near 2back in game 1, Paddy's was rushing badly to (and subsequently misapproaching and failing) hoop 3, also in game 1. One of Reg's shots was nailing the short duffer tice, also in Game 1, and he hilled onto one earlier.

Some debate on length of Reg's missed roquet on the sextuple turn in Game 1. I recorded 4-5 yards, the crowd is more generous, 5-7 yards. Anyway please understand all distances are approximate.
But that shot definitely counts as an error, not a missed shot. Co-commentator has calculated stats above.

G3T7 Reg Yellow makes 2 off Red. Blue is 1y W of 3, Black, 4' W of peg.

(I think it was 5 yards)

G3T7 After 2 Reg Yellow rushes Red 6y SW of peg. Now trying to croquet it into peeling posi . Maybe 4y S of 4-back. Rushes Black off N bdry.

Peelee isn't due South of 4-back, so Red may be able to run hoop beyond Yellow and rush it back nearer.

It's almost challenging to believe it's only game three. I hope Paddy can keep his head, and his concentration around that. Stephen looked to struggle when he got a late chance in the match against Paddy yesterday

Maybe the term is chirrup? - the cicadas are certainly back in action though!

If anyone is out there in the real world, please can they contact Claire Bassett and tell her Trev's flight has been delayed by three hours?

G3T7 Reg Yellow lining up 4y peel of 4-back after 3, slightly angled. Plays it straight , but peelee hits far wire full, bounces to 1' ESE of hoop. Cuts Blue to mid E bdry. Poor rush to 4. Copes.

TP is now delayed rather than standard.

Hoops 4, peels 0

Toasts all around to the Commentary team - thanks J-P

Black is now 2y SSW of 4-back maybe West by South? Very "narrow" anyway. The plan is to peel Red thru 4-back then rush Black to 6.

Hoops 5 Peels 0

I'm pleased to update that after Chris was thrown out of the clubhouse at lunchtime he got his seat back - thanks to the Spanish contingent who generously reinstate him

Because of Black, the peel attempt has to be from 8'. Jawsing not a bad result.

G3T7 Reg Yellow tries 4-back peel. hits wire(s), is not rush-peelable.
Blue (1-back pioneer) is 2y NE of 1-back.

We're joined on the commentary bench now by Christian Carter (sitting at our feet), Ian Lines (awaiting our beverage-needing pleasure), Jose ("Rafa Nadal") Riva and his sister Pati (I still can't spell - sorry guys)

G3T7 Reg Yellow makes 6 off Black, rushes Black to middle of B-baulk. Croquets Black 9 yards ahort of 2-back, but Yellow is good. Now trying 4-back peel from 9" going to Blue. Red goes 5 yards thru.

Hoops 6, Peels 1

Trev's flight now 3hrs 15 late

G3T7 Reg Yellow makes 1-back off Blue. Some wire, has short rush pointing at 6. Wanting to bring Red more into lawn.

Hoops 7 Peels 1

G3T7 Reg Yellow rushes Blue 2y SW of peg, leaving Red alone for now. Remember 2-back pioneer well short.

G3T7 Reg Yellow makes 2-back off Black. Now has 3y tonk, hoping to get near Red. In fact cuts it into 2nd corner.

OK, beer sorted, two hands back - I'm back!
And I have power

Still Andrew following the action. I'm gonna have a look around the lawns...

The shelters are mostly filled with spectators - it's dry but very muggy, Trev's flight delay appears to be random, rather than fog, as everything else is running well. Claire's in control he'll be late, and he's in control the bar is open

G3T7 Reg Yellow rolls Black 6y SSW of 4-back, Yellow just S of Red. Taps Red. Take-off to Blue earns applause!

If he can get a forward rush, he might get penult peel before 4-back. Otherwise a straight double peel to finish.

Hoops 8, Peels 1

Steve and Mrs Wardle in lawn 4 shelter? - seem to be snuggling, so someone else is coiled and facing somewhat the other direction, Some hungover kiwis in lawn 3 shelter, couple of now-redundant refs in the shelter bewteen - they have done really well.

Stephen Mulliner is looking a little lost - probably expecting to be wielding a mallet today. He'll be back.

Jimbo Oz and North Jimbo seem to have struck up a friendship - internationalisation in this game is excellent - lots of generous offers between players and spectators of accommodation for visits and the opportunity to catch up again.

Gosh - lots of UK readers having a late night - 2am to you ... Reg has just about taken out local player Robert McLay!! - smashes yellow through 4back, it jumps up on the verge, and nearly decapitates Robbie!

There'll have been a rueful grin and apology from Reg as he retrieves his ball

G3T7 Reg Yellow cuts Blue to 3y W of 3rd corner.Blue is croqueted 3y N of 4-back, trying to rush Red to peeling posi. Yes he can have a go. But he must get rush on Black so may be a fair amount of pull. Peel goes through, glues itself to the peg. Red is zero inches North of peg. Has rush on Black. Approaches sending Black halfway between 4-back and penult. Runs 4-back off lawn, into tubing, then at head height into a bench of spectators. Luckily they are awake. (Well they are now.)

Hoops 10, Peels 2

Christian has Reg 35% to finish this turn - red pinned to the north of the peg, black closer to 4back than penult, but really - it's Reg

Briefest smattering of applause as Reg clatters red off the peg to wehre Andrew will describe..

G3T7 After 4-back Reg Yellow rushes Blue into middle of lawn, cuts Red to 8y S of 3rd corner.

A perfect croquet stroke... 95%?

G3T7 Reg Yellow plays excellent croquet stroke. Applause. Red looks to be 1' in front of rover, and Yellow can rush Black to penult.

Hoops 11 Peels 2

G3T7 Reg Yellow croquets Black 1y W of rover. Bllue 2' SE of rover. Peeling from 6". Irish peel, both thru.

Hoops 12, Peels 3

Just the rush to the peg to execute.

Tis an ill wind that blows...

... a few drops of rain onto my laptop screen

7' peg-otu...

peg-out!

Bamford wins game 3 +26tp and leads match 2-1

3.08 pm. That'll be afternoon tea for many people. Andrew is digging the sand out of his mouse - not sure why he keeps hurling it into the sand bucket.

More water. Sorry University of Canterbury - your laptop is getting damp!

Manager: they're going straight on - I'm not sure if that was a directive, or a statement of fact.

Trevvie makes himself useful bringing chips and "kiwi dip" - a tin of nestle reduced cream with a packed of dry (sweet?) onion soup mixed in. (Maggie variety)

Game 4

1. Paddy, Black - 9 yards north of corner 4

2. Reg takes yellow up to the north boundary... changing things up again - it's a corner 2 opening from Reg. Plays about 8 inches south of corner 2

2. Reg takes yellow up to the north boundary... changing things up again - it's a corner 2 opening from Reg. Plays about 8 inches south of corner 2

Hmm the wind is in the wrong direction, blowing mizzle onto the keyboard.

3. Paddy shooting at partner from the end of A baulk.. hits ...Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/4, Paddy 3/9

Takes off to yellow - doesn't get past hoop 2! This is about a 9 yarder, and missing gives away a double. But he'll hit...

Hits! ...

Andrew: "As your hubby said to Dave Kibble 'You're very good at hitting in, but try to do it no more than once each turn1' "

(sry about the rogue '1')

Maybe we'll take Reg down one, and only count roquets over 10 yards in our count...
Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 3/3, Paddy 3/9 - that short duffer is no longer in the count.

Very nice croquet stroke sends yellow to about 13 yards south of corner 2, and inlawn a couple of yards... gets 5 yards east of the peg with blue. Lags back to black, leaving a rush to yellow

4. Reg down to the end of A Baulk with red. Can keep his perfect record... seemed to be checking the rush Paddy has a considering the long shot - nope - noone wants to shoot down that boundary

It's a 3 yard rush pointing somewhere near yellow

Mentally preparing - upright, arms by sides...

Shooting at the in-lawn ball - hits most of it - but he has rushed it 10 yards up the boundary from black!

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/4, Paddy 3/9

New thread from JP... https://www.facebook.com/johnpaul.moberly/videos/1586530234734510/ - it froze, so started again

"Move your feet, lose your seat" - Plate winner Stephen Morgan snaffles Jose Riva's seat. "no way Jose!"

Reg takes off to black - huge cut sending black up to almost level with hoop 3 but on the east boundary... big croquet stroke... black is 3 yards north of hoop 2 and he has a 6 yarder on partner pointing at the middle of the west boundary.

Hits the middle of it... of course.

Oh no - Andrew is offline...turning on wireless... but we need a fiddle to keep JPs streaming off!

Am I back?

Yay!

Andrew's an approved connectee to my phone.

Reg rolls down to hoop 1 - not in front - plays off the boundary behind yellow .. 'oooo - he missed it' is chorused behind me - charming, but not quite.

Paddy will shoot from the east boundary just south of the 2-3 line at black 3 yards north of hoop 2 .. if he can see it... Christian assures me it's not a full target

So closing my laptop turns it off. Who knew?
Too many people on club wifi for me to get back on.

5. Paddy shooting black at red and yellow. Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/4, Paddy 3/10

Is anyone out there? - we're knackered, and flagging - chat to us please :) [email protected]

G4T6 Reg Red hits Blue (3y). Should get first break from this.

Crowd thinks it may be 1-back tactics this time. I dont't know...

G4T6 Reg Red makes 1 off Yellow.

Jenny recounting shooting stats.

G4T6 After 1 Reg Red rushes Yellow beyond Black, croquets Yellow 2y SW of peg. Good rush of Black to 2. Runs hoop 2 to boundary, good rush/ tonk near Yellow. rushes Yellow near Blue. Makes 3 off Blue. Should achieve full control shortly, in time for putative 1-back leave.

J-P on phone to the missus, in case you're wondering what's happened to streaming.

G4T6, Reg has all the balls as he makes 4. Yellow is at 5.

I've been told this it too generous to Reg: apparently: Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 3/3, Paddy 3/10

I have it from Bruce McLay in Christchurch that Robbie McLay in Wellington has recovered from his near be-heading by Reg after 4back - just regretting he didn't make the one handed catch for all the $$$

G4T6 Reg Red is putting out a1-back pioneer. It'll be 9 hoops and a spread.

for those in international land, we have that competition in one day (20-20?) cricket competitions in New Zealand - if a crowd member catches a ball one-handed, and is also wearing the sponsor's tshirt, they share a substantial prize pot. One of my former students, Canterbury Hockey coaching luminary Sanjay Ganda was the first catch-a-million winner in the most recent cricket world cup in NZ a couple of years ago - he ended up getting a fairly decent prize, but nowhere near $1M after lots of other one-handed catches were taken by people in appropriate orange tshirts.

113 text commentary readers. many more online, it's dry enough that the in-person crowds are thronging a little. It has been a very very long week, but really fun. So many people to catch up with and this has been played in great spirit.

Thank you Robert Hurst! Sweets coffee or beers from here, but they'll be on me next time I run into any of the commentary team.

Lots and lots of support for Paddy - there are a LOT of us absolutely hanging out wanting to see Paddy win his first world championship.

G4T6 Reg Red makes 2-back off Yellow. Lot of wire.

Live stream is now Christian - J-P's lady kept phoning ... https://www.facebook.com/christian.l.carter/videos/10100973111680415/?notifid=1518230069335641&notift=livevideo

But you'll need to put your head - or TV - on its side Linda ...Maybe we need JP back

ok, try this... https://www.facebook.com/christian.l.carter/videos/10100973116146465/

Thanks Ian D - wish you were here. Thanks for the support folks. Fingers getting weary, but we're staying with it till the end. The very end. C'mon Paddy... We want a game 5!

Looks like Blue by the peg might be in ideal position already.

G4T6 After 3-back Reg Red croquets Black to 3 or 4y in from W bdry, leaving rush from 12y N of 4th corner.

Clips: Reg Red 4-back Yellow 1; Paddy Black 1 Blue 1

Polite applause.

Drone is hovering over lawn 3 with ominous red light.

G4T7 - Paddy's back - looking from the end of A baulk at the shortish shot at black south of hoop 2... nope - lifts black and he's taking the short shot at red or yellow. Probs yellow - the boundary ball.

This could be his last shot...

Drone is down. Drone is down!!! - resting on lawn 3. Awaiting instructions from Sherif. Modern approach to lighting as it gets gloomier?

At last Paddy has turn, I can relax for a bit.

TPO??

Nope - shooting at blue at the peg... "doesn't like it" - that spectator needs to get to know Paddy better - hits!!!!!

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 3/3, Paddy 4/11

Sorry, first time I've pre-empted Jenny's speedy typing.

Christian (now doing the video streaming) "Definitely a TPO on here" - decent call - get a bit of lawn time, take Reg out of his comfort zone.

Paddy didn't hit that shot very hard.. but hit all of it! Blue now 3 yards SE of hoop 6.

Taps yellow in. rushing red to hoop 1. A bit short. Paddy attempting to make his first hoop in 3 games. (??)

Through hoop 1 - rush is pointing at hoop 6, but he'll need to wrangle yellow as well to sort out the TPO. red is the 4back ball. Will he TPO. I would (if I had his skill set..)

(I'm working on it!)

Thanks Ellen - we'll get there! - I'm sure the University of Canterbury could do with some research accounts being audited - I worry what you'd find though!!

Red left there - takes off to yellow - croquets yellow accurately to hoop 3 - it's Reg's hoop 1 ball, but we're picking pu a break here - and by no means guaranteed to do a TPO

The rush on partner to hoop 2 is a bit short - Andrew thinks the back ball climbed up a bit on the rush.

Approaches...short!! and a bit of an angle. The crowd are getting rowdy.

Runs hoop 2 well off the boundary

Crowd nor more vocal and appreciative. Possibly as many of us have reached the drinking stage of the day...

now not nor

Tim Murphy is back in Oz and is following the action... his own creation - croquetscores.com. Thanks Tim! - you've given hundreds of people pleasure through this site - including me - I'm a compulsive fidget, so this is helping!

Puts blue to 4 going to red.. left it on the mat! (i.e. both balls short, mainly due to slower conditions)

Christian says he is definitely going to TPO. "no other option"

Stephen Mulliner would lay for an SXP in this situation - I'd be willing to wager.
I say aloud "Stephen will stop at 1back", and other other end of our bench Stephen Morgan looks around slightly alarmed!

Paddy through 3, Wants a delayed TPO

Maybe a 1back leave then a TPO, peels on partner and two off

Crowd pro Paddy, some 'cos they're Kiwis, some love an underdog, and most want a 5th game. I'm supporting Reg to try and give some edge to the commentary. But really I'm not. Some experts will be supporting Reg as he is the best player in the event. He has to perform today though.

How about POPping yellow to hoop 2 (or hoop 3? - not sure you're getting a leave with two), and then TPOing - you want to peel him to two for that - removes the squeeze

It's slowly coming back to me.

It has been a few hours since Paddy had a turn of croquet (funny phrase which suggests he actually played a croquet stroke)

Yay - Annabel is coming to stay - yuss!!!

Ill wind is back - it's raining on my keyboard!!!

Peeling yellow through hoop 1 getting a rush to hoop 5

Stephen Mulliner has wandered by, and in response Christian advises of the website... http://lookatmyfuckingredtrousers.blogspot.co.nz/

Sorry about the wording in there folks

Right - makes 5, rushes red to corner 1.. croquets red to 1back going to yellow.

Head drops - he's not wired is he??? - phew. No, he isn't

Thanks for holding the cushion to shield my laptop from the rain Christian - bloody nice chap

Doesn't get the peel on yellow - I'm confused - expected the crosswire and TPO - not like Reg can't to a TP from hoop 3!!

hmmm... I am conused.

confused, even

Rushes NE of hoop 6, runs it. Still raining. Thanks Christian.

Through hoop 6 - is he rushing blue to corner 4 and will he go back and crosswire at hoop 2?

Nope - hits blue gently... it's a ball to 4back - gosh.

Is this a "calculated risk"? or a "mis-calculated risk"? - is that really an American correcting Christian's English? - it's fun here - all very friendly.

Crowd sceptical of Paddy's tactics - Reg has hit everything.

Peels yellow to hoop 3 after 1back. It'll be a defensive leave.

Andrew has turned his computer off again. Christian is being very patient keeping mine safe

Hello, back on.

Doesn't rush that well to 2back, but he has approached it well. Has a rush pointing towards corner 2 - he's going to give Reg a 13 yarder??!!

We reckon he'll hit about 80% of a ball at 13 yards - i.e. nearly full ball contact. And that he'll make that roquet 80% of the time.

But it's getting late. Maybe there is some fatigue to factor in.

Rushes blue to corner 2

Is this Plan E?

Croqueting blue back to the peg - is this now a spread?

Maybe want to let Reg miss a maximum distance shot and to have a TP of his own?

Blue croqueted to 2 yards north of hoop 5. Forget speculation - i'm lost. I'll report where the balls go. i wish Chris was here...

Runner sent for Chris...

Rushes yellow north of hoop 4, rushing red to hoop 4

Commentators have summoned an expert.

Clips: Reg Red 4-back Yellow 3; Paddy Black 4-back Blue 1

Chris was hoping for a NZTPO - one peel and a 1back leave, then finish the TPO maybe with a couple of peels on partner.

It's a NSL

Red's on hoop 4.

Clips... Reg: red for 4back - that's on the back of hoop 4, yellow for hoop 3 (peeled there by Paddy), over south-west of hoop 2, Blue for 1, black for 4back, and they're laid up on the east boundary north of hoop 4

"It's a good turn, but maybe not against Reg."

Reg lifts Yellow to 3rd corner. Shooting at Blue (22y). Misses! Close though. Yellow is in or near 4th corner. (Crowd in way.)

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 3/4, Paddy 4/11

Looks very unhappy with that

G4T9... Paddy has a TPO chance... nudges partner in. Takes off to corner 4. Hits yellow... plays the big drive..

Maybe a foot or two short of ideal... has the rush...

Rushes partner across - under cuts it... 3 yards NNW of hoop 1 (that's where mine always end up)

Takes off well.. has a 3 foot straight hoop - TP coming.. we'll have a decider - c'mon!!

Re stalks...

Runs hoop 1 vey smoothly - he's back!!!

Andrew holding my cushion now - wet laptop -plugged into mains power - what could possibly go wrong?

Rushes red up abit - crqoueting it to 3 goingto hoop 2 pioneer WNW of hoop 6 - he has a rush to 2

Rushes nicely to hoop 2. "tell you what - if the new zealander finishes this one, we wno't get through it tonight" - are you kidding?? - it's only 4.30!!

Through hoop 2

yellow tight to hoop 4, peelee up - and in position. approaching off red

There is a cushoin over my screen because--- it's raining!

Ths is game 4

Through 3, rushes partner back to a yard south and slightly east of the hoop. Maybe 2.5 feet.

Peel... Black into the jaws. Hampered...mallet in the air - it's not problemmatic. But he's being polite - it's the world championship final.

Hits it easily, and he has a really good hoop 4 pioneer.

Croquet stroke is short - red is two yards they've run out of (proper) beer!!!

croquet stroke is short - red two yards north of hoop 5, approaches 4, runs it with a rush north

Hmm not sure about the rush [though I hesitate to gainsay my colleague], he's not gone to Black before 5.

After 5 Paddy Red rushes 11y E of peg. This stroke needs to be good. 3y shy of Black. Umpire on. Rush-peels by 4". Not sure he can Black N of penutl and go to yellow.
Not too bad.

Josh Smith - Tui is improper beer. But it will do in a pinch.

It's too wet - Andrew's computer is wet. Paddy must be wet

My computer's getting wet. Team may look to go inside hut.

Paddy Blue (not red, d'oh) having go at penult peel before 1-back.

Chris was ok with a POP in the previous turn, but then wanted a north-south crosswire and partner in hoop 3

Wiley peel - rushpeels 4back, rolls it across, but instead of a proper 1back pioneer he has a ball halfway between 6 and 1back and puts the other one well north... runs hoop 6, hits the north ball, puts it to 2back and he has peeled penult really nicely getting a rush to 1back

Andrew is inside now too, and is drying his screen. At least it'll be a bit cleaner now!

Team now in hut. No chairs to be had.

Good croquet stroke sending black to 2 feet east of rover and he has a good rush on black to 2back.

red is 3 yard NW of 3back - so a bit northerly, but on a decent peeling line

Paddy has grovelled through 2back!!!

He's going for the 8 yarder on partner at rover...

Should be ok.. at this stage of his break.

Rushed it to 2 yards east of red.

Cant' trust the spectators - the chap on the line of it said "nope" ... but follows it up with "if he was really good, he could have nicked it leaving it in front of rover"

Might play to rush back after 3b and peel - that's an under-used opportunity for a rover peel

Yellow sent to 4back, Black is 4 yards north and a foot west of 3back. It'll be tough to rush that in front of rover

Straight rover peel looming...

Checking out Annabel's St George tattoos... she has one on each cheek, and one on each hand - hasnt spotted it's NZ v SA in the final? - I got reminded there were some English in teh minor finals!

Offer to turn her cheek tattoos into (rather larger) NZ flags rejected. She thinks she might be allergic to the ones there now!

Right - back online after switching back to my own hotspot...

He is through penult. Has a rover peel to sort out..

rushing to in front of rover from in front of rover - this will be a 8 inch straight rover peel.

Andrew and I have used commentatorial priviledge to gain inside front-row seats

Lining it up - two side balls - peels it nicely... Liz M "heehee" - in some joy

Different atmosphere in hut. We can chat a bit louder.

Well done Paddy - an excellent comeback!

Pegs out from 3 feet. Paddy wins 26TP-11

+2018 WCF AC World Championship final... 1-1

We have a decider!

2018 WCF AC World Championship final... 2-2

(I really should look where my fingers are pointing!)

4.54pm. A few people scurrying off to catch flights.

We're sitting here inhaling the aroma of Mark (Mr Gabrielle)'s red wine - aromatic - yum. I think I like the smell more than the actuality (well, after 2 beers and a very long day, I fancy a coke zero)

The commentaries have negotiated / bullied their way to front of hut.

Players having a wee break. I'm gonna go rescue my bag and , more importantly, the rather excellent 2018 worlds mug I just bought

I missed afternoon tea. Having a nice cuppa.

It's windy and it's raining. Ick. This is the Wellington I spent most of a season playing in a few years back

About 3 hrs 45 of daylight remaining, so we should be finishing today, as long as this rain doesn't get much worse.

Where's your money, folks?

Last night at dinner there was a table of senior kiwis with a few Mac appearances behind them. I'll forget some, but my best efforts...
John Prince.. 9 Mac series played in
Roger Murfitt... 5 Macs
Graeme Roberts.. 1 Mac, also our most senior and the most well respected official on the planet
Steve Jones... 4 Mac appearances
Joe Hogan... 5 Mac appearances - most recently in 2017!

(argh - who have I missed - that's pretty good so far though - apologies to anyone mised

There are 4 flags billowing in the breeze. Croquet NZ, South Africa, NZ, WCF.

Bamford v Chapman deciding game 5

Bamford has choice and will start, Paddy will have Black & Blue.

G5T1 Bamford Red 9y N of 4th corner.

G5T2 Paddy Black 1' N of 4th corner. (as per game 3)

G5T3 Reg Yellow at Red from A-baulk. Misses, no he's claiming it. Some of crowd verified the snick.

G5T3 Reg Yellow takes off to Black, hits. Croquets Black to ... halfway between 5 and peg. Is the lawn slowing up again?

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/5, Paddy 4/11

Will that 1/5 prove to be the decider??

G5T4 Paddy Blue from A-baulk at Red (16y). Misses, not close.

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 3/4, Paddy 4/12

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/5, Paddy 4/12

Liz McLay points out there is a LOT of crowd movement. Well, it has been a very long day - however they should still be very aware of critical shots being taken in the World Championship final.

G5T5 Reg Red taps Blue, stops it in to 3y NW of 4. rushes Yellow, underhits croquet stroke slightly, cuts Black 18" NNE of 1. Yellow is 5y shy of 2. Makes 1.

Chris offers "The last sextuple in a worlds final was 2005"

by... Reg Bamford...

Gabrielle... "well that was the last one completed... when was the last one attempted...?"

Andrew... "this morning!"

lol... we're looking for something previous...

2012 Adelaide... Robbie Fletcher v Reg Bamford... Reg tried to get the crosswire but didn't get it and went to 4back.

G5T5 After 1, Reg Red rushes Black 3y WSW of 4. Take-off to Blue. Rushes Blue 6y E of peg. Pretty good croquet stroke. Approaching 2 from 7'.. 2' hoop. Runs it to boundary. Fails to clear tubing this time.
First break to Reg.

(Reg tends to keep control of things in case of challenging cross-wiring at 1back... unlike an infamous doubles match in Cheltenham early 2000s ... "I don't need a rush to 1b - I'll get the cross-wire"... [doesn't get the cross wire] "what shall I do now?" ... "it doesn't matter - they aren't wired". Still, neither of the enormous croquet brains thought about trying to cut partner near 1back and actually make 1back! (they admitted that afterwards!)

Famous Bamford-Mulliner doubles pairing :) I have a wonderful photo somewhere of Stephen standing in the lawn 1 shelter staring ruefully out.

It's quite warm, and peaceful in here. Reg removing his coat out there. Not sure why Reg didn't put blue to 5. Neither is Gabrielle - they are both on hoop 1 - maybe sending it from closer. Chris "think I'd have hit the two yarder before taking my coat off". Reg is quiet good at 2 yarders.

I've been on battery power for a while now, Allegedly have hour and a half left. Might be looking to relocate that extension cable.

G5T5 Reg Red thru 3 off Blue. Removes his waterproof jacket. Plays a roll, rather than a drive - why not send Blue to 5? Crowd baffled.

Trevor Bassett isn't stunning at it - and he's about to take off soon... it's really cloudy and really windy - good luck Trev!!

I expect 9 hoops here.

G5T5 Reg Red has Black at 5. Makes 4 off Yellow.

His delayed flight it still scheduled for 8.15pm, so plenty of time for the wind to die down. It's making the 4 flags stand out quite attractively. If Nick was still here he'd have that on 'insta'

In case you can't tell, I've had a coke - I'm awake again!!

And I'm inside with my shoes off and feet up - feeling a LOT more comfortable than on a wooden bench. - my back's not up to that sort of thing all day either (cricket, not sodden croquet, is my excuse)

Reg unhappy about Yellow as his 6 pioneer. It's a good 3 yards short.

Black is early 2-back pioneer. Blue croqueted to 1-back getting rush on Yellow.

G5T5 Reg Red makes 6 off Yellow.

Gosh - he's going to 4back!

Chocolate being passed round. Someone's run off with it.

Chocolate eaten.

G5T5 Reg Red is coming up to 3-back. Expect a spread.

Reg has made 9.

Spread again with the ball usually near the W bdry maybe 6y in from said boundary. Doesn't matter as long as you get the wiring.

Clips: Reg Red 4-back Yellow 1; Paddy Black 1 Blue 1

Weather improving, and brightening - Michael has spotted clouds - not mist. Hills are back!

Paddy needs to hit... anything

G5T6... Paddy on the lawn as Reg is applauded. Greg videoing Paddy

So we're now applauding a 4-ball break to 4-back?!

Looks at the spread...

Paddy lifts blue... he hasn't been POPped this time, so not as much compulsion to shoot at partner at the peg, but it is the shortest shot on the lawn. Shooting at black at the peg...

Commentator confidently asserts he'll be shooting at Yellow. Wrong again!

Shoots - HITS!!!!!

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/5, Paddy 5/13

The crowd would love a TPO here!

Interesting question.. why is Paddy so high on numbers? - maybe lost count? - probably due to lots of openings and lifts. I don't know

The sun is out!

Leaves black 4 y SE of hoop 4 and takes off - he's a little shot, but copes.

We still have a bit of wind, but the sun is out! - there are Shadows!!!

James Death has offered the commentary team a drink - I'm wrecking his street cred - having a coke Zero.

Rushes a bit short to hoop 1. Should cope

Croquet stroke... blue pulled up a lot, but it's ok... angled hoop though... these hoops havent been fighting back - and he's off!!!!!

red put a little north-east of hoop 6, taps yellow, takes off to black - rushes it a bit short of 2, but approaches the hoop and runs it well through hoop 2

Jimbo's buying a round. Beer for me, coke zero for m'colleague. No coke zero. 2 Tuis it is.

Black to 4 - that's short too - has a cut to 3.. hits all of red. Has a 1 yard backward takeoff. He'll make sure he gets past this

Good takeoff and runs it with control

Cuts red towards the East boundary. Yellow and black are down the lawn, but neither is exactly a hoop 5 pioneer.

This is Paddy's first ball around Michael... he's just having a ball around

Hmm if this is a TPO, the ecsape ball is not well placed! 9 hoops and 2 POPs again, then hope Reg misses?

Good hoop 5 pioneer, hits yellow, takes off to get a 5 foot rush to 4. Rushes it to 4. No POPs in sight yet.

Gabrielle and I are pretty confident he could roll yellow across getting a rush on black. s

Ho hum - through hoop 4 - no wire.

Rushes black up on top of yellow - stops it to that mid-pointy position between the peg, hoop 4 and hoop 5. Hits yellow (no useful rush on offer -it'll be his hoop 6 pioneer)

Paddy now slight favourite for this championship for the first time in some hours! Go kiwi!!!!

Downright bright outside now

Looking like Zero POPs, unless he has one after 2-back. Perhaps better to concentrate on making leave with nothing shorter than 19 yards.

Ellen taking care of the Aussies. Seems like a very long time since the Aussies flew to Wellington via a couple of attempts to land and a very bumpy trip via Christchurch. Ned Wilson was already in Christchurch - spent 7 hours getting from Christchurch to Wellington (you could almost drive (and ferry) that!)

Rushes yellow back towards black after hoop 6 - will be an awkward croquet stroke to get it to 2back and get a rush on black here. Keeping reasonable control though..

"Unless Black hits Red he's fine." Oops

"ooo, that's short. That is pathetic". Bit harsh, but yellow is left west of hoop 5. Seems to want partner to 2back... nooo... black cannons into red at 1back - yellow is not the 2back pioneer.

Or can Paddy come up with a forcing leave, so that Reg has to play Red?

Making 1back off red, will hit black first after the hoop and put it to the middle, gets a rush on red towards hoop 5.

We should get another NSL with red at 3back. That's kinda encouraging.

Croquets red to 3back, he's short on yellow! - he can still cut it in front of the hoop.

He cuts it to about 3 yards ENE of 2back - scary!!! - he'll cope though...

Approaches 2back very well, putting yellow deep

Was hoop 1 there? - or just a hologram of itself? - not strong evidence of hoop presence. Paddy runs 2back off the lawn

NSL with Red at 4?

Rushes yellow up the lawn

Yellow SW of hoop 2

Nice croquet stroke puts yellow into standard position on the NW bit of the lawn.

Rushes black north of hoop 4.

Red is a good 3b pioneer.

Rushes red in front of 3b, wee croquet stroke puts it in front where he can run slightly past it and rush it into perfect position.

Mini cheese toasties. Yum!

Runs 3b slightly past red, rushes it into perfect position, nudges it into slightly more perfect position, and rushes partner off the lawn about 12 yards N of corner 4 (I'm guessing - it'll be thereabouts)

One more stroke to play...

Clippage: blue and red on 4back. Yellow and black on 1. Reg playing red and yellow

Lots of applause - very well deserved. They started this match 9 hours ago!

Gabrielle points out that they have hours and hours to go to beat the duration of Stephen Mulliner and David Maloof, Florida 2016 for duration of a worlds final.

Sherif's drone is up...

Reg doing his preparation. He's ready - it's over to Andrew...

Reg has meandered to the end of A-baulk

G5T7 Reg lifts Yellow to 3rd corner. Shooting at Black.(22y). As always, staring at the shot, not yet holding his mallet. Here comes the shot....

.... Reg misses on his right to just W of 4th corner.

Errors: Reg 1, Paddy 1, Long roquets.. Reg 4/6, Paddy 5/13

It's not just the ones you hit - it's the few you miss that can make all the difference!

My colleague may now have the privilege of describing the final turn.

Now needs the key shot out of 4th corner to get a rush on Red....

Paddy's on! ...nudges partner in a couple of yards, takes off to yellow in corner 4... has an important croquet stroke...

(interesting Reg took that last shot as a long shot - he missed the previous one, and has been very successful from A baulk - Paddy probably laid up to add an extra yard or two to the A baulk shot)

"ooo, that's well short" - Gabrielle looks up from her ipad. People doing some distraction things to help them cope with the tension!

Well short, but cuts red very well... he has a 6 yard takeoff from right in front of hoop1. Critical shot for the championship...

Plays it really really well - bit of an angle, but we know hoop 1 isn't interested. Less than 30 degrees - runs it with a rush pointing at corner 2

Cuts it hard (why???) - probably wanted a really fine cut - no idea where he was going to - he hit that very hard.

Now Phil's buying the beers. If you've been enjoying this commentary, why don't you buy us a beer next time we meet?

Rushes red to 2 yards south of the north boundary, halfway between hoops 3 and 6. (or "nowhere", if you ask my expert witness - who I kinda agree with)

Takes off to blue - it's good - he has a rush pointing back at yellow - nice recovery. Paddy will have a standard TP for the Championship!!!!!!!

Croquets blue really nicely to hoop 3 and he has rushed well to hoop 2

"Is that OK? "That's fine." The crowd nervously reassures itself.

Looks like Jane McIntyre came up to watch the final - top NZ Lady player - would be lovely to have her back - Chch based. very good friend of Paddy and Aiken.

Approaches 2 sharply, runs it to the north boundary and has a 2.5 yarder - hits it well. He'll put it as an escape ball for the peel, and red to hoop 4.

Sends yellow 3 feet south of hoop 3 and a few inches offline to the east. Should be great there.

Red to 3 yards NNW of hoop 4, and he has a rush to whereever he wants on a very good peelee

Clunks blue onto the wire of the hoop 3 - takes off - leaves it a bit angled... stops blue into the front of the jaws. An expert commentator fancies an Aspinall peel - very adventurous!

Crowd suggest Aspinall peel. Maybe not in the Worlds final!

Just a wee stopshot for Paddy. and rushes yellow down the lawn

Yellow south of hoop 5, approaches 4 with a wee roll - will be rushing back up after 4

Commentator bemoans his inconsistent handling of the plurality of "crowd".

Makes 4 - did he clip the leg of hoop 4?? - rushes red to within a yard of yellow - he'll roll up here and hit blue... rushpeels it easily

Red is a yard NNW of hoop 6, taking off from blue which is 3.5 yards north of 4back.

Takes off a little short of yellow at hoop 5

Hits his 2 yarder in the middle and he is approaching from 4.5 feet SW of 5

Approaches the hoop really well.

Slightly angled, but he's ok. Re stalks it

No sign of hoop 5 either, and he has run just past yellow - rush pointing at corner 4

Nudges yellow 4 feet to the east, will croquet this going to red. Doesn't need a rush on blue, though it'd be handy.

Has a 2 yarder pointing north

Rushes it north ... "There's no need for the triple to get in the way of the break" - whaaat??

I have power again, was down to about half an hour on battery. OK if Paddy finishes, but didn't want to jinx him by assuming....

Rolls blue 3.5 yards directly north of hoop 6 - the triple and the break are happening here

Approaches the hoop well, red is a couple of yards NNW of red.

Hits blue - can play a straight peel here.

Hoops 6,Peels 1.5

Greg's standing a very long away away concentrating very hard for Paddy

Peel... it's in the jaws of penult - very good stroke

Even in the hut you can hear the cicadas chirruping.

Oh dear - people are getting tired here and a little whiney in the background.

Red... very short - it's about 6 yards north of 2back. Approaches 1back very well though

Has a good rush back north-east - gentle rush and he'll put this to 3back going to blue - will look to peel rover before 3back

Greg Bryant is pacing the W bdry of lawn 3 like an expectant father.

Yellow is very good. Has an easy roquet on blue, which he hits very well. Will take off from blue to red, but blue is now 2 yards in front of rover - really good rush that.

Nudges it a bit closer and most importantly get a rush he can cut to 2back - he was a little short on that, but should be fine.

Has a 4 footer to approach 2back from NW

plays it really well. Red is a deep reception ball

Runs 2back with no wire again - creams red

creams = Christs off

Great to hear there are people out there who have gone the distance - looking forward to the Dixon Advisory Classic in three weeks David

Croquets red well to 4back, has a 2.5 yard dribble - he's not dribbling! - it'll be a straight rover peel- unless he has a crack after 3back

Sensible rejection of dribbly 3-yarder.

Setting up for it

Blue's across, approaching from directly south of yellow

Puts yellow... on the back of blue... that's not ideal - won't be rushing blue to rover.

Runs 3b past these two - if he hits blue (which he will) yellow will ricochet south

Plays it really well - blue squirts out to a few feet SE of rover, yellow pretty much stays there.

Paddy just needs to keep concentrating, keep cool.

Lots of crowd chatting about what they'd have done - it really didn't look nice - and he has done ok - can rush in front of rover after 4back and tidy that up.

Rushes yellow up - that's going to penult, red is a bit south of 4back, but he has fantastic control today.

Good penult pioneer, and rushes really well to 4back.

Hoop stroke standing up well.

Runs 4back. rushing back.. black really jumps on red and it is only a couple of yards south of the line of hoop 6.

Next stroke not so good. Needs to collect himself, still in good position.

Taking off from red to tidy up that blue... it's a good shot, and he can tidy that errant peelee up.

Takes off from blue - blue's lovely. Little too far - he'll have a backwards takeoff to the hoop? - no - cuts it perfectly in front of penult - beautiful stuff here

Hoops 11, Peels 2

Every croquet player dreams of being in this situation.

Through penult, yellow going as a side-ish ball,

Red will go as a side-ish ball - he'll be irish peeling from about 6 inches.

The chatter has died. Everyone wishing, hoping...

Red across the hoop to the west, it's another side ball, little deeper than ideal, but it's absolutely fine.

Peeling from 10 inches.

The irish peel needs a straight stroke.

Blue is through - black is in the jaws

A few calming breaths...

Takes black through...

Choice of side balls to hit...

Nearly there, think calmly.

It's gonna happen!!!!!!

Pegging out from 18 inches..

Paddy Chapman is the 2018 Association Croquet World Champion - the second ever New Zealand World Champion - fantastic!!!!!

Congratulations Paddy, your new World Champion!

Paddy wins the decider 26TP-9

Relief swamps the crowd.

First kiwi in 29 years - absolutely brilliant Paddy

I owe some chaps some beers.

Thanks for all the messages, see you soon, Andrew

from Kevin Fellows an interesting stat "Five times Reg has been knocked out of the World Championship by a young kiwi"

Let's go celebrate and congratulate the champion.

Well played Reg. Well played Paddy - one error apiece in an epic 5-match final