Paul Dodson wins two-man fight for A-grade title as Geraldton Croquet Club settles divisions

The players at the Geraldton Croquet Club have had the opportunity to put their hand up as the best in their grades as they held grade championships over the past two weekends. Across the four days of competition, players battled out in round-robin singles games to see who would come out top of their class. The A-grade was a two-way battle between veterans Paul Christmass and Paul Dodson with the pair playing a best of three for the title. Dodson took the first 7-3 before Christmass hit back 7-4 but it was Dodson who held his nerve claiming the decisive match 7-4 and claim the spoils. In B-grade Sharky Ryan dominated the tournament claiming all four matches and only dropping his final game when the title was already decided. D-grade was settled on the second weekend with Reg Stribley the winner in a tight battle with runner-up Mary Van De Wyngard. Both players finished with five wins from six but Stribley’s 7-1 victory in his match against Ven De Wyngard proved decisive to take the title via net hoops 13 to 4. There were no such worries for Bob Irmay who dominated the C-class finish with a perfect five from five to finish ahead of runner-up Doug Lee.