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Alain Giraud wins again at the Aboyne Association Croquet Tournament
It was a rain soaked weekend in Elora Ontario for the annual Aboyne Association Croquet Tournament which was held on August 21st-23rd and was hosted by Brian Cumming, President of the Aboyne Club and longtime winner of this and many other tournaments in Canada and the US.

This time, he was to meet his match in British Champion Alain Giraud, living temporarily in Canada with wife Caroline, and showing us how croquet is played. For the second year, Alain won the tournament handily, defeating all competitors in the opening block and finals, remaining undefeated the entire tournament.

Runner up was Stuart Lawrence from Massachusetts. Other competitors from the US and playing in the top block were Doug Grimsley and Michael Albert. Donna Dixon and Bill Sullivan from the US competed in the 3rd block.

The Bayfield Club was well represented this year including Mike Sully who won the second block moving up to the top block for the finals. Patrick Little from St. Catherine’s won all his games in block 3 to move up in the last round.

Our thanks go to Brian for organizing the event, and partner Tammy Rutherford, who presented a wonderful feast on Saturday evening at their home.

More tournament results are available on croquetscores.com.
2026 Western Canada Open Golf Croquet Championship
​We did it!
​
The inaugural Western Canada Open Golf Croquet Championship has concluded successfully, and what an outstanding achievement it has been. This event was truly a collective effort, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the players, volunteers, supporters, officials, and organizers who helped make it such a success.

The final day featured playoff action throughout, with both the Championship Flight and First Flight contesting their quarterfinals and semifinals during the morning.

Championship Flight
In the semifinals:
  • Adam Barr defeated Mike Tevlin.
  • Chris Percival-Smith defeated Jorn Soegaard.

First Flight
In the semifinals:
  • Gopal Gowda defeated Bruce Gillespie.
  • Pierre Dunn defeated Tim Pilon.

The First Flight Final was played first in a 13-point format. Veteran competitor Pierre Dunn prevailed over Gopal Gowda to claim the First Flight title.

Championship Final
The Grand Final featured Adam Barr of Ontario against Chris Percival-Smith of British Columbia in a 19-point contest. The match was intense, highly competitive, and filled with pressure from start to finish. In the end, Chris Percival-Smith emerged victorious with a 10–8 victory, becoming the inaugural Western Canada Open Champion.

Beyond the competition, one of the highlights of the week was the exceptional hospitality enjoyed by all participants. My sincere thanks go to the hospitality teams at Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club and the Victoria Bowls & Croquet Club, who kept players well fed, refreshed, and energized throughout the event.

Special recognition goes to Angela Adamek, who led the catering efforts at Oak Bay, and to Kathi Moi and her team, who organized and delivered an outstanding championship dinner on Friday evening.

Friday also featured a fun and spirited One-Hoop Championship, won by Graham Garlick, adding another memorable chapter to an already remarkable week of croquet.

I would also like to thank both Oak Bay Club and Victoria Club for their partnership, hospitality, facilities, and commitment to making this inaugural championship a success. Their collaboration helped create an event experience that players from across the country will remember for years to come.

I do not mind repeating this recognition because it is so well deserved: Adam Barr's website development expertise, digital acumen, and tireless efforts were a driving force behind the planning and execution of this championship. His work became the engine behind many aspects of the event, from organization and communication to administration and delivery. Simply put, this championship would not have run as smoothly or achieved the same level of success without his extraordinary contribution.

As we close this chapter, thank you once again for your support in making this inaugural event a resounding success. Together, we have laid a strong foundation for the future of competitive croquet in Western Canada, and that future looks exceptionally bright.

I will share access to the event photo gallery in due course so everyone can relive the many memorable moments from the week.  Gloria Brown from OakBay is gratefully acknowledged for her photography at OakBay.

Congratulations to all competitors, flight winners, finalists, and especially our inaugural champions!

Complete details including final scores can be seen on:
Western Canada Open Golf Croquet
croquetscores.com

and here: 
Western Canada Open Golf Croquet
croquettools.com

A detailed report on the championship will appear in the next issue of The Mallet, Croquet Canada's national newsletter, scheduled for publication at the end of October.

Cheers,

Gopal Gowda
Tournament Director
Western Canada Open Golf Croquet Championship