Went to a croquet tournament yesterday, hosted by Jason & Sarah Lane. It was quite warm early in the day, but with a spot of shade and an occasional breeze it turned out to be quite a nice day to be outside. The gin & tonic might’ve helped to relieve the heat of the day too.

This being my first croquet tournament, I had no idea what to expect. There were ladies with big hats, gentlemen with bow ties, and there was even a seersucker suit. The food was was delicious and the bar was well-stocked (did I mention the gin & tonics?). The croquet lawn was perfectly manicured and the court set.

All of the Lane's careful preparations were secondary to the rivalry. Would the Bradfords win for the 4th straight year? Could the participants conspire to keep them from the victory? The early rounds were civil at least, but the final was filled with adrenaline, trash-talking and debates over rules.

The reigning champs were out in the semi-final round. The final consisted of the Lanes, the other Bradfords and the Roberts. The Lanes got off to a strong start, then faltered and fell behind. The Bradfords were playing the strong & steady game, while the newcomer Roberts took an early lead. In the end, the Lanes made an incredible comeback but ultimately it would not be enough. The Roberts of Charlotte stole the victory and the right to wear the Pink Jacket and wield the Golden Mallet for the coming year.

It was a load of fun and great to visit with friends, old and new.

Below are a few of my favorite images from the event. Here is a link to all of the photos (all 193 of them) for those who are really interested… http://yorkcroquet2009.shutterfly.com/