The St Johns croquet team came to Hartfield, Virginia to play a challenge match with the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club. In all, 30 players competed in this two-day tournament. The first day was all American 6-Wicket and the second day was all Golf Croquet. Both days had two flight and were played in the Swiss format where winners play winners and losers play losers and all players played the same number of games.
The St John’s, Johnnies, are arguably the best college croquet team in the country and have won several collegiate championships and are famous for playing an annual high-profile match against the US Naval Academy called the Annapolis Cup. The trip to Hartfield was part of the team’s preparation for the 38th playing of the Annapolis Cup on April 18, 2020. The Johnnies have a 30-7 record against the Midshipmen and are looking to extend their winning streak to 6 straight.
According to legend, the rivalry between St Johns and the US Naval Academy began in 1982 when the commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy was speaking with St. John’s freshman Kevin Heyburn and remarked that the Midshipmen could beat the Johnnies in any sport. “What about croquet?” was the Johnnie’s retort. He later proposed the match to a group of Midshipmen in the interest of fostering better relations between the schools. From there, the challenge match has grown to an event that attracts almost 10,000 spectators each year. This year St. Johns had sold out its 8000 tickets prior to the event cancellation.
In the challenge match with Chesapeake Bay, both teams played well and finished in an almost dead even tie. The teams played the more complicated and strategic American 6-Wicket version of croquet on Saturday with the best players of each squad playing in Championship Flight and the less experienced members playing in 1st Flight. At the end of the day, rising star Tom Balding (Johnnies) won Championship Flight and Rick Darnell (Chesapeake Bay) came in second. 1st Flight (in American 6-Wicket) was dominated by Chesapeake Bay with Steve Thurston, Doug Murphy and Jill Murphy getting the top three spots. Overall, Chesapeake Bay won 66% of its American 6-Wicket games and St. Johns won 44%.
On Sunday, the more relaxed and less complicated Golf Croquet version was played. Again, St Johns star, Tom Balding came out the winner of Championship Flight with CBCC’er John Priest in second. In 1st Flight, CBCC’er Leo Viens was the winner with Johnnies, Sam Cooper and Nicholas Thorp tying for second. Overall the Johnnies won 52% of their Golf Croquet games and Chesapeake Bay won 48%.
According to tournament director Macey White, “The Johnnies promise to come back again next year for a rematch and we hope they will come on a warmer weekend.” The weather was typical for late February with highs in the mid-40’s on Saturday with snow flurries in the morning. “
American 6-Wicket Championship Flight
01. Tom Balding
02. Rick Darnell
03. Adam Lassiter
04. Sean Miller
05. Jared Bassmann
06. Rodney Lassiter
07. John Priest
08. Michael Heath
09. Ryan Eberlein
10. Charles Carpenter
11. Sam Cooper
12. Isaac Hoke
13. Chris Musick
14. Nicholas Thorp
American 6-Wicket First Flight
01. Steve Thurston
02. Doug Murphy
03. Jill Murphy
04. James Bieneman
05. Connor Shin
06. Mia Kobylski
07. Qingqing Lei
08. Noah Hale
09. Angelika Alberstad
Golf Croquet Championship Flight
01. Tom Balding
02. John Priest
03. Jared Bassmann
03. Rick Darnell
05. Steve Thurston
06. Justin Berbig
06. Doug Murphy
08. Michael Heath
09. Isaac Hoke
10. Sean Miller
11. Ryan Eberlein
12. Chris Musick
13. Lyle Browning
14. Charles Carpenter
Golf Croquet First Flight
01. Leo Viens
02. Sam Cooper
02. Nicholas Thorp
04. Mia Kobylski
05. James Bieneman
06. Connor Shin
07. Mike Moore
08. Angelika Alberstad
09. Qingqing Lei
10. Jill Murphy
11. Russ Brudnicki
12. Debbie Falco
13. Noah Hale
14. Pam Viens