USCA MidAtlantic Regional 6W Championship
August 25-17, 2023
Green Gables Croquet Club - Sea Girt, NJ
The Mid-Atlantic Regional was a tale of extremes. The elegant pool-side opening cocktail party hosted by the croquet playing Leddy family (Ann, Dennis & Matriarch Elise) was driven indoors by rain, which then persisted into the next day. Play was briefly stopped for lightning. But Saturday was temperate and a balmy evening was just right for a dinner at the home of Karen Leoncavallo & Richard Ricciardi. Sunday was the kind of glorious Jersey shore weather that brings everyone here in August, just perfect for the finals. Host club Green Gables put on the dog, with breakfast & lunch featuring local cuisine and even provided knowledgeable volunteer board-keepers. What a treat!
The small Championship flight had a wide range of handicaps, from the minus crowd up to a 5. The eight souls in 1st flight ranged from 6 to brave volunteer 10. The second flight of 7 were either 10s or 11s. Championship & First Flight played 5 games into a knock out, while 2nd flight played out their block into a semi-final.
The finals in all flights were nail-biters, with one point leads changing between turns. All were decided by only 1 or 2 points, in last turn. Paul Neubecker wears the Mid-Atlantic Championship crown for 2023, while Tom Cooper holds the scepter. Kat Robertson was undefeated and has a brand new USCA handicap card to show for it. Michael Jeary did his best, but she was a force. In a duel familiar to the locals, Scott McMurray managed to best Jim Daniels by 1 point in last turn to claim the 2nd flight tiara. This one will be replayed many times over.
Those brave souls who volunteered to ‘play up’ were rewarded for their bravery by achieving many tracking points for single victories amid many ‘learning opportunities’.
As is always the case, there was much laughter, new friendships kindled and old friendships stoked. Almost everyone went home with a few stories and a mental list of croquet skills to work on. (Maybe not Kat.)
Championship Singles
1. Paul Neubecker
2. Tom Cooper
3. Cecil Creasey
3. Mike Gibbons
5. Dennis Leddy
5. Carl Archiniaco
First Flight Singles
1. Kat Robertson
2. Michael Jeary
3. Karen Leoncavallo
3. George Claffey
5. Richard Ricciardi
5. Don McLaughlin
5. Susan Creasey
5. Jane Helms
Second Flight Singles
1. Scott McMurray
2. Jim Daniels
3. Ric Venino
3. Jon Bonny
5. Ann Leddy
5. Peter Cerrati
5. Pat Richmond