GC Golf Croquet

National The Golf Croquet Inter-Club (Murphy) Shield is a national competition sponsored by Croquet England. Teams consist of four players with an aggregate handicap of at least 12. One player may have a handicap of 2, the others must be higher.

Watford were also national champions in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025.

The competition format is a single-life knock-out.

Fixtures contact: Geoff Johnson

GC Inter-Club (Murphy) Shield results by year:

All games: = Level Play
Date Opponents Venue Results (Watford names & scores first)
Round 1
 bye  
Round 2
Mon 15 Jun		 Newport Home

WON 4-3 [hoops: 91 - 82]

(Net index points: -4)
Brian Havill (2) &
Geoff Johnson (2)		 beat Alex Lake (1) &
Andrew Gregory (2)		 7-6, 6-7, 7-3
Arthur Reed (2) beat Colin Carr (3) 7-4, 7-5
John Smallbone (3) beat Colin Taylor (3) 7-6, 7-6
Brian Havill (2) lost to Alex Lake (1) 5-7, 6-7
Geoff Johnson (2) lost to Andrew Gregory (2) 1-7, 6-7
Arthur Reed (2) lost to Colin Taylor (3) 6-7, 5-7
John Smallbone (3) beat Colin Carr (3) 7-1, 7-2
Quarter-final
Mon 20 Jul		 Leighton-Linslade Home

WON 4-0 [hoops: 92 - 64]

(Net index points: +16)
Eddie Chung (1) &
Geoff Johnson (2)		 beat Judith Pengelly (3) &
Bill Ironside (3)		 7-1, 7-6
George Skinner (2) beat Rose Gillett (5) 7-5, 7-1
John Smallbone (3) beat David Ball (4) 7-5, 7-1
Eddie Chung (1) vs. Judith Pengelly (3) 7-4, 5-7
Geoff Johnson (2) vs. Bill Ironside (3) 7-6, 4-7
George Skinner (2) beat David Ball (4) 7-6, 7-5
John Smallbone (3) vs. Rose Gillett (5) 7-3, 6-7

The third games in three singles rubbers were unplayed as the match result had been decided by then.
Semi-final
Sun 9 Aug
(09:00 start)		 Southport Away

LOST 3-4 [hoops: 97 - 101]

(Net index points: +2)
Simon Hathrell (2) &
Geoff Johnson (2)		 lost to Eddie Green (1) &
Dave Venables (2)		 5-7, 7-6, 6-7
George Skinner (2) lost to Sue Wilkie (3) 4-7, 7-6, 4-7
John Smallbone (3) beat Paul Greenwood (2) 7-2, 7-6
Simon Hathrell (2) lost to Eddie Green (1) 4-7, 3-7
Geoff Johnson (2) lost to Dave Venables (2) 6-7, 5-7
George Skinner (2) beat Paul Greenwood (2) 7-2, 7-5
John Smallbone (3) beat Sue Wilkie (3) 7-6, 4-7, 7-5

Handicap change: John Smallbone 3 to 2

Statistics (Watford players)
 
Name Singles
W-L		 Doubles
W-L		 Total
W-L
John Smallbone11-20-011-2
George Skinner7-20-07-2
Eddie Chung1-12-03-1
Arthur Reed2-20-02-2
Brian Havill0-22-12-3
Geoff Johnson1-55-36-8
Simon Hathrell0-21-21-4
 
Totals22-165-327-19

Winners in 2025 L-R:
Cengiz Kaya, Arthur Reed, Stephen Mills, Simon Hathrell
Click to enlarge


Matches start at 10.00 am unless otherwise indicated.

See also: