CROQUET NEWS:  Croquet at Koele Won by Leo Nikora

	Championship Flight ($800)
	1st	Leo Nikora Kihei, HI, USA
	2nd	Tom Weston Bournemouth, EN, UK
	3rd	Bruno Amby Lanai City, HI, USA
	4th	Nathaniel Healy Newcastle, IR
	First Flight ($200)
	1st	Karen Collingwood Oakland, CA, USA
	2nd	Kerry Ramm Kihei, HI, USA
	3rd	Paul Ramm Kihei, HI, USA
	4th	Elaine Fong San Francisco, CA, USA

15-18 January 2009
The Lodge at Koele, Lanai City, Lanai, Hawaii, USA
story by Leo Nikora
photo by Beverley Nikora

Leo Nikora winning the Croquet at Koele tournament.

The Croquet at Koele tournament was won by Leo Nikora of Kihei, HI, USA, and he received $800. Karen Collingwood of Oakland, CA, USA, won the First Flight, receiving $200.

In four days of play on the the two championship courts at The Lodge at Koele, eight players from England, Ireland, and America competed in two flights for $1,000 in prize money. Advanced Association Rules were followed, and Sunshiny CQ-16 balls were used.

The tournament was sponsored by The Lodge at Koele, and by Expeditions Ferry; sanctioned by the United States Croquet Association; and directed by Leo Nikora.

Championship Flight was a triple round-robin with games played to the peg. Leo Nikora won seven of nine games to win the flight. Tom Weston of Bournemouth, EN, UK, came in a close second with six wins, and beating Leo Nikora two out of three times. Bruno Amby had the biggest upset, defeating much higher-ranked Tom Weston two out of three times, but finished third with four wins.

First Flight was a triple round-robin with two-hour games. Karen Collingwood won eight of nine games to win the flight convincingly. Kerry Ramm of Kihei, HI, USA, came in second with four wins, and was the only player to beat Karen Collingwood. Paul Ramm of Kihei, HI, USA, finished third with four wins.

Patty and Bruno Amby put on a wonderful barbeque at Hulopoe Bay Beach Park. They grilled uhu (parrot fish), kala (unicorn fish), and tako (octopus), all speared by Bruno Amby. It was a magic Hawaiian evening.

See more pictures at the Maui Croquet Club Gallery.

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