U.S., BRITAIN DUEL IN CROQUET.Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer It could have been Jay Gatsby's lawn, with plush squares of croquet croquet (krōkā`), lawn game in which the players hit wooden balls with wooden mallets through a series of 9 or 10 wire arches, or wickets. The first player to hit the posts placed at each end of the field wins. green, umbrella-shaded wrought-iron tables and men dressed in crisp whites. A dozen men - six Britons and six Americans - were garbed in navy blue team blazers over white shirts, shorts, socks and shoes for Monday's opening of the prestigious 1997 Solomon Cup, a five-day tournament in the championship lawn sport of croquet. This is not the kind of croquet Americans remember playing at backyard barbecues. It's a game of skill and strategy that involves putting a one-pound ball through rigid iron wickets with about one-sixteenth of an inch clearance on each side. ``That's about a credit card width of room,'' said Rhys Thomas Rhys Thomas may refer to:
At the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , the teams are scheduled to play 21 matches on three 102-by-82-foot squares of perfect, plush green in the shadow of the stately brick club house and a stone's thrown from a 20-meter pool, with the majestic Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. as a backdrop. During the opening games, the only sound was the wind flapping the white table linens and canvas umbrellas. A smattering of croquet buffs whispered about shots with team members between sips of mineral water. Most players employed such a gentle touch that the mallet mallet, n a hammering instrument. mallet, hard, n a small hammer with a leather-, rubber-, fiber-, or metal-faced head; used to supply force or to supplement hand force for the compaction of foil or amalgam and to seat cast soundlessly struck the ball. ``It may seem leisurely, but there's a lot of tension and pressure in the game,'' confided Michael Mehas, an American player from Palm Springs, as he watched his doubles partner set up a shot. ``This could be the last shot of the game, so a lot rests on it. And in tournament play there's even more pressure, because your partner relies on you - and in this case, your whole country relies on you.'' Briton Robert Fulford Alternate use: see Robert Fulford (croquet player) for the English croquet player. Robert Fulford, O.C., (born February 13, 1932) is a Canadian journalist, sometime editor and essayist. He was born in Ottawa and lives in Toronto. , ranked No. 1 in the world, said this was the best American team he'd ever played. ``But having said that, we're still the favorites,'' he said. ``In the past, we'd come over and play in America and the matches were over before they started. It's not that way this year.'' Like the Ryder Cup Ryder Cup Biennial team golf event first held in 1927. It was originally played between teams of golfers from the U.S. and Britain; since 1979 players opposing the U.S. have been chosen from all of Europe. The trophy was donated by the British seed merchant Samuel Ryder. in golf or the America's Cup America's Cup: see sailing. America's Cup Most prestigious trophy in international yachting competition. First offered under another name in Britain in 1851, the cup was won easily by the America from New York and subsequently became known as the in sailing, the Solomon Cup is played between the two counties, with the winner taking home the silver trophy. ``And the Brits have always won it,'' said Thomas. ``Though this year, we have as good a chance as ever to get it.'' Although the luxurious country club lawns and the decadence Decadence Buddenbrooks portrays the downfall of a materialistic society. [Ger. Lit.: Buddenbrooks] cherry orchard focal point of the declining Ranevsky estate. [Russ. of Monday morning croquet make the sport seem a pastime of the idle rich, with the exception of one pro and one retiree, both teams are made up of working stiffs Working Stiffs can refer to:
Only Fulford, who played 13 singles games in his last tournament without error, puts croquet first. ``I've been a croquet bum, really, because there isn't enough prize money to make a living,'' Fulford said. Even winning the Solomon Trophy brings only honor, and no cash purse. ``My career earnings amount to about $15,000 and that includes things like winning a gold watch and selling it,'' he said. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Ian Burridge of the British team takes aim during croquet tournament play at the Sherwood Country Club on Monday. (2--Color) Three-time world champion Robert Fulford takes a break during croquet play at the Sherwood Country Club. (3) The Solomon Cup awaits the winner of the tournament. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News |
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