Gabrielle Higgins & Phil Cordingley helped steer the Middlesex County Association Croquet Team to third place in the top division of the Croquet Association’s Inter-County Championship played at Southwick and Compton (Eastbourne) over the Bank Holiday weekend. The result was particularly creditable considering that due to the absence of key players at the European GC Championship held in Spain the same weekend, the team’s primary goal was simply to maintain First Division status for next season. Indeed having lost all three matches on the first day, even this looked like a big ask. But the team showed its mettle by winning all seven remaining matches, no fewer than five by the maximum margin of 3-0. Indeed had they won rather than lost their final match on the first day against hot favourites and eventual champions Nottinghamshire, Middlesex would have been crowned champions instead!

Gabs and Phil played doubles together in the final three rounds, winning all three. They will team up next in the 2017 British Open Doubles Championship to be played at the Hurlingham Club from 1-9 July. Watch this space!