A multi-state field of competitors took part in last week’s seventh annual Croquet by the Bay, a six-wicket doubles tournament hosted by the Middle Peninsula Croquet Club.

The three-day tournament was held Oct. 6-8 at the club’s grass court croquet complex at Redart, with the first- and second-flight finals being contested at Bob and Susan McCreary’s private court at Green Mansion, their North home.

Twenty-two players took part in this year’s tournament, playing in rotating two-person teams.

After two days of round-robin play, the finals in each of two flights were set. The two-person team of Bob Whitmore of Norfolk and Pinehurst, N.C., and Jim Coling of Middlesex defeated Jack Chase and John Lee, both of Gloucester, by two wickets in the first-flight finals.
The team of Bob McCreary and Carter Richardson, both of Mathews, defeated Jim Fisher of Richmond and Jane Koziol of Mathews in the second-flight finals.

In addition to teaching the game to inter...