Six players took to the turf today, including three newcomers to CS croquet: Janet Byron (playing yellow and visiting from Oakland), Claudia Myers (playing blue stripe), and CS Director Bob Sams (playing orange stripe). The game played out under clear, sunny skies with variable winds at a new venue, Mace Ranch Park in Davis. The turf was firm, even, and well clipped, and more level overall than that at Playfields Park.

Play began evenly enough, but it was not long til Linda Ribera (red) took an impressive lead that remained essentially unchallenged until she was approaching her 11th wicket. Number 11 doubles as number 4, of course, and newcomer Sams (orange stripe) took advantage of their crossed paths to croquet Ribera's ball well out of the pitch. Alas, that move barely fazed Ribera, who maintained her commanding demeanor and her lead when a masterful 23-foot return put her back within wicketing distance on her next turn. But that one-stroke delay was sufficient to allow most of the pack to come withing striking range of the leader. Ultimately Ribera's strong start paid off, though, and she finished a clear first. The rest of the players followed, alternating newcomers with returning players. Well played, one and all!

THE RESULTS: 1ST: Ribera (red); 2ND: Byron (yellow); 3RD: Coats (black); 4TH: Sams (orange stripe); 5TH: Dragoon (blue); 6TH: Myers (blue stripe) Game time: approx. 40 minutes

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