IT was first time lucky for Anne Clarke at Ben Rhydding Croquet club when she scored a double victory in the annual internal competitions.

Committee member Anne, of Addingham, had never competed in the contests before, but she took both the Singles and Handicap titles. She beat the club chair Alan Ebbutt by seven hoops to five to lift the Richard Lorimer Shield, for the singles section, and also won the Trevor Grange Trophy in the handicap final beating John Green from Baildon, again seven- five.

“I set out to play well and I was relieved, pleased and surprised I won,” she said. “I have been reading up on croquet and working on my strategy and tactics.”

The Doubles contest was won by Sally Varley, from Ben Rhydding, and David Carpenter,of Addingham. Their match against club captain Penny Clark and Alan Ebbutt went down to the wire and they won 7-6 to take the Cynthia Barraclough Challenge Cup.

BRCC, based at the Sports and Social Club on Coutances Way, focuses on golf croquet with teams competing in a range of tournaments throughout Yorkshire.