On Saturday July 26, 2008, the Lions Bay Historical Society together with invited guests met on the Cox's well-manicured lawn for the Ninth Annual Croquet Tournament. Fortified with a glass or two of "Vin de Croquet", the gathering assembled at the starting stake. Master of Ceremonies Tony Cox called "Let the Games Begin", whereupon President Myron Loutet explained the Rules of Play in a manner designed to confuse the novices and ensure their demise from the contest.

In true and customary gentlemanly fashion, the Master allowed the Ladies to play first. Tensions mounted. Silence fell, apart from the gentle chatter of Harvey Brook. The perfume of roses filled the air as skillful mallets moved the coloured balls with great accuracy from hoop to hoop. Player Page, whose hat transfixed the entire group, soon took the lead, and although hotly pursued by the pack, Anne's blue ball was the first to strike the final stake. To cheers from the crowd, Player Page was declared Winner of the Ladies Contest.

Sobered by the skills just witnessed, the gentlemen took to the field, with an obvious plan to unseat reigning Champion Tiger C. Page by fair means or foul. Chris rose to the challenge with gusto, but his mighty strokes encountered the flowerbeds more often than the hoops. A visitation by a family of raccoons distracted the crowd, allowing one member the opportunity for a few extra secret strokes. After a slow start, Player Cox surged into the lead, gallantly becoming the Gentleman Winner of the set. The resounding applause was muted by a most unworthy and unseemly whisper ("rigged") to be heard from some ungracious quarters.

Restorative refreshments came down from the kitchen as the final contest of the Tournament was joined - the Coxes versus the Pages. With home field advantage, the Cox team (Valerie and Tony) squeaked to the final stake just barely ahead of Anne and Chris. Amid thunderous cheers from the white-knuckled, nervously nail-biting camera popping crowd, President Loutet (Myron) presented the LBHS Croquet 2008 Trophy to the ecstatic winning pair. The raccoons retired into the bushes, no doubt amused or puzzled by the events of the day.

As the sun was sinking in the West, the balmy perfect summer July evening concluded on Tony and Valerie's wisteria shaded sundeck. An excellent potluck dinner which included Fran's lime jellied salad, was enjoyed by all. Fran's dish was in remembrance of long time Society member Noreen Copp (her recipe), who passed away earlier this year.

With due respect to Tony, Valerie, Myron, Susan, Trudi, Rudy, Chris, Anne, Carole, Fran, Sheila, and the 'Coons, the author accepts full responsibility for all falsehoods, extravagant hyperboles and mischievous innuendos, intended or otherwise, in this "Croquet 2008" report.

Louis K. Peterson.

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