Lakewood Croquet Club

LAKEWOOD, WA –  To say that Lakewood Croquet Club President Brian S. Johnston III has had a tumultuous term in office would be a major understatement. Since he took over control of the club in April, 1998, Johnston has faced continual challenges from an array of LCC members, including Jeff Gepner, Andy Cooper, and even longtime supporter and current LCC Champion Kevin Sutton.

Johnston’s feud with Gepner has been the stuff of legend. The two have waged a constant war on one another for three years now. Gepner, the two-time Champions Cup winner in 1997 and 1998, controlled the club on the course, but was unable to wield the political clout that Johnston controlled.

The conflict really began between Tom Carmony, Johnston, and Gepner. The three were scheming against one another prior to the 1997 Cup in hopes of undermining one another’s chances at a victory. Johnston and Carmony went so far as to attempt to get Gepner drunk at the pre-event barbecue, but too no avail.

In 1998, Carmony and Johnston were again at Gepner’s throat, as the two formed a partnership to prevent “The Franchise” from repeating as Cup winner (to no avail). Meanwhile, Gepner had enlisted Andy Cooper to help his cause, as they launched a coup in July, 1998. Although they were unable to wrest control of the Presidency from Johnston (who had taken over the office when the LCC’s original President El Presidente resigned), Cooper was installed a Executive Vice President. Ultimately, he served as no more than a puppet for Johnston.

In 1999, Gepner and Johnston upped the ante by wagering the presidency on the outcome of the Champions Cup. If Gepner won, he would become President. If Johnston won, Gepner would be forced to retire. Kevin Sutton ultimately came out victorious in the event, leaving the issue between Gepner and Johnston largely unsettled.

In February of this year, Sutton launched his own assault on Johnston. The LCC Champion claimed that Johnston had “taken the greatest extreme croquet organization in the country and run it into the ground.” He went on to state that the LCC needed saving and that he (Sutton) should be the man to “lead this organization into the twenty-first century.”

On the heels of such claims, Johnston has finally spoken out against his critics and has offered a startling solution to this presidential crisis; a tournament to determine the true leader of the Lakewood Croquet Club. In his most recent From the Desk Of… column, Johnston proposed the President’s Cup, a single elimination, match-play tournament to decide once and for all who should be LCC President.

Reaction to Johnston’s proposed tournament has been mixed.

“The only thing he’s trying to do is make himself look good in the eyes of the other club members,” claimed Gepner. “Johnston has no intent to relinquish his position as President, and I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s going to use this as some form of retribution against us. The man can’t be trusted.”