VITAL STATISTICS
Date: Saturday, May 26, 2001
Location: Wilcox Park, Lynnwood, WA
Winners: Jeff Gepner & Tom Carmony
Memorial Day weekend marks not only the unofficial start of summer, but this year also marked the kickoff of the Lakewood Croquet Club season. Barbecues were firing, the sun was beaming down, and mallets were once again airborn as the LCC presented it’s annual Gary Coleman Memorial Team Challenge, held this year at Wilcox Park in Lynnwood, Washington.
The Coleman Challenge is held annually to crown the LCC’s Doubles Champions. It is the only known extreme croquet doubles tournament in the world and each year teams of competitors battle for the Doubles Championship (one half of the Gram Slam, along with the Champions Cup).
As was the case in 1999, teams for this year’s event were randomly chosen through a drawing conducted by LCC President Brian S. Johnston III prior to the contact. Controversy erupted immediately, as an odd number of competitors meant one person would be forced to play without a partner. Johnston himself was selected as the lone solo competitor, in part due to the fact that his name had been mysteriously left out of the team drawing.
“I’m not sure who’s bright idea that was,” argued Johnston moments after the draw, “but it’s pretty obvious that this thing wasn’t put together too fairly from the beginning.”
Along with Johnston playing solo, the remainder of the field was made up by the teams of Jeff Gepner and Tom Carmony, Lin Cherry and Kevin Sutton, and Andy Cooper and Kristina Miller.
Once play commensed, the Coleman Challenge lived up to expectations, providing over two hours of solid competition that came down to the final shot before a clear winning team was decided.
Gepner and Carmony dominated early on, jumping out to a commanding lead by the fourth wicket. Johnston had trouble from the opening moments, as he was unable to clear the first pair of wickets. Gepner and Carmony continued to build their lead, holding the teams of Cherry/Sutton and Cooper/Miller at bay for much of the event.
Things got interesting at the 90-minute-mark as Johnston (after holding an inpromptu meeting with Cooper and others) essentially threw in the towel and proceeded to go “kamikaze” for Gepner and Carmony. The three engaged in a game of cat and mouse at the eleventh wicket, allowing the other teams to catch up. A solid pair of shots allowed Gepner and Carmony to complete the wicket and again distance themselves from the competition.
Despite being roqueted off the course, Johnston continued to badger Gepner and Carmony leading into the final wickets. The contest finally ended after a miscue by Cooper prevented Johnston from blocking Gepner’s attempt to “stake out” for the victory following the final wickets.
“This is just the start of a big summer, baby.” stated Gepner moments after the match. “Things are finally turning around. Brian S. Johnston III has been doing everything to hold me back for the last three years, but not anymore. First it was the Coleman Challenge, next is the Champions Cup.”
A number of historic firsts were reached in the event. Gepner became the first player in Lakewood Croquet Club history to win both the Gary Coleman Memorial Team Challenge and the Champions Cup. Carmony also made history, becoming a three-time Doubles Champion. Interestingly, this year’s championship was the first that had actually been won by Carmony. Previously, he had been awarded championships (in both 1998 and 2000 with Johnston) following a time-limit draw and a rain out.
2001 GARY COLEMAN MEMORIAL TEAM CHALLENGE
1 – Jeff Gepner & Tom Carmony
2 – Kevin Sutton & Lin Cherry
3 – Andy Cooper & Kristina Miller
4 – Brian S. Johnston III
