VITAL STATISTICS
Date: Saturday, July 21, 2001
Location: Woodland Park, Seattle, WA
Winner: “The Franchise” Jeff Gepner
The sixth annual edition of the Lakewood Croquet Club’s Champions Cup lived up to its hype, as a field of competitors from both the LCC’s ranks and the University of Washington’s Honors Croquet League staged a 90-minute epic for the LCC Championship at Woodland Park in Seattle, Washington. This year’s edition of the Champions Cup marked the event’s return to the Pacific Northwest (after the 2000 edition was held in Pennsylvania) as well being hosted in Seattle for the first time.
The 2001 Champions Cup may not have been quite the “epic,” particularly given that both former Cup winners, Jeff Gepner and Kevin Sutton, lept out to a commanding lead midway through the match that effectively eliminated much of the field from contention. Gepner ultimately outlasted both Sutton and a pack of ‘kamikaze” players intent on ousting him to claim victory and his third Champions Cup in five years.
The match began quite differently, as members of the UWHCL made a claim to the lead early on. UWHCL member Eric Soran jumped to an early lead and appeared en route to a dominating afternoon. LCC President Brian S. Johnston III was overheard muttering “ringers” as Soran and others took command.
Other Lakewood Croquet Club members got off to horrid starts. Tom Carmony, the self-professed “King of Old School Croquet” couldn’t even successfully clear the opening set of wickets and was forced to endure the jeers of the rest of the field.
Soran’s lead failed to hold up, however, as the field quickly bunched up on an early wicket and ultimately leapfrogged the newcomer.
By the halfway point, both Gepner and Sutton had staked a sizeable lead that the rest of the field attempted to make up. Cup experienced may well have played a part in the maintenance of their lead, as Gepner and Sutton are the only two players to ever win the Champions Cup (Gepner won previous editions in 1997 and 1998; Sutton took the trophy in 1996, 1999, and 2000).
As the final wickets approached, Gepner made a move to pass Sutton and grab the lead heading into the homestretch. Soran became the first competitor to throw in the towel and go “kamikaze,” forgoing any chance to win to instead attempt to interfere in the outcome. Carmony, who maintained a solid but distant third, also went kamikaze during the final turns.
Despite the interference, Gepner was undeterred. He blew past both Soran and Carmony to stake out, reclaiming his LCC Championship and his third Champions Cup victory at the ninety minute mark.
Following the match, LCC President Brian S. Johnston III was once again forced to swallow his pride and award the Cup and the customary undersized green blazer to Gepner. Despite their bitter rivalry over the past three years, Johnston managed to bite his tongue and smile for the cameras.
As in previous years, despite the threat of new competitors, larger fields of players, and ever-changing course designs, Gepner rejoined Sutton in their stranglehold atop the Champions Cup field.
“It feels good to be back,” said an enthusiastic Gepner during the post-Cup press conference. “My training and my dedication have paid off. After two painful years of struggle and oppression, I’m finally back on top of the mountain.”
“I’m king of the world,” the ever-humble Gepner added. “And I’m going to Disneyland!”
CHAMPIONS CUP VI COMPLETE RESULTS
1 - Jeff Gepner
2 - Kevin Sutton
3 - Tom Carmony
4 - Nick Addington
5 - Lin Cherry
6 - Brian S. Johnston III
7 - Kristina Miller
8 - Eric Soran
9 - Ellie “The Unknown”
10 - Mary Kay Troske
11 - Randy Andersen
