The News for those few who play real croquet!                                June 10, 2007

The eight players of the 2007 Orange Shirt Classic includes "dead" Steve Unfred

Ben outlast three challengers for his first ever major victory

"It is about time!" Ben Lasher yelled as he won his first major in nine years of Ironman Croquet play. Ben rode a third round victory to beat out three close rivals to win the richest prize in IMC, a seven dollar Orange polo shirt. For the King of Second place Orange pops, it was a wonderful relief to finally pull out the win.

The event started with Steve Unfred firmly cementing the tradition of an Orange Shirt Champions breakfast. Unfred, the 2006 Champion, provided donuts, cereal, fruit and a variety of juices for the players to enjoy. The humble champion even allowed non-winners to have some food, a shocking event.

The event started at 10 a.m. with a respectable eight players (Mike Cough, Steve Roberts, Steve Unfred, Ben Lasher, Brandon Lasher, Alena Roberts and Cassee Hansen) to play the three round event. The event started with a downpour of rain with old orange shirts and umbrellas used to protect the wimpier players. The sun arrived about half an hour into the event. The slick deck slowed down few players as the two Steves, Mike, Ben and Nathan jumped to an early lead. Brandon, Cassee and Alena would fall well behind the lead pack.

Steve Roberts was able to break through and take a decent lead into the middle portion of the course. Ben and Steve Unfred were not far behind and Mike hit an impressive shot towards the seventh wicket near the green power box to rejoin the lead pack. Nathan was not too far behind and Brandon watched a distrubing pattern of getting stuck on a wicket and then getting thru the next one fast. Brandon was even more disturbed by Cassee and her amazing cheating abilities. Brandon told her that places were still to be decided, no cheating allowed.

Steve Roberts was able to hit the end stick on the slanted dirt mound were a truck is usually located but was moved for the event. Steve won the round before others arrived. Ben watched his ball land about three inches short and watched in frustration as Steve Unfred and Mike Cough hit the stick before Ben hit the stick for fourth. Nathan took a surprising fifth, cheater Cassee sixth, Brandon seventh and Alena last.

The league decided to press on with a second round before a lunch break. Brandon quickly jumped to the lead with Nathan close behind. As Brandon and Alena got involved in a lengthy, idiotic debate about stealing music, the Steves and Ben gained ground. Mike got stuck on early wickets and was far behind with Cassee and pro-music stealer Alena.

Brandon had the lead heading into the last wicket near some garbage cans but ended being pushed past by Nathan, the Steves and Ben. It would be a race for the second round and important points. Brandon had an attempt at the end stick but missed, rolling his ball down the hill. Nathan hit the stick first to get back into the title hunt. Ben hit it next for an important second place. Brandon had the closest call of the day watching his ball curved around the stick and stop inches above it. His anger grew as both Steves, first Roberts and then Unfred, hit impressive shots to claim third and fourth place, respectively. Brandon took a disappointing fifth a few turns before Mike took an even more disappointing sixth. Cassee took seventh again and Alena eighth again.

A look at the standings showed a four man race for the coveted Orange Shirt title. Steve Roberts was leading with twelve points. Steve Unfred, Nathan Cole and Ben Lasher had ten points. The other four (Mike, Brandon, Cassee and Alena) had to play spoilers. Since Mister Unfred had a time issue, the league rushed their lunch break. A decision that would lead to anger.

Alena, our hungry girl, was the last back with food. Brandon told Alena to hit her shot and eat between shots so we could get done earlier. This did not set well with the hungry lady and her deck shot hit Brandon's ball. She made him lose a turn. A few unrepeatable words and tense moments later, the third round went on. Brandon was able to calm down enough and he jumped to the lead with his brother Ben. The round quickly broke the pack in two groups: Ben, Brandon, Steve Unfred and Cassee in the lead with the other four behind.

Brandon and Ben made it the the end stick along with the other two players close behind. Ben was able to hit the end stick first and nervously watched the round finish. If Steve Roberts finished three places behind Ben, Ben would finally win his first major. Since Steve was stuck nearly in last with Mike and Alena, it looked possible. Brandon took second in the round and waited by his brother's side. Steve Unfred hit the end stick next, clinching the win for Ben and second place overall for Steve Unfred along with the Orange pop prize. Ben preceded to high five anyone that would do so. Cassee took fourth moments before Nathan took fifth for the round. This set-up Nathan needing someone to finish between him and Steve Roberts, to force a third-place playoff. While it was Steve's wife (Alena) and Nathan's croquet enemy (Mike), Alena was almost forced by Nathan to continue and she took sixth in the round. Roberts took seventh and Mike took last.

The playoff for third was played on the deck. Nathan was able to get thru in two shots and watch as Steve Roberts's ball narrowly missed the wicket. Nathan had won third place overall and the Orange slices prize. Roberts took a somewhat disappointing fourth. Brandon, Mike, Cassee and Alena took fifth, sixth, seventh and eight place overall. But Ben was the one that claimed his long overdue Orange Shirt prize.

With four different winners in four events so far, the Ironman Croquet league looked its most wide open in years. If Ben can win an Orange Shirt, who knows what can happen.

Mike Cough showing off his one handed hitting style at the 2007 Pez Invitational

By King Mike Cough

In the wild world of Ironman Croquet, obstacles are the name of the game. How a player deals with these forks in the road has a lot to due with how they will perform. Here are some common examples, problems and approaches to them.

Large obstruction or enclosed area: The best approach to this situation is to launch the ball over what blocks the way or enter into the enclosed area. I have been referred to the "King of the Pop Shot" and have shown many players how this is accomplished.

In making the attempt, you will place not the mallet head, but rather the tip of the mallet under the ball. Your hands will form a fulcrum. One hand would be placed on the mallet head, the other is placed depending how much height you want on your launch. Near the tip allows more room for fulcrum movement and generally leads to more height. Choking up on the mallet will decrease the height.

Distance is best determined by force applied. That is played upon by the arm strength used and moving your body into the shot to determine direction. Like swinging a baseball bat the harder you swing your arms, the further the ball travels. Where you point your body also helps determine where the ball will travel to.

Distance and Uphill shots: In my opinion, the best way to get a ball moving is to reduce the friction acted upon it. To this end, a ball travels farther thought the air than it will across the ground. It will also travel with more force off the head of a heavy mallet than the end of the stick. This brings us to the scoop shot.

While frowned upon in some leagues, the scoop shot is tricky to explain. Basically it starts as a drag until you feel the ball rest on the mallet head. Once you feel that pressure, you begin to bring the mallet up carrying the ball with it. This is all done in one fluid movement and is not to be confused with a drag shot that is frowned upon. Depending on steepness, the scoop can helpful in uphill shots as well. Anything severely steep or rocky however would probably be better served by the pop shot.

Tight space and low lying places: Going over is one thing but often there are wickets or obstacles that put us under a bush, table, car or other low lying objects. To navigate or remove yourself from these predicaments, I have found using what can best be described as a Hook and Pull Shot. Rather than trying to find room for yourself in the small space, it in easier to simply put the mallet in the tight confines and hook the ball between the head and mallet shaft. If there is interference to the left, I recommend placing the stick to the left of the ball and vice versa as needed. Additionally, make sure you are standing on stick side to be clear of the balls exit. Once set, pull the mallet toward yourself and hopefully into a clearing along the ball's projected path.

Controlled short shot: When you have finally got to your destination and you want to make sure you knock that ball thru the ring, players in the league often use a Shuffle Board Shot.The principal is to slide your mallet along the ground setting a pattern of movement. Ideally that pattern is transferred to the ball and the ball travels along that pattern to its target. The important thing here is to hit the ball square. Any angled hits will take the ball off onto that angle.

These shots when combined with regular practice, should help advance you in your IMC play. At least that is just the belief of two time IMC champ and soon to be 5-time Spam King.