JERSEY again proved the perfect venue for the European Croquet singles championships at the weekend.

Friday’s weather apart, the 15 nations that were represented at the Jersey CC grounds at Les Quennvais were again given the best possible base to demonstrate their skills.

The winner, for the ninth time in 13 years, was England’s Stephen Mulliner.

The No 2 seed doubled as the tournament referee on his way to retaining his title against No 5 seed Patsy Fitzgerald of Ireland in Sunday’s final.

Mulliner won his third title in a row in two straight games, +14 (triple peel) to +26 (TP).

Jersey’s Matthew Burrow, the winner in 2002 and No 1 seed, had to settle for the Plate trophy this time after losing to Mulliner in the quarter-finals.

Burrow’s mum Sarah reached the semi-final stage before bowing out to Fitzgerald.

Mulliner defeated Phil Cordingely in the last four.

The tournament started in block groups, with the four winners being Jersey’s Tony Le Moignan and Matthew Burrow, England’s Mulliner and France’s Rodolphe Dourthe.

In the quarter-final, Le Moignan fell to Fitzgerald, Dourthe to Sarah Burrow and Martin Hodge to Cordingley.

The annual general meeting of the European Croquet Federation was held on Sunday, with Norway, Finland and the Cech Republic being admitted to bring the total number of member nations to 18.

Both tournament organiser Cliff Jones and federation chairman, Peter Page from Switzerland, were delighted at how the weekend had gone.

Said Jones: ‘The play has been of a very high standard and Jersey have once again been great hosts, with the playing areas in great condition.

It’s been wonderful.’ Jersey has been the venue every year, bar one, since 1996 and is expected to also host the 2006 tournament with the competition being expanded to four days.