Expectations were met when the Wairarapa Croquet Association hosted the Central Premier Silver Badge tournament last weekend.
With seven of the players ranked in the top 100 in the world, and two in the top 10, high-quality competition was anticipated and that transpired.
The popular pick for the major spoils was Toby Garrison from the Waimarie club in Lower Hutt. A silver medallist at the 2002 world championships and a long-time New Zealand representative, Garrison had captained his country in their 2003 MacRobertson Shield clashes with Australia, England and the United States. He has an impressive world ranking of four.
Second favourite was Wellington's Greg Bryant, whose imposing CV included being named player of the year in 2011, the season in which he also became national open champion. The New Zealand Croquet Council national development officer is ranked sixth in the world.
And then there was Paul Skinley, of Wellington, with a world ranking of 26 and a record of having won three New Zealand open titles and being part of MacRobertson Shield-winning combinations in 1979 and 1986.