Croquet: Ovation for giantkiller

Wellington bank officer Toby Garrison received a hero's ovation when he eliminated defending champion Reg Bamford from the world championships in Wellington yesterday.

The big upset was one of a series of unexpected results on the second day of post-section play.

Garrison and fellow New Zealander Brian Wislang, Robert Fulford, of England, and unseeded Irish qualifier Andrew Johnston are through to today's semifinals.

South African Bamford had no major excuses for his 2-1 loss, but admitted he was playing slightly out of season, as was the case with most Northern Hemisphere players.

He started off in great style on the damp lawns, taking the first game 26-0 with a triple peel, but Garrison, last year's national champion, knuckled down in the second game which he won 26-7.

His form held into the decider, which he captured 26-6.

Garrison, ranked No 8, continued his giant-killing act when he beat No 5 ranked Bob Jackson, of New Zealand, 26-20, 26-2 to reach the last four where he will meet Johnston, who beat No 11-ranked Ronan McInerney 2-1 in an all-Irish quarter-final.

The leading seeded player left is Fulford, ranked No 2, who meets Wislang in the semifinals.

- NZPA