Otago's Anthony Ritchie and Nairn Smith produced upsets on the first day of qualifying in the singles at the national open croquet championships in Christchurch yesterday.
Ritchie, ranked 20th in the country, surprised 13-times champion Bob Jackson of Franklin-Manukau with a tense 16-15 time-limit victory in the opening round.
It was easier in the second round, with Ritchie beating national women's titleholder Pam Fisher of Auckland 26-5.
He shares the section lead with Canterbury's Jenny Williams, who toppled 2004 champion Dennis Bulloch of Thames Valley 26-13 in the second round.
Smith, ranked 59th, beat former national men's champion John Versey of Hawkes Bay 26-22 in a tight first-round match and he shares his group lead with seven-times champion John Prince of Canterbury.
Defending champion and world No 1 Robert Fulford is co-leader of his section with 1996 champion Steve Jones, who claimed a triple peel in each of his two wins.
- NZPA
Croquet: Ritchie, Smith spring upsets at champs
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