Lantco wins popular croquet tournament for second year

The Beaufort County Community College Foundation’s ninth annual Cutthroat Croquet Tournament drew an enthusiastic crowd to Bonner Point in Bath on May 19 when the event crowned a champion from New Bern for the second year in a row.

Also, for the second year, the tournament featured two flights - a Cutthroat Flight for more serious players and a Rapscallion Flight for more casual players.

First prize in the Cutthroat Flight went to Donald Lantco of New Bern - his second victory in the tournament. Other winners in the Cutthroat Flight were Tom Harrington, second place; Luther Davis, third place, and Roy Williams, fourth place.

First prize in the Rapscallion Flight went to Marshall Hall of Washington. Other winners in the Rapscallion Flight were Isaac Jennette, second place; Tom Gray, third place, and Tres Thompson, fourth place.

They were among 41 players who took to the field in the annual tournament, which raises money for the Dot and John Tankard Memorial Scholarship awarded by the BCCC Foundation and restoration projects at Historic Bath State Historic Site.

The “booty” for winning in each flight included hand crafted croquet sets and a pirate trophy. A hanging basket of flowers donated by George Chrismon - owner of Garden Classics in Bath – went to each of the second place winners and a WalMart gift certificate went to the third place winners. All winners were awarded a BCCC cargo organizer.

Past tournament winners in the Cutthorat competition include Tony Price, winner in 2004; Howard Tanner, 2005 and 2007; Roy Williams, 2006; Judy Jennette, 2008; Jerry Waters, 2009; Sam Taylor, 2010, and Donald Lantco, 2011. Past winner in the Rapscallion competition was Joe Norwarah.

All the tournament players competed in a preliminary 6-wicket practice round as well as a 12-wicket flighting round by lunch time.

The players and more than 90 spectators enjoyed a lunch which included fried chicken donated by Old Town Country Kitchen in Bath and WalMart in Washington, deviled eggs, pimento cheese sandwiches, veggie bites, beef and wick, blueberry scones and mango punch. The English fare was prepared and donated by chef, Paul Cyr and his wife Ruth.

Petals and Produce of Washington and Pinetown, owned and operated by Tom and Heather VanStaalduinen, provided all of the flower baskets for the tables. Cars and Carts of Washington also helped by providing golf carts to transport players and equipment to and from the parking lot.

Semi-final play in both flights resumed after lunch. The first place winners of each of these rounds went on to the final round.

Corporate sponsors of the event were Southern Bank and Trust Co., of Belhaven, Rod Cantrell, CFP, Edward Jones Investments of Washington, Tankard Farms, Dark Water Enterprises, Inc., and Crop Production Services of Vanceboro. First prize for the Rapscallion Flight was donated by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Coupled with the entry fees, donations and corporate sponsorships, $5000 in net proceeds were collected from the event, according to Judy Jennette, director of the BCCC Foundation.

The scholarship generated by this tournament, memorializes John and Dorothy “Dot” Tankard.  Dot was dedicated to the preservation of Historic Bath and served as director of the Historic Bath State Historic Site for many years. John was a member of the BCCC Board of Trustees from its first meeting in February 1968 through June 1971.

“The BCCC Foundation especially wants to thank Marcia Norwood, BCCC public relations and foundation specialist, who oversaw the tournament in my absence and those BCCC Ambassadors who helped with the event,” Jennette said. “They are a joy to work with and really make the tournament run smoothly.”

Several local croquet players congregate beside the Bonner House in Bath on the third Sunday of every month to hone their skills. The next Sunday to play will be July 15. Play begins at about 1:30 p.m. and the equipment is provided. Players are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and cold drinks. All skill levels are welcome. For more information, call 940-6326.