As a prelude to the Soloman Trophy (a 21-match Test series between GB  and  USA), Bowdon Croquet Club hosted a 2-day event (30th June-1st July) where 2 of the USA reserves, Jim Bast & Jim Butts,  played against a number of Bowdon players, resulting in a 9-5 win for Bowdon.
Results were:
Jim Bast beat Ken Cooper +13
Alan Mayne beat Jim Butts +14
Jim Bast beat Brian Storey +17tp
Martin Granger Brown beat Jim Butts +16
Colin Irwin beat Jim Bast +10tp
Andrew Winn beat Jim Butts +17
Jim Bast beat Alan Mayne +7tp
Jim Butts beat Frank Moir +7
John Wastell beat Jim Bast +15
Ken Cooper beat Jim Butts +24
Brian Storey beat Jim Butts +10
Jim Bast beat Martin Granger Brown +26
Ian Lines beat Jim Bast +26tp
David Walters beat Jim Butts +26

The main event starts tomorrow (Wednesday) at nearby Heaton Park in Manchester, made up of 9 doubles matches and 12 singles matches. Great Britain will be represented by a 6-man team including Bowdon's David Maugham, Ian Lines and Keith Aiton.