SAMANTHA Curry really did find that life began at 40 when she entered the British Open Croquet Championships.

Not only did she capture the title, but did so against a worldwide field and achieved the triumph to coincide with her 40th birthday.

Curry, who lives in Ripon, started playing by chance nine years ago.

She took the title in partnership with John Moore from Newcastle on Tyne - but they unexpectedly had to battle against an international field.

Curry said: "The British Open event just happened to coincide with the World Open Singles, which meant competitors from all over the world decided to enter the British event too. It made the going quite tough, but we won through."

Curry, general manager of the Ripon Spa Hotel which overlooks three croquet courts and a training area, took up the sport when sports area development officer Keith Smith suggested the hotel could create an ideal croquet lawn.

But the hotel, set in spacious grounds, did more by laying out three courts and a half sized area for beginners. The three courts are now the home of Ripon Spa Hotel Croquet Club.

Curry has since been coached to success by Mr Smith, taking up the sport as soon as she became the debutant player on the new courts and establishing the Ripon club.

Now she keeps fit to play croquet and says it's not quite as easy as onlookers might believe.

"You really need good hand and eye co-ordination. And you need to be reasonably fit to play in matches which can put quite a strain on your back when clashes last for over two hours," said Curry, who has been capped three times for England.

No one expected the Curry-Moore partnership to triumph in the British event because they were well down the seedings. But Curry had previously reached the quarters and semi-finals.

Curry, a Conservative member of Ripon City Council, appropriately representing the Spa ward, now encourages hotel guests to take up the sport, which is why half a court has been established for beginners.

A full sized croquet lawn can be quite daunting for beginners, being double the size of a tennis court.

After capturing the title in Brighton, Curry and her croquet partner returned north each with a trophy for their sterling efforts.