The Irish Permanent hasn't had a lot of luck in its sponsorship of the Irish rugby team. But another financial group, Guardian Insurance, will be pleased with its rather more modest support for an Irish croquet team, which returned from Palm Beach after a victory over the US.

Captained by Alan McInerney, of Carrickmines Croquet Club, the team won the Carter Challenge tournament with a 15-12 victory, gaining revenge for a loss in the inaugural match in 1995. McInerney says that players are trying to "smash" the game's image as an "Alice In Wonderland" game.