July round-up

A home derby was held at Chester Croquet Club on Thursday, 27 July, when Chester Centurions played Chester Chariots in the North West level play golf croquet league. The Centurions were Mark Lloyd (captain), David Boyd and John Hampson against the Chariots Jude Wise (captain), Pat Clare and Chris Thomas.

The result of 17-1 to Centurions belied the closeness of a lot of the games as a number of them went to the golden hoop at 6 all. Chris did win one game to save the Chariots blushes, but a very good day was had by all which started off very wet but brightened to be a lovely day for playing croquet.

On Saturday, 29 July, a great day’s golf croquet was had under blue skies at Southport, albeit rather breezy at times.  7 out of the 18 games went to 7-6 so very closely run, but Southport came out well deserved winners taking 13 games including both the doubles, winning 13-5. Although a disappointing day for the Senators, Liz Baskerville (captain), Gail Thomas, Sandy Grievson and Edward Baskerville, the last four games of the afternoon were all won by Chester thereby avoiding what might almost have been a white wash! There were some remarkable hoops run by both sides but perhaps the successful 45° jump shot from 3 yards out by Gail Thomas in the first doubles game would take some beating.

Chester were convincingly beaten 5-0 by a strong Bowdon side in the away fixture of the AC Advanced B-level League on Sunday, 30 July. The Chester team of Robin Tasker (captain) David Boyd and David Guyton played good croquet through the day but were undone by the quality of their opponents playing on familiar (and excellent) lawns.

In the morning in both the singles and doubles games Chester achieved early leads but were unable to hold on as their opponents put together significant breaks to close out the games. The afternoon session was more of the same with the Chester team again playing some solid croquet but just unable to maintain their quality and as a consequence were defeated by their more consistent opponents.

While reporting on a heavy defeat, the games were nonetheless enjoyable, for the most part competitive, and played in a great spirit. And the forecast rain in the afternoon kindly deferred its arrival until after the final game. Thanks are due to the Bowdon team for their hospitality; and for the cream cakes they provided as a lunchtime treat that made the journey worthwhile!

Over the weekend, the Club hosted two community groups. 10 members of Saughall Rotary Club came on Saturday afternoon for a fun croquet session, and over 16 people came with MENSA on Sunday for the day. They played mostly association croquet in the morning and golf croquet in the afternoon, ending with tea. The days were led by Dennis Holman and everyone who attended had a great time. Some of the MENSA group had come from as far afield as Ireland and Yorkshire for this regular get together and are already looking forward to next year.

Murphy Shield win for Chester

Sarah Clements receiving her trophy from Dave Barrett of Bury

Sarah Clements, who has not been playing croquet for very long, brilliantly won the C series golf croquet competition held at Bury on Wednesday, 19 July. She won the semi-final on the golden hoop after fighting back from 4-6 down, and then won the final easily at 7-1.

On the following day, two close and exciting matches were held on Thursday, 2o July.

In an association croquet midweek handicap league match at home, the Chester team of Brian Walton (captain), David Boyd, David Guyton, and Paul Watson welcomed a strong and experienced team from Bury. The morning started with a couple of light rain showers but fortunately they had stopped by the time the games started though the grass surface was initially wet and slow. In the morning session, Chester won the doubles game but unfortunately lost both single games, so at lunch Chester were 1-2 down and all to play for in the afternoon. After lunch the sun shone and a brisk breeze enabled the lawns to dry our and play faster. From the four singles games played a rejuvenated Chester won three, one by just a single hoop on time, and lost the other one by a relatively small margin. The final score was Chester 4 Bury 3.

Left to right, Chester’s Murphy Shield team of Tom Grievson, Chris Thomas, Sally Slater and Rick Davies at Nottingham

Chester Croquet Club is still in the Murphy’s Shield national competition for level play golf croquet. The quarter final against Branston near Lincoln was played on the same Thursday,  on neutral ground at the lovely Nottingham croquet lawns. The team was Tom Grievson (captain), Rick Davies, Sally Slater and Chris Thomas. The doubles was won in the morning after a very close rubber, and the singles rubbers went one each, leaving Chester 2-1 up at the lunch break. In the afternoon, two singles were lost and one won, putting the score at 3 all, leaving the last game to be the decider. This went to 6 hoops each leaving the whole match dependent on just one hoop. Rick Davies played a fantastic shot to take the golden hoop, giving Chester the win 4-3. Chester now goes forward to meet Ealing in the semi final.

Then on Saturday, 22 July, the weekend association croquet handicap league was contested at Chester against Bowdon. The Chester team were David Boyd (captain), Helen Brophy, Mark Lloyd and Sally Slater. There were some heavy showers and quite a lot of drizzle most of the day, but the match was played in good spirits. Bowdon were 2-1 up at lunch, leaving all to play for, and the afternoon games were closely fought, but Chester only managed to win one of the singles, with the final score going 5-2 to Bowdon.

Down at Crake but fun at Chester

On Sunday, 9 July, the Chester association croquet handicap team of Brian Walton (captain), Richard Smith, Helen Brophy and David Boyd arrived at Crake Valley croquet club in Greenodd, Cumbria, to find a sunny but a cloudy morning with the lawn looking in good condition after the recent rain. However it turned out to play slowly and did not improve as the day progressed.

The morning doubles match was a closely fought battle with Chester unable to make a break until late in the game but too late to affect the outcome. Honours were shared in the two morning single games leaving Chester with a 1- 2 deficit at lunch.

In the afternoon Richard Smith and Brian Walton won their games, David Boyd lost by just 2 hoops and Helen Brophy, up against 10 bisques, made some positive breaks but was unable to secure a win. The final score was Crake Valley 4, Chester 3.

Both of the level play golf croquet teams were in action in North West league matches on Wednesday, 12 July.

The Chester Chariots team of Rick Davies, Sarah Clements and Pat Clare (captain) travelled to Bury’s Whitehead Park with serious concerns about the weather. Their lawns were very wet with flooding in the corner of lawn 3. Chester started slowly but got used to the wet conditions. Heavy rain called for an early lunch break but a second lunch break was agreed to miss even heavier rain. Chester went on to win 13 – 5. Seven of the games went to the Golden Hoop -used when both players reach 6 all, so it was a more evenly matched match than the scores suggest.

On the same day, the Chester Centurions team played at home against Southport.

Thirty people attended the ever popular social funday on Sunday, 16 July, where members are encouraged to bring along friends and family of all ages to enjoy an afternoon of fun croquet with a bubbly afternoon tea.

Members and friends enjoying a social funday on Sunday, 16 July

Death of John Dawson

We are sad to report the death of John Dawson on 8 July 2023 a few weeks before his 78th birthday.

He was one of probably quite a large cohort of people who took up croquet after retiring having been an active sportsman in his earlier years.

He joined Chester Croquet Club in 2002, was elected to the committee in 2004 and served as secretary from November 2013 until stepping down due to ill health in 2022.

While secretary of Chester Croquet Club he was elected by the North West Federation as the regional representative on the CA Council in November 2016 becoming Chairman of the Publishing Committee and a member of the Marketing and Tournament Committees in 2017. He became Chairman of the CA Management Committee in 2018 and was appointed Vice-Chairman of the CA Council in May 2019. In these roles he was deeply involved in the CA’s working groups on organisation and governance which resulted in the recent reorganisation and current changes in charitable legal status. He led the CA’s participation in the very successful CountryFile Live events at Blenheim in 2018 and Castle Howard in 2019. More recently during 2020 and 2021 he took a leading role in developing and promulgating the CA’s policies on child safeguarding. After five very busy years, he relinquished his role as NW Federation representative in November 2021.

In between all these activities John took part in many NW Federation league matches and competitions, inter-counties competitions and national tournaments for association croquet and succeeded in reducing his AC handicap to 3.

He also enjoyed international croquet hospitality and played casual games at several Melbourne clubs during his many visits to Australia. In 2020 he enjoyed watching an English croquet team at a tournament at Cairnlea, Victoria.

John was born in Newcastle under Lyme in 1945, attended a local grammar school, graduated in classics at Cambridge and went on to take a post graduate course at Oxford. After graduation he joined ICI and spent the whole of his career in personnel management at Billingham, Severnside, Northern Ireland and in Hong Kong and latterly at Runcorn when he and his family came to live in Chester. Following diagnosis of prostate cancer he took early retirement in 2001 but treatment over 20 years proved remarkably effective before fading over the past eighteen months.

Throughout his retirement he was continually involved in a wide range of activities. He served as a JP for several years and with his wife, Ann, he was a part-time assistant warden at Youth Holiday Association hostels where he enjoyed leading country walks. In addition to croquet, he was a keen bridge player and bird watcher, also a frequent concert and theatre goer, and continued to be a keen follower of cricket which was his earlier sport. He was well travelled, always curious and well informed, and always ready to debate anything with anybody.

His wife, Ann, died in 2012, and they had two daughters, Alice a solicitor in London who is married with two sons, and Clare in Melbourne, Australia, also married with two sons.

Chester Croquet Club is sad to lose such a keen and active member who will be remembered widely for his energy, enthusiasm and good humour. And our sympathies go to all his family and friends.

A short mention of John Dawson’s death appeared in the obituary section of The Times on Saturday, 22 July. The Latin phrase ‘Clarior e tenebris’ – ‘More brightly from out of darkness’ or ‘Brighter from obscurity’ – is the motto of his old school.

Funeral arrangements

10.40 am Friday, 28 July 2023
Blacon Crematorium, Blacon Avenue, Chester CH1 5BB
and afterwards at John Dawson’s house
The Cottage, 2 Westminster Avenue, Chester CH4 8JB

To assist with catering, please notify Robin Tasker by Sunday, 23 July,
if you plan to attend the funeral and the gathering afterwards.

More mixed fortunes

Chester’s association croquet team were in action on home turf on Wednesday, 5 July, against a much stronger team from Nottingham with both clubs competing for a place in the semi-final of the national inter-club advanced competition for the Mary Rose trophy. Chester was represented by David Boyd (captain), Elmyr Hughes, Mark Lloyd and Brian Walton. The format was for level play without the benefit of handicap differences so, despite some advantage from local knowledge of the lawns, it was bound be a challenging day for Chester with their combined handicaps totalling 12.5 compared with Nottingham’s much lower total of 4.

Following the morning session of a doubles and two singles games, Nottingham gained a lead of 2 games to 1 by winning the two singles games, so there was still everything to play for in the four afternoon singles games. As the afternoon results came in, Nottingham managed to maintain their lead to the end of the match with the final score of Nottingham 4 Chester 3 with both sides winning two singles games. A defeat for Chester but no disgrace either as it really was a ‘knife-edge’ result with one hoop point difference out of 26 in one of the morning singles results which, if reversed, would have given Chester the match victory. There was no usual time limit to the games and play eventually finished after 8.00 pm leaving the Nottingham team with a late drive back home.

Then on Thursday, 6 July, Chester played a short lawn match against Fylde which proved to be an honourable draw. Each round of 4 games ended in a 2 all draw, with the final score being Chester 8 – Fylde 8. There were some nail biting finishes as the Chester team of Sally Slater (captain), Nigel Worthington, Val Sanders and Robert Jones faced three higher handicapped players with the very last game of the match going to a golden hoop. The expected rain stayed off so the lawns were dry and fast and a lovely day was had by all.

On the following Sunday, 9 July, the Chester Senators team got off to a good start against a visiting Llanfairfechan Dragons team in a handicap golf croquet match at Westminster Park. Chester’s captain, Edward Baskerville, who won all of his singles games, was supported by Jill Foley, Mel Hagen and Elaine Smith and the team soon opened a 5 to 1 lead in the warm , humid weather. The visiting team fought back to even the score but the Chester team re-established its pace to pull away to lead 11 games to 6. With the final game at five hoops each, a darkening sky suddenly thundered the arrival of rain. The players ran for cover and for tea and declared that game a draw. The final result was Chester Senators 11, Llanfairfechan Dragons 6 and 1 draw.

Another busy week

It was another busy week for Chester Croquet Club with two national competitions, a mid week match and a social event at Westminster Park.

On Thursday, 29 June, a Bowdon team came to play at Chester in the midweek association croquet handicap league. The Chester team was Brian Walton (captain), Helen Brophy, Sally Slater and Paul Watson. It was a sunny but cool morning and the lawns were in good condition after some recent rain, and soon dried with the breeze and sun as the day progressed.

The morning doubles match was a closely fought battle with Chester just failing to get the final hoop after a break of 5 hoops to win the game, leaving Bowdon with an easy hit in to take the match with the last shot. Honours were shared in the two single games, both of which provided a considerable bisque advantage to our opponents, leaving Chester with a 1- 2 deficit at lunch. In the afternoon two games each were won, with Sally Slater just winning her game on the golden hoop, so the final score was Bowdon 4 Chester 3.

Then on Saturday, 1 July, Chester Croquet Club attended the Westminster Park Residents’ Association Coronation Picnic and Fun Day. The extremely well organised event was held at Westminster Park Community Centre and Belgrave School and attracted many residents and visitors.

Chester Croquet Club members set up a croquet lawn that was a quarter of the normal competition size. Participants, both adult and junior, had to hit a ball around six hoops with the winners being those who scored the least number of shots.

Volunteers from the club Rhia, Benita, Jill, Doreen, Dave and Sarah accompanied the competitors and ensured there was a correct count of shots. The volunteers were busy all afternoon as over 60 rounds were played with participants being aged 3 to senior!

The competition was fierce with Chester Croquet Club players also having a go. In the end the winners played great rounds and Erin won the junior competition with 14 hoops in total and Jane the senior competition with 13 hoops in total. Well done to both participants as they were fantastic scores.

A young player at the Westminster Park Residents’ Association Coronation Picnic and Fun Day discovering the art of croquet
The successful winners at the Westminster Park Residents Association Coronation Picnic and Fun Day on Saturday, 1 July

There were mixed fortunes for the teams competing in two national inter- club competitions during the same weekend.

A short lawn association croquet team of Derek Bell-Jones, Nigel Worthington, John Hampson and Robert Jones travelled to York on Saurday, 1 July, for their second round tie. Despite Robert Jones winning all three of his games and some very close matches, the final score was 7-4 to York.

Players from Chester and York at the Short Croquet Inter-Club match at York on Saturday, 1 July. The Chester players from the left are Derek Bell-Jones, Robert Jones, John Hampson and Nigel Worthington on the far right.

On the follwing day, Sunday, 2 July, in the golf level play inter- club competition held at Chester against Bowdon, the team of Tom Grievson (captain), David Boyd, Mark Lloyd and John Hampson were facing a much stronger Bowdon team when looking at the respective handicaps. However, the Chester team played extremely well and won 4-3. Chester now go on to play Hurlingham in the semi-final.

Mixed fortunes

Llanfairfechan hosted Chester at the first Snowdonia Cup golf handicap match on Friday, 16 June. The weather was lovely, sunny and warm with slight cloud at times but much more comfortable than in previous days during the heatwave of the last week!

Jim Hughes enjoyed his debut and was a great asset to the team along with Rick Davies, Kerry Dadson and Jude Wise (Captain). The Llanfairfechan lawns were rather challenging, undulating in parts with longer grass than Chester so slower, but all played well and Chester took the lead by 5-3 at lunch time.

Chester was in the lead 8-7 when everyone had completed their games except Kerry, so it was a nail biting wait for the final result, but Kerry excelled by winning all of his games resulting in the final score of Chester 9 and Llanfairfechan 7.

After beating Southport 4 – 3 in the first round of the national Longman Cup association croquet handicap competition on 19 May, Chester played away against Fylde in the second round on Saturday, 17 June. The Chester team for this match was David Boyd (captain), Helen Brophy, David Guyton and Brian Walton. Under a grey sky and adjusting to rather variable lawn conditions, they found themselves up against stiff competition from Fylde and by lunchtime were down 0 – 3 having lost the doubles game and two singles games in the morning. To retrieve the match, Chester needed to win all four of the singles games in the afternoon. However, it was not to be and Chester succeeded in winning only one when David Guyton beat Fylde’s lowest handicap player. The final result was a 6 – 1 win for Fylde. On losing matches at Chester Fylde have been known to question the handicaps of some Chester players and a reciprocal sentiment might have been felt on this occasion. Nevertheless, the games were played in good spirit and Fylde were generous in providing lunch with strawberries and ice cream followed by an iced lolly at the end of the afternoon.

On the following day, Sunday, 18 June, the club held one of its monthly social fundays for members and friends. After the blazing sun and high temperatures earlier in the week, the cloudier sky and gentle breeze provided ideal conditions for light refreshments and a few friendly rounds of croquet.

More June matches

A busy week of croquet competition began with a Murphy Shield level play golf croquet match against Leicester at home on Tuesday, 6 June. Chester had earlier gained a walk-over win against Durham to get into the second round match of this national competition. The Leicester team arrived after a fairly long, arduous journey, but soon adapted to the vagaries of the sloping lawns and challenged the Chester team of Tom Grievson (captain), John Hampson, Sally Slater and Brian Lussey throughout the seven rubbers.

A very closely contested doubles game, which went to three golden hoops, saw Chester leading 3-0 at lunch. Another two rubbers were comfortably won in the afternoon and one game was drawn, giving a final score of 5-1 to Chester, who go on to meet Branston, Lincolnshire, on a neutral ground in the next round.

The Chester and Leicester teams at Chester for the Murphy Shield level play golf croquet match on Tuesday, 6 June

The following Thursday, 8 June, saw Chester’s two level play golf croquet teams in action. The Centurions played Bury away and the Chariots played Southport at home. The Chariots had a good day’s play even though it was a bit hot in the afternoon. Games were closely fought, the final score being Southport 11 and Chester 7. Meanwhile, at Bury the Centurions team of Tom Grievson (captain), Rick Davies and Mark Lloyd won convincingly by 16 games to 2.

Then, on Saturday, 10 June, Chester Senators played handicap golf croquet against the Llanfairfechan Pioneers at home. A gazebo was erected to provide shade from the expected very hot and sultry day and Chester’s strong team got off to a very good start by winning all but one of the first eight games. Chester’s Rick Davies and Ian Shaw continued with their winning ways and both ended the day with clean sheets and handicap rewards. Jude Wise and Sandy Grievson also had a good day with each losing only one of their games during the day. The final score was Chester 15 and Llanfairfechan 3.

Next, on Sunday, 11 June, Chester Tribunes travelled to Llanfairfechan to play their Dragons handicap golf croquet team. The weather started sunny although there was a sea fret which masked the sea views along the coast and the much anticipated sight of Puffin Island. Chester dominated the doubles with David Johnson (captain) and Brian Lussey winning 7 hoops to 4, and Laurence Cole and Sarah Clements also winning their doubles game 7 hoops to 4. Play then turned to the singles games as the Avanti trains rattled along the adjacent rail track. Special mention goes to Laurence Cole for winning three of his four singles games for Chester, and congratulations go to the Llanfairfechan Dragons team for winning the match overall, 12 games to 6.

June brings another win for Chester

On Sunday, 4  June, Bury Caesars arrived at Chester on another gloriously sunny day to play in a weekend North West Federation league match for handicap association croquet. Robin Tasker captained the Chester side with Sally Slater, Helen Brophy and David Boyd playing.

Both singles games were won in the morning but the doubles game was lost in a low scoring game, giving Chester a narrow lead of 2 – 1 by lunchtime.

After refreshment and rehydration, Chester managed to squeeze ahead in the four singles games in the afternoon winning 3 – 1 although Helen Brophy and and Robin Tasker had to work hard to dig out their wins while Sally Slater pegged out for the second time in the day.

The final result was a 5 -2 win for Chester giving the club a winning start to the weekend association croquet handicap season. But if the dry, sunny weather holds for much longer, lawn conditions will become much, much more erratic and exciting!

Yet more May successes

Wednesday, 24 May, was a lovely day for two NW Federation level play golf croquet league matches.

The first was between Chester Chariots and Bury, which was thoroughly enjoyed by both teams. At lunch time the Chester team was just in front by 5 games to 4, but clearly found fresh resources after lunch, winning seven of the nine games in the afternoon, giving a final result of 12 – 6. The team of Rick Davies (captain), Chris Thomas and Kerry Dadson, playing in his first level play league match, can be justly proud of their victory against a strong Bury side.

Away at Southport on the same day, the Chester Centurions team of Tom Grievson, Mark Lloyd and Sally Slater also had a successful day, winning 11 games to 7. Mark Lloyd was the star player, winning 5 of his 6 games.

Then on Saturday, 27 May, the club fielded a team against Bury in the NW Federation Advanced B Level league. Representing Chester were  Brian Walton (captain), Elmyr Hughes and David Boyd. The team arrived at Bury   on a glorious sunny morning to find a recently cut lawn in good condition. It was a little damp in the shaded areas but with the sunshine promised, we were sure it would soon dry and became fast and challenging, which proved to be true, with the added fun of the hoops appearing to get shrink as the day progressed.

The morning doubles match featured several full lawn roquets but making breaks proved more difficult. Paul Kenworthy, captain of the Bury team,  managed a couple of good breaks to take his ball around to peg and then assisted Phil Nuttall in getting his ball to a position to take the game as time expired. Meanwhile in the singles, Elmyr Hughes of Chester won a closely fought game against Ged Smolskas by a narrow margin with some excellent precision play.

Just prior to lunch the teams were rewarded with a fly past by the RAF Memorial Flight, right over the lawns, comprising a Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane, which stopped play for a few moments but well worth it.

In the afternoon in increasingly warmer conditions, Elmyr continued his good form with victory over Paul, David Boyd had to contend with Ged, who was keen to recover from his morning loss and with some good play and fortune was able to stop David getting momentum in the game and he eventually pegged out, Brian Walton overcame Phil by a narrow margin in a closely fought game with minimal breaks and plenty of hoop blobs.

The final result was a hard fought 3 – 2 win for Chester with many thanks to Bury for their hospitality, good weather and air display.

Finally, on Sunday, 28 May, the short lawn league was in contention when Chester played away at Bowdon. It was a mainly sunny day and the Chester team of Derek Bell-Jones (captain), Sally Slater, Helen Brophy and Nigel Worthington made a decisive start, winning 6 games out of 8 in the morning. The games after lunch were much more hotly contested with two going to the golden hoop and it was neck and neck until the final two games which Chester won, giving the final score of 9-7.

Overall, a good week for Chester with four wins in three leagues over five days.