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.
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.
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.