Author: David Guyton

On Thursday, 6 August, Chester Centurions played away against Birkdale in the NW Federation level play golf croquet league. The Chester team of Jude Wise (captain), Liz Jordan and David Mann enjoyed the day at Southport. The day was perfect, sunny and gradually became hotter as the day wore on as it has done for weeks now. However, we all found their beautiful green lawns difficult after our parched home lawns. Our balls struggled to reach the positions we wanted them to, and of course Birkdale team had no problem and were very good all round resulting in their victory of 15 – 3. Liz was the woman of the match through securing 2 wins and out of her 4 lost games 3 were at the golden hoop! We did put up a good fight and our scores were ok but not good enough to win.

On the following day, a further Chester Centurions team played at home against Bowdon in the same NW Federation level play golf croquet league. Bowdon sent their strongest players, Angharrad Walters -3, David Cornes 0 and Alan Dix 2 , against our team David Boyd 1, Andy Wilson-Chalon 5 and Jude Wise (captain) 6, so we expected it to be a challenge!  Both teams enjoyed all the games and we did our best and played well considering it was a very hot day and the lawns were running extremely fast. David Boyd won our one and only win at the golden hoop, but we all managed to get some reasonable scores against the strong opposition.

The hoops are early hoops when the game was being introduced in England at the Great Exhibition in 1851. It wasn’t until the 1870s that the current inside width of 3¾ in was adopted. So the set is a vintage set with the prestigious Harrods name.

If you are interested, please reply to John Hemsworth at the e-mail address above.

Following the prolonged sunny and dry weather with peak daytime temperatures repeatedly exceeding 30° C, croquet clubs across the country are now finding themselves playing on lawns which have managed to stay recognisably green or those, like Chester, which are parched and brown. And what a difference it makes to play.

On Tuesday, 28 July, the  Chester team of David Boyd, Rick Davies, Sally Slater and Robin Tasker travelled to Coronation Park at Bury to play the second round in the national Longman Cup association croquet handicap competition. The team were re-introduced to the novelty of playing on green grass and found the experience mysteriously difficult with take-offs and hoop approach shots falling alarmingly short.

Lunch was reached with Chester 0-3 down although the doubles and one singles game were close calls, Chester going down by a couple of hoops on both games. Bisques, a very accomplished opponent and to an extent the slow paced court mentality the other singles games rapidly completed.

The afternoon session saw little improvement although Rick played extremely well to record our only victory of the day. And so for Chester the 2026 Longman Cup journey ended with Bury thoroughly deserving their 6-1 victory.

On the following day, Wednesday, 29 July, there was a home match against Bowdon in the new NW Federation One Ball League. After their reintroduction to grass at Bury the day before, Rick Davies and Robin Tasker joined with Doreen Curtis to play on the unpredictable straw and speed of Chester’s lawns.

It was a wonderfully relaxed day of competitive but friendly croquet played by both sides with a real spirit of enjoyment. Once the Byzantine handicap system of One Ball had been negotiated and the bisque allocations determined, the games commenced.

And, while there were considerable ebbs and flows during games, the majority were decided by one or two hoops with neither side ever more than one game ahead. It was therefore no surprise that with Chester taking the final game, the match score finished all square at 9-all.

So it turns out the authors of the One Ball handicap system did know what they were doing. Or perhaps the challenges of the Chester lawns represents a great leveller!

Chester hosted the NW Federation Millennium 26-point AC Handicap Tournament on Saturday, 25 July. Only four players – two from Bowdon and two from Chester – had entered the tournament which was disappointing but those present enjoyed a competitive day on Chester’s fast courts and showed great skill from the start.

The day began in warm sunshine and in the first round of matches, Mike Flannery (11) from Bowdon beat Ant Fletcher (12) 18-4 as Ant struggled to get the measure of the court. Meanwhile Sally Slater (14) was narrowly beaten by Bowdon’s Robert Cutts-Watson (10) 15-18 as she came back strongly as time was reached.

After an early lunch the second round matches pitted Sally against Ant who following the break found his touch and playing neat controlled croquet – well mostly anyway! – won 18-9. The other match between Mike and Robert was of high quality with some excellent breaks. Mike established a good lead but then Robert pegged him back and got to within 3 hoops of parity but just failed to get position on 3-back. This allowed Mike to run out the 21-16 winner.

The tea break allowed all to recuperate with the help of chocolate fudge cake, strawberries and squirty cream ready for the final round.
Robert and Ant fought out a tough match which by their admission was not one for the crowds with Robert holding on to a 17-11 win. Meanwhile in the other match Sally started strongly and established a small lead but Mike replied with some excellent and precise croquet to peg out in just over two hour of play to win 26-13.

Once all the results had been compiled and points calculated Mike Flannery was the deserved winner of the 2026 Millennium AC 26-point Handicap Tournament remaining undefeated through the day and with 65 hoops run in the process. His was a fine display of consistent hitting in, controlled croquet shots and excellent hoop running on the rapid Chester courts.

With the manager’s failure to recover the Tournament trophy from a previous winner in time, Mike was presented with his very own Chester mug as a surrogate prize for his endeavours. The real thing will follow in due course!

As the third heatwave of the summer continues, so do the NW Federation league matches.

On Saturday, 18 July, Chester Senators played Pendle in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. The match was originally scheduled to be played at Chester but was moved to Pendle as the Chester lawns have been so parched and brown and unpredictably fast and erratic. At Pendle there was green, dew drenched grass everywhere and the lawns were flat. The morning temperatures stayed in the high teens with an occasional rain shower !

The result was a 14 – 4 win for Pendle but the Chester team all played well and spent a very happy day with convivial hosts in a beautiful setting. We didn’t come away empty handed as we were awarded a cup which the team was very proud to receive and bring home.

On the following day, Chester was host to Bowdon Griffins in the NW Federation association croquet 26 point handicap league. Here the lawns proved a real challenge to both teams with the slightest of shots overshooting and balls making unpredictable turns at the end of their runs. As an added challenge, the Chester team found themselves facing 53½ bisques – free shots – by the Bowden players compared with just 4 bisques for one of the Chester players.

As a result the Chester team of David Guyton (captain), David Boyd, Robin Tasker and Ant Fletcher, who was playing in his first full lawn association croquet league match, found themselves having to work hard against a keen and competent visiting team. In the morning games, Chester won the doubles and one of the two singles games, all three games finishing with very narrow hoop differences. The four singles games in the afternoon were similarly hard fought with both teams winning two games each giving Chester an overall 4 – 3 win against the Bowdon Griffins team.

Then on Wednesday, 22 July, Chester Centurions played away against Bury Sovereigns in the NW golf croquet level plat league.

The match was won Bury, 10 games to 8 but it was a tight finish and could easily have gone either way with seven golden hoops, four won by Chester. It was a long day not finishing until almost 5:30 p.m. played at Whitehead Park at Bury on a pleasantly cool morning turning into a warm sunny afternoon. The match was played in great spirit with Bury led by Simon Attwell support by Richard Leach and David Barrett; such a joy to be on the lawns with David, quite the master tactician.

Chester led by Rick Davies supported by Edward Baskerville and Greg Orriell had a combined average handicap of 4 against 5 for Bury so we were closely matched teams. In the event Bury scored 112 hoops whilst Chester managed 101. At the second tea interval when we were offered lemon drizzle cake and ice creams the score was Bury 8 and Chester 7. The match hinged on the final session with two golden hoops games, one going to Bury and they took the third game too.

Rookie Greg Orriell on handicap 7 had a splendid first outing with Chester Centurions winning three of his games and making good use of his renowned jump shots, snatching victory from Simon in a 7 – 5 finish before lunch. After the scorching heat that has baked Westminster Park, it was pleasing to find the surface at Whitehead Park nicely playable even if rather brown in places.

Thanks to Bury Sovereigns and Simon for making the Chester team so welcome and giving us such an enjoyable day’s golf croquet.

 

 

Early in July, Sarah Clements continued her success story by travelling up to Crake Valley in the southern Lake District, to win the Golf Croquet National A series tournament against strong opposition.

On Saturday, 4 July, Chester hosted a heat of the new “Northern Stars” one-day Golf Croquet Open competition. The weather was indifferent, but 12 players with handicaps ranging from -3 to 8 played in two blocks in the morning and a knockout in the afternoon. The morning play put Euan Bridges and Neil Adams out in front with Chris Higgins, Roger Brooks and Martyn (Sam) Seal showing promise.  The Championship knockout  saw Euan beat Sam and Neil beat Chris to set up a thrilling 19 point final between Euan and Neil, which Euan finally won at 10-9.

On the following Saturday, 18 July, a team of four golf croquet players travelled into deepest Wales to play a friendly against Llanidloes. This was a very enjoyable match, which Chester narrowly won and we look forward to welcoming Llanidloes to Chester in August for a return match.  Hopefully this will turn into an annual event.

Chester Croquet Club has been spreading the Chester name about lately ! Over the weekend of 28-29 June a group of members took part in both association and golf croquet competitions in the Southport Croquet Festival, which involved a number of other teams from all over the North West region. Whilst no trophies were won, there were many close games and a lot of fun was had.

Meanwhile, over in Ireland Chester’s Sarah Clements was making her first appearance as part of the England ladies croquet team squad, taking part in the Women’s Golf Croquet European Championships against players from all over Europe. Congratulations to Sarah, she did us proud !

Back in Chester on Sunday, 28 June, the club welcomed 11 members of the local branch of the Cambridge Society to an afternoon of progressive golf croquet. Bright sunshine with a cooling breeze gave perfect playing conditions, though the parched lawns were running very fast, making short hits difficult. Home made quiche with cakes and scones at teatime meant everyone left for home happy. Chester knows how to entertain !

Later in the week the Chester Senators played a handicap golf croquet match away against Llanfairfechan in a windy but mild North Wales. The teams were level at 5 all by lunchtime, but the hosts edged ahead to finish the afternoon ahead at 10-8. Maybe the lovely cakes the hosts provided at lunchtime had an effect !

Chester Chariots meanwhile faced Bury Sovereigns in a level play golf croquet match on a very hot and dry day in Chester. Fast lawns made the task difficult for all players over a very long days play, but Chester finally pushed ahead during the afternoon, securing a 12 – 6 win.

Following a short lawn match away against Llanfairfechan on Sunday, 14 June, Chester made another trip on Thursday, 2 July, this time the Chester Senators team playing away in the NW golf croquet handicap league.

The morning was a little windy and overcast but gradually brightened as the day progressed. The first doubles match took an hour and a half proving a tough challenge ending in 7 – 6 to Chester. By lunchtime the scores were even at 5 – 5 so we had a relaxing break assisted by some lovely cakes provided by our very gracious hosts.  The afternoon finished with Llanfairfechan edging ahead by two games to lead 10 – 8. The day ended in bright sunshine and smiles all round!

On Wednesday, 9 June,  Chester Centurions had rather better fortune in their golf croquet level play league match against Crake Valley, up in the Southern Lakes, and came home victorious, winning 12 games to 6.

Unfortunately, the planned match at home against Westmorland on Thursday, 11 June, had to be cancelled due to the heavy rain, resulting in the lawns being waterlogged, with standing water. It is difficult to play croquet under water, and a number of ducks were standing by in anticipation of a new home ! Hopefully a new date can be fixed to welcome Westmorland down to Chester from their base at the lovely Levens Hall.

On Sunday, 14 June, Chester played at home against Bury Peelers in the NW Federation association croquet 26 point handicap league. The Chester team for this match were David Boyd (captain), David Guyton, Robin Tasker and Andy Wilson-Chalon. They found themselves facing a keen and competent team from Bury with higher handicaps giving them an overall total of 47 bisques – free shots – over the seven games. After the heavy rain the previous Thursday, the lawns were already drying out and becoming quite fast and variable again. The weather started dull and chilly for the time of the year but brightened up during the day finishing sunny and warm by the end of the afternoon. Chester’s performance matched the weather, losing the doubles and one of the two singles games in the morning leaving Chester 1 – 2 down by lunchtime. As the weather perked up during the afternoon, so did Chester by winning three of the four singles games after lunch giving a final 4 – 3 win for Chester.

On the same day, the Chester AC Short Lawn team of Sally Slater, Helen Brophy and Jayne Taylor travelled to Llanfairfechan, where they enjoyed a sunny day and some good croquet, in a lovely setting with great company. Winning the match 6 – 3 provided the icing on the cake !

On Friday, 29 May, Chester played at home against Fylde in the NW Federation short lawn league. The day was very sunny and pleasant and both sides played in a friendly spirit. Chester’s team of Derek Bell Jones, Helen Brophy and Sarah Clements faced the Fylde team of Alison, Barry and Robert. By lunch time Fylde were in the lead and although Chester pulled back some wins the final score was a 5 – 4 win for Fylde. Congratulations to Robert who was the only player to win all his games.

In a second match at home against Fylde a few days later on Saturday, 6 June, Chester Senators played Fylde Coasters in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. The old adage that croquet is a nasty game for nice people rang true. The match was played by very nice people, in good spirits and the games were competitive but enjoyable. The result was an 11 – 7 win for Fylde Coasters and the games managed to finish in good time to avoid any rain. Well done everyone.