Author: David Guyton

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.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

The Chester B-Level GC Series Tournament on Saturday, 30 May, attracted 16 players only one of whom is a Chester member. The other fifteen travelled in from all points of the compass, Durham to Devon and Lincolnshire to Somerset. Handicaps were from 3 (he was a 4 at allocation) to 9 but mostly 5 and 6.

The lawns at Chester are in the ‘interesting’ category with their elegant NE to SW modest incline but the turf is fine and dense and fast and provides grip to the balls. Except when it hasn’t rained for a while. And it has not and it was hot – close to 25° by mid-afternoon. So they had progressed into the ‘challenging ‘ category. But were the gallant band of B players intimidated – they were not … much.

Early leaders in the four blocks were Eddie Wilson from Backworth in Block A and Paul Rockall from Gainsborough in Block D both of whom won their three games. Edward Baskerville in Block A led the field in net hoops but dropped a game, 7 – 6 , to Eddie Wilson in a very exciting and extremely close game. Eddie eventually clinched hoop 13 by a seven yard in-off. The blocks were completed by lunchtime. Lunch was, as usual at Chester, provided to all competitors and from comments received could be the reason why some players return every year!

Paul, Eddie, Edward, Ian Longstaff (Pendle) and Roger Booth (Eynsham) were the strong showers at the start of the Cup knockout with Sue I’Anson (Rippon Spa) and Ian Hammond (Southwell) edging in front on net hoops in a fairly even Plate knockout.

In the Cup quarter final, Jill Shaw (Camerton), who was the golden-hoop expert in the blocks, succumbed to Roger Booth and Eddie and Ian scraped through. But the large spectator crowd were more interested in the Clare and Paul Rockall game. Clare beat her husband 7/5. Clare fought her way in to the final to face Ian Longstaff. Ian won the Chester B-Level convincingly.

Over in the Plate there was another family tussle between the Hammonds from Southwell. Linda beat Ian 7/6. It was quietly noted by some that both wives were higher handicappers than their husbands. But two dark horses, Adam Britton (Llanidloeds) and Brenda Duplock from Budleigh Salterton worked their way steadily through the field to the Plate final. Adam prevailed and earned the Plate.

It was a good early summer’s day of croquet, played in good spirit in front of a good crowd.

Chester played their first match of the season in the NW Federation AC Advanced League against Crake Lakes at home on Thursday, 28 May, with the team of Mark Lloyd, David Boyd and Robin Tasker.

The weather was hot and steamy after overnight thunderstorms and torrential rain which eased the Chester courts somewhat to make them slightly more predictable although they remained very fast.

In the morning session Chester lost both the doubles and the one singles game. And so at lunch Chester were 0 – 2 down.

The afternoon saw a turnaround in fortune and while the singles games were intense and highly competitive Chester prevailed in all three and so to win the match 3 – 2.

This was the second match within two days when Chester had lost all the morning games but won the match by winning all the afternoon games. There must be a message there somewhere!

On the third consecutive day of record temperatures Chester was drawn to play away against York in the first round of the national association croquet 26 point handicap inter-club Longman Cup competition on Tuesday, 26 May.

The Chester team of Robin Tasker (captain), David Boyd, Rick Davies and Sally Slater ventured over the Pennines to the furnace that was York to play at their beautiful grounds and to enjoy their friendly hospitality.

The heat was intense. And after the morning session Chester went to lunch – well in reality to rehydrate – 0 – 3 down having lost the doubles and both singles where in truth only the doubles pair of David and Rick had come close to victory.

Perhaps with nothing to lose, the afternoon was very different. Although there were some tight games, Chester led throughout the session and with one final game still in play the match score was back to 3 – 3. And in his first ever full lawn 26 point singles match Rick held his nerve to a 23 – 20 victory and so secured Chester’s progression to the second round of the Longman Cup when the club will be playing against Bury in a national competition for the second time this year .