Author: David Guyton

On Wednesday, 4 May, Chester was host to Bury in a NW Federation Advanced B Level League match in what turned out to be extremely inclement weather, not exactly ideal for a summer sport!

Chester was represented by Elmyr Hughes (Handicap 1), Jerry Guest (2) and Robin Tasker (4). Bury’s team was David Barrett (3½), Roger Schofield (5) and Phillip Nuttall (10).

In the morning Elmyr Hughes and Robin Tasker won 10 – 8 against Roger Schofield and Phillip Nuttall in a low-scoring doubles game, whilst Jerry Guest overcame a very resolute David Barrett 22 – 13.

The afternoon singles games proved to be very difficult for both teams coping with the dreadful conditions of continual wind and rain until approximately 4 pm. However local knowledge of lawn conditions proved to be the telling factor as Chester took all the matches: Elmyr Hughes v David Barrett 26 – 7, Jerry Guest v Roger Schofield 26 – 8, and Robin Tasker v Phillip Nuttall 26 – 5.

So the overall result was a satisfying  5 – 0 clean sweep for Chester in the Club’s first Advanced B Level match of the season.

Chester were in action again on the following day, Thursday, 5 May. A  handicap association croquet team of David Boyd, David Guyton, Robin Tasker and Nigel Worthington travelled to Pendle to play Middlesbrough in the first round of the national Secretary’s Shield competition.

In the morning session Chester won both singles games with David Guyton winning by the narrowest of margins by just one hoop and Nigel more straightforwardly. A close doubles game was eventually lost after Middlesbrough opened with a spectacular fourth turn round to rover.

In the afternoon, the top two singles were lost, the first following further stunning play by the Middlesbrough top ranked player and the second narrowly in the last few minutes of play.  Fortunately both David Boyd and Nigel Worthington won convincingly which took Chester over the line for a 4-3  victory, and a second round tie against York.

Despite a somewhat chilly start and rather damp lawns in the morning, the weather improved significantly during the afternoon. The outcome was a successful day with thanks due to the Pendle and Craven Croquet Club for hosting the match on neutral ground midway between the two clubs and for a competitive but enjoyable encounter with the Middlesbrough side.

 

 

 

Calling all GC players interested in playing in the RAT League this year.

I have the following names on my list of participants :

Mel Hagan, Kerry Dadson, Pat Wheeler, Jill Foley, Jude Wise, David Booth, Chris Slater, Liz Baskerville, Edward Baskerville, Arnie Banford, Keith Dixon, Ian Meadows, Sandy Grievson, Lesley Newman, Sarah Clements, John Walker, Brian Lussey, David Johnson, Giles Pepperell.

If you are not included, but wish to join in, please let me know asap, similarly if you are included incorrectly. My apologies if you have requested inclusion and I have missed you.  But hence this email.

The list will be pinned up in the pavilion, along with contact emails and phone numbers.  You can also get these from the website (members section, members list).  Could Brian Lussey, John Walker and David Johnson let me have their preferred contact phone numbers please.

I also attach revised guidance notes for the competition this year.  There are some changes so if you are re-joining please do read them again. In particular, please note that this year the results should be included on your handicap cards, and your index adjusted accordingly. The notes will also be pinned up on the notice board.

The competition runs till the end of October, so you have six months to play as many games as you can, or indeed want to. Start as soon as you like.

All the best

Jayne Taylor

The team of Derek Bell-Jones, Nigel Worthington, Robert Jones and Jayne Taylor finally played their postponed play-off final against Westmorland in the North West Federation short lawn league.

The match was supposed to be played last season, but was called off due to bad weather, not a problem on Tuesday, 26 April, when the weather was sunny and dry giving perfect playing conditions at the neutral venue of Southport.

It was a tight match, each team keeping pace with the other. The first round ended 2-2, the second round was 1-3, third round 3-1 then final round was 2-2, giving the final score of 8 all. Then the team with the most hoops is the winner. The hoops were nervously totalled up. Westmorland ran 139 hoops and Chester ran 158 hoops, giving Chester the championship.

The  new season got underway on Saturday, 23 April, in glorious sunshine with a local Derby between the two Chester teams in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. Chester Tribunes were led by Jude Wise with David Johnson, Brian Lussey and Keith Dixon. Chester Senators captain Edward Baskerville led Liz Baskerville, Ian Shaw and Kerry Dadson.  Despite an understandable hesitant start due to the long winter lay-off the Senators gradually drew ahead and were comfortably in front by lunchtime with Kerry Dadson showing good form. This trend continued in the afternoon with both Kerry and Edward shining for the Senators. The clash of the captains came in the final game where Jude reclaimed some Tribune pride by convincingly beating Edward. However Senators emerged as sound victors with 11 points to Tribunes 5 and two draws. Senator Kerry Dadson claims the laurel wreath as the only unbeaten player of the day.

On the following Sunday, 24 April, again with lovely weather, 24 aspiring croquet players came to the club to have a go at croquet. In a three hour session with coaches they learnt all about the skills needed for the sport and finished by playing a game of one ball, which was enjoyed by all. Anyone interested in croquet is always welcome to get in touch with the club and come and have a go.

Calling more players for this year’s Early Bird Competition!

The Early Bird Doubles Competition is due to be held on Saturday, 21 May.  This is a GC doubles competition for high handicaps (11’s and above) .  So far we only have seven people signed up for this.   We need a few more !

Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to join in.  You do not need to sign up as a pair.  These are selected randomly on the day.  It would be a shame to cancel it.

Jayne Taylor

14 May 2022

This year’s Early Bird Golf Doubles Competition

Calling all golf croquet players with high handicaps (ie 11 and above).  This year’s Early Bird Golf Doubles Competition will be held on Saturday, 21 May.  Partners will be allocated on the day, so you can sign up singly.  The length of the competition will depend on the number of entrants.  There is a maximum limit of 16 participants and we need to have at least 8 entrants for the competition to take place.

Please let me know if you wish to take part or sign up on the form which is displayed on the GC noticeboard in the pavilion and provides some further information.

This is an ideal competition for the new members who joined last year to take part in , alongside established members with a high handicap.

It’s just a bit of fun really !

Jayne Taylor

24 April 2022

Chester Croquet Club held its first social funday of the season on Sunday, 10 April, when over 25 members played various games of croquet in the sunshine. Fundays are held every month when members bring along friends and family to have a go at croquet. The season commences in earnest in the next couple of weeks as league matches start in the North West Federation when Chester have to defend titles won last year.

The season has begun.  You will have noticed that the lawn booking system is up and running and includes information on the roll up sessions and the various activities and events (league matches, taster sessions, beginners courses etc etc ) that might be taking place on the lawns each week.  Similarly the web site is a font of all knowledge about what is happening both at the club and on the croquet scene generally.  It is worth a regular visit.

I thought I would just give a gentle reminder that when you book the lawns, you should stick to 1½ hour or 3 hour slots, starting at the following times…..10am 11.30am 1pm 2.30pm 4pm and 5.30 pm…..during the day.   Also please could you identify, where possible, all the players who are due to play on the lawn.  If this is not possible when you book, please ensure that you identify if the lawn is going to be occupied by 2 people  or 4 , and then add the names of the players later. For those of you yet to use the system please remember that you will need a ID reference and a password to enter the system. Contact myself or one of the other administrators who will set one up for you. And after playing, don’t forget enter all the names in the attendance register on the shelf in the storeroom.

As I am sure you will all appreciate, there will be times when the lawns are more heavily used than others, and in order to ensure that they are used to full capacity, it will sometimes be necessary to double bank games.  This is a normal, recognised and acceptable practice, and indeed  occurs regularly in the regional league matches and in tournaments.  We would encourage people playing to be prepared to share their lawn to enable two games to be played at the same time if there are no other lawns available.  If there is another lawn available then of course it should be used.  If you book a lawn for two people to play singles, please be aware that you might get a request from other players to double bank for a game if there are no other lawns free.  I am sure you will all be helpful in this respect.

We are also hoping to reintroduce  a number of internal competitions that have been missing during the recent past.   The first of these is the Early Bird Doubles which will be held Saturday 22nd May.  This is a doubles GC competition for players with high handicaps (usually 11 or above).  So perfect for beginners !  I will send round information shortly and there will be a notice in the pavilion for you to sign on if you wish to play.   Watch your emails for details of other competitions during the season.

I hope you enjoy the 2022 Season.

Jayne Taylor

The new Rules of Golf Croquet 6th Edition issued by the World Croquet Federation have been approved by the Croquet Association and come into effect from Sunday, 27 March 2022.

Rules of Golf Croquet 6th Edition
Commentary and additional guidance

Copies of the new rules booklet are available for a modest £5 from Jayne Taylor.

Chester’s elite hoop-setting squad were in action on a gloriously sunny and warm spring morning last Thursday, 24 March, measuring out and installing hoops for the new season. They were back in action completing the task on a similar gloriously  sunny and warm spring morning the following Saturday, 26 March. Meanwhile, a dedicated housekeeping squad were hard at work doing an annual spring clean of the clubhouse. With both tasks accomplished, clocks going forward an hour on Sunday, 27 March, and mallets at the ready, the club is now all set for another busy year.

Three North West Federation league matches are scheduled during the coming month and on Sunday, 24 April, the club will be holding its annual taster day for newcomers who are interested in trying their hand at croquet.

 

 

Chester Croquet Club has reason to be grateful to former Lord Mayor of Chester, Richard Short, who died on 22 March 2022 aged 88. As local Councillor for Westminster Park and portfolio holder for culture and recreation in the newly formed Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2009, he supported and gained approval for the clubhouse now occupied by the croquet and bowls clubs in Westminster Park. The new clubhouse was opened in 2011 and replaced a dilapidated ‘temporary’ portacabin which had been installed fifteen years earlier after the original wooden clubhouse next to the bowling greens was destroyed by arson in 1996.