Author: David Guyton

In a hugely exciting match on Saturday, 29 April, Chester won the re-arranged 2022 Croquet Association Secretary’s Shield competition beating Newport, Essex, 4-3 on a warm and mostly sunny day. To reach the final Chester had defeated Middlesbrough, York and, in a gripping semi-final, Sheffield with the very last shot of the match.

The first attempt to play this game at a neutral venue in Nottingham had been washed out in October with Chester leading 2-1 at lunchtime. Although by the competition rules Chester could have claimed the trophy, the team felt a replayed match to be more appropriate, and Newport graciously agreed to the match being played at Chester.

The replayed final was hard fought. In the morning session Robin Tasker and David Boyd won the doubles, Richard Smith won his singles game and David Guyton lost his by just one hoop, giving Chester a 2 – 1 lead by lunchtime. The afternoon matches were shared 2-2 with Richard Smith and David Guyton winning their singles games but David Boyd and Robin Tasker losing theirs, Robin by just one hoop in the final golden hoop after a draw when time was called. The final result was a narrow 4 – 3 win for Chester, the first victory for the club in this national competition.

Detailed results were as follows:

Morning Session

Robin Tasker (4) and David Boyd (5) beat Fran Lambert (9)
and Andrew Gregory (1.5) +9 T
David Guyton (5) lost to John Richardson (16) -1 T
Richard Smith(-1) beat Dan Neale (0.5) +20

Afternoon Session

Richard beat Andrew +15 T
Robin lost to Dan -1 GH
David G beat Fran +14T
David B lost to John -16

But thanks must in addition be given to Brian Walton, Nigel Worthington and Paul Watson who played in some of the earlier rounds. And so this represents an all round team effort!

Many thanks are also due to the catering team who provided a splendid lunch which was enjoyed and appreciated by all.

As a postcript, the Secretary’s Shield has been retrieved and is now in the possession of the club’s secretary, Robin Tasker. Close inspection reveals that the club previously won the trophy in 1980 when a team of Bert Mason, Andrew Collin, George Collin and Hasting Wang beat Wallingford 5-1 at Edgbaston. So it has taken 43 years for Chester to regain the award!

Earlier in the week the club held the first golf and association croquet partnership day. This is designed to give golf croquet players the chance to experience and participate in association croquet games. Along with many other croquet clubs, the majority of members play golf croquet and association croquet is at risk of dying out. Brian Walton led the day where four association players partnered four golf players who played a series of games. The winners were Helen Brophy and Doreen Curtis. A second partnership day is planned at the end of May.

North Wales was the destination for the first matches of the new season for two of Chester Croquet Club teams playing in North West Federation leagues this weekend.

On Saturday, 22 April, the Chester Senators golf handicap team played their first golf croquet handicap match against Craig-y-Don. Jude Wise was captain, with Gail Thomas, Rick Davies and Ian Shaw. They used the new advantage golf handicap system and had a good day away at the friendly club of Craig-y-Don. The weather was mostly very pleasant and sunny, until a downpour for the last game of the day.

Chester Senators emerged victorious with a final result of 13-5.

The association croquet short lawn team of Sally Slater, Robert Jones, Nigel Worthington and David Boyd travelled to Llanfairfechan on the following day, Sunday, 23 April, for their first match. Although very cold, the rain stayed away and there was even some sunshine towards the end of the afternoon.

It was a closely fought match with both teams neck and neck every round and after a nail biting finish to the very last game, it finished a draw of 8 all.

Chester Croquet Club opened its doors to new members on Sunday, 16 April,  with two successful taster sessions. 17 people braved the wet weather to come and have a go at croquet and ten of those signed up to become members.

The club is one of the leading croquet clubs in the north west, and this season looks to be as exciting as the last, with the club hosting an All  England association croquet final in September.

The season started at the end of March, but wet weather has delayed some of the practice activities. League matches in the North West Federation start next week and Chester is fielding 8 teams in both association and golf croquet, as well as competing in three national competitions.

It is our first social get together of the season on Sunday April 2nd.

Please come along from 2.00 pm, bring friends and family and have a social game of croquet, AC or GC.

We may run a fun one ball competition and there may be scones and Prosecco – come and see!

Sally Slater

 

19 May 2023

Unfortunately, due to insufficient players, it has been decided  to cancel the AC – GC partnership day planned for Monday, 22 May.

But do not despair, Monday, 26 June, is the next date, so hopefully we will have more players available to take part, albeit in a shorter version and a slightly different format.

Due to the above event being cancelled, why not come along on Monday morning for the AC short lawn roll-up sessions, you will be very welcome to still try and have some fun with other short lawn members.

Best wishes

Elmyr Hughes

25 April 2023

Now the season is underway and the grass is growing and the sun is shining and you have all played a few games, I’m sure that GC players would welcome an opportunity to have a go at association croquet. See what it is all about in a gentle, fun way.

We are running three AC – GC partnership days this year and the second one of these is on Monday, 22 May.

A GC player partners with an AC player and plays 4 rounds of croquet, learning about the AC strategy and shots as they go.

It’s a good day’s play. Members who have joined in before are more than welcome to have another go.

It is a serious concern that our pool of AC players is dwindling and we really need to encourage others to take it up or the beautiful game will die out.

Please let me know if you would like to join in on 22 May.

Sally Slater

9 April 2023

We are holding our first GC/AC partnership day on Monday April 24th.

This is a great way to have a fun, non-threatening way of learning what AC is all about.

At the moment we only have 3 GC players signed up, and we can have 8.

Don’t worry, you won’t be press ganged into anything!

Please sign up if you can by e-mailing me  using the link below.

Last year’s players are more than welcome to have another go if they want to.

Sally Slater

30 March 2023

Last season we held a very successful GC/AC partnership day, and by popular demand we are proposing to hold three more days this season. Monday April 24th, Monday May 22nd, Monday 26^th June.

An AC player partners a GC player all day during which four rounds of AC croquet are played, with each round increasing the range of shots made by each player, finishing with a round of alternate shot doubles.

This format has encouraged the GC players to increase their range of shots, which will help their GC play, and also understand better the AC game. It is also very good fun!

In the first instance we require 16 players – 8 GC players and 8 AC players. If you have participated before you are most welcome to come along again.

Please let me know if you are interested in the day on Monday April 24^th by e-mailing me using the link below. There are prizes!

Many thanks

Sally Slater

This note is a short introduction to taking part in CA sponsored tournaments and will probably be of interest to newer members of a year or more playing and particularly (but not exclusively) to those playing Golf Croquet. Entering CA tournaments is good for those wishing to increase their competitive play against a wider range of players and visit a greater number of clubs both within and outside of the North West Federation.

The CA sponsors a large number of GC and AC tournaments at clubs through England, and also many instruction courses. GC tournaments are graded by handicap indices. For A level your handicap must be higher than 0 and not greater than 2. B level is 3 to 6 and C is 7 to 12.

Interestingly, you cannot enter tournaments below your ranking but you can enter tournaments above your ranking. So, a 5 handicapper is a B level player and may not enter C level tournaments but is allowed to enter an A tournament. You can enter upwards but not down. A high handicap C level player can enter both B and A tournaments but might well get a thorough thrashing – if they actually get to play.

If a tournament is over subscribed (they typically have a limit of 12 or 16 or 24 places) there is a ‘weeding’ system largely based on handicap with the weaker players not getting a place. This procedure occurs a few weeks before the tournament at the Allocation Date which is specified in the Tournament Calendar. If you lose out you get your entry fee refunded.

The entry, payment and refunding system take place within the Fixtures Calendar. Go to Croquet Association (or Croquet England) website and touch the ‘Compete’ button at the top. Then immediately under ‘Tournaments’ touch ‘Fixtures Calendar’. To get any further you need to sign-up or sign-in; if any problems with this get in touch with me.

The calendar is colour coded, pink/purple for Courses, blue for AC tournaments and yellow for GC tournaments. Please note that virtually all tournaments are Level Play – no handicap matches. Touching the small blue ‘i’ in a circle of any entry takes you to the tournament details. The three most interesting are the Allocation date, ‘enter and pay online’ if you wish to enter and ‘view entries’ which tells you the number of players who have already entered and paid, and their handicap index. Remember that it is not a first come, first served system if over subscribed. A place is only secured by the Allocation system on the Allocation date regardless of when you applied. When this process takes place the unsuccessful players are placed on the reserve list in ranking order. Those at or near the top of the reserve list often get to play due to players dropping out, often very near the start date. B and C level tournaments are one full day of play and A competitions span 2 days.

A few Chester members play in these tournaments and really enjoy them. For example Sarah Clements reached a C level tournament final last year and has entered at least one other C already this year. I played four last year and have applied for three B’s and two A’s at clubs within the NW Federation and in Brighton (Sussex County) and Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Sandy has entered 3 C’s. AC players are also active in these tournaments. At least one couple have signed up for an instruction course.

These CA competitions and courses are a significant resource and are worthy of consideration. The CA website can seem a bit daunting at first but it’s worth persevering. If you need help or want to know more or would like help with pairing up with someone else to have a go then please get in touch with me.

Tom Grievson
grievsontom@gmail.com
07801 665993

 

 

Golf croquet handicap games will be played using the new Advantage system this year.  It will be reviewed at the end of this season and a decision made on whether to continue with it or revert to  the  ‘Extra Turns’ system.

There will be a presentation of the Advantage system in the clubhouse on Tuesday, 7 March, at 10.00 am and it will be repeated on Sunday, 12 March, also in the clubhouse at 10.00 am.  We should be through in an hour allowing ample time for questions. I will bring milk and biscuits.

All, of whatever croquet persuasion, are welcome but it is particularly important for GC handicap players to attend. It would be helpful if you could let me know on what day you are coming. Please respond directly to me by  e-mail or message/WhatsApp/phone on 07801665993

Many thanks

Tom Grievson

Dear Members,

December 25th hurtles towards us ( on skis it would seem) so I take this opportunity to send you all the very best of Christmas Wishes, and my hopes for a happy, healthy and successful 2023 for you and your family. Oh….and some great Croquet of course!

As you will know, the lawns will be closed at the end of December, but we will be squeezing in one last event ! Weather permitting, we will be holding our New Year’s Day gathering on Sunday 1st January at the Clubhouse. Bring along your Xmas left overs and there will no doubt be bubbly as well as hot drinks, so that we can close down the lawns in style for their annual recuperation period.

However, whilst playing croquet at CCC may stop, thinking about it and planning for next season does not! Our annual “Planning Meeting” will be held on the evening of Friday 3rd February at the Westminster Park Community Centre, and this year there may be food ! (email to follow) This is an opportunity for all to share their thoughts on the playing of croquet at Chester, and for a general discussion. Your views will help to inform the decisions made by the Committee which will be reported on at the AGM where appropriate. The AGM will be held on the evening of Friday March 10th, again at the WPCC.

So there are three dates to put in those brand new diaries that you will be unwrapping on Christmas Day.

Plus, if you know of anyone interested in starting to play croquet, the Taster Session date for next season is likely to be on Sunday 15th April. Sally Slater would love to hear from them.

Finally, a little reminder. Whilst theoretically the lawns remain open until the end of December, at this time of the year playing on them is totally dependant on the weather. Our “fine turf” surfaces are very vulnerable to damage as a result of use when they are covered in frost or snow, or are waterlogged (even though the sun may be shining). I know that we remind you of this regularly, but please do not play on them in that condition. We are going through a very bad patch of weather at the moment. For the sake of the lawns (and your joints/limbs) please resist the urge to play in those conditions.

All the Best for 2023

Jayne Taylor

After a break of three years due to the coronavirus epidemic, Chester Croquet Club once again held its traditional end of season dinner and presentation of awards on Wednesday, 23 November. The event was held at Côte Brasserie in Chester and about fifty members attended.

Club Chairman, Jayne Taylor, reported the club’s results in national competitions and regional leagues during another busy year with the club fielding a record number of teams.

In national competitions the most notable performance came in the association croquet Secretary’s Shield where Chester had beaten Middlesborough, York and Sheffield in earlier rounds and they were leading in the final against Newport when the match was rained off. It will be replayed at Chester on 29h April, 2023.

No silverware was won in the North West Federation leagues, but there were some good results for Chester, coming second in the advanced B level in the southern group, and third in the handicap association league.  Chester Senators also came third in the golf handicap and the Chester Centurions maintained their place in the top tier for level play.

Jayne Taylor then presented awards for internal club competitions held during the season.

For association croquet, Nigel Worthington was winner and Derek Bell Jones was runner-up in the open short lawn competition held at the end of the season and Robert Jones was winner of the Hasting Wang Short Lawn Trophy for matches played throughout the season. For golf croquet, Brian Lussey was winner and Jill Foley was runner-up in the Christine Long competition held at the end of the season. Lawrence Cole was winner and Ian Shaw was runner-up for the Peter Bingham Award and Jude Wise was winner and Kerry Dadson was runner-up for the Mollie McBride RAT Trophy for matches played throughout the season. Awards for the most improved players were presented to Robert Jones for association croquet and Doreen Curtis for golf croquet. Congratulations to all these club winners.

There were also some excellent individual results from Chester members. Richard Smith won the Silver Salver association tournament at Shrewsbury in May and reached the semi finals of the Welsh Championships in September. Tom Grievson won the national golf B series tournament held at Pendle in May. Sarah Clements came second in the golf C level tournament held at Bury in July.