Author: David Guyton

Chester played at home against Bowdon in the NW Federation Advanced B Level association croquet league on Wednesday, 31 August.

Bowdon fielded a strong team with hopes of a win which would have given them this year’s title in the southern half of the league and a play-off against the winner of the northern half of the league.

Despite the match being played in very good spirit, the very difficult,  bone dry and lightning fast sloping lawns at Chester proved extremely trying for both teams, particularly a perverse and near-impossible approach to Hoop 1  on Lawn 2.

In the morning Elmyr Hughes (1) and Brian Walton (7) prevailed against Charles Harding (2) and Adrian Apps (4)  in the doubles game with a score of +1, whilst David Guyton (5) had a hard fought win against Michael Sandler (1.5) with a score of + 2.

The afternoon sessions proved just as trying as the morning. Despite some skilful and determined resistance from our opponents Chester managed to win all three singles games. Elmyr Hughes beat Michael Sandler+10,  David Guyton beat Charles Harding  +7, and Brian Walton beat Adrian Apps +2 . The latter win was particularly noteworthy. Brian Walton was eight hoops behind his lower handicap opponent but in one remarkable turn managed to run ten hoops from Hoop 3 to peg giving him the finishing 2 hoop lead – an impressive achievement given the unpredictable state of the lawns.

The overall result was therefore a 5 – 0 victory for Chester.

Chester’s final match for the season in the Advanced B Level league was against Bury on the following Saturday, 3 September, at their home ground.

The Chester team for this match was Jerry Guest (captain), David Boyd and Robin Tasker.  On excellent green lawns the match started as usual with a doubles game and a singles game in the morning. However, after about an hour’s play, an unexpected and unfortunate impediment caused one of the Chester players to withdraw, the games were abandoned and the match was conceded to Bury 5 – 0.

As a consequence of that outcome, Bowdon emerged as winner of this year’s southern half of the league despite being beaten by Chester earlier in the week. Bowdon now go forward for the final play-off against Crake Valley as winner of the northern half of the league.

In another North West Federation league match on Sunday, 4 September, Chester played away against Fylde in the club’s last match of the season in the weekend association croquet handicap league. The Chester team for this match was David Boyd (captain), Helen Brophy, Brian Walton and Paul Watson. The morning session started slowly especially for Chester’s two singles players while their high handicap opponents made use of their extra turns keeping Chester off the lawns which no doubt helped Fylde take a two games to one lead by the lunch break. However, Chester managed a stronger showing in the afternoon and, by just scraping wins in all four of the well balanced singles games,  Chester notched up a satisfying victory with a final score of Chester 5 Fylde 2. After a somewhat disappointing start to the season, this result has put Chester, perhaps only briefly, at the top of the weekend handicap league but other clubs still have one or two matches to play.

On Sunday, 21 August, Mensa members from across Britain congregated once again at Westminster Park in Chester for their annual croquet tournament. This was tournament number 13. With the 18 players coming from as far afield as Dublin and South Wales, a gloriously warm day encouraged excellent play and general camaraderie across both association and golf croquet on Chester Croquet Club’s lawns.

A non-competitive association croquet round was played in the morning and in the afternoon a progressive golf competition was held, with randomly chosen pairs where winners progressed clockwise and losers stayed put. Five games were played with a scrumptious tea in the middle which was very sociable and great fun. The winner was Ian Basford who has been coming for many years.

The following Sunday, 28 August, saw both of Chester’s golf handicap teams in action. The Senators played Llanfairfechan Pioneers away. Kerry Dadson (captain), Sarah Clements, Arnie Banford and Jill Foley fought hard but lost 7-11. Once again Llanfairfechan Croquet Club were the perfect hosts, serving strawberries and cream cake to keep spirits up.

On the same day the Chester Tribunes team played at home and was captained by Jude Wise, with Brian Lussey, Keith Dixon and David Johnson playing their final game of the season against Bowdon. On the very fast, dry Chester lawns the home team beat Bowdon 9-7 with 2 draws.

After winning at home against Southport in the previous week in the North West Federation association croquet weekend handicap league, Chester played a return match away on Wednesday, 17 August, in the mid-week handicap league. This time, the Chester team of David Guyton (captain), David Boyd, Helen Brophy and Paul Watson found themselves facing stronger opposition. In contrast to the blazing sunshine and high temperatures in the earlier match, the day started with a grey, overcast sky and a distinct chill in the seaside air but brightened up in the afternoon. In the morning games, Chester won one of the two singles games but lost the other singles game and the doubles game, the latter by just two hoops giving Southport a 2 – 1 lead by lunchtime.  To win again, Chester needed to gain three of the four singles games in the afternoon but managed to achieve only two, again losing one by just two hoops. The overall result was a 4 – 3 win for Southport with two narrow wins that, with a touch of better fortune, could easily have gone the other way.

The Chester Chariots golf croquet level play team of Pat Clare, Brian Lussey and Tom Grievson played away against a very powerful Bowdon team on a warm but cloudy day on Thursday, 18 August. Significantly out-gunned in handicaps the Chester team did well to limit the result to Bowden 14 against Chester’s 4.  However each member of the Chester team achieved a win against a very much stronger opposition player which provided a welcome measure of personal satisfaction to the day.

The other Chester golf croquet evel play team, the Centurions, captained by John Hampson, beat Llanfairfechan 11-7 on the same day.

The latest round in the Snowdonia Cup was played between Chester and Craig-y-Don on Saturday, 20 August. The Chester team was captained by Val Sanders, with Helen Brophy and Hugh Bray. The very gusty wind conditions were quite challenging as was adjusting to playing on lawns that are used for crown green bowling, leading to some interesting moments! The final score was 6 – 3 to Craig-y-Don but the games were much closer than the scores might suggest.

 

Chester Croquet Club finally found a winning streak in the North West Federation’s association croquet full lawn weekend handicap league with success in their two latest matches last week to lift them off the bottom of the league table.

In an encounter on Wednesday, 10 August, the Chester team of David Boyd (captain), David Guyton, Robert Jones and Paul Watson  played at home against Southport and Birkdale in blazing sunshine and high temperatures throughout the day. After establishing a lead of two games to one during the morning session, including Roberts’s first win in the full lawn format, Chester continued with their success in the afternoon winning a further three games and conceding the fourth resulting in a final score of Chester 5, Southport 2.

Their success was then followed in an away match against Bury on another sunny and hot day on Saturday, 13 August, when the Chester team of Robin Tasker (captain), David Boyd, Helen Brophy and Brian Walton beat the home team by six games to one.

On Sunday, 14 August,  the Chester Tribunes golf croquet team of Jude Wise (captain) with Brian Lussey, Rick Davies and David Johnson played their fifth golf croquet handicap match of the season against Southport. Despite the weather again being extremely hot, all had a good day finishing in a draw – Chester Tribunes 9, Southport 9.

On Saturday, 30 July, Val Sanders (captain), Derek Bell-Jones, Robert Jones and Nigel Worthington travelled to Southport to play in the North West short lawn league. It was a close match with Southport just edging into the lead to win 9-7.

The golf level play match against Bury Monarchs was another close match on Thursday, 4 August. It was a beautiful sunny day and the Chester team of Christine Thomas (captain), Pat Clare and Janet Jackson won 10-8.

The Chester Tribunes team of Jude Wise (captain), Brian Lussey, Rick Davies and David Johnson played their fourth golf handicap match of the season against Culcheth. The weather was pleasantly warm and sunny and Chester had a successful day’s play resulting in a win 11-6.

On Wednesday, 28 July, Chester represented by Derek Bell-Jones, Helen Brophy, Robin Tasker and Paul Watson lost at home to Westmorland in the North West Federation mid-week handicap league although in a much tighter match than suggested by the final score.

Following the weekend’s rain Chester’s previously parched and erratic lawns had calmed down considerably and playing conditions were excellent.

The morning session saw Westmorland take a 3 – 0 lead although the doubles was decided by a single point; and one of the singles should have gone to Chester but for an unfortunate oversight at the very end. In the afternoon, after great competition, the four games were shared 2 games each giving Westmorland their 5-2 victory.

The match was enjoyed by both teams and played in an excellent spirit mostly in warm sunshine.

The club welcomed thirteen Freemasons of Buckley Lodge and their partners to a social croquet afternoon on Sunday, 10 July. All were beginners so were introduced to the rudiments of golf croquet in brilliant sunshine by Dennis Holman and Pat Wheeler, stopping only for cakes and tea at 4.00. The joint winners of the competition were next year’s Master of the Lodge, Andy Turvey, and Alan Gardiner. Everyone had a great time and were looking forward to returning next year but with Pimms rather than tea!

One of Chester’s level play golf croquet teams, the Centurions, played their league match against Bowdon on Thursday, 21 July. Having won all five of their previous 2022 league matches Bowdon were currently at the top of the league table so Chester were expecting a tough match. The Chester team of David Boyd (captain), David Crawford and John Hampson, were faced with a strong opposition but after the hot dry spell the lawns were very dry, very fast and even less predictable than usual so with home advantage the Chester team were optimistic about their chances. However, the visitors became accustomed to the conditions very quickly and took an early lead and, despite Chester’s efforts, with most of the game scores being very close, they were unable to keep up with such a strong opposition resulting in a final score of Bowdon 11 versus Centurions 7.

Chester’s level play golf croquet team lost 7 to 11 at Pendle on Thursday, 21 July. There was a dramatic change to the weather which was cool to cold on occasions with most players wearing fleeces. The previous day it was plus 30. Tom Grievson (captain), Chris Thomas and Pat Clare played a good quality Pendle team, with most games being very closely fought.

Saturday, 23 July, showed the Senators golf handicap team playing away at Llanfairfechan against the Dragons. Chester team of Edward Baskerville (captain), Kerry Dadson, Liz Baskerville and Ian Shaw won 10 – 7 with one game drawn.  Chester won both doubles games in the morning and Kerry Dadson played brilliantly in the singles winning all his games. A very pleasant day’s play once the drizzle lifted and there was sunshine in the afternoon accompanied by a near gale blowing off the Menai Straits.

The association croquet handicap weekend league team of David Boyd, Elmyr Hughes, Sally Slater and Brian Walton (captain) played at Bowdon on Sunday, 24 July. By lunch Chester were down 2 – 1, but the heavy rain through the afternoon made conditions extremely difficult and no more games were taken, the final score being 6 – 1 to Bowdon.

On Sunday afternoon, 24 July, Chester Croquet Club hosted another community social event, this time for the Saughall Rotary Club. Despite pouring rain, the group managed to play three games and enjoyed their croquet.

There are two upcoming NW Federation competitions which will be of interest to more experienced players.

The first is the Millennium AC Advanced competition to be held on Saturday and Sunday, 20 – 21 August, at Pendle. The Federation is considering an extra class so the competition is of interest to AC players below a handicap of about 8.  The club has several places . The club pays the entry fee, the players pay their own travel and meal expenses. John Dawson will manage the entry process. If you are interested please contact him as soon as possible but before end July.

The second is the Millennium GC Level Play competition to be held on Thursday, 25 August, at Crake. The club has one place plus a reserve. The club pays the entry fee, the player pays his or her travel and meal expenses. Jayne Taylor will  manage the entry process. If you are interested please contact her as soon as possible but before end July.

John Dawson

Chester Croquet Club have not been very successful in their recent matches, reporting three losses and one draw. However, the scoreline often belies how close run some of the games are, and the matches are always played in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

The two leading clubs in this year’s NW Federation midweek association croquet league are Chester and Bury with equal points each so the match between them had an added significance. Their meeting took place at Bury on Wednesday, 6 July, when Chester was represented by David Boyd (captain), David Guyton, Brian Walton and Paul Watson. Chester made a disappointing start in a rather dull morning session, both in terms of weather and play, by losing the two singles and the doubles games thereby giving Bury a 3 points advantage by lunchtime. All was not quite lost, however, but the challenge for Chester now was to simply win the 4 remaining afternoon singles games!

Quite a hill to climb and although Chester very nearly succeeded by winning 3 of the 4 games, Bury proved to be just too strong on the day winning the match by 4 games to 3.

On Thursday, 7 July, Chester Centurions level play golf croquet team met at Bury again to play their Sovereigns team. Sally Slater (captain), Trevor Farrell and John Hampson played valiantly but lost 12-6 against a strong Bury team.

There were two matches on Saturday, 16 July. The first at home was the Chester Tribunes golf croquet handicap team against Llanfairfechan Pioneers. The Chester team was Jude Wise (captain), Brian Lussey, Sandy Grievson and David Johnson. The weather was a pleasant temperature with sun and light clouds most of the morning but the clouds disappeared and it became hot and sunny in the afternoon. The parched lawns made play quite challenging, with the balls rolling fast making them harder to control, but an enjoyable day was had by both the home and away teams. The Tribunes lost both of their doubles games but won two more singles games than the Pioneers resulting in a draw with a score of 9 games each.

Away at Bury once again, the Chester short lawn team of Sally Slater (captain), Robert Jones, Derek Bell-Jones and Jayne Taylor played in the semi-final match in the national interclub short lawn trophy. It was an incredibly tight match, with the result not decided until the very last ball, but Bury came out just on top winning 6-5.

Chester Croquet Club hosted two more social events during the week. On Sunday, 10 July, a group of Masons had a fun evening’s croquet. The evening was led by Dennis Holman with Pat Wheeler. Then on Tuesday, 12 July, 16 members of Chester Ramblers Club came to the club to learn and play croquet, led by Jayne Taylor and Helen Brophy and a team of volunteers.

On Tuesday, 21 June, Chester Chariots played a level play golf croquet match away against Southport.  The weather was lovely, the company friendly and the lawns very good and fast running.  The Chester team of Jayne Taylor, Tom Grievson and Chris Thomas faced some tough opposition, and sadly lost 12 games to Southport whilst winning just 6. However, many of the games were very close fought, with four being taken to the ‘golden hoop’ before Southport won.

Over 25 guides, rangers and leaders attended a social fun introduction to croquet at the club on Wednesday, 22 June. They were from the 4th Chester St Mary’s Guides. Everyone was given a mallet, split into groups to learn the basic shots, then had a game. Some of the games were very competitive, going by the whoops of excitement! All enjoyed the evening and maybe we have potential croquet players for the future?

Visitors from Tattenhall Croquet Club were welcomed on Thursday, 30 June, for a golf croquet match in the Snowdonia Cup competition and Chester were anticipating a close game. The team consisted of Brian Lussey (captain),  Sarah Clements, Ian Shaw and Jude Wise. There was mixed weather through the day with a sunny morning and following a heavy shower, when lunch was taken, the games were completed in full sunshine. Chester were victorious with a score of 11-5.

Chester took three teams to the Southport Festival this year over the weekend of 25 -26 June 25 playing in the Level Play GC, the Handicap GC and the Short Lawn AC competitions. In all there were 9 clubs represented from across the North West, and over the weekend 226 games of croquet were played.

Southport CC looked a splendid sight with 12 lawns laid out ready for play. The weather provided the entire spectrum of the traditional English summer. And while an intense short burst of rain led to the suspension of play on the South lawns, those more hardy souls playing on the North lawns just went with the (considerable) flow. They breed them tough up North!

The Handicap GC team Sandy Grievson, Sarah Clements, Arnie Bamford, Rick Davies and Brian Hussey enjoyed the greater success of our GC teams winning six and drawing four of their fourteen games over the weekend.

The Level Play GC team of Jayne Taylor, Tom Grievson, Rick Davies and Brian Hussey were less successful; while winning six games, they fell to seven defeats. The winning team from Bowdon won thirteen of their fourteen games and provided some exhibition play along the way!

The Short Lawn AC team of Val Sanders, Robert Jones, Nigel Worthington and Robin Tasker turned out to be the draw specialists of the competition losing only to Bowdon and Fylde and in both cases with just seconds left on the clock..

And so no trophies for Chester but a weekend of great fun and entertaining croquet, strengthening existing friendships and making new ones.

Finally, on Friday, 1 July, a Chester association croquet handicap team played in the first round of the national Longman Cup competition against Bowdon. Following rain, the lawns were much better and Chester fought hard to win 5-2. We wait to see where the next round will be played.