Early Bird golf doubles

David Mann and Gwyn Thomas won the Early Bird golf doubles competition on Sunday, 13 April, the day the weather changed from glorious sun to cold and damp ! But spirits among the participants remained high for our first competition of the season, and the games were hard fought and very enjoyable both to play in and to watch.

Players in this year’s Early Bird golf doubles competition, the first club competition of the new season
This year’s winning team, David Mann and Gwyn Thomas

Orders for clothing with logo

Clothing with club logo

If you would like any items from the Darts catalogue with our embroidered logo please let me know.

The latest info on their range of goods  will be on their website (dartschester.co.uk) and last year’s catalogue is in the pavilion.

I will be checking their current prices shortly but usually rates are cheaper when we have six or more items to order

Also please let me know if you would be interested in buying embroidered badges to stitch on yourself.

Email me direct on jaytay20ch@aol.com.

Jayne Taylor

A new WhatsApp Group for lawn conditions

I am starting a new WhatsApp Group for broadcasting lawn information during periods of poor weather conditions. Last year we had frequent periods of heavy rain and it became very difficult for some members to decide whether to risk travelling. In such conditions I visited the lawns at about 07.00 hrs but had very limited means of passing bad news to all intending lawn users.

The new WhatsApp Group will be a ‘send only’ system – you will not be able to reply to it. If you feel an overwhelming urge to reply you will have to send me an email, text or by ‘phone. Please, never message just to say thank you. I will always assume your thankfulness!

I will make the new system as reliable as possible but it will not be infallible. Messages will be sent by 07.30 am. No message means that there is nothing adverse to say so, as Leibniz or Pangloss might say, in the best of all possible worlds you will never get a message because the lawns will always be playable.

In order join the WhatsApp Group you must sign up by sending me an email (grievsontom@gmail.com) or text message (07801 665993) with your name and mobile ‘phone number.

Best wishes

Tom Grievson
Mobile: 07801 665993

Start of 2025 Croquet Season

Hello All Members

Our 2025 croquet season opens on Sunday, 30 March, with a Social Sunday when, as usual, friends and family are welcome. We then kick into the full schedule of events in the calendar starting on Monday, 31 March. The calendar is an essential part of our excellent website and I urge you to check it frequently to keep abreast of events and lawn availability.

This season we have a very full programme of league matches, club competitions, external tournaments and national tournaments for GC, full lawn AC and short lawn AC. Please sign up for these; it is the best way to improve your croquet and to ensure that we have a thriving and dynamic club.

The main training and coaching sessions are Tuesday evening for AC beginners and improvers, Wednesday morning GC training for those who have registered to play for Chester, Friday morning for beginners and also a separate session for GC and AC improvers.

A reminder that double banking is the norm when all lawns are in use. We do not mix AC and GC on a lawn. A lawn booking guarantees your game but not necessarily sole use of a lawn. Evenings and weekends are usually little used and are bliss when the weather is fine.

Let us hope we have moderate to light overnight rain three times each week and therefore avoid having to do the lawn squelch test – press your foot into the lawn and if you can see water anywhere on a lawn it is waterlogged and must not be used. I am about to launch a new Lawns WhatsApp which will attempt to broadcast lawn condition information if we get periods of poor weather as we did last year.

A plea that every time you leave the clubhouse you check the rubbish situation and take any home for disposal. If we develop this habit we will cure the problem.

Subscriptions are due now and must be paid by Thursday, 1 May, if you wish to continue your membership. Full membership is £65, second club or country membership is £50 and students/juniors pay £5.

See you on the lawns

Best wishes

Tom Grievson

Nearly new mallet for sale

Andy Wilson-Chalon is offering a nearly new mallet for sale – a George Woods Evolution Mallet – 3lb total weight – 11” head – height 40” can be made shorter if requested. Purchased April 2024 – stopped using September 2024 – only 6 months usage. Cost new £325 – for sale now £250 ono.

Please contact

Andy Wilson-Chalon
Mobile: 07368 845 738
Email: andy@lletty.com

 

2025 Social Events

Mini golf meet-up, Friday, 7 March

Well that was a lovely gathering today at the Green Day Cafe to chat, relax over a coffee , play some mini golf and get a bite to eat for lunch.. …. doing some or all of those things ! Thanks to all who came along. We must do it more often ! Congrats to Mary Mc who got the hole in one !

Jayne Taylor

Anyone for mini golf and a meet-up
before the new croquet season?

The weather is showing signs of Spring ! Anybody fancy meeting up for a game of mini golf and a coffee/lunch/chat at the GreenDay Cafe. Probably a Friday or a Monday outside the half term holiday, or maybe a Wednesday.

Email me direct on jaytay20ch@aol.com and let me know if you are interested and which day you would prefer.

Jayne Taylor

Update on film night at Chez Jules

Hello members

Twelve members have signed up for the film night at Chez Jules but we need a minimum of 20, and a maximum of 25 for the event to proceed. So it is now open for family and friends but please reply by Wednesday, 15 January.

Please note that if you sign up you are committing to pay the £27.50 meal cost.

Please reply to sandygrievson@btinternet.com

Many thanks
Sandy Grievson

Film night at Chez Jules on Monday, 10 February

Hello members

We are holding a film night at Chez Jules on Monday, 10 February 2025, starting at 6 pm.

The film is the romantic comedy “Midnight in Paris”, which is a delight even if you have seen it before.

The two course meal costs £27.50 and a maximum of 25 people can be accommodated so at this stage is open to members only.

If you would like to come please e-mail sandygrievson@btinternet.com .

This will be first come first served basis so please respond promptly.

Many thanks
Sandy Grievson

2025 AGM

The Agenda and papers will be posted in the Members only area as soon as available.

Wine and cheese at the AGM on Friday, 14 March 2025

You will have received a notification from Robin Tasker about the AGM coming up on Friday, 14 March.

We will be providing cheese and wine to help the evening along, so in order to help with catering please could you let me know if you are coming.

Please reply to me at springboard_sally@hotmail.com .

Many thanks

Sally Slater

AGM on Friday, 14 March 2025

I’m writing to give advance notification that the 2025 Annual General Meeting of Chester Croquet Club will take place on Friday 14 March commencing 7:30 pm at Westminster Park Community Centre.

I will circulate the Agenda and associated papers no later than Friday 28 February. If you wish to submit any Resolution to by considered by the meeting it needs to be with me no later than Friday 21 February duly supported by a Proposer and Seconder.

I look forward to seeing you there but please if you cannot attend can you send any apologies directly to me.

Thank you

Robin Tasker
Secretary, Chester Croquet Club

New Year Social and Planning Meeting

Planning Meeting still going ahead

Following a number of enquiries, tonight’s planning meeting is still going ahead as planned.

The room and the curry have been pre-booked and we are committed to paying for them.

Members should make their own decisions as to whether they feel safe to come or not, given the weather. -3 is forecast this evening.

Hope to see you there.

Sally Slater 

Sign up for the Planning Meeting on Friday, 10 January

Happy New Year everybody. Hope you had a lovely Christmas.

It’s January and we are looking forward to the new season with our planning meeting to be held on this Friday evening,  10 January, at 7.00 pm at Westminster Park Community Centre.

We will be having curry (chicken or vegetarian), rice and poppadoms with chutney for the bargain price of £5.00 per person (the club will pay the rest).

Please arrive promptly with £5 cash, we will start with the meal before the meeting.

If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time to do so. I have 37 names so far. Please let me know if you would like me to add your name to the list.

Sally Slater 

New Year Social and Planning Meeting

Only 14 sleeps to Christmas therefore only a week longer to New Year!

I’m not wishing the days away, but please would you let me know if you intend to come to our New Year’s Day get together. No croquet I’m afraid, but there will be mulled wine and nibbles, and a quiz. 1.00 – 3.00.
Visitors are welcome.

I also need numbers for the catering at our planning meeting at 7.00 pm on Friday, 10 January,  at Westminster Park Community Centre. We have a delicious curry supper – only costing you £5 – and chat and share ideas about the upcoming season. Come and have your say and contribute to the running of your club. Please let me know if you can come.

Have a great Christmas!

Sally Slater

New Year’s Day get together

A group of members gathered together on New Year’s Day for mulled wine and a quiz. In previous years they have been able to have a game of croquet, but this year the lawns were not only closed but waterlogged again.

Ian Graham, Judith Thompson and Doreen Curtis won the prizes for the quizzes, but really they were all joint efforts in groups.

A good time was had by all.