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A short lawn team of Derek Bell-Jones (captain), Nigel Worthington, Michael Fletcher and Sally Slater played Fylde at home on Sunday, 21 July, in the NW Federation short lawn league. Derek Bell-Jones was playing in his first match this season following surgery.

The lawns were beautiful to play on, absorbing the overnight rain, and the Chester team enjoyed playing in the sunshine and took the lead of 6-2 by lunchtime. Sally won all four of her games and Derek and Michael won three each and Nigel two, giving a final score of Chester 12 Fylde 4. Overall, it was a lovely day for croquet with a satisfying result.

Summer eventually arrived at Chester this week (and is forecast to last until Saturday when the rain returns). So on Thursday, 18 July, we were able to welcome Croquet Durham in the quarter final of the national Murphy Shield level play golf croquet competition with a gloriously sunny morning, a warm but overcast afternoon, and a small tornado that crossed the lawns making everyone hold onto their hats for a minute!

The morning saw the first two singles matches shared: Chester 1 Durham 1, but the doubles match had only got to one game all by lunchtime; and the captains were getting hungry, so decided to have lunch then play the remaining singles matches, hoping for a decisive win one way or the other without having to finish the deciding game of doubles. However, the players on both sides ‘conspired’ against this plan and shared the four singles matches two games all. So at Chester 3, Durham 3, the final doubles game became the decider. It was a tense final game with a large crowd (more than ten!) and quite a few missed shots in the early part of the game, but both teams settled down and in the end Chester just edged the final game by 7 hoops to 5 to win the match.

Many thanks to Durham for an enjoyable match which, despite the closeness of the games and the resulting tension in the match, was played through the whole (long) day in an open and friendly spirit. We hope to draw against Durham in next year’s competition and visit their lawns at Chester-le-Street.

And a special thanks to Tom and Sandy Grievson for providing a fabulous lunch which kept us all (and most of the crowd) fuelled up throughout the day.

Chester now go on to play in the semi-finals of the Murphy Shield against Watford.

Another opportunity for clothing orders, 18 July 2024

The first order of clothing from DARTS has been distributed. I am gathering requests for further items, and will be submitting another order as soon as the number of items exceeds 6 ( so we get the cheaper rate !). So please let me know if you would like anything added to the list. There is a DARTS catalogue in the pavilion and popular choices so far include Polos from Kustom Kit, Henbury and Fruit of the Loom, Result Core Micro fleece and softshell jacket, Russell sweatshirt and JH Hoodie. I will attach a list of suggestions to the catalogue in the next few days. (hopefully tomorrow if I can) Meanwhile I am sure those who have purchased thus far will respond to queries !

Jayne Taylor

Update on clothing orders, 27 June 2024

I have just submitted an order for clothing from DARTS and  I hope I have not missed anybody who said they wanted something. I think I have included all who sent me emails as requested.

However, if I have missed anybody, or if you feel now that you would like to order something, never fear ! There will be another order in the not too distant future. The recent order should arrive next week, and after that I will put a list of the various items that are proving popular, with the current prices, inside the DARTS catalogue. I appreciate that navigating the catalogue is not easy, either on paper or on line, so you might find the list useful, as well as talking to those who have bought something to garner their views !

Jayne Taylor

Last call for new clothing orders

I am hoping to put in a group order later next week beginning Monday, 17 June for clothing from DARTS. I appreciate that new members may be unsure of what to order. The catalogue in the pavilion is not that easy to navigate, and no prices are given. However, the catalogue is on line and can be accessed on http://www.dartschester.co.uk , and the prices can be found on line for each item. VAT has to be added on and the cost of the logo. If I order more than 6 items the cost is £4 per unit, plus VAT. It is considerably more if you order individually (£12 plus VAT for 1-2 items)

Not all items can be purchased in white, so check the colour range if you are wanting whites to wear for matches and tournaments. You can of course get coloured items with the logo on. Nice for wearing at other times and spreading the word about the club !

Hear are some examples of the brands we have ordered in the past, but you are not obliged to do the same, hence the available catalogue :

Polos Henbury, Kustom Kit, Russel,
Fleeces Result Core Microfleece and Polartherm Jacket
Gilets and bodywarmers Result Core

I will be at the club on Monday morning, 17 June, and Wednesday morning, 19 June, and will bring some of my own clothing that people can look at / try on to check sizes. If anybody else already with DARTS clothing is willing to bring theirs along also to give some guidance, that would be very helpful.

You can also visit the DARTS showroom on Tarvin Road and have a look at some of the examples they have there. Explain that you are with Chester Croquet Club and that you are trying to decide on what to put on our group order, which we are putting together. They are usually very helpful.

Please email me direct on jaytay20ch@aol.com .

Jayne Taylor

Clothing with club logo

As most of you will know DARTS have our logo on their embroidery machines and I usually put together an order based on individual requests. You can either purchase the clothes from DARTS or have your own embroidered. There is a DARTS 2023 catalogue (the latest one) in the club house, which has a range of polos, fleeces and sweatshirts (add VAT to the prices). If you want to get your own clothes embroidered (ie not purchased from DARTS), they must be new/unworn/unwashed.

The cost to embroider the logos is as follows :
DARTS clothing, more than 6 items, £4 plus VAT per item. Less than 6 costs more ( 1-2 items = £12 plus VAT, 3-5 = £6 plus VAT ). Hence I try to put a joint order together of more than 6 to keep costs down.
Own clothing is £8 each for more than 6 items, £18 for 1-2, and £10 for 3-5 items.

You can see how it can get complicated ! There is a good range in the catalogue, and prices are not unreasonable.

Do ask if you want to see some examples of the whites others have purchased and to check for sizing. I can bring along some examples of the polos and fleeces I have purchased, and I am sure others would be prepared to as well.

Let me know if you want me to include you in an order, and for what. E-mail me at jaytay20ch@aol.com

All the best

Jayne Taylor

On Saturday, 13 July, Chester Senators played at home against Ellesmere in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league.  Chester’s team consisted of Jill Foley (captain), David Johnson, Christine Fryer and Rhia Taylor. We had one member with a handicap of 8 and three members with a handicap of 12 and found ourselves playing against opponents with much lower handicaps of 3, 5, 6 and 12. The morning started off rainy, then stopped later. We won one doubles game but also lost one. Highlight of the day for Christine Fryer was her first match jump shot. The final score was a win for Chester with 11 games against Ellesmere with 7 games. Overall, it was a good day enjoyed by everyone and play finished early at 2.45 pm.

On the following day, Sunday 14 July, a full lawn association croquet team played away against Bowdon in the NW Federation 26 point handicap league. On Bowdon’s beautiful lawns but under grey skies and intermittent drizzle the Chester team of Mark Lloyd, David Guyton, Sally Slater and Robin Tasker found themselves struggling to cope with both the number of bisques (free shots) held by the Bowdon players and the skilful manner of their use. Indeed, opportunities to get on the lawn proved to be seriously limited, and most singles games were done and dusted well within the 3 hour time limit. The doubles game in the morning was a tighter affair but a late burst of hoops from the Bowdon team as time was called sealed a close victory. The final singles game of the afternoon was all-square but, with many hoops still to run, it was mutually agreed to void the game to allow an early departure so that both teams could prepare and be suitably refreshed to watch England in the Euro final… Sadly for Chester, the points weren’t coming home and the same turned out to be the case for England’s football team. The final result was a 6 – 0 win for Bowdon and a 2 – 1 win for Spain.

 

Chester Croquet Club hosted the CAMSOC group on Sunday, 7 July, on its annual get together on the croquet lawns. Members were soaked putting out the lawns in advance but amazingly, despite the forecast, the sun then came out and fun was had in the glorious sunny afternoon. A mixed group of 16 people attended and were put into 4 groups to play progressive doubles of golf croquet. Most had played before but members were on hand to organise the day, give advice if needed and make refreshments. Scores were counted at the end of the number of hoops ran and the winner with 20 was Daniel.

Chester sent three teams to the annual Southport Festival of Croquet over the weekend of 29 and 30 June.

Ten clubs from the North West Federation saw 80 competitors play in six different classes of croquet matches, in both association croquet and golf croquet, over the two days.

Poor weather dominated the festival, particularly on Saturday with very large puddles covering many of Southport’s twelve lawns.

Chester’s association croquet team of David Boyd, Robin Tasker and Andy Wilson-Chalon lost two of their three matches on Saturday in often driving rain but they managed to draw the third as conditions eased. On Sunday, Chester decisively defeated Pendle and drew against Bowdon in an exciting finale.

The golf croquet level play team of Sarah Clements and Rick Davies were in sparkling form despite the almost continuous rain and puddles, and they won all their Saturday matches in great style. Although Sunday was much drier, the cold and strong north easterly wind was unpleasant but the Chester pair won two of their three matches to finish an overall second in their class.

The Chester golf croquet handicap team was led by Sandy Grievson with newcomers Doreen Curtis and Christine Fryer who were having their first taste of this form of competitive croquet. Although they lost their four matches on Saturday, two were very close. On Sunday, they were soundly beaten by Fylde, the eventual winners of the class, but they came much closer in their remaining two matches.

 

 

The summer solstice, Thursday, 20 June 2024, was the day assigned for Chester Chariots to play Bury Sovereigns in the NW Federation golf croquet level play league. It did not disappoint, possibly being the warmest day of the year so far with little breeze in the morning. This was a home match of 18 games captained by Edward Baskerville, supported by Kerry Dadson and Jude Wise. The Sovereigns were led by Bernard Lord with Bury members, Vi Richards and David Parrott. The home team’s average handicap of 5.3 compared with the Sovereigns 6.3 indicating a close match might be anticipated. In the event Chester Chariots won by 14 games to 4 which did not truly reflect the pressure the Sovereigns imposed. The fact that the Sovereigns managed to run 111 hoops against the Chariots 117 gives, perhaps, a better reflection. Both captains won and lost against each other, 7-5, in games that lasted well over an hour. Jude closed the afternoon for Chester Chariots with an impressive 7-0 win, the only white wash of the day.

Another fine day two days later on Saturday, 22 June, with beautiful weather and two very evenly matched teams – Chester Senators playing at home against Bowdon Bounders in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. Play started at 10.00 am prompt and finished at 3.00 pm. In between it was nip and tuck all the way. So evenly matched were the teams that we ended with a well-deserved draw of 9 games all. Maybe that shows the handicap system works well? What did work very well was the chemistry between the two teams with everyone able to thoroughly enjoy the match.

 

On Wednesday, 12 June, Chester was host to Southport in a NW Federation Association Short Lawn league match. Jayne Taylor (captain), Nigel Worthington, Sarah Clements and Val Sanders put up a strong fight against the more experienced visiting team and managed to hold them to a draw, 8 games each, with Sarah winning three of her four games.

The following day Chester sent a team of three north to the lovely venue of Levens Hall to play a Golf Croquet Level Play league match against Westmorland. Fortunately the rain held off until after lunch, and Sally Slater (captain), Jayne Taylor and Kerry Dadson managed to secure a draw against the home team on quite difficult lawns, with both teams winning 9 games. Three cheers were raised for Kerry who won 4 of his six games, including the last game of the day which secured the draw for Chester.

Two draws in two days!

 

On Saturday, 8 June, at Westminster Park the Chester Senators played Craggy Dons from Llandudno in an 18 game match in the NW Federation golf croquet handicap league. Chester, under captain Edward Baskerville ably supported by Christine Fryer, David Johnson and Rhia Taylor began well by winning both the doubles games. However, the Dons captained by Nick Challinor and supported by Beth McClelland, John Hannah and Linda Taylor began to fight back in the singles. The Dons, despite scoring 103 advantage points against the Senators 109 points, were held off by Chester Senators who won the match 11 games to 7. An excellent performance by David Johnson who finished the afternoon winning all four of his games in glorious sunshine, albeit with a rather chilly wind.

Saturday, 1 June, saw Chester host its first ever nationwide “B” series tournament for Level Play Golf Croquet, drawing players ( and Bertie the dog) from all over the country, in a competition for players with a 3 handicap or above, playing in at least 7 games each. The winner Chris Higgins from Bishops Monkton triumphed over Robert Purcell from Ludlow Castle, in a close fought final, with Edwin Bone from Eynsham winning a close battle with Jill Brent (and Bertie the dog) to win the plate competition ( which happened to be a bottle of champagne !). Local Chester members, Edward Baskerville and Rick Davies battled it out for third and fourth place in the main competition, with Edward wining the cup (or rather the tankard). This was a well fought and sociable competition on a lovely day; enjoyed by participants, helpers and those watching. We look forward to another one next year !

On the following day, Sunday, 2 June, David Guyton, David Boyd, Mark Lloyd and Andy Wilson-Chalon played for Chester at home against Crake Valley in the NW Federation Association Croquet 26 point handicap league. For a change the weather was sunny if a little chilly, and the lawns benefitted from being cut for the golf croquet tournament on the previous day. They were dry and fast, prompting more overshoots approaching the hoops and at the boundary than players might have wished. Fortunes varied during the day, with Crake Valley forging ahead in the morning, but Chester regaining the upper hand in the afternoon leading to a 4-3 win by the Chester team.

At the same time, the Chester Senators Golf Croquet team travelled to Southport to play a Golf Croquet handicap league match, and also benefitted from the dry and windy weather which had helped to dry out some of the Southport lawns that had been waterlogged earlier in the week. Gail Thomas (capt), Sandy Grievson, Doreen Curtis and Mel Hagan had a long but enjoyable day, and succeeded in holding the home team to a very close result, losing by only 10 – 8.

On Tuesday, 4 June, Chester Chariots faced a much more experienced Golf Croquet team from Crake Valley in a NW Federation Level Play league match. Not surprisingly the low handicap players of Crake (at levels 1 and 2) soundly beat the Chester team of Jayne Taylor, Edward Baskerville and Kerry Dadson ( all on level 5) but the games were well fought with Edward and Jayne prevailing in two of them, which eased the pain. Unfortunately the already wet lawns became waterlogged under a downpour in the afternoon and the last four games of the match had to be abandoned, leaving the score at 12 games to 2.

In contrast on Thursday, 6 June, Chester Centurions, with Mark Lloyd, Garry Greenwood and David Boyd (all on level 1 handicap) faced a team from Westmorland (on handicaps 6, 10 and 10), and produced an equally convincing result, winning 17 games to 1 in a Level Play golf croquet league match. Fortunately the weather was somewhat kinder !

It’s a busy season !