Mary Rose sinks at Bowdon

The sun shone throughout. It was the hottest day of the year in the North West. But it was not a glorious day for Chester. On Sunday, 18 July, Chester played away against Bowdon in the second round of the national Mary Rose competition for advanced croquet. The Chester team of Mark Lloyd (captain), Jerry Guest, David Guyton and Robin Tasker found themselves facing a strong team from Bowdon which had won the competition in 2019 and were determined to do so again. The doubles game in the morning finished very quickly in Bowdon’s favour followed by the two singles games which went to time but still finished in Bowdon’s favour. Two more singles games in the afternoon also finished quickly in Bowdon’s favour and the remaining two eventually fell to Bowdon giving them an overall  7 – 0 victory. The Bowdon team were clearly well accustomed to their characteristically fast lawns and the Chester team struggled to adjust  from their slower lawns at home. All credit to Bowdon who now go forward to compete against Pendle in the quarter finals to be played before 6 September.

Relaxation of Covid restrictions

We have been reviewing the latest government statements and Croquet Association guidance on relaxing Covid restrictions from Monday, 19 July, and the main points  are as follows:

    • Limits on numbers of people meeting indoors or outdoors are removed though “people should continue to meet others outside when possible”
    • Social distancing no longer required but people should minimise “the number, proximity and duration of social contacts”
    • Face coverings no longer required but the government “expects and recommends” them in crowded and enclosed spaces
    • Restrictions on serving food are removed
    • A strong emphasis on continuing caution and personal responsibility

For the club,  the main implications are:

    • More than six people may be present in the clubhouse
    • Food may be prepared and served subject to high standards of personal hygiene
    • When the clubhouse is in use, it is advisable that the door and windows are open to provide good ventilation
    • Careful cleaning still required for indoor surfaces “that people touch regularly”
    • We continue to recommend use of hand sanitizers when entering the clubhouse
    • Transmission of infection from outdoor surfaces is not significant so cleaning of croquet equipment after use is no longer required
    • Members and visitors should exercise their own prudent judgements with regard to social distancing and wearing face coverings
    • The lawn booking system and recording names in the attendance book continue unchanged
    • Remain alert to coronavirus symptoms and avoid coming to the club if you are affected or have been in contact with other people who are affected

Click here for the latest Croquet Association guidance.

 

Redeeming win against Southport

For the second time in four days Chester found itself facing a another strong team from Southport. This time, on Saturday, 10 July, the match was in the NW Federation weekend handicap league and played on Chester’s home lawns.  The Chester team comprised three of the same members as in the earlier midweek handicap match, David Boyd (captain), David Guyton and Nigel Worthington, plus the club’s lowest handicap player, Richard Smith, who was getting some useful practice before a busy summer round of playing in open tournaments across the country. All the games were closely fought with the overall outcome in doubt right up to the closing strokes.

By the midway point at lunchtime, Chester had won the two singles games but had lost the doubles game in the morning. The four singles games in the afternoon also proved challenging and all continued until time was called. By the time three of the four afternoon games had finished, Chester had won one and lost two giving an equal score of 3 – 3. In the last game to finish, a late break by Richard Smith enabled Chester to catch up from behind and just overtake Southport giving an overall 4 – 3 win for Chester compared with a loss on the previous Wednesday.

Both this match and the match earlier in the week demonstrated the critical importance of fair handicaps as bisques, free shots during the game, had a major influence on the balance of the games.

 

Winning streak for Chester Centurions

On Thursday, 8 July, the Chester Centurions level play golf croquet team welcomed a team from Crake. The day was warm and sunny and the match was played in a very friendly spirit and enjoyed by all, including Crake, despite the fact that Chester Centurions beat Crake by 17 games to 1. It was not as easy as the score showed, Crake played very good croquet and had bad luck not to win more games. Chester’s team comprised of Garry Greenwood (captain), David Crawford and Mark Lloyd.

So far Chester Centurions have won all three of the six level play golf croquet league matches scheduled this season.

Larger loss at Southport

Chester’s away match against Southport in the NW Federation mid-week handicap league on Wednesday, 7 July, was not one of the club’s more successful achievements – a 6 – 1 win by Southport. The Chester team of David Boyd (captain), David Guyton, Paul Watson and Nigel Worthington found themselves facing some high handicap players from Southport who made consistently good use of their abundant bisques, free shots at critical times. In some previous more successful matches it has been suggested that Chester has some bandit players amongst its ranks with unduly high handicaps and bisques. This result suggests a contrary perspective. Merely a coincidence, of course, but the one game won by Chester was by Chester’s highest handicap player.

Apart from the disappointing result, the Chester team received a characteristically warm welcome at Southport. And the mild, dry weather was certainly preferable to the heavy showers at Chester.

Narrow loss at Llanfairfechan

In the North West Federation short lawn competition held at Llanfairfechan on Saturday, 3 July, a very close match was fought. The Chester team of Val Sanders, Robert Jones, Nigel Lloyd and captain Sally Slater were neck and neck until the very last game. Llanfairfechan narrowly won it and the match, the overall score being 9-7. Torrential rain greeted the Chester team in Wales, but it dried up quickly and was followed by a glorious sunny day in this lovely setting.

Chester’s Nigel Worthington and Val Sanders in action at Llanfairfechan

Secretary’s Shield win

The Secretary’s Shield competition is one of three national competitions which Chester Croquet Club is entering in 2021. It is a full lawn association croquet handicap knock-out competition for winners of regional competitions in the previous year, in this case 2019 as matches were cancelled in 2020.

On this occasion Chester faced Nailsea near Bristol on neutral lawns midway between the two clubs at Edgbaston near Birmingham on Tuesday, 29 June. Nailsea were able to muster a team of only three players rather than the usual four and Chester were represented by David Boyd (captain), Brian Walton and Paul Watson.  In the two  morning games Chester lost the doubles game but won the singles game and then went on to win the three singles games in the afternoon. The overall result was a 4 – 1 win for Chester who now go on to face the winner of Sheffield v Hampstead Heath.

The Nailsea and Chester teams enjoying a demi-alfresco lunch at Edgbaston

 

And another win

Chester Croquet Club clocked up another win on Wednesday, 23 June, in a home match against Westmorland in the NW Federation midweek association croquet handicap league. At the start of the match the weather was dull and cool but the lawns were dry and fast running. The Chester team of David Guyton (captain), Sally Slater, Brian Walton and Paul Watson made good progress and finished the morning winning the doubles game and two singles games giving Chester a 3 – 0 lead at half time. By then a damp drizzle had started which turned to more incessant rain during the lunch break. Westmorland returned to the lawns re-invigorated after lunch and at one stage were ahead of Chester in all four singles games during the afternoon. By this time the players and lawns were getting wetter and wetter and it was becoming more and more difficult to hit the balls accurately over any distance. However, Chester held on doggedly and managed to win two of the four singles games in the afternoon.  This gave Chester a satisfying 5 – 2 result for the match which implies a much easier win than was felt at the time. By the end of play the lawns were totally saturated with widespread puddles. After several weeks of dry weather the lawns will have welcomed the rain but the players would have preferred fewer umbrellas and rather more sunshine.

 

2020 Mason Cup winner

Last September after a weekend competition Sally Slater won the club’s AC full lawn handicap tournament and with it the Mason Cup.

Unfortunately, because of various Covid-19 lockdowns in force at that time, the Mason Cup itself was marooned in Wales along with the 2019 winner James Thomas.

However, today we welcomed James back from exile in Wales and voluntary service in Uganda to full lawn AC activity at Chester, and with him the repatriated Mason Cup!

2019 winner James Thomas presenting 2020 winner Sally Slater with the Mason Cup trophy after its sojourn in Wales

This year’s annual Mason Cup competition will be held over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, 25-26 September. Plenty of time for practice between now and then!