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Thanks to the sterling efforts of our Recruitment Officer, Sally Slater, we have a significant number of new players who have joined the club in the last two weeks. They are very welcome. I am sure that all our existing members, if they see a new face at the club, will say hello, introduce themselves and make them feel at home. They are very keen to learn, and willing to take advice.

The Tuesday morning golf croquet session will be a good opportunity for the new members to meet existing players, and to practice the skills they have been taught on Beginners Day. From Tuesday, 18 May, therefore, the session on Tuesday morning will return to the “Progressive Doubles” that were so popular prior to the Covid restrictions. We will still have to record the players attending, as in addition to forming our register of attendance the information provides our necessary means of track and trace, at least for the time being. Sally will be taking charge on Tuesday 18th, as I will no longer be able to attend on that day.

Whilst the booking system remains in place, could I please remind you all to make sure that your name is recorded on the booking pages if you play at any time, for the reasons given above. Also please note that when booking a lawn it is preferable that you book in 1½ or 3 hour slots, i.e 10 am, 11.30 am 1 pm 2.30 pm 4 pm etc etc. This enables a more efficient use of lawn time. I suspect that there will be an increased demand for lawn use in the coming weeks, and therefore we will need to be efficient!

With so many new members joining the club, it is also important that our stock of mallets in the club house remains available. Hence we have ceased the loan of mallets which should now be returned to the store room after use, appropriately wiped down, and not taken away from the club.

Many thanks

Jayne Taylor
07810892311

With relaxation of the lockdown now in sight, there was record interest in the taster sessions the Club traditionally organizes at the beginning of every season. To cater for demand, the Club held three events for newcomers to try their hand at the game on Saturday, 17 April, Friday 23 April and Sunday, 25 April. Despite slightly chilly starts on all three days, there was bright sunshine throughout. Altogether, nearly 5o people took part in carefully managed, socially distanced sessions.   Many were surprised at how interesting croquet was and that there was much more to it than they had thought. All enjoyed the experience where they were introduced to golf croquet and ricochet croquet after learning about basic skills and strategy.  Many thanks to Sally Slater, who organised the events, and her team of coaches who can be seen wearing their white hazmat suits in the photographs below.

Playing his first game of association croquet this year in warm spring sunshine Derek Bell Jones came across an unusual prize at hoop 1.  It was a bottle of good red wine to mark his retirement from the committee after more than ten enjoyable years helping the Club.  We trust Derek and his wife will enjoy it.

After another morning of measuring, drilling and hammering in the hoops, all four full lawns and eight short lawns are now ready for play to resume on Monday, 29 March.

Remember, covid precautionary measures still apply:

• • Clubhouse may be used only for access to the toilets and equipment
  • Social distancing at all times inside and outside the clubhouse
  • Using hand sanitiser when entering the clubhouse or storeroom
  • Cleaning balls, mallets and other shared equipment and toilets after use  [However, club mallets will not be available on loan but may be borrowed on the day and then cleaned and returned after use]
  • Continuing to use the lawn booking system to maintain a record of attendance
  • The Rule of Six allowing groups of up to six people from different households enables doubles or two double-banked singles games to be played on a full or short lawn
  • Organised events such as taster days and coaching sessions involving more than six people permitted subject to additional planning and supervision
  • Avoiding social or informal gatherings
  • Travel restrictions still apply until further notice which means that play limited to locally arranged games, and league matches and competitions involving other clubs will not resume until later

 

The lawns have been cut and white-lined and the first sets of hoops have been installed for the full lawns. Weather permitting, hoops for the short lawns will be installed over the weekend. All ready for play to resume on Monday, 29 March. But remember, covid precautions still apply and lawns need to be booked on-line using the lawn booking system.

After the disruptions of last year, we are all hoping that present Covid restrictions can be relaxed safely in time to enjoy a fuller playing season this year.

To enable the club to run smoothly and effectively, once again we are seeking volunteers to help with various aspects of the club’s activities and to take part in another full programme of matches against other clubs.

Details are set out in the attached notes. Please reply to Pat Clare  before Saturday, 6 March, by e-mail or by downloading and returning the attached proformas. (Remember, this is not her regular e-mail address.)

Best wishes

John Dawson

The Government announcement yesterday evening about a further   nationwide lockdown states that all outdoor sports venues must close. New regulations come into effect on Wednesday, 6 January 2021,  and are expected to apply until Monday, 15 February, at the earliest.

The croquet lawns are usually closed from January to March to avoid damage during the winter months and to allow recuperation before the start of the new season. However, after the last lockdown from 5 November to 1 December, we had thought it would be worth allowing play to continue in the new year subject to satisfactory weather conditions. In the event, December turned out to be a period of prolonged wet weather – there was rain on 29 out of 31 days – and the lawns have been unplayable for much of the time. More winter weather is in the offing so, necessary and disappointing as it is, the latest official closure will not detract too much from the situation we normally face at this time of the year.

For the latest Government and Croquet Association information and guidance see:

UK Government – National lockdown
Croquet Association – Latest Information and Advice

In previous years the lawns have been closed at the end of December to allow recuperation before the start of the new season. As this year opportunities for play have been limited and the lawns have been relatively lightly used, the Committee has taken the view that play may continue beyond the end of December provided that weather and lawn conditions remain satisfactory. Bookings may therefore continue beyond the end of the month. However, it remains important to avoid damage to the lawns and play should not take place even if bookings have been made in the event that:

• • • The lawns become muddy or visibly trampled
    • The lawns are waterlogged or covered by frost or snow

There are several other caveats:

• • • The lawns may be closed at short notice if inspections indicate risk of damage
    • Hoops and other equipment may not be available for a particular lawn if they have been withdrawn for repainting and repair
    • It is not expected that the lawns will be cut or white-lined though the corner markings will be renewed from time to time
    • Full closure of the lawns may be implemented in the event of prolonged poor weather or to allow a shorter period of recuperation before the new season

In these cases, the aim is to notify the changes in the lawn booking system so it is always advisable to check shortly before play.

Another aspect is that the area around the wide gate near the car park from the football pitches onto the croquet lawns has, as usual, become very wet and boggy.  It is recommended that players take the longer tarmac path around the croquet lawns to the bowling greens and clubhouse.

Lastly, the wet weather has made the patio area in front of the clubhouse very slippery so do take care.

Thursday, 10 December 2020: The lawns have been cut but avoid playing on Lawn 4 which is now very wet and quite muddy.

 

 

 

Chester Croquet Club was back in business on Wednesday morning, 2 December, after the latest lockdown. All four lawns were soon in use as members escaped their domestic confines and sought al fresco Vitamin D to help banish Covid blues – all socially distanced, of course.

Wednesday, 4 November … last games of socially distanced croquet before the latest lockdown:

Thursday, 5 November, message to members from Jayne Taylor:

Good morning members, or rather not so good morning.

The CA has officially advised its members that, in spite of lobbying by the CA and other bodies, regulations for the Covid 19 lockdown appear to require croquet clubs in England to close along with other outdoor sports amenities.  Therefore the CA’s Coronavirus Task Force is strongly advising clubs to cease play for the period of the lockdown.

We have consistently followed the advice of the CA on playing croquet during the pandemic so your committee has decided to cease playing at the club for 28 days or until further notice. Hopefully this will enable the Council to progress with the  maintenance of the lawns and surroundings, which might be some consolation.

Let us hope that we can return after 28 days (or before if common sense prevails),  and that December gives us some nice weather to enable us to wrap up warm and have a few games before Xmas.

Meanwhile, stay safe

Jayne