Category: Uncategorized

Derek Bell Jones had a lucky escape from a falling branch last Friday, 25 September. He was playing against Nigel Worthington on Lawn 2 and was sitting next to the public footpath enjoying the late summer sunshine on a rather windy morning while his opponent had the innings. He heard a creaking, breaking sound and quickly moved away as a branch from a nearby tree came crashing down over the fence. One of the unexpected perils of playing croquet on a windy day. True to form, Derek emerged as unperturbed as ever.

On a beautiful sunny day on Sunday, 13 September, the annual Christine Long golf handicap tournament was held at Chester. 12 players were divided into two teams of six and, during the day, each team member played each other. It was a close run thing. In team A two members had each won four games, with Edward Baskerville winning more hoops and therefore going forward to the final. In team B there were three members who each won four of their games, but with an aggregate score of 33 hoops Sally Slater just made it into the final. The final was a good game, with Edward Baskerville beating Sally Slater and winning the tournament 7-4 to take home the cup and painting. The tournament was organised by last year’s winner Sam Seal.

Inter-club, competitive croquet, along with many other sports this season, has pretty well stalled completely because of  current restrictions. It is not that actually playing croquet contravenes rules about social distancing, even with four players on a 28 yard x 35 yard croquet lawn they can stay well separated (and in croquet it is not usual for players to to converge in a huddle after scoring every point), but it is travelling to play away matches that is the main problem as distances between croquet clubs are such that teams of four usually share transport.

However, having two croquet clubs as close as Chester and Tattenhall allowed members to travel separately and at least gave them the opportunity to arrange a ‘local Derby’. So, on Friday, 11 September,  Chester hosted a friendly handicap golf croquet match when two separate teams of 4 from each club played the two matches under league rules (excluding the doubles games), giving each player 2 singles games in the morning and 2 more in the afternoon. After a pleasant day on the lawns, whilst observing all the current restrictions but at least with no rain, the final reckoning of the two closely fought matches gave Tattenhall the edge in both with two 9 points to 7 wins.

It is hoped that a return match can be arranged at Tattenhall before the end of this season.

Making up for cancelled matches earlier in the season, the club held an informal full lawn handicap association croquet competition for the Mason Cup over the weekend of 5 – 6 September. Taking part in the competition were David Boyd, John Dawson, Sally Slater, Richard Smith and Robin Tasker. Apart from a short shower on Saturday, playing conditions were good and the players enjoyed the opportunity for some interesting, competitive and socially distanced games following the cancellation of so many earlier matches. Sally Slater made good use of her handicap bisques and emerged as overall winner.

The good news is that the Council has now allowed the clubhouse to re-open. This enables access to the toilets, handwashing facilities, water for cleaning and limited use of the kitchen. But Covid-19 has not disappeared and continuing caution and prudence remain essential. So please refrain from visiting the club if you have any coronavirus symptoms or have been in contact with anyone who has and please observe the following:

• • Social distancing at all times inside and outside the clubhouse
  • Using hand sanitiser when entering the clubhouse or storeroom – wall-mounted dispensers have been installed in the kitchen area and storeroom
  • Wearing face coverings in the clubhouse if social distancing of 2 metres is not feasible
  • Using the kitchen only for the preparation of drinks but not food or other catering
  • Ensuring the toilets, kitchen, crockery, croquet equipment and any other shared items are cleaned after use
  • Avoiding all social or informal gatherings in the clubhouse
  • Continuing to use the lawn booking system so there is a record of everyone attending

In accordance with latest government and Croquet Association guidance, we can also relax some of the earlier constraints on play though social distancing remains as important as ever.

• • Doubles and double banked games are now allowed enabling four rather than two players on a lawn
  • Groups of up to six people from different households are now permitted

Enjoy the rest of the season !

 

Discussions are continuing with Cheshire West and Chester Council about re-opening the clubhouse and access to the toilets and hand washing facilities. They remain closed for the time being. However, the public toilets in the central café block in Westminster Park have re-opened. If lack of facilities has deterred members from coming to enjoy games of croquet, that constraint is now removed.

If members who haven’t played since the lawns were re-opened on 24 May would now like to enjoy some summer games, please remember that it is currently necessary to book a lawn in advance. It is also recommended that members bring their own hand sanitisers or cleaning tissues, any refreshments they may wish to have, and their own mallets and seats if they have them. Check here for more information.

 

On Friday, 12 June, a Reuters photographer, Molly Darlington from Cheshire, visited the club to take some photographs of croquet being played during the current coronavirus lockdown.  A few days later a photograph of a well known  Chester player appeared  in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper under a headline about the local weather forecast. International fame at last!

 

Chester’s John Dawson being interviewed about socially distanced croquet by socially distanced ITV Granada at Bowdon on Tuesday, 2 June. David Walters and Liz Taylor Webb of Bowdon were also interviewed.

The interviews were broadcast on regional ITV news yesterday evening, Tuesday, 9 June, and can be viewed here.

Government and Croquet Association guidelines from Monday, 1 June, now allow up to six people from different households to meet outdoors, still subject to social distancing of 2 metres. This means that doubles games and double banking are now permitted.

Previous guidelines still apply about minimising contact with shared items of equipment and cleaning after use.

Any members who wish to borrow a Club mallet and keep it at home for the rest of the year may contact Tom Grievson who will make the necessary arrangements.

Also, remember to move opponents’ or partners’ balls with your feet rather than hands.

The clubhouse continues to remain closed until further notice.

Latest guidance from 1 June 2020:
Government
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Croquet Association

Please note short lawns have so far been set out only on Lawn 1, ie Lawns 1A and 1B.

When making lawn bookings, please keep to 1½ hour time slots starting at 10.00 am, 11.30 am. 1.00 pm, 2.30 pm, 4.00 pm, 5.30 pm and 7.00 pm in order avoid overlapping two 1½ hour time slots or inadvertently creating shorter time slots of just ½ hour or 1 hour for other players. A 1½ hour time slot covers three rows on the lawn booking chart.

And remember to record the type of game being booked, ie Association Croquet (green), Golf Croquet (yellow) or Short Croquet (turquoise).

* * * * *

Here are some earlier comments and practical tips arising from the first few days of play:

1. Full lawns 1 to 4 and short lawns 1A and 1B have been set out and are available for play.
2. A bottle of hand sanitiser is on the shelf on the left inside the storeroom door. Detergents and disinfectants are on the bottom shelf of the cupboard on the right hand side.
3. To help with cleaning items after use, a 10 litre water container has been placed in the storeroom. It is easy to clean the balls by washing them in the bucket provided with a little water and some detergent. Rags are provided to wipe the balls, hoops and wheelie bins. Used sparingly the water should last for a few days. If the container is empty or nearly empty, please take it home, fill it up and bring it back.
4. It is possible to open and close the storeroom door using one’s own long shank lock key and Allen key without needing to touch the door handle.
5. The good news is that the Covid-19 virus survives only a few minutes outdoors exposed to sunshine and UV light. So relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Let us know if you have any further tips or experience which will help us to enjoy croquet in the new situation without access to the main clubhouse.