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Chester Croquet Club held a National A-Level Golf Croquet tournament on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 August 2025, at its Westminster Park club. 16 players from as far away as Surrey, Lincolnshire, and Durham, and including three from Chester, gathered to compete in two intensive days of croquet.

On Saturday two blocks of eight players started at 9.30 am in an
all-play-all competition; a total of 56 games across Chester’s four lawns. The playing day finished at about 6.30pm with the top five players, led by Chester’s Sarah Clements, each winning five of their seven games. They were followed by six players each winning four of their seven games – a very unusual close result of a keenly competed, long, day. The leading pack also included John Carr (an Australian on a two month tour of the UK), Tony McCann from Durham and Robbie Dodds from Shrewsbury.

The weather on Saturday had been fairly kindly but Sunday threatened rain and gusty winds. Twenty three games were scheduled for Sunday’s knockout 19 point rounds. The sixteen players were again split into two sets; the top eight competed for the Cup and eight for the Plate. By the semi-final stage in the Cup the early showers of Durham Tony, Australian John and Shrewsbury Robbie were joined by Chris Higgins from Bishop Monkton, North Yorkshire.

The Plate groups semi-final was dominated by Northern players. Peter Tymms and Andrew Carpenter from Durham, Bob Strover from Bishop Monkton with Pamela Dawson from Gainsborough.

All the Cup and Plate games were close, hard fought contests with very little margin separating them.

The threatened rain arrived but did not last for too long but the increasing wind put both the gazebos and the players in a bit of a flap. The gazebos were dismantled but the competitors played on.

The Cup final was between the Geordie Tony and Aussie John. After a long and skilful tussle the Cup was won 10 to 7 by Tony, for the second year running.

Bob Strover played Peter Tymms in the Plate final. This was a somewhat quicker affair with Peter quickly establishing a commanding lead and winning by 10 to 5.

So, Tony McCann and Peter Tymms, both from County Durham, scooped the prizes and headed for the long drive North with big smiles and bottles of champagne.

On Tuesday, 29 July, Chester Senators travelled up to Southport to play the Southport Falcons in a NW Federation Handicap Golf Croquet League match. David Johnson (captain), Sandy Grievson, Lesley Newman and David Mann, playing off handicaps 12,9,11 and 11 respectively, faced John Marsh, Mike Armstrong, Simon Hancock and Cheryl Sherwood, playing off 8,5, 9 and 12. Given the overall lower handicap of the Falcons, a competitive day’s play was expected, and the teams were not disappointed.

The day started cloudy, with a light, refreshing, drizzle, and by lunchtime the Falcons led 6 games to 3. The weather brightened in the afternoon, and at 3.00 pm a three minute silence was observed in memory of the three girls murdered in the town the previous year. The afternoon games were closely fought, but the Senators managed to pull back to end the day at a draw (9 games each), a very fair reflection of the calibre of play of both teams and the overall standard of the competition. Our thanks to the hosts, Southport, for an enjoyable and challenging day’s play.

On the following day, Wednesday, 30 July, Chester Centurions visited Bowdon to play the Bombers in a NW Federation Level Play Golf Croquet League match. Bowdon’s more experienced team of Nigel Matthews, Alan Mayne, and Alan Dix ( handicaps 0, 0 and 5) presented a challenge to the Chester team of Mark Lloyd, Rick Davies and Andy Wilson-Chalon (handicaps 1, 3 and 5) were leading 6 -3 by lunchtime. However the afternoon saw Chester pull back, with Bowdon ending the day with a narrow victory of 10 games to 8.

In the Advanced B level AC League, Chester travelled to Crake for this match on Saturday, 2 August, which was played in bright warm sunshine on flat and beautifully green courts.

The team of Mark Lloyd, David Boyd and Robin Tasker lost a tightly contested match to a Golden Hoop finish of the final game to be completed.

At lunch the score was tied at 1 – 1 with the doubles lost, and after a scintillating start Mark held on to win his singles game. The three afternoon singles matches were all close affairs. Robin Tasker was just unable to keep pace with his opponent; David Boyd caught up right at the end to win by a single hoop; and Mark Lloyd missed out in the most tense of finishes.

The match was played with great spirit and was thoroughly enjoyed by both teams although the long journey back would undoubtedly have been improved if Chester had won!

The defeat – Chester’s first of the season in this league – leaves them tied with Crake but still top of the league with a healthy hoop difference lead going into the final round of league fixtures: Chester away at Bury, Crake away at Bowdon and all to play.

 

 

Chester played a further match in the annual Snowdonia Cup series on Tuesday, 22 July. This was a GC handicap match against Llanfairfechan played at the seaside in North Wales. The recent hot spell of weather had given way to uncertain conditions and there was some doubt whether we would play. However, despite a wet drive from Chester the teams started playing by 10 am in very light drizzle which soon cleared away. It remained cloudy but pleasantly cool.

Chester was captained by Edward Baskerville supported by his wife Elizabeth, Sandy Grievson and Arnie Banford; a team with a 37 combined handicap against Llanfairfechan with 39 including Anwen Williams, Margaret Evans, Sandra Ibbotson and Trish Jones. The home team’s  non-playing captain Liz Griffiths very neatly ensured both teams had an enjoyable and thoroughly well organised day. Many tight games could have been expected but in the event Chester ended the afternoon with a 12 – 4 win, one of the team dropping two games, two dropping one game and the captain just managing to avoid defeat by Anwen Williams.

A lovely location at Llanfairfechan, and both teams had a very happy day’s golf croquet hosted by its non-playing captain who ensured a regular supply of tea, coffee and cake.

On the following day, Wednesday, 23 July, Chester played Fylde at home in the club’s second match of the season in the NW Federation Advanced B Level association croquet league. For this match the Chester team were Mark Lloyd (captain), David Boyd and David Guyton. On a grey day oscillating between cool and mild, the morning round of one singles game and one doubles game resulted in one win for each club, the doubles game being lost by Chester by just one hoop after a closely balanced ebb and flow throughout the game. This left the outcome to be determined by the three singles games in the afternoon. Mark Lloyd finished first by pegging out well before time with a 17 hoop lead. The two other singles games played to time but also resulted in wins for Chester, one by a 13 hoop lead and the last by a 2 hoop lead. In a cordial and good humoured match all round, the overall result was a satisfying 4 – 1 win for Chester making it the club’s second win in the league out of the four matches due to be played this season.

Saturday, 12 July, saw the last two Chester Cup competitions in level play golf croquet for Chester Croquet Club members. The lawns at Westminster Park were already hot when play got under way at 10 am and the heat increased as the day progressed.

Six players competed for the C-Level trophy, playing 3 games before lunch and 2 games in the afternoon. Greg Orriell and Gail Thomas set the pace in the morning, winning all their 3 games, but Greg’s winning streak continued into the afternoon. Hence he won the trophy, as it happens in his first year of competitive croquet.

In the D-Level competition three of the seven players had gained two games apiece by lunchtime. After lunch Lesley Newman pulled steadily ahead of David Johnson and Denise Buchanan, and despite a late rally by Liz Baskerville, Lesley won a decisive five games out of six to win the first ever  D-Level Chester Cup.

All welcomed the strawberries and cream and choc ices which helped to alleviate the oppressive heat. Congratulations t0 Greg Orriell and Lesley Newman.

Wednesday, 9 July, proved to be a hot day both in terms of weather and croquet competition. The Chester Centurion team team of Mark Lloyd (captain), David Crawford and Jude Wise faced up to Roger Brooks, John Armer and Mark Hattinett from Westmorland in the NW Federation  level play gold croquet league. Whilst the morning saw Chester forge ahead at 6 games to 3, the afternoon brought a valiant fight back from Westmorland. Clearly, they were better able to cope with the searing temperatures and had also got the measure of our lawns. Chester hung on though, and after 17 games the score stood at 9 games to 8. It all depended on the last game, between David Crawford and John Armer, and David prevailed in the last few hoops to win by 7 -4, thus resulting in an overall victory for Chester at 10 games to 8. A thoroughly enjoyable, if testing, match, and well played on both sides. Well done Chester Centurions and thank you Westmorland.

It was another hot, sunny day on Thursday, 10 July, when Chester played Craig-y-Don in the club’s second golf croquet match in this year’s Snowdonia Cup competition. Despite the temperature, it was an enoyable day’s croquet and the result was a 12 – 4 win for Chester.

 

 

Thursday, 3 July, saw the Chariots Golf Croquet Level Play team face a team from Southport in a NW Federation League match. This was a well-balanced match, with players of very similar handicap levels. The Chester team was captained by David Boyd, with support from Tom Grievson and Christine Thomas, whilst Southport was led by John Hampson ( himself an ex Chester player ) with Terry Dunbar and Mike Armstrong. By lunchtime Chester had established a strong lead having won 6 out of the 9 games, though several were closely fought. Sadly Terry suffered a knee injury which affected his games, and he finally had to abandon play in the afternoon. At the end of the day Chester were victors with 11 games against the Southport 6, with one game abandoned.

On the following Saturday, 5 July, the Chester Golf Croquet Handicap Team, the Senators, hosted Bury for a match in the NW Federation GC Handicap League. Gail Thomas was captain for Chester with Doreen Curtis, Liz and Edward Baskerville, whilst Bury South included Barbara Duncan (captain), David and Helen Arkinstall and Simon Attwell. Play started promptly at 9.45 am with the doubles games, and both teams were evenly matched, each team winning a game at 7-6. An unexpected downpour of rain affected the first two of the singles games, but fortunately stopped after the second one and did not return. Most games were close, but Chester finally came out victorious winning by 11 games to 5.

On Sunday, 6 July, the club welcomed a group of retired police officers to an afternoon of friendly croquet, which was enjoyed by all. This was one of a number of sessions that the club holds by request for various community groups and organizations during the season. They are all very welcome !

Two club golf croquet tournaments were played at Chester Croquet Club on Saturday, 21 June. The A-Level Chester Cup attracted six club members and four members competed for the B-Level Plaque. It was a hot and humid day but with occasional light showers which were very welcome.

The A-Level players on lawns one and two played an all-play-all format with three games in the morning and two in the afternoon. By lunchtime David Boyd had a clean sheet of wins and was looking hard to beat. This proved to be the case in the afternoon session and he swept to victory by winning every game. Roger Edwards was a convincing runner-up.

Over on lawns 3 and 4 Christine Thomas won the morning rounds with Edward Baskerville a very close second among the B-Level players. After lunch, the semi-finals and finals resulted in a win for Edward Baskerville with Christine Thomas a worthy runner up.

David Boyd was presented with the A-Level Chester Cup and Edward Baskerville the B-Level Plaque and both received a bottle of Champagne for their achievements.

Thursday, 19 June, proved to be very challenging in terms of the hot weather for both the Chester Chariots level play golf croquet team and their opponents, Bowdon Bombers visiting from Bowdon.

It also proved challenging for Chester in terms of the croquet, as the Bombers brought along some very experienced players. The Chester team of Sarah Clements (captain), Edward Baskerville and Chris Thomas on handicaps of 2, 4 and 5 faced Nigel Mathews, Alan Mayne and David Beddy on handicaps of 0, 0 and 5. Despite the differences in handicaps the Chariots took the Bombers all the way with many games being very close and taking a long time. The games were played in a lovely friendly way and there were many laughs along the way, with Bowdon claiming victory at 13 – 5.

On another beautiful day on Monday, 16 June, the Chester short lawn team of Derek Bell-Jones, Sarah Clements and Sally Slater welcomed a team from Westmorland. The lawns looked fabulous and ran fast and well. Westmorland had requested a team of three to which Chester agreed and their team was Roger Brooks, Sue Pritchard and Mike Hodgson.

Westmorland were two games up at lunchtime but Chester fought back in the afternoon and with the last game to play all was square at four each. Roger Brooks and Sally Slater battled it out but after a missed hoop Roger pegged out to win the game 14-13 and so the match was won by Westmorland 5-4.

The match was played in good spirits and some excellent croquet was enjoyed by all.

Chester Centurions played Bury Sovereigns at home in the NW golf croquet level play league on Wednesday, 11 June.

The Chester Centurions team of Jude Wise (captain), Rick Davies and David Crawford welcomed the Bury Sovereigns team of David Barrett, Richard Leach and Bernard Lord on a beautifully warm sunny day. Play commenced at 10.00 am and all enjoyed their games on our lovely green lawns after some welcome rain last week. The games were good, enjoyed by all with some closely fought, but Chester were on a roll from the start winning all their 9 games before lunch.

After lunch the afternoon sunshine became quite hot, with everyone needing to keep hydrated. Despite the heat, both teams continued playing well, with friendly but challenging games finishing around 5.00 pm. However, Chester held out and won all except one game resulting in a victorious win for 17 – 1 win for Chester Centurions.