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There were over 25 guides, rangers and leaders who attended a social fun introduction to croquet at the club yesterday evening, Wednesday, 22 June. They were from the 4th Chester St Mary’s Guides. Everyone was given a mallet, split into groups to learn the basic shots, then had a game. Some of the games were very competitive, going by the whoops of excitement!

All enjoyed the evening.

Thanks especially to the volunteers who gave up their evening to assist. Helen Brophy and Richard Smith managed a group of seven teenagers with skill and were still smiling by the end. David Johnson, Paul Taylor, Chris Slater, Jill Foley, Doreen King, Sarah Clements all made the evening fun and interesting for the young people.

Maybe we have potential croquet players for the future?

You should have received an email from the Croquet Association (CA) inviting you to attend (via Zoom) and vote at a Special General Meeting (SGM) on Monday 18 July at 6pm.

The purpose of the SGM is to pass two resolutions that will allow the modernisation of the CA to take place.

Specifically this is about becoming a charitable incorporated organisation to limit CA liabilities, and to align the CA with Sports England and it’s governance (and funding opportunities).

It is important that these resolutions succeed and to that end please do take the time to vote.

Voting is easy!

To cast your vote electronically

Log on to the CA website as a member at croquet.org.uk

Go to the Members’ Area

Select Surveys & Voting and click on “SGM July 2022 Voting”

Or you may instead vote on the motions at the meeting,

Or you may send for a ballot paper  from the CA Operations Manager at The Croquet Association, Old Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7DF. Your vote must be returned to the CA Office no later than 8th July.

Many thanks

Robin Tasker

Chester Croquet Club and
North West CA Council Member

For more information
see the Croquet Association flier and their e-mail circular to members

Prosecco and strawberries plus lovely flapjack and cookies were the order of the day at this month’s Social Sunday. Over 15 people came, not bad for Father’s Day and cold weather, including 15 month old Freddie who is the grandson of member David Booth. 6 guests joined members for an afternoon of fun croquet.

In a Snowdonia Cup golf handicap match on Thursday, 16 June, Chester won 10-4 against Llanfairfechan on very difficult lawns that have become severely dry and bare and unpredictable. Edward Baskerville was captain, with Ian Shaw, Sarah Clements and Arnie Banford. Ian and Sarah both played well, winning all four of their games and Arnie outplayed their captain.

On the following day, Friday, 17 June, Chester won 5-2 against Bowdon in the North West Federation association handicap league. David Boyd (captain) and Robin Tasker stole victory in the morning’s doubles by coming from 14 hoops behind in the closing stages to draw and then win at the golden hoop. In the afternoon 3 out of the 4 singles games were won by Chester. The other members of the team were Sally Slater and Nigel Worthington.

On Saturday Chester hosted an on-form Bury team in the Short Lawn league. Sally Slater (captain), Robin Tasker, Nigel Worthington and Jayne Taylor fought well but eventually lost 11-5.

 

 

Unfortunately the short lawn home match against Tattenhall next Friday, 24 June, has been cancelled as they cannot provide a team. We hope to reschedule, possibly in early August

Please can you reconfirm or advise me of your availability for August and September by e-mailing me using the link below.

Thank you

Val Sanders

16 June 2022

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I am looking for players who would like to take part in the Short Lawn section of the Snowdonia Cup.

Players of any standard from beginners to experienced are very welcome.

The three matches are scheduled as follows:

Chester v Tattenhall Friday, 24 June
Chester v Craig-y-don Saturday, 20 August
Llanfairfechan v Chester Saturday, 17 September

Please let me know your interest and availability by e-mail using the link below or by phone/text on 07739311161

Many thanks

Val Sanders

24 May 2022

On Saturday, 11 June, Chester hosted the annual NW Federation association croquet handicap tournament. Reflecting national trends about minimising travel costs, the event attracted a field of only four competitors. However the quality of play was very high on the Chester lawns which had been specially cut and which sun and gusty wind had made exceptionally dry and fast – keeping a long distance take-off on the lawn was a nightmare.

In the first round Chris Alvey from Bury scraped an 18 -17 win over his wife Anne (apparently a first domestic victory!) whilst the rapidly improving Ged Smolskas, also from Bury, comfortably beat Paul Taylor of Chester. In the second round Chris turned up the heat for a big win over Ged whilst Ann had a solid win over Paul.

The final round produced dramas. Against Chris, Paul ended a steady break by burning through his remaining bisques. Victory should have been easy for the lower handicapped Chris but Paul steadily ran hoops whilst Chris spent his energies on marginally missed roquets or blobbed hoops. The result was an 18-3 win to Paul. The final game between Anne and Ged was for high stakes. Any win by Anne would give her the tournament whilst Ged needed a big win to take first place. When time was called the scores were level but Ged kept his nerve to score the final winning hoop.

The final outcome was that Chris Alvey, who won two of his three games, took home the trophy his wife had won last year and Ged Smolskas, who also won two of his three games but with a smaller difference in hoops run, gained the runner-up trophy, a magnificent seventy year old memento donated to the Croquet Association by the CA of Australia.

Overall, some great croquet in very tricky conditions.

You may be aware that the CA has for some time been reviewing its legal structure. We are close to decision points and to this end the CA is offering to all members an online Zoom meeting to bring members up to date. Please feel free to join the meeting if you wish.

Robin Tasker and I (as the successive NW Federation representatives) have been heavily involved in the proposal. Our views are clear. The current CA structure is badly out of date and carries significant legal and financial risks if we do nothing. Adopting a modern legal structure is a must and incorporating charitable status at the same time offers new financial opportunities (with no downside that we can see).

Robin and I would have opted for a different legal route (CCLG – Charitable Company limited by Guarantee ) but Council voted for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) as the preferred route. However, Robin and I consider this a sound decision and think that further debate carries major risks of “getting stuck in the status quo”.

Croquet England is a modern title which aligns with other major sports. It makes complete sense to manage the changes to the legal status and name in an integrated way.

Best wishes

John Dawson

Secretary
Chester Croquet Club

See the Croquet Association flier and their e-mail circular below

CA – Members’ Forum – via Zoom

The CA Council has decided to propose:

(i) that the Chairman of the Council and the Honorary Secretary should be authorised to make an application to the Charity Commission to register Croquet England as a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation; and

(ii) that, if the application is successful, the Executive Board should be authorised to transfer all of the assets and liabilities of the CA (by stages) to Croquet England so that Croquet England CIO will eventually replace the CA completely.

This major change has been under consideration for some time. Members are about to be asked for their approval.

Members’ Forum – via Zoom

Monday 13 June 2022 at 6 p.m.

For details of the Zoom meeting link see the e-mail circular sent to all CA members or ask the club secretary, John Dawson.

Find out the facts.

Ask questions.

Get answers.

Three important documents are available for perusal via the website.

Just click on the links below.

Background to the Proposal to change the status and name of the CA

Guide to the Draft Constitution

Draft Constitution of Croquet England

Chester Deva Rotary Club visited Chester Croquet Club for a fun social evening on Tuesday, 31 May. 15 Rotarians were shown the basic skills and then played competitive games in a progressive doubles, which was great fun. The evening finished with refreshments. The croquet club are always willing to host local charity groups and introduce them to croquet. This season there is a girl guides visit, Chester Rambling Club and Mensa all planned.

On the following Saturday, 4 June, Chester Croquet Club put up a small lawn at the Westminster Park Jubilee Picnic and invited children and adults to have a go at croquet and see how many shots it took to get round the sixhoops. Many people participated. The winning child, with the least number of shots taken, was Georgia Folks, aged 8 from Cheadle. Matt Sargent was the best adult.

On a very wet Sunday, 5 June, the Chester Senators handicap golf team played at home against Bowdon. Chester won both doubles games with Edward Baskerville (captain) and Sarah Clements managing a tense 5-3 victory and in heavy rain Kerry Dadson and Pat Wheeler played exceptionally in a well matched game to make 6-4.The singles games went 8 to 6 in Chester’s favour with two games drawn 5 all and 6 all. A total of 98 hoops were run by Chester against 77 by Bowdon and an overall scoreline of 10-6 to Chester. Notwithstanding the inclement weather, the teams enjoyed after match strawberries and cream and chocolate cake, joining in the nation’s celebrations.

Both of Chester Croquet Club’s level play golf croquet teams were in action this week in the North West Federation level play league.

The Chariots had a great day’s croquet away at Culcheth on Wednesday, 25 May, despite very mixed weather and they won 12 games to 6. The team were Chris Thomas (captain), Tom Grievson and Janet Jackson. The Centurions hosted Pendle at home on the following day, Thursday, 26 May. The day started in rain and finished in sunshine. Garry Greenwood was the captain, with Sally Slater and John Hampson.  Pendle were a strong team and many of the games went to the golden hoop, but Pendle emerged victorious in the end, winning 10-8. The Centurions won the league last season, so it was a slightly disappointing result.

On Friday, 27 May, the second round of the national Secretary’s Shield competition was played against York at Pendle. The strong wind did at times make for challenging conditions but there was a fair amount of sunshine. In the morning session a healthy 3-0 lead was established by the doubles pairing of David Boyd and Robin Tasker, and the two singles played by David Guyton and Brian Walton which allowed us to enjoy a well-deserved lunch. In the afternoon session the singles were all hard fought and although Chester ran out 6-1 winners by the finish that didn’t tell the whole story. The three afternoon wins were achieved by only a small handful of points in total but on those the tie was won. The reward is a semi-final match later this summer. The match was played in a wonderful but competitive spirit and it was a pleasure to meet, get to know, and to play against the York team. More details.

On Sunday, 29 May, a short lawn team of Sally Slater (captain), Nigel Worthington, Helen Brophy and Jayne Taylor played Bowdon at home. Rain stayed away and the match was played in good spirits. Chester won 10-6, though many of the games were very hard fought.

After winning against Middlesbrough earlier in the month, the second round of the national Secretary’s Shield competition took us once more to Pendle on Friday, 27 May, this time to play York. As ever we enjoyed brilliant hospitality from our hosts and even a fair amount of sunshine although strong gusts of wind did at times make for challenging conditions. In the morning session a healthy 3-0 lead was established by the doubles pairing of David Boyd and Robin Tasker, and the two singles games played by David Guyton and Brian Walton which allowed us to enjoy a well-deserved lunch.

In the afternoon session the four singles games were all very closely fought and although Chester ran out as winners 6 – 1 by the finish that didn’t tell the whole story. The three afternoon wins were achieved by only a small handful of points in total but on those the tie was won. Although the Chester team had lower handicaps, the closeness of the scores demonstrated the fairness of the handicap ratings in giving equal opportunities for all the players. Overall, a long and challenging day with the reward being a semi-final match later this summer.

The match was played in a wonderful but competitive spirit and it was a pleasure to meet, get to know, and to play against the York team.

Chester names first:

Morning Session

Robin Tasker (4) and David Boyd (6) beat Fiona Crompton (9) and Sue Longcroft (11) 19-10

David Guyton (6) beat William Bosanquet (16) 19-14

Brian Walton (7) beat John Crompton (11) 26-16

Afternoon Session

Robin Tasker beat Fiona Crompton 21-19

David Boyd beat Sue Longcroft 22-17

David Guyton beat John Crompton 15-13

Brian Walton lost to William Bosanquet 19-23