Author: ldixon

Braving the low cloud and initial drizzle 5 members arrived to practice their GC skills.
First to arrive was Leigh and Libby quickly followed by Maureen and Alan. Maureen and Alan settled down to have a cuppa whilst the other two set out lawn 3 and set about playing.
Maureen and Alan declined to join in the game and set up lawn 5. Shortly afterwards Paul arrived and joined Leigh and Libby.
A great enjoyable mornings play.

Sunday 27th July saw the start of the Internal AC Competitions.
Paul and Mark kicked everything off in the Barlow Ball (Advanced AC). With both players getting off to a good start. Mark taking his black ball around to 4 back. Paul had a mishap after hoop two but fought back. The game flowed both ways with some fantastic hit ins. The eventual winner was Paul 26/17.
Our club hedgehog also made an appearance today following a light shower.

Eight members attended for a social play and chat. The day was extra special as Cathy was able to come for the first time since her serious car accident at Easter. Accompanied by Neil who watched her carefully Cathy could not stop herself from the temptation to use a mallet.
Welcome back Cathy

This match was between Pendle and Craven CC and Southport and Birkdale CC. With a very poor weather forecast phone calls between both captains occurred the night before and early morning g of the 19th. The decision was to go ahead with the match and get a result.
The Southport CC team who left their club at 7.30 arrived shortly after 9.00am. Their team was John(1), Eddie (2), David (3) and Sue(3).
Pendle and Craven team was Paul(2), Libby(4), Mike(4) and Sharon (8).
After a quick decision to press on with the format of play and lawn allocation the games commenced at 9.30.
The doubles were contested by Paul and Libby vs John and Eddie. The finial score was 6/7,7/6 and 5/7. Mike won his singles against Sue however Sharon lost against David. Sharon played well and scored 4 hoops and 5 hoops respectively.
At lunch Pendle and Craven CC was 2.1 down but thankfully the predicted rain had not affected play. Pendle and Craven CC provided a quiche and salad lunch for everyone.
The afternoon singles in slight drizzle but the humidity kept everyone warm. Paul was successful in his 2 games and saw him trigger to a 1. Libby took Eddie to 3 games but lost in the last game. Mike lost to David and Sharon lost to Sue.
Afternoon tea saw Sue thank PCCC for a great days play and for the hospitality. The result was PCCC 2 and Southport CC 5.
Mike thanked everyone and wished Southport CC every success against Watford in the Semi Final.

David Carpenter HCP Captain reports

In the NW Golf Croquet Handicap League on Tuesday 15th July Pendle & Craven entertained Southport Hawks on an extremely damp day. It was lucky that the match finished at 3pm; look at the state of the lawns by 5.30. The home side of Mike Bradbury, Sharon de Maine, Leigh Dixon & David Carpenter won 14 games to 4. Particular congratulations to Sharon & Leigh who won all 4 of their singles games. Leigh also triggered to a 10 handicap. All games were played in a very friendly manner. Once again the visitors commentated very favourably of Sharon’s home made cake.

The lawns at 5.30 after the match had finished

PCCC team Paul, Catherine, Andrew and Libby.
Southport team Bill, Eddie, Peter and David.

Pendle travelled to Southport for a 26point AC match. Southport fielded the same team that beat Pendle and Craven in the Longman Cup.
With a very hot day expected the match moved quickly onto play after a welcome cuppa.
First round in the doubles Andrew and Libby found success on the golden hoop beating Bill and Tony 16/15.
Paul also had a great game dispatching Eddie 26/17.
Catherine had a close game against Peter who won 15/11 after Catherine missed a croquet.
At lunch Pendle team were 2:1 and both teams welcomed a respite from the sun.
The afternoon round of singles
Paul won 26/8 against Bill, Eddie won 17/11 against Catherine, Andrew won 26/6 against Peter and Libby lost 12/21 against David.
Overall result Pendle won 4/3.

Pendle and Craven CC vs Bury Peelers, 22nd June away to Whitehead Park Bury.

An exhausted, Pendle and Craven CC AC team due to the previous days Longman Cup Match travelled to Bury Whitehead Park to play in the AC 26 point League.

Pendle and Craven Team consisted of Paul D (7), Catherine P (8), Andrew G (10) and Libby D (14).

Bury Peelers Team was David B (6), Richard L (10), Margaret E (11) and Vi R (20).

The days weather was for thunderstorms and cooler temperatures from the past few days. After a very warm welcome from the Bury team and a refreshing cuppa it was then onto the paperwork.

Bury lawns had been set up for impending rain with shelter provided by umbrellas and a gazebo. In light rain the doubles started with both teams electing to play alternate stroke. David and Vi against Andrew and Libby which was remarkably close win for Bury at 17/15 on time. The mornings singles games saw Paul defeat Richard 26/22 and Catherine and Margarets game go to the golden hoop. Catherine was able to take advantage of a mistake from Margaret and won 17/16.

Lunch as taken inside the clubhouse whilst it rained outside. Thankfully, the rain ceased, and the afternoons play began in cooler and gusty wind conditions. Unfortunately, mid fternoon saw the rain appear again and with higher winds the gazebo and umbrellas taken down with members sheltering under the verhandah.

Paul finished his game in under 1 hour defeating David 26/0. Catherine lost to Richard 11/26, and Andrew won 26/11 against Margaret. In the last game Libby defeated Vi 26/12.

 Result : Pendle and Craven CC 5 to   Bury Peelers  2.

Pendle and Craven thanked Bury Peelers for their hospitality for a spirited days play which saw Paul reduce his handicap to 6 and Andrew reduce to 9.

On Saturday 21st of June, Pendle and Craven CC played Southport CC in the Longman Cup. (AC National Inter-Cup Championship).

The day’s weather was warm and with expected thunderstorms everyone was wishing for for quick start. The Southport team of Bill N(7),Eddie G(8),Peter W(9) and David V(10) all arrived just after 9.00am. The Pendle Team consisted of Paul D(7), Catherine P(8), Andrew G (10) and Mark K(12) so with nearly matching handicaps it was going to be a great days play. Play commenced at 9.20.

The lawns were mown and set up by Libby D, Paul D with the hoops being set by a new Lawns volunteer, Leigh D. He had been told to set the hoops at a tight 1/16th but with the heat of the day it was found that the black ball would not go through three hoops which had to be reset on lawn 3.

Both teams decided to play Alternate shots in the doubles. Paul and Mark had 31/2 bisques against Bill and David who only had 21/2. This game went to time and despite a valiant effort, Pendle lost 10/16. In the mornings singles, Pendle and Craven team won both. Catherine’s game against Peter was remarkably close and with time running out Catherine managed a win by 1 hoop (13/12), whilst Andrew, after pegging out Eddies yellow ball went onto win 26/16.

At lunch Pendle were 2/1 up and good camaraderie continued with discussions on the mornings play. The afternoon singles commenced in light rain showers that kept players running backwards and forwards to get rainwear but soon off when it stopped as the temperatures remained high.

Paul won 26/7 against Bill in a beautiful fluid display of play in just over an hour. Catherine struggled against Eddie who had found his form after lunch and lost 6/16. Andrew’s game against Peter was very watchable with Andrew crying out many times “Oh Andrew” when his play went astray. Andrew lost 15/19. Marks game against David was a remarkably close game. Mark had managed to get back after being 8 hoops down to 21/21. Unfortunately, Mark missed a roquet letting David in, who went onto peg out. A thrilling match end.

Southport won 4 Pendle 3

Libby D the non playing Pendle captain thanked every for their contribution for an excellent days play. A cake afternoon tea was enjoyed by everyone and in the words of our Clubs father, Robin Delves “ It’s better to have tried and  failed than never to have tried “.   

Pendle & Craven entertained Westmoreland at Earby on Saturday 31st May. The home team included Mike Bradbury, Sharon de Maine,David Carpenter & Leigh Dixon. The team won with 11 games to 7 securing their first win of the season.The opposition commented on the tightness of the hoops. Special mention should be given to Leigh, who had secured 6 Wins from 8 singles matches in his first season representing Pendle and Craven. Following the game both teams enjoyed afternoon tea which included Sharon’s wonderful home made Victoria Sponge cake.

David Carpenter (Captain)

Report from Cathy O’Brien
A full complement of 16 players from as far afield as Guildford competed in the Pendle and Craven ‘B’ series GC competition. The parched lawns were playing really fast and some very close games resulted in two players from Pendle, Libby Dixon and Andrew Gould, plus two from Bishop Monkton, Jo-Ann Hughes and Robert Strover winning their Round Robin blocks. After lunch the glorious sunshine continued and the knock out phase of the tournament continued. Congratulations to Jo-Ann who beat Andrew (7-5) in the final. Peter Adams (Guildford) beat Libby 7-6 for third place. Richard Sanville (Ashby) beat Robert for the Shield. Full results can be seen on Croquet Scores.