Today only saw 6 members and 1 guest turn up today. The lawns were immaculate after the grounds teams efforts yesterday. Great job Paul and Mike. The lawns were still running true and quick despite some rain early this morning.
Andrew received six hoop top protectors (1 blue, 1 red and 4 clear) from Brookwood Croquet Club as a test run. They’re looking good and more will be ordered for the remaining lawns. They will be used on all our tournament hoops once they return from sandblasting and spray painted.
The photos show how easy they are to slip onto the hoop tops and placing on clips.
Sliding on the new hoop protector The new hoop protector fully on
Today was AC Social Day both Full lawn and Short Lawns in play with 8 members in attendance. Lawns running well for the time of year and the Golf players were still able to play, so come on down for whichever format you want to play.
Good lunch enjoyed in the sunshine.
Short doubles with beginners and more experienced pairing up and Golf Croquet going on in the backgroundLunch in the sunshineThe long shadows on a late autumn day, playing Golf Croquet
The lawns by 5pm on 31st September (with another another 3 hours of rain to come)The lawns at 7am the following morning. All the puddles gone but still squelchy
The internal AC Alternate Stroke Doubles took place on a chilly and dull afternoon between the teams of Robert Essler(0.5)/Cathy O’Brien(24) and Paul Dowdall(7)/Mark Kerr(12) giving Robert/Cathy 6 bisques and Paul/Mark 3.5 bisques.
Paul and Mark got off to a good start getting their first ball to rover with only one bisque early on. The game then turned into a bit of a dogfight with neither side being able to a good break going with the game going to time.
The last of our Wellbeing sessions saw a sunny atmosphere that was matched nicely by the weather as this pioneering pilot scheme finally came to a close. Deemed “a resounding success” the participants have thoroughly enjoyed their weekly visits to the lawns, as have the Social Prescribers who we were proud to partner with. ‘We’ve never seen results like it’, commented NHS project lead James Smith, ‘the clients are all saying how much they have enjoyed themselves. It’s like everyone has fallen in love with croquet!’
With many thanks to Ian Longstaff for making it a success
The third-best eight available players playing in the Spencer Ell Cup
Excellent croquet, good clean fresh air and lots of sunshine for the second day of the Spencer Ell Cup. Pendle and Craven Croquet Club are hosting the 5 day tournament in the idyllic surrounds enjoyed by the club.
On a cool start to the day we welcomed the Southport team of Gail Moors(3.5), Barbara Nodwell(9) and Mike Hill(10)
Pendle team: Paul Dowdall(1P), Catherine Parnell(2) and Robin Delves(9)
Pendle & Craven could not find four players, so Southport agreed to a three player team
Six games were played in the morning. Robin won one game and lost one with both going to a golden hoop. Catherine also lost one and won one with Paul winning both his games leaving us 4-2 up at lunch.
After lunch we each played one game but the heavens opened for about 30 minutes which brought up up a load of worms from the recent lawn applications leading some players to have to stop to clear a worm off the ball rather than the, more usual, clumps of mud.
Robin won his game but Catherine lost her game. Paul managed to win his game against Gail in a very close finish. Time had gone and Gail had levelled the hoop score on her final turn as time was called. With both players having a clip on peg a brief battle to gain the upper hand with the non-pegged balls. Finally, Paul managed to hit in and run hoop three to win the game.
Scores
Morning:
Robin beat Barbara 13:12, Catherine lost to Gail 6:14 and Paul beat Mike 8:5
Catherine beat Mike 11:8, Paul beat Barbara 14:6 and Robin lost to Gail 9:10
Afternoon
Paul beat Gail 9:8, Catherine lost to Barbara 1:14 and Robin beat Mike 10:8
The hedges were trimmed alongside lawns 1 & 5 (including outside) and the undergrowth cut back by Ian, Vince, Paul and Sharon. Then mowing by Vince with Paul & Andrew setting hoops for the weekend. Looking good.
Hedge alongside Cemetery Road trimmed
Many thanks for hours of hard labour to Ian, Vince, Paul, Andrew and Sharon,
