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.
Teams: Libby, Andrew, Paul and Catherine v Alan, Charles, Alan and Carol.
Weather conditions- rainy and muggy.
First round – all games finished well within the hour – excellent breaks from the four winning players – with even one bisque still left in the ground.
Second round – shy glimpses of sunshine but waterproofs still evident. More of the same for play so the third round could get going before dinner time, the score level-pegging at this point.
Third round – excellent play all round and leading into dinner the score is 7-5 to Bowdon so there’s work to do from Pendle in the final round.
Fourth round – one game actually makes it to full time and even a golden hoop! But at the end of the round, two wins each puts the final score at 9-7 to the visiting team.
It was all hands on deck for the PCCC members to help prepare for the arrival of the Belsay Hall Croquet Club Tour. Belsay Hall CC had organised a friendly tour with Clubs Ripon, Bishop Monkton, Ben Rhydding and the last day with Pendle and Craven CC. The team had based themselves in Harrogate.
Sixteen club members had signed up for the day with many of the new members enjoying their first experience of doubles competitive play. Thanks got to Sharon (Club Chairman) , who put in many hours into the planning of the matches and organising the cateringf or the day to ensure the success of the Tournament.
The day started out dry with leaden skies with everyone having waterproofs at the ready, but rain stayed away. By the afternoon the club had periods of sunshine. With 6 Teams each competing in the GC section and 2 teams each in the AC section at times there were 29 individuals on the lawns, a wonderful sight.
The GC/AC competition was 3 points for a win, 0 loss and ½ for a draw. In the morning, th e GC section played 2 games, 40min timed, in the morning and the AC 1 game of 18 point (level play) in 90 mins.
At lunch many club members helped with the serving and the visitors appeared to enjoy the respite from play.
The afternoon play consisted of 3 GC games (40 mins timed) and the 1 game of AC 26points, level play (3 hours).
At the end of a fabulous days entertaining play and socialising with new friends, Pendle won 13 ½ to 11 ½. Sharon thanked the visiting team and Alan, Belsay Hall’s tour captain reciprocated with many words of thanks. He presented the club with a gift for a wonderful day and for Pendle’s early commitment to hosting the event.
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 “.
At the Golf Croquet A level Series event at Pendle over the weekend of 7th and 8th June, it became apparent that one player was showing an extraordinary commitment to compete in the North West of England. Peter Payne had travelled from southern Switzerland, where he lives in Vicomorcote in the canton of Ticino. He had left at 04.30 on Friday morning from Malpensa, arriving in Manchester Airport via Heathrow. If there were no delays, he would arrive home at 01.00 on Monday morning. The evening before his epic round trip, Peter had appeared at the British Ambassador’s party to celebrate the King’s birthday in order to give a demonstration of croquet.
Peter Payne travelled a 2000 mile round trip to compete
Peter is playing in a number of events in the UK this year, including the AC inter-counties for Warwickshire and has to do the trip again for the Association Croquet Advanced weekend next week. The 65-year-old, who holds joint British and Swiss citizenship, has played croquet all over the world, including America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Egypt. Currently he is trying to start up a croquet club in Ticino, where he lives, and re-establish an Italian Croquet Association as well as the Swiss. He is the Treasurer of the Cern Croquet Club, Secretary of the Swiss Croquet Association and Treasurer of the World Croquet Association.
Peter was born in Birmingham in 1959. He moved to Switzerland in 1971 when he was 11. His croquet journey began in the mid-1960s. Currently he has a AC handicap of ½ and is a scratch player at Golf Croquet.
Reported by Mike Bradbury, Pendle and Craven Croquet Club.
Our Chairman, Sharon de Maine discussed Croquet with Dan Jewell on Radio Lancashire’s Saturday afternoon’s sports programme. Trying to dispel the conception of a game with flamingos and hedgehogs and Agatha Christie, Sharon’s enthusiasm for the sport came across very well. Even though Sharon said she had so much more she could have said, Dan appeared impressed that there was so much more to Croquet than flamingos!
Pendle & Craven: Paul Dowdall (2), Mike Bradbury (3), Andrew Gould (4), Libby Dixon (4)
Branston: David Brammer (2), Stuart Worsnop (3), Tony Cross (3), Pauline Donner (5)
The forecast of heavy showers in the morning did not materialise and play started promptly before 10am. Two of the morning rubbers went to three games, Pendle winning both after losing the opening game. The closest was Paul Dowdall & Mike Bradbury’s win 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 against David Broomer & Stuart Worsnop, whilst Libby Dixon fought back against Tony Cross to win 4-7, 7-2, 7-2. Branston’s Pauline Donner prevailed over Andrew Gould 7-5, 7-3.
Both teams enjoyed a convivial lunch in the clubhouse provided by the host team before resuming the match. In the afternoon, Pendle won three of the four singles: Mike Bradbury beat Stuart Worsnop 7-5, 7-5; Andrew Gould beat Tony Cross 7-4, 7-4 and Libby Dixon beat Pauline Donner 7-4, 7-5. Branston’s sole win in the afternoon was David Brammer’s strong performance against Paul Dowdall, winning 7-6, 6-7, 7-4.
The result was a 5-2 win for Pendle.
Cake and tea were enjoyed at the end of the day before Branston’s departure. The whole day was played in a very friendly and sporting atmosphere.
In the second round of the Murphy Shield we welcomed Branston CC all the way from Lincolnshire.
Pendle & Craven: Paul Dowdall (2), Mike Bradbury (3), Andrew Gould (4), Libby Dixon (4)
Branston: David Brammer (2), Stuart Worsnop (3), Tony Cross (3), Pauline Donner (5)
The forecast of heavy showers in the morning did not materialise and play started promptly before 10am. Two of the morning rubbers went to three games, Pendle winning both after losing the opening game. The closest was Paul Dowdall & Mike Bradbury’s win 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 against David Broomer & Stuart Worsnop, whilst Libby Dixon fought back against Tony Cross to win 4-7, 7-2, 7-2. Branston’s Pauline Donner prevailed over Andrew Gould 7-5, 7-3.
Both teams enjoyed a convivial lunch in the clubhouse provided by the host team before resuming the match. In the afternoon, Pendle won three of the four singles: Mike Bradbury beat Stuart Worsnop 7-5, 7-5; Andrew Gould beat Tony Cross 7-4, 7-4 and Libby Dixon beat Pauline Donner 7-4, 7-5. Branston’s sole win in the afternoon was David Brammer’s strong performance against Paul Dowdall, winning 7-6, 6-7, 7-4.
The result was a 5-2 win for Pendle.
Cake and tea were enjoyed at the end of the day before Branston’s departure. The whole day was played in a very friendly and sporting atmosphere.
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.
