Talking Croquet Issue 009 - September 2026

TALKING CROQUET Issue 009 | September 2026

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WELCOME

It has been my absolute pleasure to bring Talking Croquet to all of you since its first issue in May 2025. Since then, we have also taken the initiative to make the Croquet Gazette a publicly available magazine and all our magazines can now be viewed online. Talking Croquet has proved incredibly popular with readers all around the world as well as our players registered with Croquet England. I am so very proud that each magazine receives over three thousand visitors, with the highest viewed being our March 2026 issue which received 5,303 readers from when it was published. What has also become clear is that the content in Talking Croquet, which has always been a little less formal than that within the Croquet Gazette, has been well received encouraging far more interaction and general interest. Stories from the Grass Roots of our sport have been of particular interest, along with the sharing of coaching techniques from the swing clinic and stories from our friends Chris and Anne at DB Mallets. With the use of statistics provided by our software we can now confirm that these articles are of much higher popularity to our wider readership, with the detailed tournament reports now becoming less popular across our membership. The future of the Croquet Gazette will therefore be guided by the popularity of Talking Croquet. This change in direction for our players’ magazines aligns to our ‘One Croquet’ philosophy. It is vital that we understand, appreciate and deliver what everyone within our community would like to see, whether they are players of Croquet for fun, for friendship or for competition. We are privileged to have a sport which is truly accessible, which can be shared with friends and family, and can be a welcome activity for so many others from so many different communities. I hope that our now public magazines will help bring us closer to those who haven’t yet heard of our sport, and to those to whom our sport can bring joy and challenge. Thank you so much to all of you who have read Talking Croquet, interacted by sending your comments, writing letters and sharing images and articles. Please continue to share the tournament reports which will be published online, and any stories or matters of interest which you feel could be shared with our ever-growing population of players and volunteers. Alison

Talking Croquet Issue 009 | September 2026

Front Cover: Day Outing to Brodsworth Hall (Doncaster) Croquet Club (Letters page 11) CONTENTS

4 Chief Executive's Column 6 Coaching Awards 7 A triumphant return 9 Okay Croquet 10 Letters to the Editor

12 Yorkshire Federation AC Doubles 13 Tyneside AC Advanced Weekend 13 Final League Match at Downham 14 AC Open Championship 15 GC Open Championship 16 Sidmouth's GC B Level & SiSter 18 Cheltenham Barter Trophy 19 Barbara Young Memorial Trophy 20 Bisque Bundles 21 Alternative One-Day Format

Alison Maugham Editor editor@croquetengland.org.uk

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S COLUMN What a season it has been. It feels as though the croquet year has passed at By Andy Dalby-Welsh Chief Executive Officer, Croquet England

triumph in such a prestigious competition, on home soil and in front of so many supporters, was a moment of enormous pride. Samir captained a brilliant team that also included Mark Avery, Jamie Burch, James Death, Robert Fulford and Jack Good. Every one of them contributed to a campaign that demonstrated outstanding skill, composure and commitment, and reminded us all of the extraordinary standards being That achievement belongs not only to the players, important though their performances were, but also to the many people who made the event possible. I want to offer my sincere thanks to the volunteers from across the country who gave so much time, achieved by England’s leading Association Croquet players.

energy and care to putting the championship on. Whether preparing lawns, welcoming visitors, supporting teams, scoring, stewarding, organising, communicating, livestreaming or simply doing the practical jobs that often go unseen, your contribution was invaluable. Major events rely on that generosity of spirit, and this one showed Croquet England at its very best. For me, the season has also been a wonderful opportunity to meet people at clubs and to hear directly from members about their hopes for the future of the game. Our visits to clubs in the north were a particular highlight. Everywhere we went, we

remarkable speed, but when I look back over the last few months I am struck by just how much there has been to celebrate across our sport. From the very highest levels of international competition to friendly games at local clubs, this season has shown, time and again, the strength, warmth and ambition of the croquet community. It is therefore a real pleasure to welcome you to this edition of Talking Croquet as Chief Executive of Croquet England. The great headline, of course, is the fantastic success of England’s Association Croquet World Team Championship team, led superbly by Samir Patel, in winning the MacRobertson Shield. To see England

Continued on page 5

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found people who care deeply about croquet, who want their clubs to flourish, and who are full of ideas about how Croquet England can support growth, participation and enjoyment. Those conversations matter. They help ground our national work in the lived experience of clubs and members. There have been many personal highlights. Winning the MacRobertson Shield will obviously live long in the memory. Attending the Golf Croquet Test between England and Spain was another, and it was terrific to see international Golf Croquet played with such quality, intensity and sportsmanship. It has been a privilege to watch elite Association Croquet and Golf Croquet this year, and equally rewarding to drop into clubs, pick up a mallet, play a few games with members and listen to what they would like to see from Croquet England as we move forward. A very different but equally special moment came when I took friends and family to play at Hove Beach Croquet Club. We were warmly welcomed by the members there, and it was a lovely

reminder of just how accessible and enjoyable our sport can be from the very first game. Croquet can be deeply strategic and fiercely competitive, but it can also be sociable, playful and immediately engaging. That combination is one of our greatest strengths, and it is exactly what we must continue to champion. All of this connects directly to our mission: more people playing more croquet in more places, for fun, friendship and competition. Those words are not simply a slogan. They describe the future we are trying to build together. We want more people to discover the game, more communities to experience it, more clubs to feel confident and supported, and more players to find the version of croquet that is right for them. For some, that will mean international competition. For others, it will mean a weekly game with friends, volunteering at the club, coaching new players or helping run local events. All of those contributions matter. As we look ahead, Croquet England itself will continue to evolve. Our Executive team will be changing at the

AGM, alongside changes to our committee structure. That will inevitably create change for some people and changes in responsibilities for others. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in shaping that work, and everyone who will be involved in carrying it forward. Our progress depends on people giving their time, expertise and goodwill, often alongside many other commitments, and I am hugely grateful for that dedication. So, as this fast-moving summer season draws to a close, I hope we can all take pride in what has been achieved and look forward with confidence to what comes next. From the MacRobertson Shield to club afternoons, from international Tests to first-time players, from long-serving volunteers to those just starting their croquet journey, our sport is full of people who make it special. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this year, and to everyone who will help us in the years ahead as we work together to inspire generations of croquet players through our accessible and exciting sport.

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COACHING AWARDS COACH OF THE YEAR 2026 We are looking for an established coach who has made a significant contribution to coaching our sport. Someone who is dedicated, enthusiastic and has helped players improve. A coach who always seems to go that ‘extra mile’. THE LIFETIME COACHING AWARD This award is for that someone really special who has made a significant contribution to coaching our sport over a long period of time. The Coaching Committee will be considering all nominations at their next meeting. If you know of a coach you consider worthy of either of these awards, please email me at paulwfrancis@icloud.com for further information. NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON 31ST OCTOBER 2026

Paul Francis CqE Coaching Committee paulwfrancis@icloud.com

The Coach of the Year and the Lifetime Coaching Award are prestigious awards that are made to CqE Graded Coaches who have shown a significant and above normal contribution to coaching. GUIDANCE CRITERIA INCLUDE: • Has shown dedication, innovation and enthusiasm in expanding knowledge and skills of the game. • Carries an endorsement from Federation Officials, National/ International players, or club committees. • Has a significant length of service as a coach. • Has made a particular contribution within the relevant playing season. • Is recognised as helping individual players, a group of players or a team to achieve significant success. • Has led a successful re-organisation or development of coaching that has reached a number of players. • Has dedicated significant time and expertise to producing a widely used CqE coaching asset, such as a manual or technique. • The Lifetime Coaching Award is awarded only once to anyone, whereas Coach of the Year may be awarded again after at least five years have passed. • The Lifetime Coaching Award encompasses additionally: A sustained contribution over a number of years. The candidate is widely recognised as having made a significant contribution to coaching in the domain throughout that time. These criteria are for guidance and the candidate would not necessarily have to fulfil all of them.

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A TRIUMPHANT RETURN By Chris Alvey, dbmallets@gmail.com, Sponsors of the Townsend Club Award

Around this time last year, I wrote an article about where it all started for us: a hotel in North Yorkshire called Cober Hill… complete with a croquet lawn…..I’m sure you remember it. Holly’s week, which we host at the start of August, was once again attended by the usual suspects, including those brave souls who play croquet once a year. Last year as we were leaving, one of the guests, Jane, mentioned that she fancied giving croquet a go but was nervous. She hadn’t swung a mallet in 20 years and wasn’t entirely convinced that stepping back onto the lawn, only to have her technique critiqued, was necessarily a good idea. I suggested she come along to the introductory session when we returned in 2026. If she enjoyed it and fancied entering the competition, we’d put her with either myself or Mark — both AC players, both patient and, importantly, neither completely hell-bent on winning at all costs.

Fast forward to August 2026 and Jane duly turned up, and having produced one of the smoothest swings I’ve seen from a novice in some time, she entered the competition. The tournaments at Cober aren’t supposed to be serious. They’re there to be part of the holiday — to have a laugh, meet people, hit a few balls around and ideally avoid turning a pleasant week in North Yorkshire into the World Croquet Championship. Over the years, however, some people have taken them a little too seriously, occasionally forgetting the most important question: if you’re not enjoying it, why are you playing? I was making up the numbers in the first game and found myself playing against Mark and Jane. We lost, but not by much and I was happy with the result. Mark is somewhat better than me — and by “somewhat”, I mean a LOT…… so being within a couple of hoops of him was absolutely fine.

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A TRIUMPHANT RETURN CONTINUED

The winners get their names engraved on the Mick Webb Trophy, Mark’s name is already on it several times, but this will be the first time Jane’s name appears there, and that is what makes this story rather special. Mick and Jane were friends, and there was something quite emotional about seeing Jane return to the game after 20 years and, on her first attempt back, put her name on the trophy that bears the name of someone she knew and cared about. It was a pleasure to watch. Not just because of the result, but because of the sheer joy and fun Jane found in playing again — something she wasn’t even sure she wanted to do when she first mentioned it last year. Twenty years ago……..one introductory session; a remarkably smooth swing; a few games; plenty of laughter; one slightly overpowered peg-out and a place on the trophy…… I think Mick would have been proud. And, knowing him, he’d probably have had something to say about Mark taking the paint off the peg as well.

There was plenty of friendly ribbing and chat throughout the game, which made it exactly what it should be, fun! And that was how all their games went. They encouraged each other, identified suboptimal shots (mainly Mark’s) and, most importantly for me, laughed. The final saw Mark and Jane up against another strong partnership. It was a close game, and Jane eventually pegged her ball out, leaving Mark with the opportunity to do the same. Unfortunately, he uncharacteristically missed from about three yards, running off the south boundary at considerable pace. Because the game is played in colour order, the opposition then had two turns before Mark could play again. When his turn finally came, Mark headed towards his ball, looked at me and said: “I’d better peg out then…” Which, to be fair, he did… from the south boundary…with so much force that he took paint off the peg……subtlety has never been Mark’s strongest croquet skill.

THE RUBBER DUCK SNUGGLE Here is a picture of one of our new Ealing Croquet Club members, Beverley Doyle, just finishing her GC Strategy course. The final test was to do a 'Snuggle' shot so the ball comes to rest exactly in front of a rubber duck! Which she achieved first time!

Course run by club coaches Tom Hartwell and Lindy Jordan.

Tom Hartwell

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OKAY CROQUET

By Philip DeGlanville

Here in Bath, as in most croquet clubs up and down the country where both AC and GC are played, there is a certain amount of misinformation about both codes doing the rounds amongst some members. Thus AC is regarded by a few GC players, erroneously of course, as ‘too difficult, boring and unsociable’, while GC may be seen by some AC players as ‘too easy, boring and overly sociable’. We suspect that they may not know what they are missing! We are fortunate in having several regular AC players who also enjoy GC, and sometimes play it competitively with considerable success, and we have a smaller number who mainly identify as GC players but who help out quite often by playing in Short Croquet teams, so the divisions here are by no means rigid. However they do seem to be fairly entrenched amongst a few members. In an attempt to help break down the barriers between the two codes, one of our (mainly) AC playing members has devised a new hybrid version of croquet which, for want of a better name, he calls “Okay Croquet”. 24 of us Bath members played it in a tournament which Peter organised this last weekend, and to his great surprise and delight, it went down extremely well. The game is played as alternate stroke doubles, on a full lawn, round six hoops and the peg, and is limited to 40 minutes. Each pairing consisted of an AC player and a GC player, and part of the fun was playing with, and thus getting to know, a club member who up to then may have been a relative stranger. The first three hoops are played according to normal GC rules, but AC rules take over as soon as H3 is run. The person who runs this hoop then plays the continuation shot as the first of 10 strokes, which they alternate with their partner, and between them they attempt to run as many of the remaining three hoops in order (with both balls if they can) and to then peg out either of their Rover balls, all in the time available. They score one point for each hoop run, and one for the peg out, so the maximum score available to any pairing is 10. Once the pair have taken their turn of up to 10 strokes, their opponents take over trying to make as many hoops as possible, commencing at hoop 4 with their set of up to 10 strokes, and so on. Clips are used to identify which hoop is to be played next and with which ball. We played four rounds in an afternoon, with a picnic tea-break in the middle, and for each round the pairings and the lawns changed, whilst each player’s score accumulated. The overall winner on the day was Amanda May, a GC player whose handicap is 10. She scored a remarkable 23 points alongside her four AC partners and won a bottle of wine! The general consensus afterwards was that this was good fun, and that it will definitely become an annual event at Bath Croquet!

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Readers are reminded that the views expressed in the letters pages of the Gazette are those of the authors only, and not those of their clubs, unless specifically indicated. IS TED THE OLDEST COMPETITIVE PLAYER IN THE UK? Ted Sisterson is 93 OVER-DEVELOPED When I first played croquet twenty years ago the then Croquet Association had a Secretary. Then along came a Manager, and now Croquet England has a Chief Executive. Now we also have more prize money. Part of the charm of croquet is that it is amateur and indeed amateur-ish. I am now thinking of taking up tiddlywinks as a refuge from the grandiose pretensions of the CqE power-brokers. Adam Moliver Cheltenham

years old and captains the Almouth Blue team in the Croquet North Golf Croquet competition. Here he is presenting the Division 1 trophy to William Steadman, the team captain of Croquet Bede at the end of the season. Ted has a

PS I do take it fairly seriously (handicaps 2.5 and 4, past Chair of Cheltenham CC for seven years, coach)...but not too seriously. AC HANDICAP BASE Thank you for the latest Talking Croquet, which has some interesting articles I haven't seen in the printed CE magazine. The article by Chris Alvey draws attention to an issue I have long been concerned about; namely inconsistent use of AC handicap bases. He states that the normal base used in the Northern Federation is 8. Yet, in the South-east Federation it is 6. My handicap has just gone up to 7. As a result, in SECF matches, I now get a bisque when playing higher handicapped players. Playing difference, or with a base of 8, I would not. (should this not read lower?) I believe I can use 1 bisque far more effectively than, as an example, a players with a handicap of 12 could. So if I want my handicap to go back to 6, I need to choose events where the base is 6 however, if I want to stay at 7 it is probably better to avoid these events. I strongly believe that Croquet England should consider requiring the same bisque base to be used in all play that affects AC handicaps, so that the system is fair to players whose handicaps are close to the base that has been chosen.

handicap of four and has played for 16 years. He is a good strategic thinker and a model for us all. There are not many games that people can continue to play throughout their lives, but croquet is one of them; we don't need to jump, run, twist or dodge faster opponents. And so, like pool and snooker, we can play for many years relying on accuracy and guile to keep us going. Peter Tymms (77)

ROGER'S TYPO UPRARE A genuine nugget from history. This concerns a joint-club tournament on a hot day in June 2023:

In a close tournament, hosed jointly at Sonning Reach and Chiltern Ridge, the winner emerged only at the final hoop.

Comment: Well, just as in this Summer 2026's heatwave, doubtless the relentless heat back then necessitated personal sprinklers; I put it all down to this Climate Change business.

Yours sincerely Colin McKenzie Ealing Croquet Club

Roger G Phyllis Court

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR WHAT–ER RELIEF! One of the pleasures I gain from our sport is to visit different clubs. The topic this year has usually been about the great job our volunteer lawn

DAY OUTING TO BRODSWORTH HALL (DONCASTER) CROQUET CLUB

managers have done in such difficult circumstances. When I got home I decided to do a bit of digging to see if there was any help on hand. Apparently around 60 clubs are affiliated to Croquet England and are also registered as *CASCs (Community Amateur Sports Clubs). That does not include multi-sports clubs which also may be CASCs. Water companies usually assume that 80-90% of water used is returned as sewage. That is not likely to be the case where a club is irrigating lawns. There is no exemption from water charges but it may be possible for CASCs to claim a refund in respect of two elements: 1. Non-return to Sewer Allowance (Effluent Allowance) If your club uses a water meter then the club can claim a “non-return to sewer allowance” 2. Surface Water Drainage Rebate It needs to be noted that different water companies will probably have their own rules and regulations. BTW – Is your club getting the business

Photos by Colin Barnes

After 2 months of excessive high temperatures in Norfolk I set off up the A1 to Doncaster and Brodsworth Hall Croquet Club for a 10 o’clock start. I was not disappointed; the sun never came out once during the day, and the temperature was a pleasant 20 degrees. Four lawns in front of the Hall were quickly set up, cards drawn for partners and play commenced. The range of croquet playing ability was consistently high but it was a 6 week beginner, Linda, who claimed the shot of the day when she played a jump shot, from a left side angle which was a “fluke”. The spontaneity of the unexpected never fails to delight and so it was that Brodsworth Croquet Club were delighted when I told them that they had been recommended as a club to visit for competitive recreational croquet; this was enjoyed by the spectators as they passed the lawns and by the players themselves, engrossed in their play until 3.15pm when it was time to pack everything away until next time.

Just by the croquet lawns, the autumn bedding plan gardens (which covered the area of about four courts) had just been planted with the deepest hues of russet browns, reds, oranges and yellows. A stunning autumn vista for the eyes, in contrast to the croquet players dressed in whites on the lawns. Lunch for me was a delicious baked potato with tuna mayonnaise ordered in Brodsworth Hall but eaten outside after a 3 minute wait, followed by Yorkshire strawberry ice cream. I have to say here that the water is so soft in Yorkshire it makes a cup of tea a treat. The welcome was warmly received, a new memory to add to my croquet memories. Thank you to Sheila and thank you to Brodsworth Hall Croquet Club for a great day out. Elizabeth Jarred Downham Croquet Club

rate reduction? By Klim Seabright

*If your club has been through CASC application this could make an interesting future article for the Gazette!

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INAUGURAL YORKSHIRE FEDERATION AC DOUBLES

By Maggie Crossland (Sheffield

The first Yorkshire Federation 18 point AC doubles competition took place on Saturday 26/7/26 on York CC’s “nice flat lawns”. It was ably organised and managed by former Yorkshire Federation Chairperson and longstanding committee member Huddersfield’s Anna Giraud. She was assisted by a team of hard-working volunteers from York CC who arrived very early to set up lawns, arrange seating, gazebos and refreshments in time for the arrival of the doubles teams from clubs across the federation. The pairings came from Ben Rhydding, Bishop Monkton, Driffield, Pendle, Ryedale, Sheffield and York. “What a nice bunch of people” they were! The teams could opt to play the traditional doubles with each person taking charge of their own ball or to play alternate strokes. My partner Graham from Driffield and I opted to play traditionally in the first match. As it turned out we played so badly that as our opponents Debbie (York) and Jack (Bishop Monkton) played alternate hits we seemed to play alternate misses.

Jack thought that alternate strokes were great as “I made a mess and Debbie bailed us out”. Everyone enjoyed the games and other observations during the day were: “Alternate stoke double banked is a difficult game and shots should be timed” (probably due to discussion time). “Thank God for bisques” and “we needed more bisques”. There were some “very close-fought tussles” and “cagey starts but unexpected wins”. Congratulations to Debbie and Jack who were victorious at the end of the day winning all their 3 matches. “They played brilliantly”. Well done to Eileen and David (Ben Rhydding), Helen and Nick (York), Lionel and John (York), Alan and Ian (Ryedale and Driffield), Denise and Malcolm (York), David and Paul (Pendle) and of course my long-suffering partner Graham (Driffield) who all made it a thoroughly enjoyable tournament.

NOTTINGHAM WEEK

By Trevor Longman

After a short break for a light shower, 2 keen players resume their game on lawn 1

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TYNESIDE AC ADVANCED WEEKEND

By Derek Watts

On a sunny weekend, the event was played with four entries on an "all play all" twice. It was agreed to double bank on one lawn, and the Clock Lawn was decided to be the better of the water-starved greens, resulting in some tricky play. The results of the first day, in which no one pegged out and Dennis Scarr spent quite some time trying to retrieve his hard-hit shots from the shrubbery, indicate the state of the lawn! The second day was more controlled when Mark provided us with a couple of peg-outs as per photo.

FINAL LEAGUE MATCH AT DOWNHAM CC

By Jonathan Toye

Members of Unity Croquet Club from Sudbury came to Stow Hall Gardens for the final league match of the season with Downham Croquet Club. The lawns at Stow were surprisingly green after recent showers and provided a good playing surface. After a day’s play, the visitors emerged as winners by 6 games to 4 and, having won the Northern league, will play in a final with other East Anglian clubs.

In the photo: (Rear) David Reed, Stephen Ironside, Roddy Willett (Front) Sheila Reed, Lesley Burrows, Paul Wood

At the recent Sidmouth B-Class AC Weekend, Colin Walls took his white round to rover and left the balls like this with his opponent Nathan Baker entitled to a contact. None of the balls are actually in contact, green and brown are still on one and pink is on six. If it was allowed, what advice would people give to Nathan? By Ed Dolphin Sidmouth ED'S TEASER

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ENGLAND PLAYERS LEAD THE WAY AT AC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS By Marcus Evans FULFORD AND GOOD WIN THE DOUBLES; DEATH AND PATEL REACH THE SINGLES FINAL

Last week saw Cheltenham Croquet Club hosting the most prestigious Association Croquet event in the British tournament calendar, with the Open Doubles Championship immediately followed by the Open Singles Championship. The England and New Zealand MacRobertson Shield (World Team Championship) teams were out in force, with all 3 pairs from the former and 2 from the latter competing. In the end the English pairs proved the stronger, will all 3 reaching the semi-finals, along with ‘hybrid’ English/New Zealand pair (and married couple) Chris & Jenny Clarke, fresh from winning the Mixed Doubles Championship a few weeks earlier. Robert Fulford & Jack Good defeated Chris & Jenny, after a close finish to the second game, while James Death & Samir Patel beat compatriots Mark Avery & Jamie Burch. The final was hotly contested but Fulford & Good ultimately triumphed, for Fulford’s 14th title and Good’s first (of many, I suspect). On to the Singles, with the unusually hot and sunny weather making the wonderfully-prepared courts an increasingly hard (but fair) challenge as the week went on. This was the first year since 1986 in which neither Fulford not Reg Bamford (both legends of the game) were competing, leaving several players fancying their chances. Pete Trimmer (runner-up to Fulford in 2004, at the same venue) had a great run, defeating Mark Avery and Greg Bryant before narrowly losing to Samir Patel in the semi-final. Samir had accounted for Aaron Westerby (NZ) and Stephen Mulliner (competing in his 50th consecutive Open Singles, an astonishing record), while the other half saw Logan McCorkindale boosting the Kiwi cause by beating Rick Harding (who had a great win against Jack Good), and James Death coming through with his customary ease (mostly) against James Hopgood and James Carlisle. Death continued his apparently serene progress by dispatching Logan in order to set up a final against his doubles partner, but after winning the first game 26-0, Samir fought back to narrowly win game 2, 26-3. At this point, being 8pm on Sunday, the players agreed to conclude the match another day, likely in the next month, as they will be spending a lot of time together as England teammates. Look out here for an update when it happens!

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YOUTH TRIUMPHS OVER EXPERIENCE AT BRITISH OPEN GC CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Marcus Evans

EUAN & CALLUM WIN THE DOUBLES; LEVI FRANKS WINS THE SINGLES

the strongest country, albeit their very best players weren’t present) eliminated in the first round, although Egyptian-American Sherif Abdelwahab won through, before succumbing to Bamford in the quarter-finals. Euan Burridge repeated his Doubles success against Mulliner in their quarter-final, before losing to Bamford in the semi-final. In the other half of the draw, Jack beat partner Callum in their quarter- final despite losing the first game 2-7, and New Zealander Levi Franks (another player under 25) came through more easily against Spaniard Mateo Palazon before beating Jack in the semi. So this time the final was

the hard-hitting youth of Franks versus the vast experience of multiple world champion Bamford. Both players played well, but in the end Levi took the title by the narrowest of margins, 7-6, 7-6. Well done to all the players, and the organisers, for another superb event. Particular thanks to the livestreaming crew who provided great quality video and audio coverage of many games – you can see the recordings on YouTube via youtube.com/@CroquetEngland.

Strong fields of 32 players contested the premier events in the British Golf Croquet calendar over 6 scorching days at Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, although the picturesque venue atop the south Devon cliffs did at least provide some sea breeze to cool the competitors slightly. The club’s superbly prepared courts provided a tough challenge for all, leading to the strongest winning through in the end. The Doubles was played first, with regular partnership Euan Burridge & Callum Johnson winning their semi-final relatively comfortably against Jenny Clarke (NZ) & Stephen Mulliner, before having to wait for a long battle between 2024 champions Reg Bamford (SA) & Tobi Savage versus Jack Good & Sam Cuthbert. The latter lost the first game of the best-of- 3 match but just edged the next two to take their place in the final. This meant that, remarkably, the total age of the four finalists was only a few years older than the oldest competitor in the event, showing how players of all ages can still compete at the highest level of the game. Euan & Callum won the match 7-5, 7-5 to take the title for the second time in their still-developing careers. The following day saw the start of the Singles, with 4 blocks of 8 players all looking to finish in the top half in order to qualify for the knockout stage (much like a football World Cup). The knockout saw both Egyptian players (traditionally

Images by Brian Carroll

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SIDMOUTH’S GC B LEVEL AND SISTER WEEKEND

By Louise Smith

The popularity of GC tournaments in the South West was once again highlighted by a large oversubscription for Sidmouth’s GC B Level (DG <1700) tournament, held on Sunday 9 August. Mirroring the success of Budleigh Salterton’s SiSTER events, devised and organised by Tournament Director Louise Smith, Sidmouth also created a separate tournament for B Level applicants who had missed out on a place in the GC B Level Series tournament allocation. Without the luxury of Budleigh’s 11 courts, Sidmouth’s SiSTER tournament was held the day before, on Saturday 8 August. The SiSTER Tournament Twelve players were welcomed to the SiSTER event, which consisted of two blocks of six, followed by play-offs for final rankings based on block-stage positions. The format provided each player with six competitive games over the course of the day; a decision made with the current heatwave firmly in mind. Players represented 10 different clubs, ranging from Cheam to Cheltenham, alongside one Sidmouth member and two BSCC local competitors. Block A was dominated by Richard Stokoe from Budleigh, a player in his first competitive season, who topped the block unbeaten. Another rising competitor, fifth seed Andy Middleton from Bude, also topped his block undefeated. This led to a final showdown between the two players for first and second place. Sidmouth club members gathered to watch the final in the bright sunshine, and it certainly did not disappoint. Both players showed great determination, with a steady flow of excellent clearance shots and ambitious hoop running. As the game progressed there was little to choose between them, until Richard broke away to establish a 6–4 advantage at hoop 10. Undeterred, Andy fought back to win hoops 11 and 12, but failed to properly clear hoop 12, leaving him with no shot at 13. This advantage allowed Richard Stokoe to score the deciding hoop and clinch his well-earned first GC tournament victory. Thanks are due to on-the-day manager Philip Harris for his excellent management of the SiSTER tournament, alongside helping to prepare all the hoops for both days’ tournaments.

Sister Event - L to R- Andy Middleton Runner-Up, Richard Stokoe Winner, Peter Adams Plate Winner, Neil Purchase 4th

The GC B Level (DG <1700) Series Tournament As with the competitors in the previous day’s SiSTER event, the 16 players arriving for the GC B Level tournament were delighted to be presented with four beautiful, lush green courts. This was in stark contrast to the adjacent cricket pitch, which resembled the Serengeti! Huge credit is due to the Sidmouth grounds team and volunteers for maintaining their courts to such a high standard during the current drought. The standard one-day, 16-player format for the Series events was used. The four blocks produced a number of surprises, with top seed Martin C. Leach from Budleigh particularly unfortunate to suffer two 6–7 losses. Fourth seed in block D, Brent Watkins of Cheltenham, meanwhile, produced an excellent performance, winning all three of his block games to top his group. This was matched by the experienced Sue Nicholas (Cheam), who topped block B, while Peter Adams of Guildford won block A. Stephen Webb of Watford finished with two wins, ahead of Mike Powell of Nailsea on hoop difference in block C. In the Main Knock-out Quarter Finals, Peter Adams recorded a relatively comfortable 7–1 victory over Ruth Sisley of Cheltenham, while two of the other quarter-finals were decided by narrow 7–6 margins, with Stephen Webb overcoming Chris Cheetham (Budleigh), and Jill Bateman (Cheltenham) defeating Sue Nicholas. Mike Powell also narrowly missed progressing to the semi-final, losing 5–7 to Brent Watkins.

Continued on page 17

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SIDMOUTH GC 'B' & SISTER CONTINUED

The semi-finals saw a tight battle between Peter Adams and Brent Watkins, again decided at hoop 13, with the undefeated Peter securing his place in the Main Final. In contrast, Stephen Webb progressed convincingly from his semi-final, beating Jill Bateman 7–1. Meanwhile, in the Plate knockout, Martin C. Leach put the disappointment of the earlier block stage results behind him and convincingly progressed through the first two rounds to reach the Plate Final. Martin was joined by Naomi Whitehead, who fought through with two 7–6 victories against Claire Herring (Cheltenham) and Brenda Duplock (Budleigh) with some good positioning. From the outset, Martin proved to be the stronger player, demonstrating confident hoop running and tactical awareness throughout the game. His performance resulted in a 7–2 victory and the Plate title. After a short break to allow the consolation rounds to get underway, the Sidmouth B Level Series Final began, watched by around 30 spectators in glorious sunshine, with the heat reflected in the distance on a shimmering sea. Peter Adams took an early lead which, despite the best efforts of fellow finalist Stephen Webb, he tenaciously held on to. There were some spells of extended play around the

hoops, but Stephen was unable to prevent Peter from securing a convincing victory at hoop 10, completed with a lovely four-yard hoop run. Well played, Peter, and everyone at Sidmouth CC wishes you the very best of luck at the GC B Level (DG <1700) National Final in September, hosted by Pendle and Craven CC.

Peter Adams Winner- Martin C Leach Plate Winner- Sidmouth GC B Level

Stephen Webb- Sidmouth GC B Level Final

Stephen Webb and Peter Adams- Sidmouth GC B Level Final

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CHELTENHAM C-LEVEL GC EVENT (BARTER TROPHY)

By Ivor Brand

Once again, this year’s Barter Trophy was quickly oversubscribed, to the point where next year’s allocation will be increased to 24. The three undefeated block winners were Leonard Taylor, Jackie Bryant and Iris Brooksbank, with Nigel Morris, Martin Sloots and Philip Hendy as their respective runners-up. Block A had a three-way tie, and was narrowly decided by net points and who beat who to put Susan Bellows through, followed by Andrew Jackson. Although the heat of the day was starting to build (as Carol J will testify to) the gentle breeze kept playing conditions bearable on fast lawns. The knockout rounds saw the temperatures rise, and understandably some players were making their departure once they could. The final itself was a tight affair of a high standard, which saw Jackie take the early advantage. However, Lenoard fought back to take back the lead 6-5 and inevitably play first up to the 13th hoop. After a few rotations, Jackie was hiding behind the hoop waiting for Leonard’s tight angle shot to jaws. However, a referee was called as he successfully attempted a small jump, which put enough rotation on the ball to fall through the hoop to win the Barter trophy. All scores are on CroquetScores. It is normal to thank everyone at the club that help to set up and run a tournament for others to enjoy. However, I would like to recognise Brian Jamieson again for making himself available to referee throughout the day, which allowed me to rest!

Leonard Taylor receiving Barter trophy from Cheltenham’ president James Death.

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BARBARA YOUNG MEMORIAL TROPHY TOURNAMENT

By Simon Attwell

The inaugural Barbara Young Memorial Trophy short-lawn tournament took place at Bury Croquet Club on 1 August, attracting 14 players from across the North West and Nottingham. The event used a Swiss format designed by referee Ken Jones, giving each competitor at least five games on the club’s fast, well-prepared lawns. Barbara was a long-standing member of Bury Croquet Club who sadly passed away in November 2024. She was instrumental in the development of the club and held a number of committee roles, including Chair, and latterly served as an Honorary Vice President. Despite the difficulties brought about by her illness, Barbara was determined to continue playing croquet whenever she possibly could, often playing despite being in considerable pain. She would frequently be heard to say, “It’s alright, my mallet knows what to do!” Barbara was well known and highly regarded on the North West

croquet circuit. She particularly loved visiting Nottingham Croquet Club to take part in tournaments and enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie that croquet brought her. Early play was dominated by Robert Bentwood (Fylde), who won his first three matches convincingly before being stopped by Tim Ash (Nottingham). After four rounds, seven players were tied on three wins, with Bentwood leading on net points. The final round produced decisive results. The key match was Bentwood vs Duncan Meachin (Bury), with Bentwood winning +6 to secure the overall title with four wins from five and the tournament’s best net score (+31). Results:

Images: Play in progress Robert Bentwood (Fylde CC) receives winner’s trophy from Michael Young

1st: Robert Bentwood (Fylde) 2nd: Barry Broughton (Fylde) 3rd: Tim Ash (Nottingham) 4th: Roger Brooks (Westmorland)

Michael Young (a senior analyst at Sport England), son of Barbara Young, attended in the afternoon to watch the closing games and present prizes, including the silver trophy, sparkling wine, and a £100 gift voucher to the winner. All remaining players received wine or Cava. The club expressed thanks to players that supported the event along with volunteers, especially Tournament Secretary Sue Worth and Tournament Manager/Referee Ken Jones, for delivering a well-run event.

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BISQUE BUNDLES – A PATH TO POSITIVE PLAY

Some rule changes would be needed to cover situations that do not currently arise, so it may be best to use bisque bundles in a coaching setting only. The allocation of initial bundles would be as below. HALF BISQUES ARE ADDED AS A SEPARATE BUNDLE OF HALF A BISQUE The table is set up so that a player using their largest bundle then has bundles remaining that match the original allocation.

For example a player with 12 bisques (1 1 2 2 3 3) using a bundle of 3 then has 9 bisques (1 1 2 2 3) as in the table. Of course, not using the largest bundle will lead to an allocation not in the table. Again, the player with 12 bisques (1 1 2 2 3 3) using a bundle of 2 then has 10 bisques (1 1 2 3 3) which differs from the table. Since the overall allocation of 12 bisques will eventually be used in 6 bisque turns the order in which they are used is not particularly significant.

Alan Locket Beverley & East Riding Croquet Club

Coaching AC beginners should emphasise the positive use of bisques. Rather than using bisques one at a time, in a negative way, the emphasis should be on using several in succession to set up a 4 ball break and continue it as far as possible. It is a lesson not easy to learn as a beginner and some players develop a negative playing style. This entails using one bisque, at most, to recover a poor shot, blobbed hoop or to split opponent’s balls. It might achieve the running of a single hoop but rarely many more. This approach will not serve the player well as their handicap reduces and bisques become scarcer. For the low handicap opponent, giving away many bisques, this is a frustrating process and, especially in time limited games, involves a long wait before getting any good opportunities to make progress. Often very little time remains after the opponent runs out of bisques. As a way of encouraging a positive use of bisques the proposal is to split a player’s bisques into bundles. For example a player receiving 12 bisques would have them split into six bundles 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3. When players signal for a bisque they must specify which bundle to use, and must use all bisques in the bundle. There are only two opportunities to use a single bisque, rather than 12 if the bisques are all single, as normal. The plan is to encourage players to use multiple bisques for some of their turns. As usual, players may signal for another bundle if one has been expended. So, a player may signal for a bundle of 1 and then follow it with a bundle of 3 if good progress is being made. Players might be encouraged to use the larger bundles early in a game, saving the bundles of 1 for final turns.

Bisques

Bundles

1 HALF BISQUES ARE ADDED AS A SEPARATE BUNDLE OF HALF A BISQUE

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ALTERNATIVE ONE-DAY TOURNAMENT FORMAT

By Brian Maddocksy, Surbiton Croquet Club

Managing a local one-day tournament and wishing to avoid a Swiss style format or using an arbitrary cut off between higher and lower handicap blocks? If so, here’s a new format that has been used successfully for two doubles tournaments and one singles event at Surbiton. These are level-play 0+ events that typically attract players in the 1-5 handicap range, as well as some from 6-10. The aim of this format is to allow everyone a chance to shine and potentially punch above their expected weight, without condemning anyone to being thrashed all day. It starts with three games for each player (or pair) in Round 1 in the morning. These are seeded blocks of 4, with strength spread evenly across the blocks. Running order can be issued and communicated in advance. Each block of 4 has its own lawn, making it easy to find your next round opponents and start games 2 and 3 as soon as players are ready. Round 2 in the afternoon features a second set of blocks of 4, graded based on your round 1 performance. So for example, in a doubles competition with 16 pairs, the four round 1 block winners would be in the top round 2 block, the round 1 runners-up in block 2 etc. The winners of the top round 2 block are the overall winners, but prizes can be awarded to each of the round 2 block winners. The recommended maximum capacity of players (or pairs) is the number of available lawns multiplied by 4. If you think this might work for you, and you want to know more, please contact communications@croquetengland.org.uk

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