TALKING CROQUET Issue 006 | March 2026
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WELCOME
It gets me every time: that fabulous notice, from our very own James Death, which tells us our fixtures calendar is 'Open'. This year was no different to any other, I found the regular favourites, then scoured for something new and made sure there were no clashes. And by clashes, I mean any event that I wanted to enter clashing with any other event I wanted to enter. And then there are the home calendar clashes, the dates that I wonder ‘Am I really needed for Ben’s summer concert?’ I’m kidding of course, I would be playing something local so I could ask the manager for an hour off. My hat comes off to the tournament committees who spend so many hours scheduling throughout the winter so that we can all play as much as possible. I suppose it would be impossible for them to know that I would want to play in a tournament which coincides with another tournament in my perfect holiday destination. Each year, like many others, I like to try and visit a new club. We have over 230 clubs across the country, from half-lawn courts on the edges of cricket outfields to the Olympic-size clubs like Budleigh, there are so many people to meet and so many places to see. This year will be no different, and plans are already afoot for my summer travels. I have been known to be somewhat of a gate crasher, sneaking in unexpectedly from the back gates. What’s even better, I never need an event as an excuse, every day is a croquet day in my diary. Visiting other clubs is one of the best things we can do to help each other and our sport. Giving the opportunity for others to play different opponents, telling more people about other clubs and what makes those clubs unique, this is how we can spread the word. Everyone knows that the best form of marketing is ‘word of mouth’, so let’s get chatting, and playing of course. Alison
Talking Croquet Issue 006 | March 2026
Front Cover: Prize Money returns for the players of the Golf Croquet Open Championship at Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club (Page 18) Photo credit: Brian Carroll, Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club CONTENTS 4 Chief Executive's Column 6 Croquet in the garden 8 Unsolicited advice 9 Letters to the Editor 12 Behind the Advantage Curtain! 13 Handicap Advice
Alison Maugham Editor editor@croquetengland.org.uk
CROQUET STORIES Please consider sharing your croquet stories with your fellow Croquet players. Can you inspire others with news from a special project, share pictures of fun times and special moments? Could you volunteer to be a regular reporter or photographer?
16 The Women's Game 18 GC Opens Prize Fund
19 Christopher Robin at Dulwich 21 U3A at Guildford & Godalming 22 The Swing Doctor 23 Indoor Croquet in Lincolnshire 24 Croquet Lawn Matters
Please do get in touch with me for a chat Alison (editor@croquetengland.org.uk)
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S COLUMN
Expanding the Ways to Contribute While committees remain an essential part of how we operate, I am excited to explore broader and more flexible ways for people to participate. Not everyone has time for a formal role, and not every challenge requires a standing committee. Sometimes what we need is a small team to deliver a project, a specialist to lend targeted advice, or a group of volunteers to support key initiatives for a short period. By creating more ways to share expertise and enthusiasm, we unlock the full potential of our people. The experience and insights within Croquet are remarkable and I would love to make the most of them. We simply need to harness them. Your Croquet Needs You! Whether you are a seasoned volunteer, a new member keen to contribute, or someone with specialist skills that could help achieve success, there is a place for you in what comes next. Together, we can ensure More People are Playing More Croquet in More Places for fun, friendship and competition. I look forward to sharing more soon, and to working with many more of you as we move ahead.
form the backbone of croquet across the country. Their pride in the sport and their determination to see it thrive have been invaluable as I near the conclusion of our new strategic plan. This strategy has been shaped by the conversations I have had. Your insights, experiences, and ideas have helped build a plan that reflects our ambitions. What has become most clear is that our people must remain at the centre of everything we do. A Call for Wider Support As we prepare to share the new strategy in the coming weeks, I want to make a simple but significant request: we need more people in more places to help drive our sport forward. We already benefit from dozens of highly skilled and committed individuals through our committee structures, and their work is critical and appreciated. But to achieve our ambitions, we must go further. Croquet is rich not only in history, but in the collective expertise of its members. Across the country there are people with professional skills, creative ideas, and valuable life experience – that I would love to harness for the good of the sport. If you believe you can contribute, especially in areas such as fundraising, marketing and communications, sports development, or project management, I encourage you to keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to get involved.
Andy Dalby-Welsh Chief Executive Officer Croquet England
YOUR CROQUET NEEDS YOU! Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of visiting several of our clubs and speaking directly with many of the dedicated people who make Croquet England what it is today. From the timeless charm of Hurlingham to the warmth of Roehampton, the stunning setting at Nottingham and the thriving activity at Southwick, each visit has shown me the passion and commitment that lie at the heart of our sport. Most recently, conversations at the Coaching Committee meeting and the Yorkshire Federation’s general meeting further reinforced this: croquet is powered by its people. A Community That Inspires Every club and committee I have encountered embodies a shared truth - our sport flourishes because of volunteers who give their time, energy, and expertise. Whether maintaining courts, running events, coaching new players, or shaping policy, volunteers
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National CROQUET DAY Sunday 3 May 2026
STAY ACTIVE STAY SOCIAL STAY SHARP Looking for a new activity to stay active, meet people, and enjoy the outdoors? Croquet is a low-impact sport that blends strategy, skill, and social fun, perfect for all ages and fitness levels.
Boosts physical & mental wellbeing WHY TRY CROQUET? Great way to meet new people Relaxing outdoor activity Easy to learn & fun to play
FIND YOUR NEAREST CLUB!
www.croquetengland.org.uk/where-to-play communications@croquetengland.org.uk
DISCOVER WHY CROQUET IS A GROWING SPORT, LOVED WORLDWIDE AND HOW IT CAN BRING FUN, FITNESS, AND FRIENDSHIP INTO YOUR LIFE. JOIN US AND GIVE IT A GO!
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CROQUET IN THE GARDEN?
DAVID CORNES Croquet sports journalist
For a northern based croquet loving couple 2025 was very stressful for my wife and me. The process of selling up, buying and renovating a new home with many (unexpected) additional works is probably well known to most readers. For us, as a consequence, competitive croquet play had to take a back seat, except for me having the pleasure of representing Bowdon CC in the National GC Inter-Club final against Roehampton, in late September down at Cheltenham. By early December, with most of the house internal work heading towards completion, our thoughts turned to an outside area which was originally overgrown with fruit trees and on uneven ground. Over the years I've had several conversations with croquet players who have some sort of "home" practice mechanism, but never thought we would be able to consider having something built in our own "back yard". Surely cost would be inhibitive and to re-create a quality croquet lawn would be extremely challenging? Well, as you will see, the end product satisfies both concerns. Initial enquiries were made with a local company (Hi-Tech Turf based near Chester) specialising in artificial grass projects including children’s play areas, golf greens and driving ranges. The owner came for a site visit and confirmed that a croquet practice area, up to 4 metres wide (standard width of their grass), could be constructed and it should provide many years of use. What have we ended up with? A fast paced and flat lawn area with good drainage. The lawn measures 13 feet (4 metres) wide by 30 feet (10 metres). The distance from one end boundary to the Ultra Hoop (set in concrete at 1/32 inch) is 23 feet. The lawn's perimeter, near the hoop, is cushioned with schools playground matting so the noise from balls hitting it is minimal. The rest of the lawn has boundary stops (3 by 2 inch wood). How was it constructed? Over a two-day period Hi-Tech Turf completed tasks including:
• Removal of existing lawn area, reducing levels and place excess into a skip • Blind off (harden) area with crushed rock, compact and level • Install sleepers and surround barriers to stop the ball leaving the lawn • Install a new composite plastic frame to the perimeter of the lawn (this is not visible but anchors down the Turf) • Blind off area with type 1 mot crushed rock, compact and level • Install "Terram" weed fabric and fix down • Blind off area with crushed slate, compact and level • Install new schools turf, Cut to the perimeter frame and fix down • Lightly sand dress the top side of turf pile (giving the turf stability, help to hold it in place and upright) • Power brush to finish
Continued on page 7
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CROQUET IN THE GARDEN? (CONTINUED) What about maintenance? Low maintenance is needed. A decent leaf blower should be used to clear any debris. Monthly, the lawn should be brushed to keep it upright. Annually, it is advised to top dress with sand and brush in. The turf has a life expectancy of 15-25 years with a 10- 15 year guarantee against UV and breakdown.
What do we use it for? We purchased a set of Sunshiny balls from CqE to enable many practice routines including hoop attempts from all distances up to 7 yard boundary, angled hoop attempts, dolly rushes, splits, take offs and rolls. The lawn can be used all year round and great for half hour sessions during the cold winter months. Could anyone afford this? The total cost including VAT was £2,700. The way we looked at this was to make a choice, either think about going on holiday OR install a croquet lawn. To us, although a holiday is always attractive it only lasts a week or two. Hopefully the croquet lawn will give us many years of pleasure thereby proving to be good "value for money". Pictures show progress over the two days and the lawn in use.
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UNSOLICITED ADVICE By Chris Alvey, dbmallets@gmail.com, Sponsors of the Townsend Club Award In Association Croquet the following law applies: 57.4.1 Spectators, and in particular fellow team members or team officials “But I won, didn’t I?”, (to be fair to my opponents, I had a raft of bisques in the early days).
These comments be they during or after a game, while many seem to feel they are constructive and helpful, can affect the way we play our game and, in many cases, shake or upset people. When we coach, it is because our attendees have come to a session or asked for help. If we are going to offer advice it should be something that they want, not the unsolicited kind. Little things like asking if they would mind if you offered them some advice is at least giving people the opportunity to decline, no matter how well intentioned it is. In my day job, they refer to these as the soft skills. Positive reinforcement that helps players, especially beginners, and simple explanations of what they are doing right and how you think they could improve is generally appreciated and helpful. As players, we tend to filter the advice and use the parts that make sense and ultimately make us better.
in a teams’ competition and other competitors in a tournament, should not provide advice to the players in a game concerning any aspect of the game and should refrain from making comments about the play that could provide advice in a manner likely to be overheard by a player. So why do we hear so many comments asking, “Why did you do that?” or “What you should have done was…” when we come off the lawn? OK they aren’t necessarily breaching these laws, and in most cases are meant in a constructive manner; but they are a distraction to our play and can affect our confidence. In the early days of my adventures into croquet, I heard this a lot. Those that haven’t met me possibly won’t realise that I dabble in sarcasm quite frequently and holding my tongue is not my strong point, but on most occasions I managed to avoid saying
The best approach I ever had was in the Millennium AC competition at Pendle. My opponent Roger asked after the game “I know it makes no difference as you beat me (just), but can I ask why you didn’t peel penult when you were heading to 3-back, did you not fancy it?” It was asked in a friendly manner, and it was genuinely a question out of curiosity. The simple answer was that the angle wasn’t great and I preferred to get ahead of him by as many hoops as I could as he’s a much better player than me and I had the innings. He just shrugged and said, “makes sense” and we returned to the clubhouse for a brew and some cake. Some people want to find their own way, others want advice and it’s up to
us as players, opponents and spectators to respect that.
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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.
CROQUET AND CHEMISTRY Dear Editor
Perhaps someone will tell me when Croquet England will be collecting the Nobel Prize for Chemistry?.... I should explain.... I tune in each week to University Challenge in the hope that, one day, I will know the answer to one of the questions. Imagine my surprise to hear that a Chemist called August Wilhelm von Hofmann used coloured croquet balls to demonstrate an Atomic Molecular Model. You know, the models that look a bit like a miniature version of the Atomium in Brussels. I know of at least two croquet playing Chemists, so there must be more? Do our playing colleague Chemists also use croquet balls for this purpose? Perhaps one of these Chemists might like to pop over to Sweden to pick up the award? If there is a further chemical development then the Tertiary balls could be used? I have two “sub” reasons for tuning in each week. Firstly I listen for the most obscure subject being studied. Secondly, no matter how often the announcer says "asking the questions, Amol Rajan" I only ever hear "asking the questions,
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Dear Editor, Your recent article "What's in a Bamber Gascoigne ". Do I need therapy? Klim Seabright, Cheltenham Croquet Club name?" refers to France and/or Italy plus Ireland but let me put in a bid for principally spoken in Belgium. Bis, in French, means again (after all, the French say bis when we say encore at a concert). In Dutch/Flemish, the suffix -ke is a diminutive or affectionate reference. A bisque is thus a little turn Belgium as a source of croquet terminology. "Bisque" is a clear reference to the two languages
ROGER'S TYPO UPFAVE Genuine croquet-related typos to make you smile
This month's genuine snippet from history (not made up): ... rather than trawling through the minuets of umpteen committee minutes ... Comment: I didn't realise committee meetings could be enlivened with dance and music; it's a jolly good idea.
Roger G, Phyllis Court
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FIFTY SHADES OF WHITE
The article on Tournament Regulations in the February 2026 edition of the Croquet Gazette highlighted a subject close to my heart in the form of Regulation P4(d) relating to dress codes. The definition of ‘whites’ has always been open to interpretation due to the wide range of whites and off-whites available on any colour chart, so I agree it is time to be more flexible, particularly when Croquet England is encouraging More People Playing more Croquet in More Places in order to promote croquet as a sport accessible to everyone. I play at a croquet club situated in a public park, with the public walking alongside our lawns. There is no ‘whites’ dress code for club play in order to avoid any impression of elitism that may discourage new members from joining. We also do not insist on whites being worn in ‘entry level’ tournaments, which has the advantage of removing a barrier for new players who may not be sure if competitive play is for them and would like to try it out as a one-off, for which buying a new set of whites is not justified. The club website and publicity also uses images that depict the club as informal, so that prominence is given to showing members playing in casual wear, with pictures of whites being worn confined to areas describing competitive play and the club achievements in competitions. We welcome both novices and experienced players as new members, but feel it is important not to put off potential new members by over-emphasising the more formal aspects of the game. However, I do wonder whether the additional options of tournament dress codes described as ‘smart casual’ and ‘strict whites’ (also referred to as ‘formal whites’ in the tournament regulations) is any clearer. I am a firm believer in individuality in a sport that does not require participants to dress identically for reasons of identifying which team they are on, while my interpretation of what form of casual clothing might be deemed ‘smart’ would probably vary from the opinion of others to the same extent that there are any number of variants on what constitutes white. To make matters more confusing, clubs with a ‘strict whites’ dress code seem to accept cricketing pullovers that are decidedly cream in colour, emphasising that a degree of flexibility in interpreting the rules is already in place. There will be many players who will continue to wear whites by choice, particularly at the ‘higher level’, so the definition of ‘smart casual’ in the regulations being in addition to all clothing permitted as ‘whites’ is important, but perhaps ‘whites optional’, rather than ‘smart casual’ would be a better description, one that would cater for everyone, particularly when the term ‘smart casual’ is frequently used in other settings, ones where turning up in sports clothes would not be acceptable. There is clearly an aesthetic quality imbued by the sight of players in whites on a lawn in a park setting on a summer’s day, but any move away from an overly strict dress code should be welcomed if it encourages greater participation in the sport. It remains to be seen how many competition organisers will opt for ‘smart casual’ rather than ‘strict whites’. I hope it is the majority and believe the image of the game would benefit as a consequence and might even encourage more people to take up the sport when they see it being played. David Graham
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CHRISTMAS, RESCHEDULED: WHY OUR CLUB IS CELEBRATING IN JANUARY—AND LOVING IT
By the time December rolls around, most calendars resemble a losing game of Tetris. There are end-of-year deadlines, family commitments, work parties and school Exhaustingly so. Which is why our club made quite a radical decision: we moved our Christmas lunch to January. At first glance, it sounds like heresy. Christmas, after all, is famously fixed. The carols insist upon it. The supermarkets begin preparing for it sometime in August not concerts, in short, December is busy.
to mention infamous Black Friday causing an atmosphere more frantic than festive—so we decided to ask a simple question: what if we didn’t? The answer, it turns out, was surprisingly joyful. January, traditionally, is not known for its warmth—meteorological or emotional. The decorations are down, the credit card bills are up, and the weather is doing that damp, grey thing that suggests the sun may have retired permanently. Social diaries empty out. Spirits dip. And yet, nestled right there in the cold and wet weeks after New Enter the January Christmas lunch. There is something deeply comforting about stepping out of a soggy afternoon and into a room full of familiar faces, good food, and the Year, sits a perfect opportunity: something to look forward to.
serve that purpose, not sabotage it. By shifting the celebration, we’ve reclaimed it. Attendance has improved. Conversations linger. Laughter feels less rushed. The lunch becomes a marker—not of obligation fulfilled, but of community maintained. So this January, as the rain tapped on the windows and the year stretched out uncertainly ahead, our club gathered together. We ate, we raised a glass and we enjoyed the luxury of not being in a hurry.
collective agreement that yes, we are absolutely still celebrating. The turkey doesn’t mind coming out again. The crackers still crack. The jokes remain terrible. If anything, the extra distance from December’s frenzy makes the gathering feel more like what a club lunch should be: unhurried, convivial, and actually attended. But the benefits go beyond logistics. Moving Christmas into January reframes the month itself. Instead of a bleak stretch to be endured, January becomes a runway. There’s anticipation again. A date in the diary that isn’t a dentist appointment. A reason to iron a shirt, leave the house, and engage in the radical act of enjoying other people’s company. Our club, after all, exists to bring people together. The calendar should
Jackie Hikal Secretary Stony Stratford Croquet Club
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BEHIND THE ADVANTAGE CURTAIN!
Participants in the trials were overwhelmingly supportive of the change, which meant securing official approval for the adoption of the Target Score Method (call it Advantage 2026 if you prefer) in time for the start of the 2026 season. In the end, those involved had just 16 short—but extremely frenetic—weeks, including Christmas, to obtain agreement and prepare the transition. The fact that the authorities were able to complete their due diligence and approve the change in time for the deadline was, in truth, quite an achievement. “But you still spring this on us with little notice and hardly any support. We’re left to work it out by trial and error. That’s not good enough for an organisation like Croquet England!” Ensuring everyone is aware of the change—and properly briefed—has indeed been a challenge for the team. To help, in addition to the new set of tables, they have produced an updated “How to Play Advantage” guide, along with briefings, posters and a set of FAQs, all available on the Croquet England website. In addition, every club has received an explanatory letter outlining the changes. “Harrumph. FAQs? What on earth are those?” Frequently Asked Questions—together with the team’s answers. It really is a useful resource. “Yes, yes—but that may be all very well for you young whipper-snappers! Just remember that some of us are not quite as nimble as we once were. Change is rarely welcome, and we tend to like things just as they are!” Col Mustard The Advantage Scoring table is shown on the next page
Considerable time and effort were then spent re-crafting the Advantage tables to support this alternative. The resulting system—dubbed the Target Score Method—was trialled for a year in the three countries where Advantage GC is most widely played: Australia, New Zealand and England. It came as no surprise that players welcomed the disappearance of negative scores. However, an unexpected benefit also emerged. As in Level Play and Handicap Play (but not previously in Advantage Play), it once again became possible to check the total scores during a game simply by looking at the hoop just run. This return to a familiar form of score validation was widely appreciated. Tournament managers also benefited because Advantage events could now be recorded properly on CroquetScores.com. “All right, all right, I can see the point. But to adopt this Target Score Method—what a mouthful!—I have to learn a whole new way of doing things. I’m perfectly happy with the old way. Why can’t we just carry on as before?” Running both systems side by side was seriously considered. However, the potential for confusion between supporting tables—work that currently falls to a single volunteer—would not have been sustainable. In the end, the only realistic option was to bite the bullet and transition fully to the new method at the start of the new season on 1 April 2026. Yes, well, I’m glad you mentioned the date, because that’s another thing. You don’t give us time to adjust. You just expect everyone to fall in line without complaint—and I for one am complaining! After the successful trials during 2025, which concluded in November, the organisers faced a dilemma. players was enormous, and maintaining the larger set of
“There has been a great deal of discussion recently about the unwelcome—and, to some,
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 12 was proposed: rather than a ‘staggered start’, introduce a ‘staggered finishing line’. The answer is that although the ‘staggered start’ worked, it often required stronger players to begin with a negative score. Unsurprisingly, that was not universally popular. There was also a practical difficulty: CroquetScores.com, widely used by tournament managers, was not designed to handle negative numbers. In response to feedback, a new idea unnecessary—changes to Advantage. Why on earth have “they” pulled the tree up by its roots just to check it is still growing? Do they not realise that most of us simply want to play croquet without having to wrestle with complex arithmetic at the end of the game? It might be all very well for the low handicappers, but what about the vast majority of players who seem to get overlooked in this rush toward the future?” At heart, the question is this: do we want to broaden opportunities for players of different handicaps to compete with an equal chance of winning? That was the original aim of Handicap Play using Extra Strokes. The system has worked and is now an established part of the game. However, many players—particularly some low handicappers—disliked how the tactics of the game were altered by the availability of those Extra Strokes. In response, the ‘staggered start’ approach was developed and became known as Advantage GC. It was trialled internationally and ultimately adopted into the World Croquet Federation’s Rules for Golf Croquet, 6th Edition, in March 2022. “So far, so good. But if the system was working, why change it?”
With many thanks to Roy Tillcock
CQE HANDICAP ADVICE WHERE TO LOOK ON THE WEBSITE
Duties of Club, Federation & National Handicappers are detailed in Managing the Handicap System Initial handicap information including conversion tables for those transferring their skills from one format to another is found at: from AC to Golf - Setting an Initial Handicap from GC to Association - Handicap Guidelines: Setting Initial Handicaps from AC to Short and from Short to Full lawn - Short Croquet Handicapping Advice on How to fill out your own handicap card (including links to explanatory posters for both AC & GC) go to Completing the Handicap Card Finally, the CqE Handicap Committee meets regularly. A summary of the Committee's "Work in Progress" and other useful links can be found at Handicapping Please spend some time exploring the links within each tab to enhance your understanding of the Handicap system.
By David Cornes Handicap Committee, Croquet England
There is a huge amount of assistance on the Croquet England website. Feedback suggests that the problem is often knowing where to find the relevant information required. This simplified "Where to look" advice guide should be useful to all handicappers and players whatever your experience level. All CqE handicap information hangs off the page - Principles and Overview of Croquet Handicapping Key details on Initial Handicap Setting, Automatic Handicap Setting, Guidance for Club Handicappers and all other aspects can be found from the following two links: for Association / Short and One-Ball - Association Croquet Handicap Guidelines and Procedures for Golf - Golf Croquet Handicap Guidelines and Procedures Although most aspects of the handicap system are automated, Club Handicappers should routinely compare a GC player's handicap with their current Dynamic Grade - Maintaining a GC Handicap.
ADVANTAGE GOLF CROQUET TARGET SCORE TABLE - ARTICLE ON PAGE 12
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CQE HANDICAP ADVICE
CqE Handicap Resource Website Links
There is a huge amount of assistance on the Croquet England website. Feedback suggests that the problem is often knowing where to find the relevant information required. This simplified "Where to look" advice guide should be useful to all handicappers and players whatever your experience level.
• All CqE handicap information hangs off the page - Principles and Overview of Croquet Handicapping
Key details on Initial Handicap Setting, Automatic Handicap Setting, Guidance for Club Handicappers and all other aspects can be found by the following two links -
• for Association / Short and One-Ball - Association Croquet Handicap Guidelines and Procedures
for Golf – Golf Croquet Handicap Guidelines and Procedures
•
Although most aspects of the handicap system are automated, Club Handicappers should routinely compare a GC players handicap with their current Dynamic Grade
Maintaining a GC Handicap
Duties of Club, Federation & National Handicappers are detailed in Managing the Handicap System
Initial handicap information including conversion tables for those transferring their skills from one format to another…….
from AC to Golf –Setting an Initial Handicap
•
CQE HANDICAP ADVICE
• from GC to Association - Handicap Guidelines: Setting Initial Handicaps
• from AC to Short and from Short to Full lawn – Short Croquet Handicapping
Advice on How to fill out your own handicap card (including links to explanatory posters for both AC & GC)
go to Completing the Handicap Card
Finally, the CqE Handicap Committee meets regularly.
A summary of the Committee's "Work in Progress" and other useful links be found at Handicapping
Please spend some time exploring the links within each tab to enhance your understanding of the Handicap system.
HOW TO USE THESE QR (SQUARE) CODES
To go straight to the web site please use your camera ’s phone to zoom into the QR code and press the link
THE WOMEN’S GAME By Alison Maugham
Since Lily Gower paved the way for Women in Croquet by winning the Champion Cup (now President's Cup) in 1904, then the 25th Association Croquet Open Championship in 1905, the Women’s game has continued to progress to new heights. Rumour has it, the chaps got so fed up with the Women winning, they introduced the Men’s only events, but that of course is just a rumour. There are now three women-only events in the Croquet England fixtures calendar, two of them teamed with the opportunity of playing in a mixed doubles event alongside. The Association Croquet Peel Memorials The Peel Memorials is one of the oldest tournaments in the Croquet England Calendar and one of the few national tournaments for handicap play. The trophies, which date back to 1898, are very fine with some famous croquet names on them. This is an Association Croquet handicap tournament and is ideal for players who would like to dip their toes into a national event for the first time, as well as those with plenty of experience. The Golf Croquet Women's Open Championship A relatively new event which hit the Croquet Scene in 2021, the GC Women’s Open Championship attracts croquet players who range from handicap 6 to the minus numbers. I had the privilege to play in the event last year, and by some miracle won too, but only just about, finding myself battling for the last hoop of the second game of the match.
2025 GC Women's Open Championship Plate winner Rose Gebhardt, with Frances Colman (for CqE). photo by Chris Roberts
Sadly the Women’s title has eluded me, but I will be fighting for it this year. I would urge all of our women players, of all abilities, to come and join me for this one. Although it’s level advanced Association Croquet, rather than handicap, it’s a great place to start competing in the advanced game. Similar to the Golf Croquet Women’s Open, the handicap range can be from high single figures through to minus players, so there’s always great matches to play and an opportunity to play against some of the best Women players in the world. I might also mention that there is a consolation event with possibly the fanciest trophy I have ever seen, the Du Pre. This is your chance to play against some of the men, as the consolation event is for everyone knocked out from their main events. And of course, you can team up with one of the Men and join us in the Mixed Doubles Championship. I’ll be there trying very hard to do exactly what Dave tells me to do. He tells me often I am ‘trying’, but he still partners me, so it can’t be that bad!
Having played in several Golf Croquet Championship events and often being one of a very few number of women, I was shocked to find an entire contingent of women players with such outstanding performances. I still wonder why they are not seen in the other Championship events, but I am glad I found them at the Women’s Open. Fierce, focussed and friendly, three words which sum up this tournament for me. The Association Croquet Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles’ Championships This tournament is a combination of various tournaments: the Women's Championship dates from 1869 (with a gap in the 1880s), the Mixed Doubles from 1899, and the Men's from 1925. Two other tournaments, the Gold Medals and the Gold Caskets, were incorporated into this event from 1936. This is a prestigious tournament, and
many of the greatest names in croquet have won these titles.
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THE WOMEN’S GAME CONTINUED
Dates for the diary Please do check your calendars and see if any of these events work for you. These are three wonderful opportunities to play Croquet and have fun. The AC Peel Memorials (Handicap Singles and Mixed Doubles) 7-10 May 2026 Nottingham Croquet Club The Association Croquet Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles’ Championships 10-14 June 2026 Surbiton Croquet Club The Golf Croquet Women's Open Championship 1-2 August 2026 Colchester Croquet Club
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PRIZE FUND CONFIRMED FOR GC OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
An initiative to attract partners and distribute prize money at the Golf Croquet Open Championship is being supported by Croquet England. The first prize fund was collected and awarded as a private initiative for the same championship in 2025, attracting players wearing the colours of seven different countries. This year the winner's prize fund will be a maximum of £2,000, with a runner's-up prize of up to £1,000. For an amateur sport, this is an exciting new development for Croquet and its players. Not only will this event carry the prestige of other Championships around the world, but it will assist in attracting the highest calibre of players to our courts and serve to inspire the next generation of players. The funds have so far been raised by supporters and followers of Croquet, where any additional funds raised will be retained to reimburse the host club of the event, and to support the development work of Croquet England. By using our most prestigious Golf Croquet tournament of the season to showcase the sport to the public and potential partners, we will be building awareness of our sport.
Reg Bamford and Jamie Burch, by Brian Carroll, Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club
The Golf Croquet Open Championships, which includes both doubles and singles events, will this year be held at Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, 23-28 June 2026. Last year’s winner Reg Bamford has already placed his entry to defend the title and of course will be the clear favourite to behind, with England’s latest pick for the Association Croquet World Team, Jack Good, being another early entry to the tournament. Budleigh will be welcoming spectators and supporters, so please take a visit to the beautiful south to watch these world-class players competing to become our Golf Croquet Open Champion and secure their cash prize. Thank you to all those who have win again. However, the next generation are following closely already contributed. If you would like to join the funding support for the event, please see the GoFundMe campaign. https://www.gofundme.com/f/golf- croquet-singles-open-championship- 2328th-june-2026
Although Croquet is predominantly run by volunteers, where we all work hard to keep costs to a minimum, there will always be expenses associated with the running of tournaments, and the upkeep of our courts. It is intended that by supporting and learning from this initiative, players can benefit and Croquet England can develop its approaches to supporting clubs, generating income and distributing funds across all levels of the sport.
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THE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (FORMERLY THE PRESIDENT’S SELECTION)
By Guy Scurfield
For 11 years we have run this crazy event (Covid aside), always a challenge and this year was no different. 3 days beforehand we had icy pools of water on the lawns and the prospect of any play was looking remote at best…… and as for why we run it, please refer back to last year’s post, which gave a 10 year perspective, but yes, we are a little bit nuts and like to invite fun people to come and play at Dulwich. Playing for the Christopher Robin Cup, and the Plate (Croquet Butter Dish) Dulwich Guy Scurfield Pierre Beaudry Simon Carter Martin Gill Duncan Catterall Guests Pete Dowd Simon Williams Andy Hobbs Richard Gardiner Sam Cuthbert Saturday After a very cold spell, we remained unsure about play until Saturday morning itself. We gave our visitors the option to not come, but as one of them said “We can always drink and chat right?” – always a good option at Dulwich. Fortunately, dry and slightly warmer weather meant we had 1 lawn on Saturday. So we split the lawn in two and used half size lawns. Blocks Cross block play required 5 games, so we started all the games at 1-1 to speed things up a little…….
Guest qtrs – Simon W v Pete D and Sam C vs Andy H Finished a little quicker than the hosts But in this case the 2 lower seeds knocked out the guest 1 & 2 seeds Pete and Andy through to the semi- finals Saturday night is chilli party at my house, where guests and members of the club mix, enjoying a fun evening. As ever, thanks to my long-suffering wife Mo! Sunday After a dry night, on to more traditional play, semi-finals and finals both BO3 13 pt games. Though the threat of rain was never far away…….. Simon vs Pierre & Pete D vs Andy H Back to full-size lawns. The Plate was also able to take place, using lawns 1&2 which had drained sufficiently overnight. Both semi-finals were finished in 2 games, the night before possibly
A simple lunch of lasagna kept us warm, with a few supplements from the bar…….. Our guests played really well, winning 17 games to 8, with 3 players on 4 wins and one on 3. For the hosts, Pierre kept pride in place with 4 wins from 5…….. the rest of us didn’t fare so well…….. Quarter-finals We like to finish Saturday with some quarter-final play, however, with light running out, we chose to have a shoot out, running hoops 5 and 11 from their respective boundaries, 5 shots each and then if all equal, sudden death shots…… Interblock quarter-finals (1v4 and 2v3). Dulwich qtrs – Pierre vs Martin and Simon vs Duncan In both instances, both shootouts went to sudden death, and in both instances with lower seed running the hoop first, only for Simon and Pierre to score right back….. Simon and Pierre through to the semi- finals
Continued on page 20
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THE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN CONTINUED
peg to perhaps run hoop 12. The crowd at the far end not at all sure, but it seems possible……..Andy takes the shot and just, just clips the post to end up missing hoop 12 by a whisker. Pierre runs 12 to win the match…… Excellent play all round. The Plate contested in one 13-point game, Simon W vs Sam C. Simon W won 7-3, Sam perhaps left wondering what happened to the form that had seen him running hoops from all directions in the morning. Simon W just played better and took the Croquet Butter Dish (and a hoop? Ask him!) back to Ireland. As ever a great weekend was had and the fun was not over. While the finals were being played, Richard G very kindly took charge of the BBQ and supplied players and spectators alike with some great food. We also got to try his croquet board game, still in its infancy, but already a lot of fun……. non croquet players interested as well…. A lovely afternoon was spent, with chat and fun before
impacting Pete D who fought hard, starting a little slowly, with Andy H the winner 7-3, 7-6. Simon overcame Pierre 7-6, 7-4, Pierre never getting going and Simon his normal solid self. In the plate, after a couple of rounds, it become clear that the final should be between Simon W and Sam Cuthbert. Finals Simon was all ready to go, but was called away by a family emergency (however all was OK in the end, I am pleased to report), so Pierre stepped in to take on Andy H. With the 2 semi-finals finishing in 2, and the likelihood of rain coming, it was decided to crack on with the finals a little earlier than usual. The Christopher Robin final was a close affair, Pierre finding form in the first game to win 7-5. However, Andy H fought back well to take game 2, 7-3. At this point, no one was sure where game 3 would go. Both players declined to take a lunch break, cracking straight through…..a close game ensued, nip and tuck all the way round to 5-5 with Pierre taking hoop 11 to go 6-5 up. Both players putting in useful shots to hoop 12. Pierre goes for a clearance to put Andy on the far boundary, and ends up putting him back through hoop 11, a foot or so past, and just a touch to the side. Conversation ensues between Andy and Pierre, the former thinking he had nothing….. Pierre pointing out there was a slim chance by coming past the
the visitors gradually headed home…… (don’t ask Sam C about his journey home!). As we said last year, we don’t know if this event will run again in this format, due to changes at the club. However, I feel sure it will happen again in some form in the future… Thanks all…..
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SHARING OUR CROQUET CLUB WITH U3A MEMBERS GUILDFORD AND GODALMING CROQUET CLUB
Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club (GGCC) has a sound membership base as a result of open days and evenings, but was wanting to expand the membership base into new areas of the demographic and had settled on a two-pronged method - firstly working with young people through schools and youth groups and, secondly, making contact with local U3A (University of the Third Age) groups (of which we have a large number). One of our Committee members had experience of working with U3A in Yorkshire which gave us a basis for our approach; this may prove useful to other clubs wanting to go down a similar path. Each U3A group needs a course leader who is a member of that U3A for insurance purposes. That person can then get access to the Branch circulation lists and newsletters. We offered a couple of free Taster Days in May 2025, which some 30 plus people
attended. We ended up with a group of about a dozen from a range of U3A local groups. The aim was to create a friendly group atmosphere, so coffee and biscuits were always available at some stage of the session. We ran a U3A session every Thursday morning until the end of September 2025 when we had an end-of-season tournament and lunch. There were always the same 3 or 4 club members around most weeks, including one qualified coach, playing with and helping the members of the group. On the last day of the U3A season we had a mini tournament with prizes for winners and runners-up, managed by the Club President with the presentation of prizes by the Club Chair. They said that this all made them feel like proper members of the Club. Ginny of Farnham U3A said: “I have enjoyed the sessions immensely; everyone at the Club is so friendly and has encouraged and supported us newcomers. As a complete novice I was quite surprised how much I have enjoyed the sessions, and I can participate to a reasonable standard.” Helen from Guildford U3A said: “The U3A croquet sessions have been great. Each week I learn a little more and laugh a lot!”
The U3A players paid Guildford and Godalming Croquet Club a flat fee which covered them for the 5 months when the group met and allowed them access to all club equipment and facilities. The net effect has been that 10 of the 12 regular U3A players have now joined our club (about 10% of the current membership). We then started encouraging them to go together to one of our three times weekly roll up sessions. They all now have handicaps, regularly attend our roll up sessions and some have entered our winter internal tournaments. We plan to repeat the process in 2026 with croquet now included as an option in the prospectus of 4 of our local U3A groups. The most significant part of the process was the formation of a supportive group of learners who all started together and spent lots of time laughing and learning. The motto of U3A nationally is “Learn, live, laugh” and we did all of those. Hopefully we will welcome another group next April, which will lead on to another 10 new members!
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TWO-SHOULDER SWING
using very little muscle, just varying the size of your swing to adjust power, and therefore you should achieve better consistency. Furthermore, if you do need to raise the power of your game, maybe to play power croquet or to execute big jump shots, then the two-shoulder swing gives you that capability more easily because you are able to use the large muscles of both shoulders. By the way, you’ll notice from this analysis that this doesn’t inform you about which swing technique works best at lower velocities, where all of the different techniques are being used fairly passively. I’ve got my own ideas about this, but it’s getting a bit off-topic. In summary, therefore, the two-shoulder swing gives you the ability to play the majority of shots in a passive and consistent way, but if you want to add power to the stroke you can employ the best muscles for the job. Given that the two-shoulder swing has playing advantages, but is more time-consuming to learn, is it worth demonstrating two-shoulder swings to beginners? Firstly, I think it’s worthwhile for everyone to know that there are different types of swing available, and that they have their pros and cons. Even if they don’t use a particular technique, it’s part of the general knowledge of the game to be aware of what other players do, and to be aware of pathways to improve their game. Secondly, there are a number of players who have approached me during the beginners’ courses, who having seen a two-shoulder demonstration ask if it makes sense to learn a two-shoulder technique early, as it would speed their development in the game. These are often ambitious players, who want to invest their time on the best technique. They’ve usually got a sporting background, and appreciate the advantage of ‘starting the right way’. This group of players definitely makes it worthwhile demonstrating the two-shoulder technique. ASK THE EXPERT Raouf Allim has kindly agreed to produce regular contributions for us all to enjoy and learn from, and he is more than willing to answer the questions that you really want to ask. Please do send in your questions to communications@croquetengland.org.uk and address them to Raouf, who will be delighted to respond in future issues of our magazine.
RAOUF ALLIM The Swing Doctor
Grade 2 CqE Coach specialising in swing coaching
John Sayce has posted a follow-up question: ‘Is it helpful for beginners with the one-shoulder swing seeing a coach demonstrate a shot with the two-shoulder swing?’ It’s an interesting question, to which I think the short answer is YES, but it needs some explanation. The first point is that there would be little point in demonstrating a two-shoulder swing if you didn’t believe that it has something to offer over and above the one- shoulder swing. As a coach who believes that you should be able to explain everything you coach, it is insufficient to say that Croquet England recommends it (which they do, and I concur), or that most good players seem to do it (which they do). What are the advantages of the two-shoulder swing? I think the answer lies in the principle of using the least amount of muscle to achieve your goal, as adding muscular effort increases inconsistency. With a two-shoulder swing you are using a swing which is more naturally powerful, with minimal muscular effort. The physics of the different types of swing are that the two-shoulder swing has the greatest moment of inertia, with the one-shoulder swing being second best and the wrist swing having the smallest. The moment of inertia is the product of two factors, which are the mass which you are swinging and the distance of the centre of gravity of the mass from your pivot. The greater the moment of inertia, the more momentum is transferred to the ball for the same mallet head velocity. Regarding mass, the two-shoulder swing includes the mass of your arms as well as your mallet (provided your wrists are reasonably firm), whereas the wrist swing is essentially just mallet mass. The one-shoulder swing is intermediate because it includes the mass of one arm as well as the mallet. Regarding the distance from the pivot, the two- shoulder swing also has the longest distance, compared to swings that pivot at the wrist. The result of all of this is that you can achieve the largest range of shots with a fairly passive technique, using the two- shoulder swing. You can play the great majority of shots
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