... AND MORE
welcome were outstanding, thanks to the enormous efforts of the club’s volunteers. Over three highly competitive days, England and Spain produced a superb contest, with Spain arriving as defending champions and England securing a memorable 15–11 victory. Captained by John-Paul Moberly, the England team showed especially encouraging to see younger players performing at such an elevated level. Spain, led by Jose Riva Gómez- Jordana, contributed hugely to a brilliant sporting spectacle. determination, courage and competitive spirit, and it was
A weekday tournament at Southwell Croquet Club
Juniors competing at Nottingham Croquet Club
Spectating at Bowdon with Angharrad Walters and Caz Sinclair
The final stage of the tour brought more memorable moments. At Southwell Croquet Club, Derek and Elaine gave us a warm welcome, introduced us to members and helped us gather valuable feedback on how Croquet England can best support clubs. Their dedication was inspiring, and Derek’s past as Mr GB added an unexpected and delightful twist to the visit. From there, Alison and I travelled to Nottingham Croquet Club for the National Junior Championships. Seeing young people compete, play doubles, support one another, and show such
great spirit reinforced why youth development must remain a key priority for the future of croquet. Bringing parents and teachers together to help shape the development of young players is an exciting step. Their insight, commitment, and willingness to be involved will be invaluable as we build a stronger pathway for the next generation. Alongside the wellbeing project, junior development shows how croquet can grow by listening, partnering, and investing in people.
in this month’s Talking Croquet you can see our updated Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Priorities. I hope you enjoy this edition of Talking Croquet and the stories it contains. They are full of warmth, fun, competition, friendship, and possibility. My thanks go to Alison for organising such a valuable trip, to every club that welcomed us so generously, and to all the volunteers who make croquet what it is. The future is bright, and the future is croquet.
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 7
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker