WELCOME Those of you who are regular readers of the Croquet England online magazines will have no7ced a change to this issue, the front cover now shows the 7tle “Talking Croquet”. During October I was totally engrossed in the Associa7on Croquet World Championship; held in America but watched by the rest of the world through the power of livestreaming. Let me first take this opportunity to congratulate Reg Bamford on such an amazing performance and becoming the 2025 Associa7on Croquet World Champion. One of the really amazing things about livestreaming is the commentary, where players of all abili7es from around the world can listen and learn. I do hope that some of my listening in to the commentary has helped me learn a li8le more about croquet. Not only did I listen to the commentary, but I have also been listening to you, the readers of our magazines. I have received several comments that suggest having two magazines, with the same 7tle apart from the word ‘online’, is a li8le like watching croquet for the first 7me… confusing. With this in mind, The Croquet Gaze8e will con7nue to be published bi‐monthly (the next issue hi9ng the door mats mid‐December) and Talking Croquet will be published bi‐monthly, online only, in the months where the Croquet Gaze8e is not delivered. I hope you enjoy this month's magazine and as always, I look forward to hearing your comments and sugges7ons. Alison Alison Maugham Editor editor@croquetengland.org.uk
Talking Croquet Issue 004 | November 2025
Front cover: Changing the world, one hoop at a 7me, at Pendle & Craven Croquet Club (Page 6)
CONTENTS 4 5 6 8
Chief Execu7ve's Column Indoor Swing Trainer Changing the world Wheelchair Project Le8ers to the Editor The road to Eastbourne Pier (Part 2) The Woking Juniors Indoor Croquet
FAREWELL MINTY CLINCH By Alison Maugham It is with great sadness that I must write my farewell to Minty Clinch, our fabulous author of her column, Hibiscus. Minty has wri8en her entertaining and educa7onal column in the Croquet Gaze8e since February 2022. We have been treated to twenty‐four ar7cles of hilarious anecdotes, 7mes of croquet travel, first‐hand coaching experiences and the highs and lows of being a Hibiscus. I would se8le down with a cup of tea when I no7ced the email from Minty arrive, knowing that my day
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would be brightened immediately and o'en with happy tears rolling as I read her latest contribu7on to our beloved Croquet Gaze8e. I s7ll giggle when I remember so many people in the beginning not believing me when I told them that the infamous ‘Minty Clinch’ was in fact a real person. My thoughts are with Minty’s family and friends. She was a wonderful character who lived a full‐to‐the‐brim life, and will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of her company.
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