WELCOME In December 2021 I became the Editor of our beloved Croquet Gazette. In the last three years I hope that I have helped the Gazette evolve into a magazine where you can enjoy a variety of stories, find inspiration and feel part of our Croquet Community. I would like to say thank you so much to the proof readers who work tirelessly in the background, the volunteers who write tournament reports and the committees who ensure we have the latest information our clubs and players need to thrive. Since we took back the production of the Gazette you have come forward with your welcome opinions and suggestions about what you would like to see in your Croquet Magazine. This has influenced a change in the type and style of article that now appears in each issue. Of course we must always strive for bigger and better, so further changes can be expected. I would like to make a special thank you to those of you who have sent such kind messages of support and encouragement, letting me know that you are enjoying the Gazette and your appreciation of the work from all the volunteers that help create it. Alison Maugham Editor editor@croquetengland.org.uk BERNARD NEAL AWARD 2024 The Bernard Neal Award was instituted in March 2020 in recognition of exceptional services to croquet. This award has been titled so that in years to come members can be reminded of the many outstanding contributions to the sport made by Bernard Neal who died in 2016. He was President of The Croquet Association from 2004‐2009. There are strict eligibility criteria to be met for this award. JOHN REDDISH John Reddish was President of the Dulwich Sports Club for 17 years until 2014 and was Secretary of the South East Federation from 2010 to 2020. In 2018 he was elected as the Representative of the Federation on the Croquet Association's Council. He served, for a year, on the Council and the Management Committee. In 2019 he did not stand for re‐election but retained an interest in CA affairs and was appointed as Chairman of the Development Committee in October 2019. In 2020 he became the first Chairman of the new Funding Committee. In 2021 he became Honorary Secretary of the CA, later to take on the role of Honorary Secretary to Croquet England. He had a key role in forming the Charity and converting to Croquet England, giving untold hours of his time and legal expertise that are much appreciated with this Bernard Neal Award.
Croquet England Issue 412 | December 2024 Issue 412 | December 2024 CROQUET
GAZETTE
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CONTENTS 4 5 6 7 Hibiscus Tunnel of Time Lithuanian Croquet Prodigy Front cover: Croquet for Wellbeing, Gediminas Smolskas, Ryde's Youth Championship, Ian Vincent BEM
Chairman's Column Letters to the Editor Association Croquet News
10 17 25 43 49
Golf Croquet News Unofficial History Coaching Pages
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