Croquet in the North West

North West Federation of Croquet Clubs - for everything Croquet in the north west

You are here: Home / Archives for Chris Alvey

Jack Good Wins Southport Handicap

by

May AC Hcp Tournament for the Carol Lewis Trophy 15 May 2021 at Southport & Birkdale Croquet Club

Southport President Brian Lewis presents the Carol Lewis Trophy to Jack Good (Bury)

Southport held their first Croquet tournament of the season yesterday in a day of two halves – west weather gear being needed in the morning followed by bursts of glorious sunshine in the afternoon. This popular AC Handicap tournament is usually held over a weekend each May, but in these Covid safety times, the event was restricted to one day and only eight competitors.

The event attracted players with a handicaps ranging from -1.5 to +24, including rising star Jack Good from Bury alongside the experienced Alan Pidcock and Don Williamson from Southport. Southport also provided the defending champion Peter Williams and the field was completed with Sue Pritchard and Neil Adams from Westmorland and brothers Richard and David Harding from Llanfairfechan. Interestingly Richard is a former member of Southport and planning to make a very welcome return to the game.

Jack Good (Bury)

The Trophy was decided via a ‘knock-out’ format over three rounds, Neil, Jack, Don and Alan winning through to the second round, on lawns that played well but could be variable in places. The lawns have only opened in the last ten days and still showed evidence of the maintenance contractors efforts.

The final was an interesting battle between experience and brilliant young skills, as Alan and Jack produced a match which kept the watching spectators enthralled. The trophy went to Jack Good who completed the day unbeaten and earned handicap reduction from 16 to 14.

The defending champion, Peter came close, only losing one match, as did Alan and Neil.

The trophy was presented by Brian Lewis and the event was very ably managed by Don and Diana Williamson.

Alan Pidcock (Southport)

Croquet Coaching in the North

by

There is a full range of Coaching Courses at the Northern Croquet Academy at York Croquet Club. There are a few places remaining on some courses and a few dates yet to be confirmed for later in the season.

A place on a waiting list is always an option for a course that you fancy but which is currently full – you never know!

Please be in touch if you are interested in any of the options on offer, suitable both for GC and AC players.

Debbie JamesCourse Secretary, NCA, northerncroquetacademy@gmail.com M: 0777 277 8232 

Look at the Prospectus here

Great Optimism for Croquet 2021 at Spring Meeting

by

Executive Summary: NWFCC Spring Club Meeting by Zoom – Saturday 6th March 2021

Chairman, Paul Rigge welcomed 19 delegates on Zoom to the Meeting in addition to 17 members on You Tube. He thanked Eugene Chang of the CA for facilitating the Meeting on the CA Account.  Minutes of the last Meetings (An SGM and an AGM) on the 14th November were confirmed and there were no matters arising.  

League Manager, Ivan Wheatley has received entries from 49 teams for the 2021 League Season and scheduled a full programme of matches, unfortunately, these must now be re-scheduled in the light of current Covid restrictions.  He recommended the season should now start on 17 May and end in September with a revised fixture calender – this will involve playing matches more frequently in the Level Play GC, Level Play AC and Midweek AC leagues but necessitate splitting the other leagues.  Consequently the Handicap AC, Handicap GC and Short Leagues will each be split into a North and South division of 4 or 5 teams each with an ‘all play all’ format.  The annual Festival of Croquet was discussed at length and a new date of 14/15 August agreed for this year.  

Sarah Andrews, Development Officer, explained the Development Committee will have a new focus to identify future funding sources.  She has been instrumental in securing grants for Fylde and Crake Valley and is in discussions with a possible new group in the West Pennines.  David Cornes was elected as the Federation Development Officer to replace Sarah.  Jean Hargreaves, Safeguarding Officer, reminded the meeting of new documents on the website about safeguarding children and the meeting formally adopted the new Child Safeguarding Policy.  A further set of documents is in preparation relating to vulnerable adults.  Don Williamson reminded the meetingof the new rules regarding GC handicapping.  Tony Thomas, Webmaster, described some new security measures regarding email addresses on the website and only Mobile telephone numbers are now listed in contact lists.  We are looking forward to the start of the season on 29 March and appealed for photographs from clubs on the theme “Happy to be Back”,

The League Manager, Ivan Wheatley described changes to the League Rules for 2021.  His original draft last November has been amended to incorporate changes required by the recent publication of the 7thEdition of AC Laws and changes to Tournament Regulations.  These allow for Alternate Doubles in AC matches, new procedures at the end of time limited games.  When playing Level Play GC, games must be recorded in the order of play.  

The Federation reqires a Logo and 37 designs have been submitted by members.  These are being considered by the Federation committee.

There were various Club announcements.  Several Bowdon members have won national tournaments and several of their younger players are in the National Training Programme.  Bury are expanding their Internal Tournament programme and have attracted two national tournaments in 2021.  Chester are running social events for their local hospital and hope to attract new members.  The national Apps Healey award has been awarded to Crake Valley for their recent improvents and these have been continued with improved drainage and landscaping.  Craig-y-Don have a new Mower and Lining Equipment in addition to new toilet facilities.  Culcheth have secured a further year to play at Datem Sports Club.  Fylde have been awarded a CA Grant to improve lawns and drainage.  LLanfairfechan have doubled their membership in the last year and will be hosting the national North and Mid Wales GC tournament this year.  Pendle managed to hold five ‘Covid Safe’ tournaments in 2020 and have improved their North Gate access and installed  more hard standing.  Southport hosted two prestigious national tournaments in 2020, they have 200m of plastic drainpipe for sale, ideal for use as Ball Guards.  Westmorland have re-seeded their lawns and have recruited ten new members.

The next Club Meeting will be the Federation AGM on 13th November 2021

14 March 2021 – Draft Minutes of Meeting issued – you can read them here

Find a Category

Webmaster – Chris Alvey (webmaster@croquetnw.co.uk)