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You are here: Home / Archives for 2015

One Ball Croquet Raises £630 for Bowel Cancer UK

7 April 2015 by Chris Alvey

Bowdon and Southport Raise £630 in a few hours

Bowdon players at their 2015 Charity One Ball Event
Bowdon players at their 2015 Charity One Ball Event

Two north west clubs took part in the national CA One Ball Charity Challenge this year.  The designated charity for 2015 was Bowel Cancer UK, since their house colour is purple, competitors were asked to wear something purple.  Entrants usually donate £5 and with other initiatives such as a raffle, a substantial sum of money can be raised in a few hours of enjoyable croquet.

Bowdon and Southport held events on Easter Monday and coincidentally both attracted 34 players and raised similar sums of money (£250 and £254).  Consequently, each club is entitled to send five players to the national finals in Surbiton.

At Bowdon, Graham Good won their charity one-ball event by winning all his four games 14-7, 14-11, 14-7 and 14-5. Second placed was John Haworth.  John and Graham were the only two players to win all their matches.

Derek Lunt receiving the Southport One Ball Charity Trophy from organiser Tony Thomas
Derek Lunt receiving the Southport One Ball Charity Trophy from organiser Tony Thomas

Over at Southport, the far end of the lawns kept disappearing intermittently as a sea mist rolled in from the Irish Sea.  Nevertheless, we believe all players returned to the clubhouse with their sanity intact for a presentation to Ken Allen for the fastest game; Chris Sweeney for ‘Hoop of the Day’; Don Williamson for ‘Shot of the Day’ and the overall winner, Derek Lunt, for most games won.

A total sum of £504 was raised between the two clubs.  With Gift Aid, this raises the donation to Bowel Cancer UK to £630, a wonderful achievement, well done to both clubs.

2015, Bowdon, News, Southport

Robert Essler – First Croquet Tournament Winner of 2015

7 April 2015 by Matt Holmes

Robert Essler wins the John Beech Easter Handicap Weekend

 

Paul Rigge (lft) presents the John Beech trophy to Pendle member Robert Essler.
Paul Rigge (lft) presents the John Beech trophy to Pendle member Robert Essler.

On home turf Robert Essler won the John Beech Memorial Easter Handicap Weekend at Pendle and Craven Croquet Club. In recent years the weekend has also incorporated an Advanced event: the Peter Dowdall Cup.

When you enter this event you never know quite what weather to expect.  Good Friday and Saturday saw cloud and cold temperatures but not anywhere near previous years freezing levels and the last two days had brightened up. Monday saw some sunbathing. Many pink faces were leaving for home. There was the usual convivial atmosphere as has been the norm for this event aided by good food, a smattering of Easter Eggs, simnel cake and 3 different hand-pumped ales from brewer Matt.

Lawns were well prepared and looked handsome. However before the sun appeared on day 3 they were quite heavy with water that hadn’t drained well from the weeks rain prior and some holes in trainers meant changes of socks for those with spares….Hoops were still in firm clay ground though and set to the normal Rigge standard (not technically legal for Handicap but inevitable given the combined nature of play) and there were of course a few complaints of stuck balls.

8 competitors played in both the Egyptian Handicap and the Advanced all play all. Plus there were 4 others who only played in the Handicap.  Handicaps ranged from -1 to 16.  By the end of play on Monday p.m. two players tied in the Egyptian on the same score:  Robert Essler, a longstanding Pendle and Craven member, and Richard Forman, a relative newcomer to the game from Huddersfield Club.  Both achieved a CA Bronze Award during the tournament, the latter following his recent attendance to a CA Bronze Coaching Event – what a perfect advert. On the basis of ‘who beat who’ Essler took the John Beech Handicap Trophy. Forman showed great enthusiasm and promise and is one to watch out for in the future. Jim Allcock from Crake Valley also achieved his Bronze Award.

In the Advanced, things went pretty much with ranking, and also went to a Pendle member. No TP’s achieved – a handful attempted and failed – but this was mainly down to the defensive nature of leaves by the two minus players. Matt Holmes won all of his games and with some handicap game wins triggered to -1.5. Andy Brandwood from Bury played solidly and maintains improving form, triggering to 2.5.

Matt Holmes 7/7;  Andy Brandwood 5/7;  Paul Rigge 4/7;  Roger Schofield 4/7;  Robert Essler 3/7;  Roger Staples 3/7;  Terry Vernazza 2/7;  Barbara Young 2/7.

Nearly everyone leaves this Pendle weekend with something:
Fastest game: Paul Rigge (48 mins);
Most games: Matt Holmes (14);
Over 10hcp Cup:  Richard Forman;
Under 10Hcp Cup: Roger Staples;
Peter Dowdall Advanced Trophy:  Matt Holmes 7/7;
John Beech Handicap winner: Robert Essler;

Bookmark this event next year for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

 

2015, News, Pendle

John Saxby R.I.P.

3 April 2015 by Chris Alvey

We are sad to report that John Saxby, Secretary of Bowdon Croquet Club, passed away last Saturday (21st April) after a short illness with pancreatic cancer. John was well known throughout our Federation and always made succinct and relevant contributions to our Federation meetings. Many players will have enjoyed playing Croquet with him, especially in the Midweek League. He was very popular and will be greatly missed by his colleagues at Bowdon and many friends throughout the region. There will be a requiem mass on Wednesday 1st April at 10.00am at St Vincents Church, Bentinck Road, Altrincham. There is a request for no flowers but donations to Marie Curie Nurses would be appreciated. On behalf of everyone in the Federation, we send our condolences to John’s family at this sad and difficult time.

2015, Bowdon, News

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