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Garry Greenwood from Chester reaches National Golf Croquet final

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National B Level Golf Tournament – Regional Heat at Bury.

Garry Greenwood (Chester) with the Regional B Level Golf Croquet trophy, accompanied by tournament manager David Barrett and organiser Jean Hargreaves.
Garry Greenwood (Chester) with the Regional B Level Golf Croquet trophy, accompanied by tournament manager David Barrett and organiser Jean Hargreaves.

Following a late drop out, 13 players enjoyed the mainly fine weather and sunshine at Whitehead Park to battle it out for the Bury CC National B Level Golf tournament. Play was in two blocks, all play all, with many keenly fought games several of which went to the Golden Hoop.

The eventual winner from Block A was David Widdison (Bishop Monkton)with 5 out of 5 wins. Block B winner was Garry Greenwood (Chester) with 6 out of 6 wins. Garry played Mags Crossland (Sheffield), who had 3 out of 5 wins having beat Ken Eccles who also had 3 wins, in one semi-final whilst David played Keith Terry (Pendle and Craven), who had 4 out of 6 wins, in the second semi-final. Both ended in 7-5 wins for Garry and David. In the play –off for 3rd and 4th places Keith beat Mags 7-6. The final between David and Garry was eventually quite a nail biter. After hoop 2 it was 1 all. Despite good play from both players David went on to win the next 4 hoops making it 5-1. At this point Garry staged a comeback and again with excellent play from both players clinched the game on the Golden Hoop to win the tournament.

Congratulations to all and good luck in the final Garry.

Mrs Wilson Wins Pendle Croquet Rose Bowl

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Mrs Wilson won the Pendle Rose Bowl

Manager of the Week Liz Wilson (Photo: Proud Husband) by Peter Wilson at Pendle & Craven Croquet Club
Manager of the Week Liz Wilson (Photo: Proud Husband) by Peter Wilson at Pendle & Craven Croquet Club

Nineteen players entered the Pendle Midweek tournament competing for the various trophies at Pendle from 7 to 10 July.  Pendle’s fifth lawn which suffered damage several years ago was back and playing very well, but after such a lay off there was found to be a corner peg missing. The weather changed from chilly to scorching as the tournament progressed. As usual there were visitors from far and wide especially this year when Phil Bateman and Sally Harper arrived from Australia. The general tenor of the event was as always relaxed and fairly flexible.

Results:
The Pendle Rose Bowl (Open Singles Advanced) Liz Wilson.
The David Jenkinson Tankard (Singles Advanced) Ian Hall.
Pennine Trophy (Open Singles Handicap) Ian Hall.
The David Hoyle Trophy (Singles Handicap) David Lloyd.
The Irish Cup (Egyptian Highest Rating) Ian Hall.

The Woodlands Trophy (Handicap Doubles) Peter Hallett and Peter Wilson.

And in addition to those:

The Egyptian Cup (Fastest Singles Win) Peter Wilson 56’4”.
The Addict (Most Games) Joe Lennon.

Manager: Liz Wilson.

2015 Pendle Mwk July

 

To Russia with Croquet Love

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Chester members Paul Watson and John Dawson (Far left) and Sally Slater and David Guyton (far right) with Russian guests
Chester members Paul Watson and John Dawson (far left) and Sally Slater and David Guyton (far right) with Russian guests

Russian visitors fail to find flamingoes or hedgehogs at Chester Croquet Club

Chester croquet club played host on Friday 26 June to a group of journalists from Russia, organised by VisitBritain. The group of six from Moscow were on a cultural tour based on the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The book is very popular in Russia with adults and children alike.

David Guyton demonstrates how to hold a mallett
David Guyton demonstrates how to hold a mallett

The group had flown into Manchester on Thursday, then Friday morning visited Daresbury, the home of Lewis Carroll’s family, before coming to Chester on the way to North Wales.  After a visit to Llandudno (via a stay in Portmerion), they will make their way to Oxford to see Christchurch College where Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll was tutor of mathematics and where he most probably saw and played the newly popular game of croquet. The tour finishes in London at an Alice exhibition at the V&A and afternoon Mad Hatters tea party at a leading hotel.

Croquet is largely unknown in Russia and they wished to see what the game was and how it was played because it was mentioned in the book.

Dasha Motyagina tries hoop running
Dasha Motyagina tries hoop running

Led by Dasha Motyagina from Visit Britain, the journalists Martha, Alexandra, Christina, Vadim and Elena were given lunch at the club, followed by a brief history of croquet from David Guyton, past chairman. They were then given mallets and had a go at playing the game, assisted by club members Paul Watson, John Dawson and Sally Slater. The journalists all represented different publications in Moscow, ranging from Cosmoplitan to an on-line magazine for women and an airport magazine, and intend to write about the tour when they return home.

The game of croquet proved great fun and very popular. Martha thought they should definitely set up a club in Moscow!

ADDENDUM

Since the above post was published, Federation Secretary Paul Rigge has informed this website that Russia is a member of the World Croquet Federation and there is a croquet club in Moscow.  You can find more detail, especially if you are a russian speaker at: www.croquet.ru  or  www.croquet-club.com 

TT

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