The team of Derek Bell-Jones, Nigel Worthington, Robert Jones and Jayne Taylor finally played their postponed play-off final against Westmorland in the North West Federation short lawn league.

The match was supposed to be played last season, but was called off due to bad weather, not a problem on Tuesday, 26 April, when the weather was sunny and dry giving perfect playing conditions at the neutral venue of Southport.

It was a tight match, each team keeping pace with the other. The first round ended 2-2, the second round was 1-3, third round 3-1 then final round was 2-2, giving the final score of 8 all. Then the team with the most hoops is the winner. The hoops were nervously totalled up. Westmorland ran 139 hoops and Chester ran 158 hoops, giving Chester the championship.

Report from: https://chestercroquet.club/short-lawn-win-for-chester

27/04/2022

Has Bridgerton wet your appetite to try a new sport? Come down and chat with members of Fylde Croquet Club who can tell you more about this brilliant game.

Saturday 30th April 10am to 2pm.

Image: Storytellers in St. Annes front Window

What to do for the best about Covid now that the mask mandate has been dropped along with all ‘distancing’ guidance we’ve suffered under for the last two years – well play croquet of course, preferably in the sunshine on fine dry courts. Fortunately Earby delivered just such over the early bank holiday. Not saying we didn’t get any rain, we did, but it confined itself to the rules of ‘Camelot’ – rain once, in the small hours of Monday.

Fourteen players sensibly booked their places in this friendly (either Hcp or Adv) AC format tournament to be faced with four freshly laid-out courts.In the very first round on Friday, a CA Bronze medal was gained with a further award (Silver) being earned upon the Saturday by the eventual overall winner.

In line with previous years, the tradition of buttered Hot Cross Buns for all on Good Friday & choccy Eggs on Sunday were available. This year it took until the very last round on Monday for the Major trophies to be decided, such was the competition by those in contention, so after 66 games, the following overall results were presented;

John Beech Handicap Trophy – Ged Smolskas

Peter Dowdall Cup (adv) – Paul Rigge.

Under 10 Handicap Trophy – Richard Harding

10 & Over Handicap Trophy – David Harding

Fastest Game – David Harding (42mins Vs Lee Hartley)

Most Games – Lee Hartley (13).