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R.I.P. Abdul Ahmad (updated 21 Sep)

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Abdul Ahmad at recent Fed Festival

Pendle & Craven are sad to announce that Abdul passed away suddenly but peacefully in Royal Blackburn Hospital on 31st August 2021.

Abdul has been a long-time member of the club and achieved some success as a player, winning the All England AC Handicap Title in 1999 and the same crown for Golf Croquet in 2002. He also won & defended the CA’s Men’s Silver Challenge Bowl in 2009 & 2010. 

Abdul managed and refereed many events for the club, for the NW Federation and even the World Croquet Federation! Lately he was instrumental in the success of the club’s U3A group visits with his gentle coaching style – “Will be sadly missed”

UPDATE – 21 SEPTEMBER 2021:

A service was held at St Thomas’ Church, Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford on Monday 20th September 2021 at 2pm followed by committal at Barrowford Cemetery Colne Road, Barrowford.

A well attended service was held for this retired Maths Teacher at St Thomas’ Church, Barrowford on Monday 20th September where eulogies covered his passion for Gardening, Croquet, Poetry, Contract Bridge, Chess & Bowls, his love of Spanish Guitar Music and his tolerance of Live Jazz (due to his love of his wife’s company and taste).

Now reunited with his wife (Judith) in Barrowford Cemetery, who preceded him in 2019.

Paul Rigge Awarded a CA Diploma

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Paul Rigge (l) being awarded the CA Diploma by Angharrad Walters (r) Federation Secretary.

Paul Rigge (aka Riggy) Chair of the North west Federation has been awarded a well deserved Diploma by the Croquet Association, for his massive contributions to Croquet.

Paul started his croquet some 24 years ago at Bury Croquet Club.  In 2002 he was involved in setting up the facility at Heaton Park in Manchester and in 2010 was on the team that organised the MacRobertson Shield there, being instrumental in getting television coverage of the event.  In fact he has been a television and radio presence representing the North West Croquet Scene on several occasions. 

He is larger than life character and has had a very positive effect on croquet in the North West in the last 10 years. In 2012 Paul became Secretary of the Federation and served a three year term.  Since 2016 he has been the  Federation Coaching Officer.  His coaching is second to none for beginners, improvers and at an advanced level.  Together with another player he ran the “Advanced Pods” at Bury.  He is willing to travel anywhere to deliver his help and advice to the Federation members.  

In 2017 Paul also volunteered to Chair the Federation, a post he also still holds at present.  In 2019 he visited Stoneyhurst College and helped establish a new croquet club at the school, which is now a member of the Federation. He has constructed and maintained the websites for both Bury and now Pendle.  For many years he has been Team Co-ordinator for the Lancashire team at the Counties.  

He has recently become a very active member of Pendle Croquet Club and despite the Covid crisis has co-ordinated and run no less than 6 competitions in 2020.  10 more competitions are scheduled at Pendle this year – all motivated and co-ordinated by Paul.  

He is active on the Tournament scene representing the North West countrywide.  He works hard for the sport both on and off the lawns.

Jack Good Wins Millenium LP GC Event

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Federation Level Play Millenium Golf Croquet – Bury – 7th September 2021

Six competitors fought rush hour traffic & gathered in the sheltered hot spot (29oC shade temp) of Coronation Park, Bury in the late ‘Indian Summer’, beautifully prepared courts were presented for what proved to be only five rounds of all-play-all 19point games, managed by visiting non-player David Cornes.

After all five rounds; All six achieved at least one win and the three top seeds all suffered a single loss, at the hands of each other, fun to sort for David; who beat who couldn’t separate them so Net Hoops were used to resolve the dilemma, in favour of… the 15 year old Jack Good.

Further Information from David Cornes:

JACK GOOD WINS GC LEVEL PLAY MILLENNIUM

Quality rather than quantity took part in the NW Fed Millennium level play GC tournament at Bury’s Coronation Park recently. The 6 players (from Bowdon, Bury, Pendle and Westmorland) had a COMBINED handicap of MINUS 3 so a close contest was predicted and so it proved to be.

The pleasing fact is that all 6 players won at least one match and there were 3 of them who won 4 out of the five 19-point games in the heat of the day. In the end it came down to hoop difference with Jack Good winning from Angharrad Walters (2nd) and Paul Rigge (3rd).

Paul Rigge (NW Fed Chair) presented young Jack with the trophy. Paul thanked Jean Hargreaves for her hospitality and catering skills, David Cornes for managing and refereeing the tournament and the Bury members responsible for such good playing conditions / surface – “the best this place has been for many years”.

Millenium LPG Players

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