North West Federation of Croquet Clubs - for everything Croquet in the north west
Longman Champions Knocked Out by Barbara Dutton (17/05/07)
Pendle & Craven went to Bevereley, Yorkshire, to defend the prestigious Longman knock out Cup, which they won last year.
Sadly they were a player short of a full team and so had to concede two games to the opposition. Andrew Webb won both his singles games but Robin Delves and John Snowden lost theirs although games were close.
The final result, Beverley 7 Pendle and Craven 2.
David Maugham wins inaugural John Beech Tournament, Easter 2007
The John Beech Tournament (formerly the Easter Tournament) held over the four days of Easter concluded on the cold afternoon of Monday after a hard fought contest. This is an Association handicap croquet tournament where all players begin with a base index of 100, the higher the final index the better.
The weather was good at the start of the Easter tournament, so was Kathryn Schofield and daughter Charlotte, who were managing the tournament for the afternoon, preparing afternoon tea, providing tea and coffee, keeping score and entertaining their delightful two year old grandson, sporting a new haircut. The day started with a short speech from Kathleen Beech at a short ceremony to unveil a plaque in memory of John. She said John would be pleased with casino aussie the lawns today and hoped they would stay this way to perpetuate his memory. (no problem, with their son and lady friend, assisted by Abdul, cutting the grass each day).
David Maugham from Bowdon club won two trophies, the overall winner with a finishing index of 134, and also the trophy for the most games played – 15 games completed over the 4 days. David Turner from Tynesside won the Short Bisques trophy with an index of 122. Robin Delves from Pendle & Craven won the High Bisques trophy. Abdul Ahmad from Pendle & Craven won the fastest game trophy with a time of 48 minutes.
All games were un-timed, so Wharred Turns were introduced if games seemed prolonged – a wonderful way of speeding up the end of a game.
At the dinner on Saturday
The company was fine
The food was delicious
The wine was divine
But the singer? Oh how she did whine
Footnote:
Her opponent was joined up at Rover
Alice only had one hoop to do
So she tried to hit in to finish the game
And ran Rover from corner 2
by Alice Fleck
Pendle and Craven Croquet Club Annual Dinner, Friday 23rd February 2007
Fifty-eight members, friends and vistors sat down to an excellent meal in Colne Golf Club to celebrate the past year and look forward to the next.
A few moments of silence preceded the meal in memory of John Beech, founder and chief administrator of the club until his death.
We were honoured by the presence of our President, Mr Ted Fort, of Fort Vale Engineering who regaled us with the history of Earby, and some of his own history as an apprentice at Rolls Royce, Barnoldwick in the 1950’s. David Openshaw, the President of the World Croquet Federation and Chairman of the Croquet Association, also spoke, exhorting the club to encourage more people, especially young people, to come and play the game. He offered the chance of Pendle & Craven applying for some prestigious international matches in 2009. This would set the club at the forefront of British Croquet. He also related some of his past history, being born locally and having history with QEGS school in Blackburn which had its own croquet lawns and produced some of the best English players.
Chairman, Geoff Whitaker, thanked all members and visitors for their attendance and continuing support for the club. The club won the beautiful Longman Cup in 2006 and this was presented by David Openshaw to team Captain Robin Delves, followed by The North West Federation Trophy to team Captain David Pollitt, and club trophies: Treasurer, Peter Dowdall won three of the club trophies and Abdul Ahmad, Secretary, won the New Year One Ball trophy. Maureen Whitaker, Catering Manager, won the Whitaker Cup for Golf Croquet. John Filsak, Tournament Secretary and Andrew Webb won the Association Doubles plates.
The Tombola finished, raffles were drawn. Mrs Beech, to loud applause, winning the necklace made and donated by Ann Dowdall. The evening was rounded off beautifully by Alice Fleck, accompanied by her husband Derek on guitar, who sang one of her own humourous poems, an encouragement to play more croquet.