At the Croquet Association AGM last weekend, the north west gained three awards.

Crake Valley were awarded the Apps-Heley Award for 2021 – this is awarded by the CA every two years to the club with three or four courts that has made most progress at a national or local level in the last two years. The club receives a handsome trophy and £250. Crake have secured much local funding and redeveloped their clubhouse, car park ands lawns. This was reported on this website in March 2021, you can read more at this link: http://www.croquetnw.co.uk/apps-heley-award-for-crake-croquet/ The trophy is now on show in the clubhouse.

CA Diplomas, for outstanding services to clubs and federations over a long period, were awarded to: Margaret Eccles (Bury) and Paul Rigge (North West Federation);

We reported on Paul’s success in May and you can read more details here – http://www.croquetnw.co.uk/paul-rigge-awarded-a-ca-diploma/

The details of Margarets award are as follows:

Margaret had served as our Club’s Secretary for over three years and was due to retire from this post when the Covid Pandemic struck. Since then, she has undertaken ‘101’ additional jobs as well as agreeing to continue as Secretary.  

Her dedication and enthusiasm has kept the Club alive and functioning to the highest possible standards during these difficult times.

 She has worked tirelessly whilst trying to maintain contact with each one of our 70 members on a personal level and help them with their countless worries and needs.  

Government and Bury Council’s stringent conditions needed to be followed at all times so Margaret stepped-up and became our

KEYWORKER and FIRST RESPONDER  
in every sense of the word.

Anything and Everything to do with Club was arranged through her.

Distance – Timings -Locations and Protection became major issues which required careful and thoughtful planning and she stepped up in each case to arrange things.    

She took control of a new on-line Booking system which has proven invaluable in keeping members safe and players limited in number in accord with Government Regulations at both of our Venues at Whitehead Park and Coronation Park.

Due to her love of croquet and her caring welcoming nature, we all became reliant on her to set-up the introduction of all newcomers to the Club which has resulted in a much high intake for this time of year.

Margaret love’s playing both Association and Golf croquet and is Captain of one of our Teams in the North West League, where she is also well respected.