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24th Croquet Festival Shines in the Sun

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Westmorland are Crowned 2018 Festival Champions (North West Federation Festival of Croquet 23/24 June 2018)

2018 Festival Westmorland Festival Champions

A wonderful croquet weekend under blue skies, but despite a cooling breeze,  sun cream was still the order of the day for players as the 24th North West Federation Festival of Croquet took place in sunny Southport over the weekend of 23/24 June 2018.  Displaying a kaleidoscope of colours, about 100 players attended on each day, representing ten clubs from all over the North West – especially welcome were the team from Stonyhurst College, making their debut at this unique tournament.

The lawns were in excellent condition thanks to the weeks of work by Don Williamson and Terry Dunbar who prepared 17 beautiful Courts.  The infamous North Lawns played well and are now even envied by some clubs.  The catering team, led by Margaret Flemington once again excelled.  Early each morning, Southport members turned out in force, to ensure hoops, chairs, balls, pegs, coffee, etc. were all ready for the visitors.  Thank you Southport.

The Festival needs a fair bit of complex planning to ensure we have two days of croquet action – thanks to Liz Wilson for all the administration and a big thank you to Abdul Ahmad, who made a welcome return to Southport to manage the Festival with great efficiency.

The tournament enabled players of all abilities to participate and standard of play ranged from sheer brilliance to the ‘must practice more’ standard, but played in a great sporting atmosphere where advice and help was freely given but fierce competition was still evident.

In the Advanced Doubles, Fylde Croquet Club, once again took the title beating Bowdon in a final knock out match.

In the 18 Point Handicap, Bury emerged as the victors winning four of their six matches, closely followed by Westmorland and Chester.

The Short Croquet honours went to Chester winning five of their six matches and just edging ahead of Bowdon by a few games.

In the Golf Croquet event, Crake Valley were clear winners being victorious in eight of their nine matches, followed by Llanfairfechan and Westmorland.

The final twist to an excellent competition came when all the scores were suitably weighted and compared, the overall champions by a very slim margin were declared as Westmorland.

So we look forward to 2019 when this wonderful event will celebrate its Silver Jubilee – yes next year will be the 25th Festival – a very special event where all players will be requested to wear something Silver intertwined with their normal Festival colours.  See you back at Southport in June 2019?

[PRESS ANY IMAGE TO GO TO A SLIDESHOW]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bury Win 2017 Croquet Federation Festival

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Bury Win 2017 Federation Festival for Sixth Time

Bury – 2017 Federation Festival Champions

Fylde 2017 Advanced Winners
Westmorland 2017 Handicap Winners
Bowdon 2017 Short Croquet Winners
Bury 2017 Golf Croquet Winners


Another successful Federation Festival of Croquet at Southport on 24/25 June 2017. With weather from drizzle to glorious sunshine, players clad in a spectrum of team colours, Riggy and Hawkins dressed by Matalan, the play ranged from spectacular to crazy. What a great weekend celebrating not just Croquet in the north west but sheer enjoyment in the company of about 150 croquet players of all abilities, from beginners to experts, from clubs around our region.

If a team was short of a player – no problem – a quick free transfer from another club saved the day with only minimum confusion.

The south lawns were pristine and the north lawns continue to improve – a great tribute to Don Williamson and Terry Dunbar who manage these lawns.  The Southport club were not only great hosts but early risers, setting out 13 lawns each day plus all the accompanying bits and pieces like gazebos, tables, chairs, etc.  As always the catering team rose to the occasion par excellence!  

Ivan Wheatley thanked the club for making this Festival a wonderful occasion.  He also paid tribute to tournament manager James Hawkins whose efficient management ensured everyone were in their right places at the right time, (well almost everyone!).

Results:

Individual successes resulted in some handicap changes:
Betty Bates (Fylde) from 14 to 12; Mike Steer (Bowdon) from 4 to 3.5; Chris Alvey (Bury) from 18 to 16; Ivan Wheatley (Westmorland) from 7 to 6; Sue Pritchard (Westmorland) from 18 to 16.

Advanced Croquet event – Fylde won again for the third year in succession.
Short Croquet event – Bowdon won for the second year running.
Handicap Croquet event – Westmorland.
Golf Croquet event – Bury.

When all the points were aggregated, Bury Croquet Club emerged as 2017 Festival champions for the sixth time since the event was established in 1994.

Congratulations to all our worthy winners.

Same time (?), same place, next year – see you there?

Peruse the 2017 Festival photos below.  The top is simply an automatic slideshow – let your mouse hover on image to see titles.  Below the slideshow is a thumbnail gallery of all the slides – press on any thumbnail to start a manual slideshow (i.e. use navigation arrows to change slide) from that point in the gallery.

 

 

Pendle Win Best Ever Festival

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Pendle Win 2012 Federation  Jubilee Festival of Croquet

Successful Pendle team – Federation Jubilee Festival Champions 2012
Whatever did we do to upset the weather gods?  They threw everything at us during the 2012 Federation Festival of Croquet  –  dark clouds, heavy rain, high winds, thunder, even a few hailstones, before relenting their punishment to give us glorious sunshine for our presentations.  This was the biggest Festival tournament to date and the 27 teams representing 9 clubs seemed to agree it was also the most enjoyable.  The Southport club take great pride in hosting this event and provided an environment that would be difficult to better.  The amount of work involved in preparing and setting out 15 lawns each day is staggering not to mention the awesome standard of catering which served about 80 players daily.  The infamous North Lawns were in their best ever condition demonstrating the progress made since the club took full responsibility for their maintenance earlier this year.  The opportunity to meet so many croquet players from across the region in one event makes this Festival unique and continually reminds us why we have a strong North West Federation – together we succeed in making Croquet a competitive endeavour played in a spirit of great friendship.The Golf competition was won by Pendle who won all their matches.  Similarly, Westmorland won the Handicap competition , remaining undefeated in this event.  Llanfairfechan only lost one of their Short matches to take the Short trophy.  In a tense final match, Fylde won the Advanced shield (for the second year running).Team performance in each event gains points to determine the championship club.  By a small margin Pendle were declared 2012 Festival Champions with Westmorland a close runner up.
SHORTGOLFHCPADVPtsPlace
Bowdon5-----2-----78
Bury233197
Chester444-----123
Culcheth-----2----------29
Fylde3153123 =
Llanfairfechan75----------123 =
Pendle68----------141
Southport1612106
Westmorland-----76-----132
Advanced Winners – Fylde
Handicap Winners – Westmorland

 

N.W. Fed. Festival of Croquet 2012

The teams they came from Timbuktu,
All decked in colours, red and blue.
The challenge rang the North West through,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Frantic members measured lines,
Laid the hoops twice, fifteen times,
Spread tea and buffet super fine,
For Southport’s croquet lawns.

Gazebos raised defied the rain.
And sure enough the rain it came.
But wind and hail don’t stop the game
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Black clouds thundered overhead
And to the clubhouse spectators sped,
But on they played the North West Fed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Four events, twenty seven teams,
Hundred plus players walked the greens,
Made a real inspiring scene
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Brave at golf Rod Sutton played,
Newly joined, but not afraid,
To join in matches here assayed
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

Our Advanced team scooped up second place,
The Golf team’s third did not disgrace,
But trophies eluded every chase
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The Advanced was won by Fylde I reckon
The Short went west with Llanfairfechan
Westmorland’s Handicap won collection,
From Southport’s croquet lawns.

But Golf gave Pendle pride of place,
The sun shone to light the winners’ face.
Best in the North West is no disgrace
On Southport’s croquet lawns.

The hoards of players dissolved away
Reflecting on friends they made at play
But will return another day
To Southport’s croquet lawns.

By Kath Thomas, SBCC, 2nd July 2012

Short Winners – Llanfairfechan
Golf Winners – Pendle

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Webmaster – Tony Thomas (tony@croquetnw.co.uk)