Crake Valley continue to make history in 2025. Following on from their first ever success to be Festival Champions at Southport, they are now representing the North West in the GC CqE Federations Shield Final in October.

After sharing the Advantage League last year, Crake played Ripon Spa in May overcoming them 4 matches to 3. Next up was Colchester who made the long journey north in August. Although Crake (pictured in their club colour of pink) are not doing brilliantly in the NW league this season they proved to be too strong for our East Anglian rivals beating them by 6 matches to 1.

The final is against Phyllis Court from Henley on Thames with the date and venue to be arranged.

A field of 25 gathered at Bowdon Croquet Club for their Short Croquet Tournament as the clouds parted and the sun once again graced the lawns.

Two Trophies were at stake with the ‘Bowdon Short Croquet Trophy’ being run as a flexible Swiss alongside the ‘NWFCC Millennium Short Croquet Trophy’ taking place concurrently as a single life knockout.

Having been furnished with a 2-peels handicap, my first ever game of short croquet converted me to the format quickly and I watched in awe as the two 4-peel handicappers breezed around the lawn. One of these wily tacticians, Alan Mayne, reached the final of the knockout against Sylvia Steer, resulting in a clash between octogenarians in which Alan final triumphed on the Thursday Afternoon

In the Swiss, Alan Dix triumphed with 6 wins and a single loss (to me!)

Thanks to Brian ‘Deadly’ Medley (aka the Diva) for managing and to the lawn manager at Bowdon for preparing such lovely lawns.

Alex McIntyre. (Nottingham Croquet Club).

But who is this teaching a half roll?