Category: News

The first match of the season has been held and the leagues are now up and running.

This first match was the customary match between the two Kenilworth teams, now named Abbey and Castle. Both have separate personnel and are closely matched. Abbey won this match 10 – 8.

Full results of league matches can be found on the Leagues Page

Left to right:  Adam Britton, Wendy Fine, Gill Williams (with cup), David Mullan, Jane Griffiths

The two regional winners of the 2025, 6+ Golf Croquet Leagues faced each other in a delayed final, played at Himley on Friday 24^th April. Kenilworth took on Llanidloes, hoping for revenge for last year’s defeat.

The Kenilworth team of Tony Watmore, Robert Zara, Richard Pinder and Alan Hulme arrived in good spirits but Llanidloes started well and after three rounds of Singles were 8-4 ahead. Kenilworth fought back in the final Singles round to make the score 9-7 to Llanidloes.

Kenilworth now needed to win both the Doubles to take the trophy on hoop count.

Both matches were closely fought with the first one going Kenilworth’s way with a 7-6 win on Golden Hoop.

In the final game, Kenilworth took a 5-4 lead. David Mullan then achieved the Shot of the Match when, from distance, his ball bounced up from Red landed back through the hoop to clear Yellow and came to rest in front of the Hoop. Even David graciously admitted his good fortune, but they all count. This levelled the score and gave Llanidloes the impetus to win the game by the closest of margins 7-6.

It really could not have been any closer and was a fitting end to what had been an extremely competitive match played in excellent spirits.

Members of Kenilworth Croquet Club swapped mallets for walking shoes on Friday 17 April as they took part in the annual Moonlight Walk in support of Myton Hospice.

The group, cheerfully calling themselves Okay Croquet Kenilworth, lit up the evening in bright pink T-shirts as they completed either the 5km or 10km routes.

Spirits were high throughout the event, with participants embracing both the challenge and the festive atmosphere of the night walk.

Together, the team raised an impressive £3,248 for the hospice, which provides vital care and support for patients and families across the region.

Members expressed their gratitude to everyone who sponsored them, helping to make their fundraising efforts such a success.

“It was a fantastic evening and great fun for everyone involved,” one participant said.

“We’re proud to support such an important cause—and I’m sure we’ll be back again next year.”

For those inspired by the group’s enthusiasm, the club welcomes enquiries from anyone interested in learning more about croquet and getting involved.

Find out more here: https://ktscc.co.uk/croquet/

Rugby Croquet Club was officially opened on April 1^st.

More that 20 enthusiastic members will play AC and GC on their new lawns at Clifton-upon-Dunsmore on the edge of Rugby.

The photo shows Chair, Terry Leary introducing the Mayor of Rugby, Councillor Barbara Brown. They are watched by members of the club, representatives of the local council and visitors new to croquet with four visitors likely to join the club.

Following this introduction, Councillor Brown then, successfully and ceremoniously, ran the first hoop of this new club.

Good luck to Rugby and welcome to the Federation.

See Website www.ktscc.co.uk/croquet Email croquet@ktscc.co.uk

The final match of the WMF 6+ league Eastern Region, took place on 26 September.

Kenilworth travelled to Edgbaston and were beaten 11-7.

Match points for the season gave a tie at nine match points each. The decision was then based on game wins and Kenilworth’s win earlier in the season at 14-0 gave them the title.

Kenilworth will now face Llanidloes in the Federation Final.

Good luck to both teams.

l to r Chris Butt E, Jon Hodge K, Jenny Buchanan E, Richard Pinder K, Julie Antrobus E, Merryn Lloyd E, Robert Zara K and Tony Watmore K.

Well done to Llanidloes Croquet Club who progressed through to the FINAL of the West Midlands Federation Dave Piggot 6+ Golf Croquet Cup despite loosing to Eardisley today, Llanidloes went through on bonus points. Todays match was won by Eardisley 11 games to 7, a much closer match when you see it was 104 hoops to 100, again to Eardisley.

Llanidloes await the winner of the Eastern Region.

A successful and enjoyable AC Advanced B Class tournament was held at Edgbaston over the weekend of 7/8^th June.

There was a full complement of 12 players, including four previous winners. All agreed that the camaraderie of this tournament is one of the best.

There were three from the WMF, Adrian Morris, Cliff Daniel and Brian Christmas Let’s see more from the WMF next year.

The tournament was won by John Henderson of Penrith (far right) playing off 3.5.

See Edgbaston’s website for the full story including some fiendish contact leaves by Peter Wilson from Fylde Croquet Club.

See this month’s issue of the Croquet Gazette for an interesting article by Philip Extance of the Shrewsbury Club.

Philip explains how they introduce new players directly to AC and how they nurture these players into competitive sport.

Broadwas Croquet club travelled to Czechia in 2024 as one of the English representatives in the inaugural European GC Club Competition. Not only was it an enjoyable trip but they finished runners-up in their group.

Having enjoyed this experience, they were selected to play this year in Sudwest, Germany.

Jon Carrington, Ian Dampney, Billy Nicholson and Stuart Smith made up the Broadwas team and in their first match, won 6 games to 4 against a team from Madrid.

The second match versus Czech team, Horice, was more eventful! After only two games, a mini cyclone demolished three Gazebos. This was quickly followed by a thunderstorm and play was abandoned for the day. Play continued the next day with another victory for Broadwas 8-2.

The final match was against the local team from Sudwest which ended as a 5-5 draw putting Broadwas on top of their group and qualifying for the final. To be played in Southwick, near Brighton in the Autumn.

Well done to Broadwas and best of luck for the final.

Full details of the competition can be found on the World Croquet Federation Website.