Northampton Croquet Club

Updated Programme

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East Anglian Golf League

The Club has now completed all its six fixtures for the season, and ended up in fifth position in the table.  We managed to win two home matches, against Watford and Wrest Park, but lost against both the Leighton Linslade teams, Letchworth and Stoney Stratford. Despite the match losses, we managed to win nearly as many individual games as we lost - 52 as aginst 56.

Our neighbours, Stoney Stratford, finished the season as Western Area league winners for the second sucessive season. The Golf (and Association) tables for the East Anglian League are published on www.angliacroquet.co.uk

It is good to record that nine players played in our teams this year - Jean Axford, Owen Bryce, Richard Cain, Jill and Les Carrick, Mike Hills, Susan Perkins, Daphne Reed and David Snowden. I am sure that the higher handicap players enjoyed both meeting and playing against members of other Clubs and will benefit from the experience. I hope that other golf players will be able to take part next year.

Owen’s 90th Celebrations at the Croquet Club.

Over twenty five club members joined in the celebrations at the Club on Wednesday 25th August. Despite the extra large turnout for the second part of the 14 point tournament and various people appearing during the afternoon, Iris assures us that Owen remained oblivious to the fact that we were gathering on his behalf.

I am sure that all Members of the Club are aware of how much is owed to Owen for his enthusiasm and organisation over the years since he joined the Club in 1987. This was emphasised by Mel in his humorous presentation, and in Lionel’s speech.

Owen was presented with a case of wine and a cake, both suitably decorated with croquet hoops, and the assembled company toasted his health in the traditional way with a glass of bubbly.

I think the pictures taken by Bryan Porteus show the sense of occasion.

Mike Hills wins 14 Point

The two day 14 point competition was held on 11th and 18th August.

Turn out for the first day was a little disappointing, but most competitors managed to complete 4 games.   With a strict time limit of one hour, the format tends to favour the quick player, and with Owen away, Mike managed to win all four of his games, two on time, and already had a good lead on points and hoops.

There was a larger turnout on the 18th, in view of Owen’s presentation. In order to finish in time for the celebrations, only three more rounds of games were completed. Mike remained unbeaten, with Tim Bunn finishing in second place.

Derek Humphrey presents Mike with his prize

DOREEN COGHILL ‘FUN DAY’

Saturday 7th August 2010

It was a lovely day, so the organiser and his chief helper - Mike Hills - set out three short lawns in the expectation of a decent turnout for the 10 a.m. start. No other soul appeared! So, around 10.10 a.m. we converted lawn 2 to full size and enjoyed a game of “advanced” croquet, where the organise was walloped 26:5 within one and a half hours; very well played Mike!

By 11.45 a.m. some members started to appear, thinking the “Fun Day” was a noon start. Please, please read your season’s programme of events - which is sent by e-mail or post to every member - and enter details in you diary; the date and time of every event is clearly shown.

With a nice round number - eight - organising the games was easy. We started off with “Random Golf Croquet” - which the organiser had read about in the C.A. Gazette -, progressed to “Puzzle Croquet” - which Lowen Clarke had demonstrated to us a couple of months back -, and finished up with that old favourite “Hare & Tortoise”. Refreshment breaks had been taken along the way and so most participants were happy to “call it a day” by 3.40 p.m.

In alphabetical order, those taking part were Colin Ashcroft, Mel Christie, Maureen and Rex Hale, Mike Hills, Daphne Reed, David Snowden and Peter Stansfield. One person finished on 12 points, three on 15, two on 16, one on 17, and the winner was Maureen on 18. How nice to see a new name feature on this trophy; well played Maureen!

Longman Cup defeat at Ashby

On one of the hottest days of the summer, we visited Ashby in high hopes of continuing last year’s sucessful run.  

Unfortunately the Northampton team of Owen Bruce, Mike Bowser, Richard Cain and Mike Hills found the hyper-fast, brown, dried-out lawns difficult to fathom and we were well beaten by the Ashby team losing 5-2.  Our only wins came in the doubles (Richard and Mike H),  and a singles victory for Owen in the afternoon.

We must congratulate Ashby, not only for their win, but also for their hospitality, in providing us with a salad lunch as well as the usual tea and cakes.

East Anglian Golf League

Despite losing our first match away to Letchworth, we are hopeful that last year’s golf form will return in the next couple of months so that we can climb up the table.  

All the other fixtures are now finalised with home matches against Leyton Linslade “B”  on Monday 12th July,  Wrest Park on Thursday 5th August and Watford on Tuesday 12th August.   We would like to involve as many golf players as possible in the teams, and any support and help with teas would be most welcome.  

Our away programme is at Stoney Stratford on Friday 16th July and against Leyton Linslade “A” team on Monday 16th August.

Longman Cup

After their sucess last year in reaching the quarter finals, Northampton had to play a Preliminary round match this year at home to Letchworth on 11th June.    The away team struggled with the Northampton slope and we won all but one singles match, with a 6-1 final score.   

Mike Hills and Tim Bunn won the morning doubles match with two singles wins for Owen, and one apiece for Tim Bunn, Mike Bowser and Mike Hills.    Northampton play away at Ashby in the next round.

Golf Croquet Handicap Competition

Wednesday 7th July 2010

With Mike Hills’ help, four short lawns were readied in good time, and table and chairs set out for Jill Carrick’s pre-games cup of coffee. The weather was near perfect; light cloud and a gentle breeze.

By noon we had eight players, so singles was decided upon. Within minutes of the start two more members turned up, but they had to wait until round two, when we played three singles and one doubles. The same format was continued after the lunch break, for a further two rounds; then Mel had to depart, so we reverted to singles play, with the manager sitting out.

It was good to see one very new member (David Yeomans), and one member in her first season (Daphne Reed), taking part and acquitting themselves most honourably. My thanks to Jill for providing the milk for our refreshing hot drinks, to all who took part for their participation and for clearing the lawns at the conclusion.

Congratulations to David Snowden for coming first, with Mike Hills and Rex Hale in close proximity. Others taking part and not already mentioned were Les, our venerable Chairman, and myself.

CA Advanced Tournament

Saturday 8 May and Sunday 9 May

It was cold, wet and miserable weather on Saturday, but 12 players put on a brave face and all their clothes and battled the elements and opponents. Sunday was drier, but still cold with the sun breaking through occasionally. The usual suspects turned up plus three players from Oxford University who added some variety to the games. It was a close finish and three players were in contention to win but congratulations to Lionel who won by one point.

There are enough photographs of Lionel winning trophies so here is one from the day.