Author: millstone1

On another baking hot day, we took on the rapidly improving West Mersea team at home.

Kev Croot, Hugh Brown, Paul Trumper and Chris Clarke faced a team consisting of a 6 handicapper, two 9s and an 11.  This meant some tough starting scores for Kev and Hugh – the worst being minus 4 against 0.

Colchester won the two doubles games but Mersea rallied to lead 6-4 at lunchtime.  They increased their advantage in the first round of afternoon singles to lead 9-5.  Mersea only needed one more game to clinch the match but, in an inspired final round, Colchester won all 4 games to force a draw.  Kev and Hugh overcame deficits of -4 and -3 respectively and Paul Trumper beat the in-form Lynda Watsham who is fresh off her victory in the Colchester C-level.  Captain Chris struck the final blow, winning her game 7-1, ensuring that we finished with a superior hoop score of 95 to 91.

We are currently top of the league but have 2 tough matches left to play against Maldon Lakeside and Maldon Pavilion.

Well done to the team, who performed well against tricky opponents.

Chris provided a delicious tea of cakes, strawberries and some much appreciated ice cream to cool everyone down.

We held our annual two day Ladies Open last weekend, attracting 16 ladies from as far afield as New Zealand (via Ramsgate), Budleigh Salterton and Bamburgh. The handicaps ranged from -1 to 10!

Saturday was the usual block format, with the top 8 going through to the main Knockout on Sunday. The weather on both days was hot, but luckily we avoided the extreme temperatures we have endured recently.

On Sunday the qualifiers, including our own Jill, Patricia & Marilyn, played in the Knockout, while the remaining players contested the Plate.

The final consisted of three 13 hoop games, with Helen Reeves of New Zealand and Ramsgate, playing off -1, defeating Alison Maugham from Old Brentwoods, also playing off -1, to win the Trophy (for the second year running) in a closely contested match. 

Isabell van Millingen from Winterbourne Valley won the Plate, and Marilyn Wood from Colchester won the Shield.

Well done to the prize winners, but also to everyone who played for making the weekend such an enjoyable event.  Many thanks to those who gave up their weekend: Michael Manning, who managed the tournament and served as referee, and Georgeen and Philippa who organised the lunches and tea time cakes.

Report by Ian Cumming

The recent heatwave had fortunately eased a little for the Club’s BBQ so we enjoyed perfect weather. There were plenty of visitors who enjoyed all the hard work put in by Patricia and supporting cast. Patricia and Andy (on the bar) were kept busy with serving food and drinks including serving up Martin’s efforts on the BBQ cooking burgers and Musk’s sausages (compliments of Chris Sheen).

There were plenty of takers for croquet (even a tiny taste of AC) so thanks to Robert and others who showed people the basics. Everyone seemed to be having a very enjoyable afternoon. It was nice to welcome some new members.

A big thank you to Patricia, Martin, Rita, Chris, Carolyn, Andy, Jeff and Jonathan and  to those who helped on the lawns.

Report by Al Brown

Colchester played the first match in the Anderson Shield league against Downham at Colchester. There were two teams of three, playing two doubles and two singles.

Al Brown and Georgeen Hemming played Al Napp and Fiona Rice giving them 13.5 bisques. Al had to limp around the lawn having stood on a very long thorn. Fiona being a 20 was in at the deep end and spent the whole match being coached. They eventually ran out of bisques, Colchester winning +7.

Andrew Gray and Al Brown played Brian Saddington and Fiona Rice, the latter receiving 9 bisques. Another coaching session ensued. Andrew early on went around to 4 back. Al trickling around. Downham were loath to use their bisques, because, as it turned out they didn’t realise they had so many. Al had a cup of coffee and leapt into action limping his ball round to penult. Time was called and Colchester won +7.

Andrew played well against Bryan, not letting him in to play. Andrew won +22.

Al Napp played well against Georgeen winning +7. His handicap, on the brink, went from 16 to 14.

Georgeen provided a splendid tea (3 different cakes).

Colchester 3 : Downham 1. Colchester next have to play Watford

A few of our members had a trip down to the seaside at the weekend to play in the Ramsgate GC Open.  Hot, but not as hot as Colchester, with a lovely onshore breeze.  Congrats (and commiserations!) to Albie Willett, narrowly defeated in the final by Andrew Hobbs from Dulwich and to Alex Wood who came a creditable fourth.

Report by Ian Cumming

This tournament is part of a national series which eventually leads to a final competition, this year, conveniently, at Wrest Park on 26-27 September.

Our tournament only attracted a small field, but the eight stalwarts who played on a very hot day were up to the task. They each had to play 7 games in the day; a tall order for less experienced players.

Derek Code from the Old Brentwoods Club looked unbeatable in the early matches with impressive jump shots but had to cede first place to Colchester’s Lynda Watsham whose HC dropped in the process.

Despite picking up a mallet for the first time very recently Alan Tindall acquitted himself  well taking Lynda to 6 -7 in what turned out to be the deciding match.

We also welcomed Kate Packham from Nottingham and Sandra Guildford from Woking. Both played well with Kate being pipped at the post by our own Patricia Drinkwater who was third by the finest of margins, a single net hoop.

Report by Ian Cumming

Until last year Dick Strover ran this annual event which he started over 20 years ago. This year, we had 16 entries, locals and from far afield (Chichester!). The national final will held in September at Pendle and Craven.

Four blocks of four battled it out in the morning to produce two groups of 8 to play separate knockouts in the afternoon. The “second 8” competition, The Plate, was won by Chris Joslin from Maldon.

The “first 8” knockout resulted in an amazing performance by Graham Parker, also from Maldon, playing in his first ever CE tournament. He displayed some precision shooting from a distance to leave runner up Simon Bird with only the consolation of being runner up for the second year running. Special mention for Colchester members Marilyn Wood (4th) and Kev Croot (5th).

The winner was presented with the Laeticia Atkinson cup named after Dick Strover’s Grandmother “a mean player of the nerve game” in Edwardian times.

Many thanks to Ian Cumming for running the competition and to Chris Clarke and Philippa Davies for providing delicious lunches and cakes.

For our Centenary Year we are putting on a BBQ to celebrate and to encourage new members.

If anyone is available to help on the day, please contact Patricia. Volunteers are needed to lay out the food and also one person to assist with cooking the BBQ.

There is a charge of £5 per head which includes BBQ and croquet. All equipment will be available to borrow, just wear flat shoes.

Look forward to seeing you on the day!

Report by Al Brown

Colchester croquet club played Frinton croquet club in the Essex and Suffolk AC league, in the first match of the season. There were two doubles matches and four singles.

Bruce and Richard from Frinton were given 8 bisques (extra turns). Bruce had only played on a full sized court a few times. Al and Georgeen played well, Al going round to rover (the last hoop) in one turn. Then both teams crept ahead as Frinton slowly used up their bisques. Al took both balls to peg, but only managed to peg himself out as the timer went off.

Colchester +12

Ian Cumming and Andrew Gray played Fiona and Gary from `Frinton who were given one bisque. Colchester didn’t stand a chance and Frinton rushed around to win +12 well within time.

In the singles Colchester had to give away several bisques.

Al played Gary giving him 7.5 bisques. Al scored one hoop then Gary took both balls right around to the peg hardly making a mistake. Al, when allowed to play,missed every roquet opportunity by millimetres. Gary pegged out taking 1.5 bisques to bed with him.

Frinton +25 with over an hour left to play.

Andrew played Fiona. Fiona missed the first hoop but used a bisque and proceeded to take one ball to peg. The second ball was not so straightforward but she got there in the end. Andrew didn’t really get going.

Frinton +17

Ian played Bruce and took off playing extremely well. The peeled his partner ball through the last three hoops (take both balls through the hoop) to win.

Colchester +12

Georgeen played Richard. It was a close game.

Frinton +5

Frinton won 4/2 and were given a delicious tea.