East Anglian Croquet Federation (EACF) Golf Croquet Leagues
Every year, the Club enters a team in the EACF GC Handicap League. In 2023, our team topped the Eastern League, won the semifinal, but narrowly missed out in the final. This year, we again finished top of the league, won the semifinal, and this time claimed victory in the final on 28th September at Wrest Park against Newport Oaks. This marks the first time Colchester has won the competition in its 20-year history!
There are typically six teams in our area with half the matches played at home, and half away, so some travel will be necessary. In 2024, league opponents were two teams from Maldon (playing in Hatfield Peverel), one from Chelmsford, and one from Southchurch (Rettendon). The semi finals have been held at Newport (near Saffron Walden) for the past two years
Each team consists of four players with the team’s combined handicap greater than 20. This allows for a good mix of high and low handicappers. In each match a player competes in five games – one doubles and four singles. Matches typically run from 10 a.m. to around 4 p.m, with a break for lunch, so a reasonable level of physical fitness is required.
In line with tradition, dating back to Victorian England, the wearing of whites is required.
Playing in the league is an excellent opportunity for newer players to gain valuable experience in a competitive yet friendly environment.
Participating in a team requires a commitment to spend a full day playing croquet up to half a dozen times throughout the summer. That said, the other teams are great company and provide an excellent Tea. It’s always a lot of fun and a rewarding and truly worthwhile experience.
To field a team, we need a MINIMUM pool of eight players to account for holidays and other commitments.
The two leagues we enter into, are:
– B-Level. Handicap of three and above. Level Play. Captain: Marian Manning.
– Handicap. All handicaps. Handicap Play. Captain: Marilyn Wood.
Essex and Suffolk Association Croquet League
The Essex-Suffolk League is for AC players and was originally for those who were new to AC. Recently, because we have so few AC players, anyone who can play AC is welcome in the team. Other clubs also struggle to find players but we are all keen to keep it going. There are only 3 matches in the season, against Bury St Edmunds, Newport and Cambridge (Yes, I know that’s not in Suffolk or Essex!). We alternate between Home and Away matches from one year to the next. Four players are needed for each match on the day – selected from the available pool. Each match consists of one Doubles and two Singles in the morning and four Singles in the afternoon. The team is managed by Georgeen Hemming.