News from the club
Our brave team sheltering from the rain at the annual Centenary Cup at Littlehampton
The tournament was abandoned at lunchtime when our team were placed second to Rother Valley, the latter being awarded the cup.
Our happy players, from the left, were: Margaret, Joyce, Paul, Jane, David and John.
A return, home, match in the league on Thursday, August 5 was held in windy rain!
The annual club competition, organised by Peter Raper will be played on Sunday 1 August with a 10:00 start, please arrive for a 09:45 briefing.
Whites to be warn, bring your own lunch, some refreshments will be provided.
The entry fee £3.00, please inform Peter by phone, email if you intend to play, or add name to the list displayed at the clubhouse.
Mixed Singles competition organised by Paul, Start 10:00 am sharp until 17:00 approximately. £3 entry per person
The photograph shows our first afternoon of open play since Autumn 2019 with 16 members waiting to draw playing cards for the start of four games of four!
As a trial, from Wednesday 9 June, we will have “OPEN LAWN AFTERNOONS” on Saturdays and Wednesdays, with appropriate social distancing.
Two of the top honours were won when a trio of Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet members took on players from all over the region at the GC 5+ Tournament at Hamptworth in the New Forest west of Romsey recently (Tues May 25).
The national Croquet Association’s golf croquet A-Level (0+) Series is part of a hierarchy of competitions that group together certain tournaments of a similar grade.
Club chairman David Russell, handicap 5, won the tournament in challenging conditions.
In the round robin first stage he won 7-2 and 7-1; in the quarter-finals 7-3; in the semi-finals 7-6; and in the finals in monsoon-like rain 7-1.
Fellow club member John Effingham, handicap 9, also acquitted himself well coming third overall with scores of 7-2 and 7-3 in the knockout; 7-3 in the quarter-final; 7-6 in the semi-finals and 7-4 in the play-off.
The third member of the team Robert Johnston, handicap 10, reached the semi-finals where he won 7-6; lost 7-6 in the play-off; and came 12th overall.
On Sunday 25 April, twenty-one intrepid souls braved the sunny event, with biting winds, to play in the fun competition organised by Brian and his apprentice and his apprentice.
Everyone thought it was great to be back together enjoying the day socialising while respecting Covid-19 distancing regulations.
Three competitive rounds were played, in good spirits, before lunch and two rounds completed in the afternoon. After the five rounds the 21 players were cold and tired from the exertions . . . and the north-easterly wind!
Well done to all 21 members who entered in the “arctic” conditions, there was extra “fuel” provided with Tunnock’s tea cakes, Club biscuit and Kit Kat fingers – both milk and dark to suit all tastes. There is also plenty of bottled water to carry through the next few weeks. The fun competition winners received libations in red and white wines and Lindt chocks!
NOW – THATS INCENTIVE FOR ENTERING NEXT YEAR!
The annual “Fishbourne Plate” event will be held at the end of the current season – probably in September 2021
Play starts on Friday for paid up club members only. Health and Safety notices are attached to the shed.
Dear members
I am pleased to announce the opening of our croquet season, although very much on a restricted basis, in accordance with Government Covid Guidelines.
The main points are:
1. We will restrict play to singles and doubles only on each lawn, with any non-household opponents adhering to the 2 metre rule. This will enable 4 players per lawn maximum at the club at any one time. One person only at a time in the clubhouse, please.
2. We will have a booking system controlled by Joyce (many thanks) allowing for 2 hours slots from 9-11, 11-1pm, 1-3, 3-5 and 5-7pm, 7 days a week, weather permitting. Requests will be made either on the Club Croquet WhatsApp or by telephoning Joyce on Chi 778687. Only if a booking is confirmed will it be possible to play. There will be no open sessions for the time being. If you want to practice on your own, please also book via Joyce. Two mornings each week will be closed for grass cutting etc, probably Mon & Thurs, but again subject to the weather. Please plan ahead.
3. The Risk Assessment for Covid-19 information prepared by Chris (many thanks) will be displayed on the hut door. We recommend using gloves where possible in all handling of the hoops, balls etc (including the gate & padlock) but antiseptic wipes will be available to clean down equipment at the end of the day. It is recommended you use your feet to reposition balls during play! Hand-washing facilities are available at the Fishbourne Club as the outside toilets are open. After the first players have set out the lawns, hoops & balls etc should be left out if other later players are expected, thus reducing handling. It may also be sensible for only one person to handle the equipment during set up & close of play? Please bring your own mallet & take it home afterwards. If any member uses club mallets, please borrow one & take it home for the time being. There will be no visitors at present.
4. Please bring any food or drink you might need.
5. The lawns have been well-maintained during Lockdown (many thanks), but the white lines will not be re-instated until more normal conditions return, to save costs. An overwhelming number of you have kindly paid your subscriptions, ensuring the financial well-being of the club, but any outstanding subs should be paid before playing, please.
I’m sure I have forgotten something, but please let me know if there is anything you would like to suggest! There is an element of trial and error, inevitably, but it is everyone’s safety that is paramount & I know you will approach this chance to, at last, enjoy again the game we all love with that in mind. I have attached the Croquet Association Guidelines issued today, for info, re-iterating most of what I have mentioned but in more detail (including stating that please do not turn up if you are infected or significantly at risk!).
Finally, do please let me know if you intend playing under this system, at it gives us, and Joyce, an idea of what we can expect and achieve!
Be safe: have fun playing again (even though it’s singles!!)
Best wishes David
Anyone for Croquet!
We are all getting terribly frustrated because we are staying at home, but here’s an idea.
If you have a PC or Apple Mac computer, you can practice Golf or Association Croquet at home. I first publicised this program in 2017 on the old web-site. I don’t think many people tried it at the time, but now it might be more use.
Andrew Dutton of Brookwood Croquet, who plays at Woking, developed the game and it could be quite useful for practising tactics. Andrew says that any profit from selling the programs will be donated to the Croquet Association for use to subsidise travel to international competitions for up and coming players who have limited resources.
There are free trials available for both AC and GC versions of the game.
Both versions of the program can be played for up to 15 shots before they stop. If reloaded a further 15 shots can be played. It is also possible to save the game before it stops so you can reload and carry on with the same game.
Download It Now from Brookwoodcroquet.btck.co.uk and give it a try.
I have a paid-for version of the Golf Croquet game that can be shared on-line, so we could set up a real game with 2-4 players, but I recommend that you try it on your own computer first.
Please contact me with any queries via the usual channels.
Peter Raper
Ten members spent a happy morning carrying out cleaning and maintenance to the equipment, stores and “stable”
Members’ health was paramount, open-air working was done while trying to keep a two-metre safe zone (social distance). Work inside the “pavilion” (stable) was carried out with a maximum of two at any one time.
Thanks go to Robert for the quality of the lawns and to Paul for the setting out of the lawns and hoops and the very straight white lining perimeters!
Some photographs of the fun event:
The club’s annual Annual General Meeting was held at the Fishbourne Centre of Friday afternoon. At the completion of a successful meeting, including prize giving, a majority of members stayed for a fish and chip supper. Thanks to secretary Joyce for organising a happy event.
Some pictures of the prize giving:
