Category: News

The Golf Croquet, friendlies, season started with an emphatic 9 – Nil win away to Littlehampton C C on Tuesday 16 April.

They played their first friendly of the season at Littlehampton in extremely chilly conditions, but with a warm welcome. They took a stronger than usual team for a friendly, consisting of chairman David Russell, Tony Hicks, John Effingham and Tony Elkin, as all needed time on the lawns before rapidly approaching external tournaments.

Everyone played well, considering it was literally the first use of members’ mallets this year, and it resulted in a very-friendly but 9-0 win for Chichester. But Littlehampton were gracious hosts, and a lovely and particularly welcome tea was provided, though some very hard-fought matches towards the end delayed the boiling kettle which was to assuage the growing thirsts.

Tuesday 30 April home 6 – Nil win against a team from Lodsworth C C

The second friendly was a home match against Lodsworth. The team comprised David Russell, Keith Burt, David Milne and Chris Fuller. It was decided to play all doubles as both teams had a wide range of handicaps. The away team included a lovely 97-year-old with a handicap of 10. The home team won 6-0. It was an enjoyable afternoon, with play in lovely sunshine, followed by tea.

Thursday 9 May Home friendly vs West Wittering with a 7 – Nil win!

Report awaited

Tuesday 14 May – Away friendly at Lodsworth – an honourable draw!

The Chichester team of David Milne, Keith Burt, john Effingham and David Russell fight back from 2 – nil down to a hard fought 2 – All draw!

In the six-day Association Croquet Tournament at Budleigh Salterton, our Tony Hicks won through to two semi-finals, a feat of stamina, dedication and skill …. in Tony’s words:

Tony Hicks exploits at the Budleigh Salterton Spring AC Tournament 2024

The tournament was held between 7th to 12th of May 2024. The second day was rather chilly and misty but otherwise the weather was glorious with the sun shining most of the time. The tournament consisted of 3 events as follows (players handicaps shown in brackets):

Handicap doubles

This was a knockout event on the first day of the tournament. Tim Jolliff (-1) from Taunton and I (7) played using the alternate stroke option. We played quite well for our first two games winning both fairly comfortably. We contested the final against Dave Kibble (-2) and Roger Mills (1). Our play was not as good as earlier in the day so we lost quite comprehensively.

Handicap singles

This was played as 5 rounds of Egyptian block followed by the top 4 playing semifinals and finals. Entrants ranged in handicap from -2 to 16. I (7) won all my block games so ended top but then lost my semi-final and ended up in 3rd place. Due to my successes my handicap was reduced to 6 at the end of this event. The winner was Christine Rice (8) from East Dorset CC.

C-class singles

This is a level play event and had handicaps ranging from 4.5 to 9. I (6) did well to win 4 of my 5 block games, but then didn’t play so well on the final day losing both my games to end up 4th. The winner was Stephen Tetlow (6) from Sidmouth.

So I had a very enjoyable 6 days of AC croquet (about 50 hours of play) and would recommend entering some tournaments to all. This tournament was organised as 3 separate events so players could play just one or two events if desired. Most single event AC tournaments are 2 or 3 days, and single event GC tournaments normally 1 or 2 days. You are normally expected to be able and willing to play all day for each day of the tournament.

Secretary Joyce Parkin won the club’s ladies’ singles golf croquet tournament and runner-up was Anne Milne. Both had won all their group games and the other players were able to watch a tense well-fought final played in glorious sunshine.

Judith Russell and Margaret Cooper were third and fourth respectively, both having won three games in the group stage. The organisers were Paul Robinson and Margaret Cooper.

Brilliant results in two major competitions were the highlight of an amazing year for Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet Club, said chairman David Russell at the Annual General Meeting held at the Fishbourne Centre on Wednesday (March 13). 

One was coming second in the national final of the Golf Croquet Federations Shield, when the club quartet played a team which included two international players. The other was retaining the Centenary Cup at Littlehampton which they had won the previous year. 

David said that the amount of effort and expertise put in by the committee through the playing season and in the winter deserved credit. This included administration, maintenance, and day-to-day tasks. In addition, the planning sub-committee were working towards the installation of a new clubhouse and looking to raise funds. 

He said: “I am immensely proud of the club. So many people pool together to make this club successful and buoyant.” 

Treasurer Paul Robinson said funds were healthy, with costs being kept down by members carrying out many of the necessary tasks, particularly mowing & hedging. 

The committee was re-elected: Chairman David Russell, Secretary Joyce Parkin, Treasurer, Paul Robinson, Sally Short, Chris Fuller, Tony Elkin, Anthony Hicks, John Effingham and Margaret Cooper. 

Award winners were: Janet Mellor, Anthony Hicks, Neil Humphries, Sally Short, Joyce Parkin, John Effingham, Joan Felton, Chris Fuller, Eve Fuller and David Milne. 

On a fine Thursday October afternoon C&FCC played a rematched friendly against a quartet from Rother Valley CC, the original date of Thursday 31 August was postponed due to monsoon rain at Fishbourne.

The C&FCC team was ably captained by (fine sandwich maker) Tony Elkin, Brian Shipman, Jane Gribbon and Chris Fuller. The home team was also cheered on by Brian’s friend Janet, visiting from Leicestershire.

Tony had two friends in the opposition quartet which made this last season’s friendly – very friendly!

The Rother Valley quartet was captained by Will Warren Davis, with Sarah Caffyn, Narmada de Silva and Tim Broughton Pipkin. It was agreed that the matches would be played under the “Advantage” system.

C&FCC got off to a great start winning the initial doubles pairings of Jane (4) and Brian (8) winning 7 hoops to 4 against Sarah (9) and Narmada (8) and Tony (6) and Chris (8) won on the 13th hoop against Will (8) and Tim (8).

The first two singles were close fought with both Tony and Jane losing on the 13th hoop to Tim and Sarah respectively. Brian the beat Narmada 7 hoops to 3. Chris then lost a four hoop lead to lose against Will on the 13th hoop!

The match was then all square at three games each and time was taken out for excellent sandwiches (Tony’s), mini pork pies and salad (courtesy of Brian and Janet).

The final three matches were played in approaching twilight, with an injection of hot tea and cakes (by Jane and Chris). Brian lost to Tim 7 hoops to 3 and Chris beat Narmada 7 hoops to 2,. Now all square at four matches each!

The final double went down to the “wire” at 7 to 3, with Jane and Tony beating Will and Sarah with our valiant captain making the successful winning hoop 10!

An end to a friendly friendly and a winning end to the 2023 season.

Left to right: Will Warren Davis, Narmada de Silva, Chris, Sarah Caffyn, Tony, Brian and Jane (Tim had left for another appointment)

Following the torrential rain of Sunday, 17 September, the re-run of the tournament on Sunday 24 was played in dry weather but with a strongish southerly wind!

Fourteen club members battled each other and the sudden gusts over five rounds, three before and two after lunch.

After an incredibly tight finish, the match was decided on games won and hoops achieved. The results were as follows:

First - Joyce Parkin with 3 games and 13 hoops.                                                            Second - Anne Gains with two games and 13 hoops.                                   Third - Neil Smith with two games and 12 hoops.                                          Fourth - Keith Burt with 1 game and 13 hoops.                                                 Fifth - Jane Gribbon with 1 game and 11 hoops

Joyce receiving the Patricia Shipman plate from organiser Brian

[Report by David Russell]

Our intrepid quartet of David Russell (h/cap 2) (Cap’t), Keith Burt (5), Martin Emmett (6) & coach Tony Elkin (7), played the National Final on Tuesday 19th Sept 2023 at Surbiton (a neutral venue) against Phyllis Court of Henley-on-Thames. 

Their team comprised Chris Roberts (-2) (Cap’t), Andy Jones (2), Patricia Mulcahy) (6), and Paul Franklin (7).  Phyllis Court are previous winners of this tournament and include 2 international players in Chris & Patricia!

It was a cold, blustery day, though croquet players are used to that!  The morning session featured one doubles match & 2 singles.  David & Tony played the doubles, and although extra strokes were being used, rather than Advantage Play, they lost 4-7, 5-7, as their opponents played exceptionally well as a team, with consistently superb clearances by Chris from long range and pin-point positioning by Paul. Martin & Keith’s singles were won by Phyllis Court as well, though Keith’s went to a close decider, but we ended the morning 3-0 down – not a great start!

But…there were 4 more singles matches to play, all best of 3 games, so everything to play for!  And we had members at home watching the live video stream cheering us on!!

Keith began the fightback with an inspired 7-6, 7-4 win over their No.2.  Then Captains, David & Chris, played the closest of matches, with David hitting his best form (including using extra turns effectively, and hooping from the boundary at the golden hoop!) to win 7-6, 7-6… against a -2 handicap Welsh international!  

So…3-2 overall….

Tony and Paul were drawing 1-1 in their match (5-7, 7-5) but in the 3rd game, without any extra turns, Tony raced ahead to 4-0, playing smoothly & confidently, and won 7-2 to take the match and equalise the overall score to 3-3!!!

All eyes were then on Martin, playing the Irish international Patricia! After losing the 1st game 3-7, he responded really well to take the 2nd 7-5, with just the decider to play..  Nail-biting stuff!  The Phyllis Court player stormed into a 5-1 lead, and we could hardly watch…  But Martin then expertly ran 3 hoops consecutively to claw back to 5-6, only for an attempted clearance to lodge the opponent’s ball in the jaws!  Game & match over!!  

So…we lost on the penultimate hoop of the whole Tournament!!  So, so close, but eventually beaten by the better team 3-4 overall.

Many congratulations to Phyllis Court, but a hugely proud effort from Chichester & Fishbourne, and thanks for all the home support during this exciting run to the final!! 

2nd place in England?  We’ll take that!

Exhausted but still smiling – our four with the winning team from Phyllis Court CC

Tired, wet, cold and windblown, Keith, Martin, David and Tony – but proud to have made the National final of the Federation Shield

Well done from all the members of C&FCC!

[Report by Tony Elkin]

After a day of exciting matches in blistering heat recently (Sept 8), Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet Club’s team of Tony Elkin (captain), David Milne, Anne Howson, and Neil Smith won Rother Valley’s Short Golf Croquet Challenge tournament.

David won all his games and gained the honour of top individual player.

The day was excellently organised by the hosts at Duncton and also included clubs from Worthing, West Chiltington, and Lodsworth.

From left, David Milne, Anne Howson, Tony Elkin and Neil Smith.

[Report by Martin Emmett]

It is early September, and Tony and the team are setting up for the arrival of West Wittering for a late season friendly. The temperature is touching 30 degrees, and we are experiencing the hottest day of the year so far, whilst regularly applying sun cream and drinking plenty of water – it is very warm indeed for this time of year. As the agreed start time approaches, only one of the Wittering team has arrived, as they are delayed, we later learn, by road closures and attempting to drive near Chichester on the first day as The Goodwood Revival meeting.

They did in fact arrive on time and, after a short practice by the visitors to familiarise themselves with the lawns, we were under way more or less punctually. Lynne and I started our matches in a doubles game against Andre and Roger. I think it’s fair to say we were inconsistent, but Lynne managed to run some good hoops and we found ourselves 6-4 up. Wittering won the next hoop, making the score 6-5, and bringing the 13^th hoop into play (they had started on -1, due to combined handicaps). At which point there was some discussion on which should be the next hoop, but with some explanation from Tony we carried on in the suggested order. Our visitors were now on a winning streak, and despite CFCC having opportunities, we lost hoops 13 and 14 making it a 7-6 win for Wittering. Fortunately, Chris and Tony, who was back to top form after his enforced time away from the game, played well and managed to even the match score by winning their battle, also with a 7-6 scoreline.

In the singles round, Chris, Lynne and Tony all won their games comfortably, only conceding 9 hoops between them, but unfortunately, I could not get going in my game and at one point I was doubting whether I would reach 0, from my starting score of -1. I did manage that, but still lost 7-1. This brought the match score to 4-2. As we were playing two doubles games in the final round of matches, this meant we could do no worse than draw overall. The first game was lost by Chichester, bringing the match score to 4-3. It went down to the final game, which was another close one, decided at the fourteenth hoop. Fortunately, Chris was hooping like Michael Jordan, and we managed to win 7-6. This brought the final match score to 5-3.

It was a closely fought match with West Wittering coping well with the undulations (relatively small as they are) of the Fishbourne lawns. In fact, they praised their condition. After a tea and cakes (well of course) we said goodbye and look forward to another close match with a skilled West Wittering side.

From left: André Wright, Chris, Elizabeth Williams (capt), Tony, Nigel Patterson, Lynne, Martin & Roger Bird

Groups from Ems Valley and Chichester U3As met for a friendly match at Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet Club recently (Weds Aug 30.)

Each group usually meets for regular sessions on the lawns at Fishbourne during the season, with training provided by the club, but on alternate weeks. This time, however, they became rivals and put their skills to good use.

Ems Valley were the winners with David Milne and Pauline Nelson the winning pair. Chichester were close runners-up and their winning pair were Jane Mulholland and David Parfitt.

Referees, provided by the club, were Jane Gribbon, Joan Felton, Janet Mellor and Peter Raper.

 Up for a challenge: members of Chichester and Ems Valley U3As who met for a friendly croquet match at Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet Club’s lawns recently with some of the host club members