Category: News

Tuesday afternoon saw the Lodsworth Croquet Club make the journey from their lovely home club deep in the South Downs National Park to Fishbourne, and they arrived in good time for the Golf Croquet Handicap League fixture.

In pleasant, sunny conditions (the rain that was at one time predicted fortunately never arrived) the games got under way with two pairs games, both of which were reasonably comfortable victories (7-4 for Lodsworth, and an impressive 7-1 win for Keith and Tony). This left the scores at 1-1 as we entered the first four singles matches.

These were much closer clashes, in each of these the contest went to at least the 12^th hoop, and my game against Alistair Proctor wasn’t decided until the 15^th hoop (due to the advantage system he had started on a score of -2) before I scraped home 7-6. Unfortunately, despite the close singles games, CFCC only manged one win out of four singles match ups. So as we went into the final three games, we found ourselves 4-2 down, needing to win them all.

By the time the final two singles games were completed, we had recovered to 4-4, by winning them both, (Tony very comfortably) and hence the attention of all turned to the North Lawn where Keith and David were deep in battle in the final pairs game.  At this point the game was far from finished, as it went to the 12^th, 13^th and then finally, with he scores tied at 6-6, the 14^th hoop; the final hoop of the final game was to decide the whole match. Eventually, after much tactical play, Lodsworth managed to run the hoop and take the day’s victory; congratulations to them as they ran out 5-4 match winners.

A very enjoyable afternoon was had by all as we enjoyed competitive but competitive games against our opponents. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but the closeness of most games indicates how fought the whole match had been. We look forward to our next game against them, when hopefully the weather will be as good.

Teams: CFCC: David Russell, Tony Hicks, Keith Burt, Martin Emmett and Lodsworth: Mike Wilson, Elaine Wilson, Hugh Brown, Alistair Proctor

On a fine Sunday, eighteen members played in the Kettle Shield trophies in an annual competition ably organised by David and Judith Russell.

The attentive audience of players listening to David’s initial briefing

Two rounds (primaries and secondaries) were played in the morning session.

Three rounds were then played in the afternoon session.

The eventual winner, holding on to the trophy for a second year, was Sally with a final score of 28 hoops for with 18 against.

David Milne came a close second with 27 hoops for and 13 against closely followed by Janet with 27 for and 23 against.

Keith was fourth with 26 for 18 against and Peter came fifth with 26 for and 19 against.

Kettle Shield winner Sally with David R and second placed David M

On Friday 11th August 2023 Littlehampton CC brought over a strong team for an afternoon friendly, mostly in the sun!

Their line up of Bob & Robyn Clark, Philip Sherwin & Lillian Holdsworth played with handicaps of -1, 4, 3 & 8, against a Chichester & Fishbourne team of David R, Tony E, Peter R & Lynne, captained by Tony, with handicaps of 2, 7, 9 & 9 respectively. 

We started well, winning both the first doubles, and clinched the match with 3 singles wins out of the next 4!  The overall result was 7-2 to Chichester, though 4 games went to the “golden hoop” and 3 more ended 7-5, showing how closely fought was the whole match, and in great spirit.

A tea of sandwiches, scones & cakes was much enjoyed (see picture) at the end of a super afternoon on the courts! 

On a wet and windy July Sunday summer day(?), a gallant band of nine members braved the weather to play in the annual SE Federation Teams’ “Games” day at Sussex County, Southwick.

Twenty one teams played morning doubles and afternoon singles across the eleven lawns at Southwick

Our nine were split into two fine teams: Fish and Chips (Peter Raper, Judith, Janet Mellor, Sally and Keith) and More Fish and Chips (John Effingham, David Russell, David Milne and Brian)

The Fishy team

The C&FCC teams were well organised by John, one team came 4th out of the 21 teams in the morning doubles sessions.

No results were available for the afternoon singles sessions but one of the C&FCC teams won six or their eight games! A GREAT team effort!

Judith, with a fabulous shot, hooping from the lawn boundary

Keith with his well-deserved pint

[Report by Martin Emmett]

On Sunday, the CFCC team travelled to Littlehampton to defend the Centenary Cup they had won in 2022. After a short speech by Littlehampton’s mayor, play started at 9.30. The matches were a mixture of doubles and singles and played with extra turns basis being awarded to higher handicapped players.

The first two rounds of matches found CFCC in mid table with one loss, one win and one tied match; all closely fought affairs. We improved our situation in the next rounds of matches, with two wins and one loss, a pattern that repeated itself throughout the day.

The tournament was organised with each team being involved in 13 matches and playing each of the other seven teams at least once. Most of our matches were very close contests, and many being tactical battles with the time limit being reached before either side had run seven hoops. The matches were organised so that the more able players from each side played each other, which meant that John and Tony competed against lower handicapped entrants, and Keith and Martin against those with higher handicaps.

Although play started at 9.30 and the last match finished at 6pm, there were times when competitors were not involved in a game, which was fortunate because it gave us a chance to take advantage of the delicious cakes on sale in the clubhouse – which, of course, we did!

The last round of matches started at 5.10, John and Tony were matched against West Chiltington. As the match progressed John and Tony regularly got themselves into good positions only for their opponents to use their extra turns to regain the advantage. As a result of this, eventually West Chiltington ran out as winners of this close game.

Finally, we attended the presentation with the other competitors, as the results of the day were announced. We we had narrowly beaten West Chiltington into second place and retained the cup. John was presented with the Centenary Cup by Lilian Holdsworth acting for the Mayor.

This was a perfect end to what had been, despite the constant wind, a very enjoyable day, and our thanks go to Littlehampton, who had organised everything so well and had been the perfect hosts.

CFCC team: Keith Burt, Martin Emmett, John Effingham and Tony Hicks

Competing sides: CFCC, Rottingdean, Sussex County, Lodsworth, Littlehampton, West Chiltington, Rother Valley, Worthing

Tuesday, 18 July dawned overcast with a slight drizzle, by lunchtime the clouds had rolled back and the afternoon league match was played against the four members of the Woking Croquet Club.

After a friendly and hard-fought competition, C&FCC’s team of four were triumphant, winners by 6 games to 3.

The vanquished by smiling Woking quartet

The victorious and smiling quartet of Keith, Martin, John and Tony

Here is the actual match report from Martin:

After a spell of rainy days, the weather stayed dry and very pleasant for the visit of our North Surrey opponents, who arrived after uneventful journeys and in good time.

The match was to consist of 3 doubles and 6 singles games and would be played using the advantage scheme, where weaker players (or pairs), had to win fewer hoops than their opponents, rather than being awarded extra turns. This resulted in players carrying extra pegs to indicate won hoops, whilst attaching other pegs at various places around the court to indicate relevant handicaps. All very confusing, you might say (I did), but Tony Hicks was on hand to point to where the pegs were to be attached.

After the first round of doubles, the two teams were level at 1-1, with each side winning their respective games 7-4, and both contests being won by the higher handicapped (i.e. weaker) pair. It was in the second round of games of four singles contests that CFCC took a winning lead. The home side won all 4 with John Effingham overcoming a skilful opponent to win 7-5 and Keith Burt winning 9 consecutive hoops to overcome a 2 hoop handicap and win 7-0. Tony and I conceded 4 and 5 hoops respectively in our wins, with Tony’s match turning out to be a hard fought, tactical battle against an equally handicapped and tough opponent before he eventually completed his victory.

These results meant the last round of games were effectively “dead”, in terms of the match result, as we had achieved an unbeatable 5-1 lead. In these games Woking rallied a little, winning both the singles games, but losing the doubles, which meant a final match scoreline of CFCC 6, Woking 3.

Overall, it was the perfect way to spend a Summer afternoon, helped by warm, bright weather, close matches and friendly opponents. Also, a number of CCFC members came to watch and support the game, which we all appreciated; I feel they saw some good matches. So, a successful afternoon for CFCC and I think, a very enjoyable afternoon for all. Hopefully there will be more in the coming weeks.

The annual match was played on a fine July day, jointly organised by current shield holder, David and Tony Elkin, the latter in charge of the hooter which, we hear, he played “with Gusto”!

Friendly rivalry was in evidence as twelve competitors, divided into two groups, fought out the morning and afternoon contests.

The eventual winner was Tony Hicks and runner up was Keith Burt

The club’s gallant team of four; Keith, John E, Martin and Tony H played a friendly in non-typical July weather at the beautifully situated Lodsworth Croquet Club nestling in the South Downs.

John, Tony, Martin and Keith with three Lodsworth players + dog!

In a friendly and spirited set of games, C&FCC’s team beat the Lodsworth four by SIX games to NIL despite the non-friendly July wind and rain!

Martin and Tony- dressed for summer & the Lodsworth pair – dressed for winter!

Our ladies team of four: Jenny Currell, Joan Felton, Lynne Lyle and organiser Sally Short played on a very hot Friday 7 July at the Sussex County ground at Southwick.

Fourteen teams played on the eleven Southwick lawns using primaries and secondaries during six exhausting rounds.

The team won half of their games with several close matches and came a creditable mid-way in the table, the first four clubs being Compton, Purely Bury, Surbiton and Rother Valley.

The happy ladies team of Sally, Lynne, Joan and Jenny

The Chichester and Fishbourne Croquet Club Men’s Singles Competition 2023 organised and hosted by John and Sue Effingham, took place in glorious sunshine, with temperatures reaching over 25 degrees centigrade, on Sunday 25^th June.

The eight competitors were: Keith Burt, Chris Fuller, Tony Hicks, Neil Humphreys, John Richards, Paul Robinson, David Russell and Brian Shipman

Despite the heat, the eight competitors all played extremely well and, after an enjoyable morning where all played three games each in two groups, the afternoon sessions involved playoffs for  5^th – 8^th  places,  3^rd and 4^th places and then the final. John Effingham stepped in to take over from John Richards, due to injury, after his third game.

Tony Hicks and David Russell competed for 3^rd and 4^th places , with Tony winning a keenly fought match.

Neil Humphrey and Paul Robinson competed for 1^st and 2^nd places with Neil achieving a well deserved victory.

Joyce Parkin presents the Simon Parkin Trophy to Neil. Our congratulations go to Neil.

[Our thanks go to John and Sue for a great day’s organisation and to Sue for the report]