Ealing Croquet Club

The annual Lloyd Pratt Trophy was contested at High Wycombe on 8 April, where an unseasonably warm and sunny day greeted us. The match is played each year at alternating venues in recognition of when High Wycombe were without lawns for a year and played at Ealing.  The matches feature both AC and GC games, all played as doubles.  Ealing were defending a 4 year unbeaten run, so High Wycombe were particularly keen to redress the balance.

The morning provided Ealing with mixed fortunes and at lunch we were trailing a game behind. Fortified by a generous lunch in the sunshine, provided by our hospitable hosts, Ealing went into battle, getting into their stride. The final game was played out before a full set of competitors. Little did Fred and Bridget realise all they had to do was win the final game and the trophy would be retained. Battling it out at 6 all, High Wycombe came through to win and make it a draw overall, so time for the penalty shoot out – once again. This comprises attempting to hit the centre peg from the boundary, no mean task at the end of a long day.

It began with eight shots from each side with the score ending 1-1 after David scored for Ealing. Then it was four shots from each side, which resulted in High Wycombe pipping us to the post, literally.

Congratulations to our hosts ……until next time!

Report: Bridget Goodman

Members and passers by will have noticed that major renovation is being undertaken on Lawn 3 comprising the following works:

First the grass and weeds were killed off using glyphosate weedkiller. Then the lawn was heavily scarified to clear all vegetation, leaving it clear to grass seed. Then overseeded using high end grass seed, followed by applying 3 tonnes of top dressing. Then a wetting agent is applied that will last for 6 months. Once the new seed is established, the grass will be cut and high nitrogen fertiliser will finally be applied.

The works are programmed to make the lawn playable in June. In the meantime Lawns 1 and 2 are looking much better after their winter break, but Lawn 3 should be superior once all of the works have been completed.

Work in Progress

Ealing members began the New Year with a fun 5 hoop event that allowed maximum use of the one lawn currently in use and provided some much needed refreshment in the cold weather. The format helped keep things moving and allowed players to swap round between doubles groups. It was a crisp, but cool morning with clear skies. The condition of the lawn had to be checked due to the overnight frost, but although the ground was hard, it was thankfully playable, even if a little bumpy, resulting in a number of unintentional jump shots, but everyone soon adapted to the challenge.

There were 16 players, all suitably wrapped up, plus warm mulled wine, while a selection of mince pies were also on hand to keep everyone warm. There was a mid-day break for more mulled wine and other refreshments.  Further quick games were played in the afternoon and the sun even shone a little.  There was even prize giving, when Helen won the ‘Hoop of the Day’ prize with a fantastic shot !  David picked up the ‘Most Unsual Shot of the Day’ prize for attempting to clear a ball in his own game, but actually clearing one in a nearby game, resulting in an in-off through the player’s legs.  Many thanks for everyone who came along. It was a fantastic turnout in the cold weather!  Also special thanks to Wendy for organising the food and drink, while also keeping it running smoothly.

Happy New Year to all our Ealing Croquet Club members.

Report and photographs by Tom Hartwell

Ealing Croquet Club hosted the CqSE Short Croquet Teams Handicap Tournament on Sunday 29 June. The Tournament Manager was Tony Elliott.

The competition comprised four teams of four players each: Ealing; High Wycombe; Guildford & Godalming; Reigate Priory.

Short Croquet is played on half lawns and the winner is the first to run six hoops and peg-out with both balls. However, a time limit of 1¼ hours per game meant that the winner simply had to have run the most hoops on time. The rules are otherwise the same as for Association Croquet (with the exception that wiring your opponents from each other concedes a lift).

The format comprised a total of three rubbers in which each team played one doubles and two singles games against each of the other teams. This resulted in each team being positioned in order of their number of games won overall. The final order was then determined by a 3rd/4th play-off and a 1st/2nd final.

The games were played in very hot conditions, but at least competitors could find a shady spot to sit out when their opponent was on the lawn; a mixed blessing. There was a welcome break for an excellent lunch, organised by Margaret Page.

The teams were generally well matched, with High Wycombe having the lowest overall team handicap, although not necessarily an advantage when up against higher handicaps with more bisques, due to only having to run six hoops.

Reigate Priory were in the strongest position after three rubbers, followed by Ealing and High Wycombe on an equal number of points, so it was on the basis of who beat who that Ealing and Reigate Priory played each other in the final, which Ealing won 3-0. The full results can be seen here.

However, regardless of the heat, everyone seems to have had a very enjoyable day and we look forward to inviting them back next year.

Report: David Graham

Photograph: Roger Mayhew, John Hutchison, Margaret Page and David Graham holding the trophy under the new weathervane.

Ealing Croquet Club was the venue for 3 days of CqE GC National Series Tournaments comprising: C-Level (7+) played on Wednesday 11th June, B-Level (4+) on Thursday 12^th June and D Level (10+) on Saturday 14^th June.

The results can be viewed on www.croquetscores.com.

There were 10 players from Ealing overall: Richard Barkey, John Hutchinson, Tony Elliott, Margaret Page (B-Level); Tim Vernon, Jonathan Rann, Gwynneth Hopper (C-Level); Tim Vernon, Anthonia Chalmers, Tom Hartwell, Christine Mason (D-Level).

Richard Barkey won the B Level on Thursday with John Hutchinson losing in the semi-final, but gaining 3rd place in the play-off.

Tim Vernon won the C-Level on Wednesday with Jonathan Rann losing in the semi-final to gain 3rd place in the play-off.

Tim Vernon was also runner-up in the D-Level on Saturday.

The results meant that Ealing players won two of the competitions, came second in one and third twice, not a bad return overall.

The competitions were managed by Simon Turner (Ealing) and the weather was warm and mainly dry, with the greens running fast due to the dry conditions over recent weeks.

As can be seen from the pictures, wearing whites was optional for the C-D Level competitions, as the club likes to encourage as wide a participation as possible amongst players that may not play competitively on a regular basis.

Report: David Graham

Simon Turner & Richard Barkey. John Hutchison & Richard Barkey. Tim Vernon & Jonathan Rann. Tim Vernon

Photographs showing the C-Level Tournament held on Wednesday 11th.

Photographs: David Graham

Simon Turner and Margaret Page (pictured) won the AC Doubles Handicap Tournament at Roehampton in spectacular style on 17-18 May, with each player receiving a trophy.

Simon also played in The Trevelyan Bowl AC Singles Handicap on 21-22 May at Roehampton and came joint second with four out of five wins.

Ealing won the LLoyd-Pratt Mallet in their friendly against High Wycombe on 9th April in a hard fought match that ended with a penalty shoot-out (again!). See the full report by Tony Elliott here.

There were 14 players gathered on a glorious Spring Sunday for Ealing’s heat of this year’s Charity One-Ball Competition. Andy Dibben’s excellent Flexible Swiss Excel programme was used to run the tournament, which meant the leisurely arrival of competitors during the morning presented no problems, with the computer scheduling games as and when everyone was ready. (The only slight hiccup came when the manager’s better half attempted to enter a result, causing a degree of meltdown from both man and machine.)

Players could play as few or as many games as they wished, with two enthusiasts clocking up 5. The clear winner was Margaret Page with 4 wins out of 4. Martin Blackmore was second with 3 out of 3, and Sean Doherty third with 3 out of 4.

It was good to see adherents of both AC and GC playing and prospering. In particular Luis declared that he had got the hang of it, pleaded for another game, and proceeded to thrash the manager with all four of his bisques standing.

Everyone’s generosity meant that we raised an impressive £170 (plus Gift Aid) for this year’s designated charity, the Alzheimer’s Society. This gave us two places in the National Final at Surbiton on May 17th. Margaret and Martin are unavailable, which means that Fred Overton-White (who tied with Simon Tuke on 3 out of 5) and Sean will be our representatives.

Many thanks to everyone for making it such an enjoyable day. We even tucked into unseasonal mince pies and Christmas cake.

Report: Simon Tuke

Photograph: Lindy Jordan

Congratulations to Margaret Page for winning the Sussex County GC B Level Tournament Plate on 26 April with impressive wins in each of the knockout rounds.