Sussex County Croquet Club

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SECF Southern Challenge at Sussex County - by AdminJohn 03/07/2023 08:39

Sussex beats Sussex in SECF Southern Challenge

It seems the Sussex A team were pretty much set to win the Southern Challenge Division 1 this last weekend, However, they lost in the final round to the Sussex B team 3-0, losing the top place by one game.

More retails on the Federation website in due course.

The event saw a welcome return of Bill Arliss to managing tournaments.

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Club Competitions - by AdminJohn 03/07/2023 08:20

Message from Fiona

Thanks to those who have completed their matches by the date requested.
I see there are a few matches outstanding that should have been played by 1 July.    Some I know are due to be played in the next few days but some are running behind.    Please keep me informed as a decision will be needed if you are holding others up.       fiona@sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk
Handicap singles blocks in particular need to be played so the next round can be decided. 

The next date for completion of rounds/blocks is 15 July for Chairman’s cup, Improvers, President’s cup

Remember if you are having trouble finding a lawn booking let me or Clive know and we will see if we can swop things around.   The club singles sessions can be asked to give up a lawn for a match.     Lawns are also often available from 4.00. 

Fiona 
Club competition secretary.  


GC Opens at Sussex County - by AdminJohn 02/07/2023 09:15

Two Sussex members in winners' line-up

The GC Open Championships were held at Sussex County in the week 20th - 26th June. Apologies for the late reporting on this event.

Two of our members were in the winners line-up: Richard Brooks won the Plate and Dominic Nunns won the Shield. Congratulations to them both.

There should be a full report on the CA website in due course.

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Left to right: Richard Brooks, Robert Fletcher, Dominic Nunns and Jenny Clark, GC Open Singles Championship 2023 (photo by Chris Roberts)


John Hobbs - by AdminJohn 01/07/2023 13:13

Death of John Hobbs

Longer standing members of the club will have known John Hobbs as a talented maker of croquet mallets and many of us have owned a Hobbs mallet, and some probably still do; he was also a good player as well. Sadly he died at the age of 91 in early June.

There is an obituary on the Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club website.


GC singles competition - Manager's curse strike again - well, a little bit! - by AdminJohn 30/06/2023 19:22

GC level play singles competition 30th June 2023

Vincent L'Estrange was managing today (and very efficiently as well, thank you). "As it's me managing, there will be rain!" were Vincent's final words of briefing before play. And it did - but not too much and not until the last hour or so. A shame because a pleasant moring gave way to much less pleasant cold wind and then the expected showers.

Vincent writes in his report:

 A full complement of 36 entered our GC Singles Tournament on Friday, 30 June. There were 12 in each handicap group, subdivided into blocks of six so everyone played 5 games with a crossover game to decide the overall winner of each group.

Block A1 was keenly contested, Liz Farrow and Richard Brooks each winning 4 games but Liz prevailed by 1 net hoop. In Block A2, Morgan Case and Tony Jolly also had 4 wins each, with Morgan having the better hoop difference. Liz beat Morgan 7-5 to become the overall winner.

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Gavin Taylor was a clear winner of Block B1 with 4 wins to qualify for the final against John Low from Block B2. John had the only 100% record of the day, with 5 wins. Gavin was not to be denied, though, winning a close final match 7-6 (with a lovely jump shot to take the 13th hoop).

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In Block C1, Paul Brown and Dave Comber both won 4 games with Paul narrowly shading it with net hoops +11 against Dave's +9. Block C2 saw Richard Pointon out on his own with 4 wins but Paul ran out a clear winner in the final, 7-3.

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The recent good weather had to end sometime and the day was overcast with some light rain in the afternoon. Players were not slow to make the connection between the weather and the Tournament Manager... The TM is next on duty on 28 July but hopes that this won't lead to a rush of withdrawals.

Thanks to Vincent again for managing the day so well and to Chrissie Isaacs and Ann Stanton for preparing the lunch.

Full results

Block A1 AF MC BA TJ AS MJ Wins Position
Andrew Fall 3 6 7 5 7 2 4
Morgan Case 7 7 4 7 7 4 1
Brian Aikens 7 6 5 4 7 2 3
Tony Jolly 5 7 7 7 7 4 2
Andrew Stewart 7 2 7 5 3 2 5
Michael Jay 5 1 4 6 7 1 6
Block A2 LF RB CM JI RW SA Wins Position
Liz Farrow 7 6 7 7 7 4 1
Richard Brooks 6 7 7 7 7 4 2
Chrissie Merrington 7 4 4 7 4 2 5
Jonathan Isaacs 4 4 7 7 7 3 3
Robin Wootton 2 5 5 6 6 0 6
Simon Ancell 4 4 7 5 7 2 4
Block B1 AH DK GT DD SN AN Wins Position
Andrea Huxley 7 3 7 4 7 3 3
David King 2 7 7 6 7 3 4
Gavin Taylor 7 4 7 7 7 4 1
David Dickins 5 4 6 3 3 0 6
Sue Nicholas 7 7 5 7 5 3 2
Adam Newbould 5 6 2 7 7 2 5
Block B2 RE JL PG TN JR FA Wins Position
Richard Ellis 6 7 7 6 6 2 4
John Low 7 7 7 7 7 5 1
Paul Green 6 6 6 7 7 2 3
Tony Nicholas 6 6 7 7 7 3 2
Jill Richardson 7 2 3 4 1 1 6
Francis Ainley 7 2 5 4 7 2 5
Block C1 PG GT RP PB DC AB Wins Position
Peter Goldsmith 3 3 1 5 7 1 5
Graham Tucker 7 4 4 7 7 3 4
Rachel Pointon 7 7 5 4 7 3 3
Paul Brown 7 7 7 4 7 4 1
David Comber 7 6 7 7 7 4 2
Andy Barker 3 4 4 4 5 0 6
Block C2 LG KN FF RP TE AB Wins Position
Linda Gavigan 7 6 4 7 7 3 2
Karen Newbould 3 5 4 2 7 1 5
Fiona Fall 7 7 6 7 5 3 4
Richard Pointon 7 7 7 3 7 4 1
Trish Ellis 2 7 6 7 7 3 3
Angela Barker 4 2 7 4 4 1 6

Finals results

Division A
Liz Farrow beat Morgan Case 7-5

Division B
Gavin Taylor beat John Low 7-6

Division C
Paul Brown beat Richard Pointon 7-3

Other cross block results
Brian Aikens  beat Jonathan Isaacs 7-6
Chrissie Merrington  beat Andrew Stewart 7-4
Simon Ancell beat Andrew Fall 7-3
Robin Wootton  beat Michael Jay 7-1
Richard Brooks beat Tony Jolly 7-6
Tony Nicholas beat Sue Nicholas 7-6
Graham Tucker beat Fiona Fall 7-4
Fiona Fall beat Graham Tucker 7-4

Some more photos - click to enlarge


Skittles and BBQ Evening - by AdminJohn 30/06/2023 18:21

Skittles and BBQ Evening

The Club held a Skittles and BBQ evening on 29th June which was quite well attended. The alley was set up on the lawn space between the two rows of pollarded limes in front of the clubhouse.

Some pictures of play in progress:

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A barbeque was served during proceedings - burger, sausages and salad (including what I am told was a delicious vegan burger made by Chrissie)

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Unfortunately the evening came to an early end as a consequence of a fall being suffered by a member present which required medical intervention. A second fall by another member was fortunately less serious. We wish both of them a speedy recovery.

Thanks to Fran Box for organising the evening, to Paul Castell and Richard Carline for setting out and running the skittles, and to Jonathan and Chrissie Isaacs, Rachel Pointon and Fran Box for the Barbeque and to Richard Pointon for running the bar.


AC 14 point day, 28th June - by AdminJohn 28/06/2023 21:44

Daniels beats Fenn-Tye in AC 14pt competition

A low entry of 8 players was disappointing but those who played enjoyed the games. Weather was good and the lawns were fine.

The event was won by Martin Daniels who just pipped Simon Fenn-Tye. Both players had 3 wins but Martin had a superior hoop difference so he was declared the winner. Simon was pleased to have a handicap reduction from 16 to 14 so he was satisfied. The games were played in a competitive but friendly spirit. The 14 point game is quick and lasts no more than 1.5 hours. All competitors except Chrissie Merrington had bisques! Chrissie is too good!

Thank you to the competitors for your support and for keeping going with AC. You have all learnt a lot and above all it was pleasing to see so many making 4 ball breaks.

For the uninitiated, that is the important part of successful AC. Interested?? Enrol on the Short Croquet course in the winter. This is an easier version of AC on half lawns. Join us!!

Frances Low- Manager


Photo Report on AC Ladies Day - by AdminJohn 28/06/2023 21:41

The Webmaster had the audacity to go on holiday, so this collection of photos from the AC Ladies Day is a bit late. Thanks to Chrissie Merrington for the pictures.


Mark Fawcett OBE - by AdminJohn 17/06/2023 18:02

Congratulations to our member Mark Fawcett who has been awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours for services to pension saving. Mark is Chief Investment Officer at the National Employment Savings Trust (Nest), the workplace pension scheme set up by the government. 

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