News

Scam Emails - 22/11/2022 09:18

Scam Emails

This week a fairly clever email has been sent to some of our club addresses:

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There is no reason for anyone other than the website administrator to receive any email purporting to come from Ionos, 1and1 or 1und1 (old company names for our internet provider) so if you do, it is a SCAM and should be deleted. 

As you can see there is a big blue button to click and this will add your details to a verified list of email addresses and will result in more spam for you and a payment to the website - which is in Russia in this case.


What one-day competitions have I entered?

Players do occasionally forget they have entered a competition so it is useful to be able to check what you have entered. That has always been possible with the Club's open one-day competitions but the feature has been improved: you can now look at a specific competition or (a new and trial feature) you can see all your competition entries in one list. Both these can be found here, which is in the menu Play croquet - Open competitions - One-day competitions - Check one-day competition entries.

If you are on a reserve list (these competitions are popular) it will tell you where you are in the queue. If you don't want to be on the reserve list, please email opentournaments@sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk to withdraw.

Please note that this only covers one day competitions; if you are looking to see what CA advertised competitions you have entered you must use the CA website; all entries for internal club competitions which are open to entry can be seen on this page.


ca3-sml.pngWhy are so few players entering tournaments?

Following from an earlier editorial on this subject, CLICK here to read a view from Bill Arliss

You can read:

  • the editorial here
  • Reply by Richard Brooks here
  • Reply by Roger Sutton here

Winter one-day Doubles Competition

Three blocks based on handicap competed separately. Block A was won by Beryl Hughes and Gavin Taylor  with 4 out of 6 wins; Block B was won by Elizabeth Drury and Tony James with 4 out of 5 wins; and Block C was won by Fran Box and Anne Bolland with 4 out of 5 wins.

Thanks to Frances Low for managing the event, to Richard Brooks for being RoT, to Roger Sutton for assisting the Manager and to Rachel and Richard Pointon for preparing the lunch.

Block A TJ&FP AS&CK RB&DK T&SN JP&BG CM&NG CH&LG GT&BH Wins Position
Tony Jolly & Fiona Phillips 3 7 2 7 7 5 3 6
Andrew Stewart & Cathy Kirkby 7 3 6 7 7 6 3 5
Richard Brooks & David KIng 7 6 7 7 6 4 3 4
Tony & Sue Nicholas 3 7 6 2 6 7 2 7
Jane Powell & Bridget Goodman 7 7 3 7 6 6 3 3
Chrissie Merrington & Noel Gill 5 4 7 7 7 7 4 2
Chris Heath & Linda Gavigan 6 3 7 7 6 4 2 8
Gavin Taylor & Beryl Hughes 7 7 5 7 4 7 4 1
Block B DL&SR JR&DS TJ&ED PA&HB LT&AS SC&PM Wins Position
Di Langridge & Sue Rice 5 7 7 7 5 3 2
Jill Richardson & Douglas Shand 7 4 7 6 1 2 4
Tony James & Elizabeth Drury 5 7 7 7 7 4 1
Peter Adams & Hilary Bird 4 5 2 7 7 2 5
Louise Taylor & Alan Sugarman 4 7 3 5 7 2 6
Steve Chapman & Pat Mechen 7 7 6 5 6 2 3
Block C FA&IJ RG&LP R&TE VL&AG FB&AB FL&KH Wins Position
Francis Ainley & Ian Johnson 7 5 6 7 5 3 2
Rosemary Gebhardt & Linda Pini 1 6 7 6 7 3 3
Richard & Trish Ellis 7 4 2 4 7 2 5
Vincent L'Estrange & Anne Gill 7 6 7 5 6 2 4
Fran Box & Anne Bolland 6 7 7 7 7 4 1
Frances Low & Ken Hughes 3 5 5 7 3 1 6

Club Competition Winners 2022

Association Croquet

Winners Runners Up
Bush Cup Richard Ellis Chris Heath
Daldy Cup Bruce Carr Robin Wootton
D’Esterre Bowl John Low Deborah Marcus
Franc Cup Anne Bolland Bruce Carr
Freddy Reynold Cup Alan Cottle Pam Gooders
Hazel Parker Salver
(Short Croquet)
Chris Heath Robyn Clark
Millennium Shield Paul Castell Liz Farrow
Moore Cup Tudor Jenkins Paul Castell
New Challenge Cup Deborah Marcus Anne Bolland
Shine Salvers Liz Farrow & Simon Fenn-Tye Frances & John Low
Sussex Gold Cup Paul Castell Dominic Nunns

Golf Croquet

Winners Runners Up
President’s Cup Richard Brooks Liz Farrow
Chairman’s Cup Fiona Phillips David King
Committee Cup Anne Gill Angela Avis
Handicap Singles Nira Scutt Simon Fenn-Tye
Handicap Doubles Liz Farrow & Simon Fenn-Tye Morgan Case & Rosemary Faulkne
Diana Brothers Drawn Pairs Graham Tucker & Fran Box Roger Sutton & Mike Stanton
Quaich Trophy Dominic Nunns Morgan Case
Southwick Cup Christine Ardley Rachel Pointon
Supervets (Dawson Cup) Christine Ardley Gerald Gooders
GC Improvers Competition Simon Fenn-Tye Vincent L'Estrange
GC Level Play Doubles Division 1 Liz Farrow & Jonathan Isaacs Di Langridge & Paul Castell
GC Level Play Doubles Division 2 Robyn Clark & Di Langridge Jenny & Roger Sutton
Victor Ludorum (AC) Paul Castell
Victor Ludorum (GC) Simon Ancell
Most Improved GC Player shared by Simon Ancell and Simon Fenn-tye

Most Improved AC Player
(The Chandler Shield)

Simon Fenn-Tye
Rookie of the Year Paul Green

Awards ceremony and winners in pictures

Pictures courtesy of John Low, Liz Farrow and  Ray Hall

The trophy haul

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The Winners

Paul Castell had another excellent season, winning the Millenium Shield and the Sussex Goild Cup, as well as reaching the final in the Moore Cup. He was also AC Victor Ludorum.

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Millenium Shield
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AC Victor Ludorum
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Sussex Gold Cup
 

Simon Fenn-Tye was a major winner this season

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GC Improvers Competition
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Most Improved AC Player
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Simon and Liz Farrow won the GC Handicap Doubles competition
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and the AC Shine Salvers Doubles competition

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Richard Elliss won the Bush Cup
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John Low seems surprised to win the D'Esterre Cup!
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Deborah Marcus won the New Challenge Cup
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Fran Box and Graham Tucker won the Diana Brothers Drawn Pairs 
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Christine Ardley won the Southwick Cup
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and the new Dawson Cup for Supervets
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In the GC Level Play Competitions, Liz Farrow and Jonathan Isaacs won Division One
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and Robyn Clark and Di Langridge won Division Two
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Anne Gill won the Committee Cup
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Not all winners were at the ceremony. Many thanks to Graham Tucker for organising the competitions and the presentations and to Chrissie Isaacs and her team for the excellent dinner.

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Dominic beats Morgan in Quaich

This match, which I think was the last of the Club finals to be played this season, took place on the morning of Sunday 23rd October. 
In spite of the gloomy weather forecast the contestants, Dominic Nunns and Morgan Case agreed to go ahead with this rescheduled event. A postponement had been needed owing to Dom falling victim to Covid recently. This meant to ensure everything was completed before the presentation evening next Friday, Dom had two finals to fit in over the weekend. Having been unsuccessful in his AC Gold Cup match yesterday against Paul Castell, was Sunday going to reward him?
As previously arranged with the Competitions Organiser Graham, I was to be the on call referee of this final.
We had a slight delay to the start time when Morgan’s train from Hove was cancelled. After being contacted Dom kindly diverted on his way from Burgess Hill to pick up Morgan at Hove station. It was dry and overcast at the start. A heavy downpour half way through the first game caused an interruption in play for a few minutes but we were soon able to continue and the match finished in bright sunshine.
The croquet was to a high standard from both players who produced an entertaining spectacle worthy of a final. It was a shame there weren’t more spectators to witness the precision clearing, hoop running and good tactics on display. 
Game 1 was level at 3-3 then Dom edged ahead to win it 7-4
Game 2 followed a similar pattern this time level at 4-4 before Dom was able get ahead to win 7-4.
The games were closer than the final score line suggest and Morgan can be proud of his efforts. In my opinion Dom’s advantage came from his ability to clear a considerable distance whilst advancing his own ball towards the next hoop on more occasions than Morgan.
As referee I was only called upon once, to clarify the options available after a wrong ball had been played.
Well done to both players I really enjoyed the morning as the referee and sole spectator!

Match report by
Richard Brooks 


Wins for Tony Jolly, David King and Martin Daniels.

Congratulations to Tony Jolly, David King and Martin Daniels for winning the three blocks in the GC one day competition. Thanks to Vincent L'Estrange for managing it and to Karen Hayton and Anne Stanton for the lunch.

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Full Results

Block A RB LF MH MC TJ CM JI CH Wins Position
Richard Brooks 7 7 7 5 7 6 4 2
Liz Farrow 5 7 5 6 7 6 2 7
Mark Hamilton 4 4 7 7 7 7 4 3
Morgan Case 6 7 4 7 7 6 3 5
Tony Jolly 7 7 6 5 7 7 4 1
Chrissie Merrington 5 4 6 7 7 7 3 4
Jonathan Isaacs 7 6 5 1 5 6 1 8
Chris Heath 7 4 7 4 2 7 3 6

TonyJolly.pngTony Jolly, Block A winner

Block B FL AS SA BG JL DK SC VL Wins Position
Frances Low 7 7 7 5 4 3 3 6
Andrew Stewart 5 6 7 7 3 3 2 8
Simon Ancell 5 7 4 7 7 4 3 3
Bridget Goodman 6 4 7 7 5 6 2 7
John Low 7 4 4 5 7 7 3 4
David King 7 7 3 7 4 7 4 1
Steve Chapman 7 2 7 4 7 7 4 2
Vincent L'Estrange 7 7 7 4 2 4 3 5

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David King, Block B winner

Block C PH AG JR DS MD KY PG RR Wins Position
Phil Harrison 4 6 5 7 5 7 2 6
Alan Grundy 7 7 7 5 3 7 4 3
Jill Richardson 7 5 6 7 7 4 3 4
Douglas Shand 7 6 6 7 7 7 4 2
Martin Daniels 6 7 7 7 7 7 5 1
Konstantin Yudintsev 7 7 3 5 6 6 2 7
Paul Green 7 3 1 5 7 5 3 5
Richard Relf 1 6 7 5 3 4 1 8

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Vincent L'Estrange, Manager

Why is Mark's picture here?

No money earned from Betfred for the Club! Mark is here because he was able to play as it's a Saturday. More of these competitions at the weekend was the request of a good number of players - calendar organisers, please note!

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Club's Federation U League Report

The U league is an AC handicap series with no restriction on the handicaps of players. A team of four plays one doubles game and 2 singles in the morning and four singles in the afternoon. The total of seven games removes the possibility of draw. There are 2 home and 2 away fixtures allocated by the Federation match secretary.

This year fewer members than usual were free for selection and the variety of major fixtures at Southwick restricted availability of lawns and players. The teams were composed from the available players:  Bruce Carr, Chrissie Merrington, Clive Grimley, Deborah Marcus, Ray Hall, Robin Wootton, Robyn Clark.

We played Rother Valley (away, 1-6) after postponements for excessive heat and excessive flooding respectively; Caterham (home, 3-4) ; Royal Tunbridge Wells (home 4-3). We did not play Compton (away) though we raised teams for two dates which were withdrawn and then the club was unable to offer lawns on a third set of dates. We thereby ended in mid-table (7th of 13).

Ray Hall


Pam Arliss - 10/10/2022 11:20

A tribute to Pam Arliss

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Pam Arliss died peacefully on 20th September 2022. Pam joined the club in 1989. Pam will be known to those of us who have been members for a long time as an accomplished player and she did a considerable amount for the club, especially on the catering side.

 Jonathan Isaacs looks back at her connection with croquet and the club:

Pam’s involvement with Croquet started in the Summer of 1989 when Bill arrived back from a business trip to Bangkok to be told by Pam that they needed to do more together and that the Croquet Club  had an Open Day and they were going that afternoon. Bill obeyed! later that day, even with Bill’s jetlag, they fell in love with the game and joined the club immediately.

Bill and Pam both proved to be very good players and soon started playing and winning tournaments around the country often as a doubles partnership.

Pam also took on an active role in the croquet scene becoming a both qualified CA coach and referee.

In addition to all her on court activities, she became a leader in the canteen producing many excellent buffets and delightful cakes.

Pam went “International” in 2002, when Bill was awarded a place in The GC World Championship at Palm Springs. Apart from accompanying Bill, Pam ended up refereeing a number of matches at the Championship including faulting the then reigning Egyptian World Champion!

A group of us had the pleasure of accompanying Pam & Bill on their 50th wedding anniversary when the CA had been asked to arrange a croquet tournament of top players to showcase a new cruise liner - Celebrity Equinox which was moored at Southampton. The Players and Organisers having completed the tournament on the 15th deck, under the gaze of the International press, we were given a free overnight cruise. This proved to be a lovely way for Pam and Bill to celebrate their 50th anniversary in the company of the croquet community.

By 2012 Pam was having problems with her ankle and eventually had to give up play. However she still continued to help the club by making numerous tray bakes and assisting Bill managing federation tournaments. 

More recently her health went downhill but she still used to visit Southwick to watch play on her mobility scooter or from the club car park.

Pam was a truly thoughtful person, always having time for other people, remembering the highlights in their lives.

Above all she was Bill’s “Rock” and will be sadly missed.

Many other members or past members will remember her as an active club supporter in getting new members; as Gerald and Pam Gooders put it:

When we were reaching retirement, about 25 years ago, we were looking for something we could do together. I suggested bowls but Pam suggested croquet.  On our way to the Holmbush Centre we called in to the Club and Pam was the first person to welcome us and before we knew it, we had mallets in our hands and were introduced to Don Mears as new members. It has been a big part of our retirement and we will always remember Pam's friendly welcome.
 

As Jonathan indicated, Pam had to give up playing for health reasons but continued to support club activities and attended many social functions.

Pam with Bill at Club Christmas Party in 2012
At the World Croquet Teams Tournament Dinner in 2014

The wider croquet community in the South East will remember her for the help she gave Bill in running the Federation tournaments. And for many who played in those, the abiding memory of Pam will be of her with the hooter in one hand and a cigarette in the other!

SECF GC Teams Day 2014 (photo: Ray Hall)
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SECF GC Teams Day 2014 (photo: Ray Hall)


GC Doubles Competition 7th October

The winners of Block A were Brian Aikens and Ivan Segal. The winners of Block B were Liz Drury and Tony James. Congratulations to them and thanks to Noel Gill for managing the competition, and to Marion King and Anne Gill for the lunch.

Block A RB&DK JH&NH BA&IS AH&LT AS&CK BG&JP TJ&FP RC&GT Wins Position
Richard Brooks & David King 7 4 7 7 7 4 4 3
Jane Humphries & Neal Humphreys 3 4 7 7 7 7 4 4
Brian Aikens & Ivan Segal 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 1
Andrea Huxley & Louise Taylor 3 3 2 1 7 7 2 7
Andrew Stewart & Cathy Kirkby 5 5 6 7 7 4 2 6
Bridget Goodman & Jane Powell 4 6 7 1 1 3 1 9
Tony Jolly & Fiona Phillips 7 5 4 5 7 2 2 8
Richard Carline & Gavin Taylor 4 4 5 7 7 7 3 5

Block B-1 FL&KY FA&MA LD&TJ SC&PM VY&PG Wins Position
Linda Gavigan & Chris Heath 7 3 5 7 7 3 4
Anne Bolland & Fran Box 7 7 3 7 7 4 2
Richard & Trish Ellis 4 3 5 7 2 1 10
Martin Daniels & Wendy Harris 4 3 2 7 7 2 8
Rosemary Gebhardt & Linda Pini 6 7 7 1 5 2 7

Block B-2 LG&CH AB&FB R&TE MD&WH RG&LP Wins Position
Frances Low & Konstantin Yudintsev 3 2 7 7 7 3 5
Francis Ainley & Mike Akester 7 5 7 7 6 3 3
Liz Drury & Tony James 7 7 6 7 4 4 1
Sue Caulfield & Pat Mechen 3 6 4 5 7 1 9
Victoria Yudintseva & Paul Green 4 4 7 5 6 2 6