News
The next few weeks are very, very busy with Academy workshops and coaching plus other events and the start of our club internal matches and also league games being fixed. We actually take part in 6 different leagues with some leagues having two teams taking part. We also have 5 CA interclub competitions. Even though we have 11 lawns this can sometimes be a matter of juggling! Especially as the hoop setters have to be busy and the groundsman also has work to do!
To help you plan when you come down please be mindful of the following notes.
Lawn priority:
1)Academy and tournaments
2)Leagues and CA interclub competitions where we host other clubs.
3) GC afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays; AC morning on Wednesdays
4) Internal competition games where whites are worn.
5) All other games and practice.
I attach a list that shows you which lawns will be in use by the Academy on which days.
There is also a calendar in the verandah room where info gets added. If you book an internal game for one of our competitions, please check the calendar and enter it in pencil.
League captains, please book only two lawns. If others are free when you play, then you can certainly use an extra lawn.
There is sometimes space on Weds am, but rarely on Tuesday and Thursday pm, so do avoid these. We did have 48 people down today in the afternoon, so you can see how busy it can get!
If you have problems fitting matches in for club comps, please discuss with Clive, Liz or Jonathan.
Available lawns are indicated on the whiteboard in the corridor and also on the blackboard in the corridor.
We do want everyone to have a great croquet season. In June it eases off a bit.
LAWNS IN USE BY THE CROQUET ACADEMY
The following Lawns will be in use for Croquet Academy Courses – apologies to Club Members for any inconvenience!
15 April – Friday 1, 2
16, 17, 18 April – Sat, Sun, Mon. 1, 2, 3
20 – 21 April – Wed,Thurs. 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 & 11
22 April – Friday 4, 5
23 April – Saturday 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
24 April – Sunday 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
25 April – Monday 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
27 – 28 April – Wed, Thurs. 1, 2, 3, 8
3 - 4 May – Tues, Wed. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
5 – 6 May – Thurs, Fri. 1, 2, 4, 5
12 May – Thursday 1, 2, 3, 7
15 May – Sunday 1
17 – 18 May – Tues, Wed. 2, 3
25 May – Wednesday 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
4 June – Saturday 1, 2, 3
23 June – Thursday 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11
24 June – Friday 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
1 – 2 Aug – Mon, Tues. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11
21 – 22 Sept. – Wed, Thurs. 1, 2
Although Courses run from 0930 – 1730, Lawns may well be in use outside these times for cutting, hoop-setting, course preparation or evening practice sessions. Please check with Janet if you need to use one of the lawns on any of these days.
There will be a series of WCF (World Croquet Federation) Courses
from 3 – 6 May when we are delighted to be welcoming overseas visitors to the Club.
We are sorry to annouce the death of Barbara Kitching.
Barbara was a great stalwart of the club for many years being one of the leaders in the kitchen as well as enjoying her golf croquet. Brian & Barbara ran the corporate activities for several years and made it an important revenue stream for the club.
She will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Brian & his family at this sad time.
Picture: Barbara with Brian at the 2012 Christmas Party
18 players competed today in cold but dry conditions. The competition was organised in Swiss format and 6 rounds were played. This ensured that there were 3 players with 5 wins each. Of course, A beat B beat C beat A applied so the Manager had to exercise his few remaining braincells to determine a winner of the bottle of wine.
After an analysis of opponents Janet Hoptroff was declared the winner, having apparently beaten the best combination of opponents. Unfortunately the Manager rushed his calculations and made a mistake, discovered when writing this up: in fact, correct figures put Janet and Liz tied, but as Janet beat Liz she was correctly declared the winner of the bottle! Position of remaining ties determined by quality of opponents.
Photo to follow.
Summary of results
1. Janet Hoptroff 5 wins (beat Liz Farrow, Daphne Gaitley, Christopher Heath, Jane Humphreys & David King)
2. Liz Farrow 5 wins (beat David Gaitley, Clive Grimley, Tony Jolly, Jonathan Isaacs & Frances Low)
3. Jonathan Isaacs 5 wins (beat Frances Low, Roger Sutton, Jane Humphreys, Lanet Hoptroff & David Gaitley)
4. Christopher Heath 4 wins (beat Neil Humphreys, Roger Sutton, Janer Humphreys, & Keith Webb)
5. Roger Sutton 3 wins (beat Des Taylor, Tony Jolly & Daphne Gaitley)
6. Keith Webb 3 wins (beat Daphne Gaitley, Bruce Carr & Roger Sutton)
7. Tony Jolly 3 wins (beat Keith Webb, Linda Gavigan & Clive Grimley)
8. David King 3 wins (beat Lynne Lyle, Keith Webb & Christopher Heath)
9. Daphne Gaitley 3 wins (beat Des Taylor, Linda Gavigan & Tony Jolly)
10. Clive Grimley 3 wins (beat Bruce Carr, Lynne Lyle & Tony Jolly)
11. Des Taylor 3 wins (beat Lynne Lyle, Bruce Carr & Linda Gavigan)
12. David Gaitley 3 wins in 5 games (beat Bruce Carr, Clive Grimley & Tony Jolly)
13. Frances Low 3 wins in 5 games (beat Lynne Lyle, David King & Neil Humphreys)
14. Bruce Carr 2 wins (beat Linda Gavigan & Lynne Lyle)
15. Neil Humphreys 2 wins in 5 games (beat Des Taylor & Clive Grimley)
16. Jane Humphreys 2 wins in 5 games (beat Linda Gavigan & David King)
17. Linda Gavigan 1 win (beat Lynne Lyle)
18. Lynne Lyle 0 wins
Opening Day of Season
And to celebrate the opening of our new lawns
A GC and one ball event for all members
President’s Team V Chairman’s Team
All members both AC and GC of all abilities will be included and allocated to a team
Saturday April 2nd
Starting at 11.am
Please E Mail Clive on chairman@sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk
to enter or put your name on notice board
Please indicate your preference (GC, one-ball) and handicap
A light lunch will be available
6 pairs took part in this event. The morning was sunny and eventually quite warm, but we paid for it in the afternoon!
The tournament was run as an American block with an agressive time limit of 1 hour 20 minutes per 14pt game to ensure the 5 rounds would fit into the day. Despite the time limit a high proportion of games went to a peg out.
The winners were Jeff Rushby and Nigel Trotter who won 4 out of 5 games, from the runners up Lix Farrow and Phil Dunk, also 4 wins but whom they beat.
Special mention for Fred Bell and Ann Smith who both had high handicaps and therefore a forest of bisques on occasion; they both played with an accuracy of shot and understanding of play above the usual for their handicaps and thoroughly deserved the 3 wins they achieved.
Full Results
| Gabrielle & Brian | Liz & Phillip | Frances & John | Ann & Fred | Ray & Robin | Jeff & Nigel | WINS | POSITION | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabrielle & Brian | -3 | +11 | -9 | +3 | +11 | 3 | 4 | |
| Liz & Phillip | +3 | +4 | +4 | +9 | -3 | 4 | 2 | |
| Frances & John | -11 | -4 | -8 | -12 | -14 | 0 | 6 | |
| Ann & Fred | +9 | -4 | +8 | +2 | -4 | 3 | 3 | |
| Ray & Robin | -3 | -9 | +12 | -2 | -13 | 1 | 5 | |
| Jeff & Nigel | -11 | +3 | +14 | +4 | +13 | 4 | 1 |
Entries are needed for the AC alternate stroke doubles on 6th March as we currently do not have enough players to run the tournament.
GC level on 20th March is full, but you can be on a reserve list if you wish.
There are still places available for the oneball charity club heat on 3rd April. The winner will go to the finals!
There are places available on Feb 28th for the 10/10 GC and 6th March for the AC alternate stroke doubles.
Both of them are great to play and it is a good warm up for the new season.
GC level on 20th March is full, but you can be on a reserve list if you wish. Also 3rd April is the oneball charity club heat. If you win you can go to the finals!
Sussex County Croquet Club
Charity One Ball Handicap Heat
in aid of Myeloma UK (bone marrow cancer)
For Prizes & Places in Final Sunday 8th May at Surbiton CC
This excellent charity has a 'house colour' of orange, so for the heats and in the final we are encouraging everyone to wear something orange !
Sunday 3 April
9.30 start
Open to all Players
£10 (or voluntary donation in excess)
payable on the day
Refreshments: £8
(Coffee, Light Lunch, Tea & Biscuits)
Practice Session: Thursday 31st March 10.00 – for refreshers
and newcomers to One Ball
Booking Essential
Book on Line: Sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk
or contact Luc Berthouze: entries@sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk
Dear all,
We have three winter tournaments upcoming. With a limited number of lawns, book early to avoid disappointment!
28 Feb 2016 GC 10/10 doubles only 4 places left
06 March 2016 Alternate Stroke Doubles
20 March 2016 GC Level play only 1 place left!
Any question, please email Tournament Secretary.
As the wind howls outside and the rain lashes the window, this dropped into my inbox from Richard Thompson:
The Corfu Croquet Club, in conjunction with the Kontokali Bay Hotel & Resort, has organised its first GC Croquet Holiday, following several very successful AC events. They have asked me to manage the varied Croquet programme, including the “First Greek GC Championship”.
Dates: 4th to 13th May 2016. There is a brochure for downloading here.