Half day GC Singles Competition 17 April 2024

Thanks to Manager Vincent L'Estrange for running this event. He reports:

On a cold but mostly rain-free day 28 players enjoyed another of our new half day tournaments in seven blocks of 4. It was lovely to see a mix of regulars, new members and, ahem, older members who haven't played much competitive croquet in recent years.

Block A was won by Konstantin after a count back. He, Roger and Daphne each won 2 games with a net +5 hoop difference. They had each beaten one of the other 2 but Konstantin scored 20 hoops, Roger 19 and Daphne 18. Very close.

In Block B Tony Nicholas won all three and in Block C Jim Mander with 2 wins net +5 narrowly beat Alan Grundy, 2 wins +3.

Block D was won comfortably by Les Ardley with 3 wins and + 13 hoops. It was closer in Block E, with Paul Brown and Joanne Crosby each winning 2 games but Paul prevailed with +4 hoops against Joanne's +3. Do let Paul know if you see his chocolates scattered around the car park.

One of our newer members, Angela Jones, was in top form in Block F, winning all three games with +10 hoops. Pat Mechen and Susan Gale each won 2 games in Block G but Pat was the clear winner with +10 hoops.

Thank you all for playing and to Linda G for a delicious ginger cake. Congratulations to all the winners.

Block A: Konstantin Yudintsev

Block B: Tony Nicholas

Block C: Jim Mander

Block D: Les Ardley

Block E: Paul Brown

Block F: Angela Jones

Block G: Pat Mechen

Full results

Some Pictures

Clubhouse Project News

 Adur District Council has granted planning permission for our clubhouse refurbishment project.

We will now work towards finding a builder to help us turn the plans into reality.

I am also very pleased indeed to tell you that our fund-raising efforts have received a tremendous boost from a substantial bequest to the club from the estate of Mrs Eleanor Rushby.

Many of you will have known Jeff Rushby but for those of you who didn't:

Jeff Rushby was a keen AC player, who played in CA and local tournaments well into his late eighties. He also played at Caterham, which was near where he lived. Jeff was keen to encourage AC and helped several beginners to learn the game and improve.

He won three trophies at Southwick over the years:  the New Challenge Cup and the Shine Salvers twice (once with the late Bruce Carr) and the D'Esterre Bowl once.

He was very skilled at making wooden pieces, some of which can be seen around the club such as the small wheelbarrow, used as a planter which sits by the flowerbed outside the veranda room.

Jeff died in 2020 and the legacy has come from the estate of his wife, Eleanor.

Eleanor was known to some of our members. Chris Constable remembers that a few years ago (15 to 20 maybe?) Sussex County sent a team for a match against Carrickmines  in Eire. We flew out and stayed at the Killiney Castle Hotel.

We have a sizeable building fund saved up and this bequest will increase it significantly. However we will need to raise further funds and we will be setting up various initiatives to achieve this. Please let me know if you have ideas and can help with fund-raising,

We would really like to start building work this autumn so we need to get cracking!

Sussex Open Weekend AC Tournament

The first of Sussex County's open tournaments of the season was won this year by Dominic Nunns for the second time; he last won it in 2019.

Dominic is a member of Sussex County and has appeared in the competition winners list every year since 2005 when he won the annual High Bisque tournament for new players; he won the club's most prestigious AC trophy, the Moore Cup, five years later (for the first of many times) and has played nationally and internationally in both forms of the game.

Congratulations to Dominic and thanks for also managing the event. Thanks also to Rachel, Richard, Angela and Marion who provided the lunches.

Full results

Nick Parish beat Gabrielle Higgins +18, +21tp in the play-off for 3rd place.

The Egyptian plate event was won by  (tba). Results courtesy of Croquetscores.com

New players get partner experience for day of short croquet

This informal day was organised by Frances Low who has been assiduously coaching groups of members interested in taking up Association Croquet for several years in both summer and winter season courses.

She reports that we were fortunate to have experienced and very good AC players assist - Gabrielle Higgins, Liz Farrow, Clive Hayton, John Low, Chrissie Merrington, David Gillett, Steve Chapman and myself.

The 'newbies', most of whom started this winter, were Kathy McColgan, Paul Griffiths, Mike Akester, Andrew Baxter, Sandra Towner, Sandra Finlayson, Pat Mechen and Sue Kilby. The 3 matches ended up with Pat Mechen and John Low winning, 2nd place Gabrielle Higgins and Sandra Towner  and 3rd place David Gillett and Andrew Baxter. Most games were close and many resulted in a peg out!

Thanks to all who took part and created a friendly and fun atmosphere on the day. As ever, grateful thanks to Rachel and Richard Pointon for the lunch.

There are opportunities to play short croquet which is an introduction to AC, at the Club during the season. The newcomers who have finished their course can continue playing or move on to full court play. Short croquet is 'short', games are rapid and you will develop new shots and tactics. On a short court it is easier to learn and quickly get playing. If you want to start contact Frances or Chrissie as we will do some introductory lessons for SCCC members later in May.

Frances Low (frances@sussexcountycroquetclub.org.uk)

Club Opening Day

There was a good turn-out for the now traditional summer season opener of the President's Team versus the Chairman's Team. This year (on April Fool's Day) the President's team prevailed by a score of 9-6. Games were played singles or doubles, mainly GC with some games of one-ball and all available lawns were fully used.

The weather stayed dry and players and spectators enjoyed a lovely lunch of soup, bread and cheese.

Thank you to all who took part and Rachel, Richard and Angela for the catering.

Clive

GC level play doubles competition 29th March 2024

Roger Sutton reports that again we were lucky with the weather: an indifferent forecast but sunshine for most of the day.

We had 34 entrants giving us three blocks. Block A was won by Richard Brooks and David King.
Block B by Liz Drury and Gail Dowd.
Block C by Graham Tucker and Fran Box.

Division A Winners David King & Richard Brooks

Division B Winners Liz Drury & Gail Dowd

Thanks to Rachel for putting on the lunch and to Roger for managing the event. Some photos below (including Cruchy the dog).

Full results

Some photos of the event

Summer Club Competitions

Entries are now closed to all competitions EXCEPT the Diana Brothers Drawn Pairs which you can enter here.

If you have already entered the Drawn Pairs you will find it on your entry confirmation email. Please note it has not been included in the entry fees as it is pay-on-the-day. Please don't pay for it now as it causes confusion and you are likely to be asked to pay again!

The winter GC Doubles results page is back on-line here

GC half day competition 16th March 2024

Manager Roger Sutton reports: The Sun shone for a change for our first half day tournament of the year.

The field was divided into 5 blocks of four and then all played all in each block.
Block 1 won by Konstantine Yudistev
Block 2 won by Paul Green
Block 3 Won by Les Ardley
Block 4 won by Susan Caulfield
Block 5 won by Pat Harden

Well done to the five winners.

Thanks to Roger for managing the event.

Full results

Some pictures of the morning courtesy of Vincent L'Estrange. (click picture to enlarge)

Club Quiz Evening

An enjoyable quiz evening was held Thursday 14th March at the club. Four rounds of quiz questions interspersed with lasagne, salad and pudding. Winners were the Church Mice, led by Gabrielle. Not that their success was anything to do with questions about church buildings of course!

Grateful thanks to Fran Box for organising the evening, to Angela and Linda for the supper and to Anthony Bone for preparing the quiz and being an excellent quizmaster.

A few pictures of the evening.