Sussex County visit West Chiltington

The Sussex County team of Rachel & Richard Pointon. Jo Crosby & Nira Scutt travelled to West Chiltington on Tuesday to play a South East Croquet GC Handicap League match.

Black clouds were gathering around the croquet lawns, and a few rumbles of thunder heard, but fortunately the rain held off and Sussex County won a closely fought match 5-4.

Thanks to West Chiltington for their hospitality and an excellent tea! This match followed an earlier 8-1 win at home to Cheyney in the same competition.

Sussex County reach Final of The Murphy Shield

The Murphy Shield is a knock out GC competition organised by Croquet England.

On 31st August Sussex County hosted Guildford and Godalming in the semi final and our team of Simon Ancell, Vincent L’Estrange, David Dickens and David King put us in a very strong position after the morning’s play by streaking into a 3 – 0 lead.

However, the afternoon’s play was not quite as straightforward as Guildford and Godalming began to stage a comeback with some tenacious play. Despite this rally, the lead was just too much for them to overcome and Sussex County held firm and ran out winners 4 -3.

Well done the team and thank you to all who represented us in the earlier rounds to enable us to get to this position.

The final will be played at a neutral venue following the playing of the other semi final between Watford CC and Chester CC.

David King, David Dickens, Simon Ancell and Vincent L’Estrange, Murphy Shield Semi Finalists

Thanks to Brian Aikens for organising our team in this event.

Alan Theobald

It is with much sadness we report the death of Alan Theobald on Wednesday 28th August having suffered from deteriorating health in recent years. 

 Alan was a respected and active member who contributed much to the club including his lengthy service as a member of the Management Committee. He was also competitions secretary from 2008 until about 2011 and a member of the Academy coaching team.

Fellow member Gerald knew him well and said Alan had spent his childhood in Hove, attending Hove County Boys School. He became an industrial chemist of some renown and had three daughters.

Gerald visited him often in his nursing home in Hove for enjoyable chat and coffee.

He was an original 'hut buddy' - cleaning and painting them every year.

He played both AC and GC codes of croquet and won a number of club tournaments: his first were the High Bisque Salver in both 1997 and 1998. Later he took up Golf Croquet and in 2004 he won the GC Doubles Cup with Sharon Wood, later to become his wife. He followed this with two wins of the GC Singles Cup in 2008 and 2011. He maintained his AC involvement and in 2011 he won the Castell Soda Syphons with the then Chairman Alan Rew. They came second the following year. (The Castell Soda Syphons was an alternate strokes AC competition; the trophies were donated by Elizabeth and Paul Castell.)

Longer serving members of the club will remember him with fondness. Once such, Frances, commented: 

Alan was a loyal and respected Club member. He played AC when I first encountered him. He was playing in a SECF tournament. He joined SCCC and got married to Sharon. Alan took to GC very rapidly and developed into a good player. He represented the Club and acted as GC handicapper.

He was always helpful and happy to pass on his skills via coaching. Condolences to Sharon. Happy memories of Alan in his playing days.

Fellow member David goes further back:

I remember Alan from my schooldays as we both attended the same grammar school in Hove. He was a bit older than me being a sixth form prefect whilst I was still a third form boy.

The only reason for us coming into contact was that he demurred from giving me a half hour “cap and shoe” detention for not wearing my school cap because his older brother John, also a former prefect, was going out with my best friend’s sister.

He was also my partner once during the Shine Salvers competition, and during a couple of other inter club matches. We also attended the same bridge tuition course at Brighton and played regularly each week with our wives at his and Sharon’s house. I was sad to learn of his demise.

Picture shows (L to R) Elizabeth Castell, Alan Rew, Paul Castell and Alan Theobald

Sussex County B wins Restricted League

Paul Green, Organiser of the team writes:

They did it! 

Members from Guildford & Godalming, who were at our club, for a Murphy Shield match, brought the news that their club lost the last R-League match they had to play. As they were the last club who could draw level with us, we are now certain we have won the R-League (though the result is still unofficial).

This league consisted of 14 teams from 13 clubs.

I would like to thank David Dickins, who played in all 4 matches, and was the staff around which the team did so well. He also chauffeured the team on our two away matches. Francis Ainley played in three games and brought in excellent results. Ray Hall played in two matches and brought in a disproportionate number of wins for his position as the highest handicapped player in the team. Thanks to Linda, who brought home the winning game against Ealing. To Robyn, thank you for playing against Surbiton. Finally, to Andrew Stewart who, with David Dickins, won the hardest fought doubles match I have ever seen at Ealing, winning the Golden Hoop in the third game. Well done team, we made a little bit of history, together.

Thanks to Paul Green for organising the team and arranging the fixtures; it's not an easy job.