U League vs Ealing

On 10th July we hosted Ealing for our final U league fixture of 2026.

Today’s team ( Chrissie, Steve , Tony and Nigel ), seen in photo below with our opposition did as all our U league teams have done for two years won ( 5-2) and once again finished with a 4-0 win record for the season.

It was a tough day for both teams fighting both the incessant heat as well as hoops that had recently been reset for the Inter Counties at what seemed like impossible widths ( I’m sure the top players will have none of the problems we all encountered 😉).

The morning session ended 2-1 to SCCC with Steve and Nigel both winning their singles and in the afternoon session Steve, Tony and Nigel all triumphed.

A big thank you to all players that volunteered for this years squad and lets look forward to another successful year next year.

Nigel Billingham

Sussex beat Canterbury in R League

Sussex Pilgrims beat Canterbury ( Result of today's R League match away July 13th)

Our team of Jo Crosby, Kathy McColgan, Davide Cogrossi, Mike Akester overnighted in Kent. Captain Mike prostrated himself in the Cathedral before the shrine and then took inspiration from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”.

Their captain collected Mike from his hotel. Their Lawns were slow and patchy but the superb lunch had us Pilgrims happy and content.

Jo & Mike won the doubles 2-1. Kathy won 1…lost one. Mike lost his singles with their No5, Jo drew her singles. But our Jude Bellingham was Davide Cogrossi who won both his games.

Sussex 4.5…..Canterbury 2.5.

Mike Akehurst

AC 2-legged Competition

The 2-Legged AC event was held on 3rd July. The first try out of this type of event: 2 players per team, 2 rounds, 2 legs each round! All matches 14 points, with each round consisting of an alternate stroke doubles, and a singles. Some advanced singles did take place which was interesting to see for high bisquers.

Lovely weather so we got all the rounds in. There were 2 points for a win, bonus 2 points for pegging out, 1 point for a draw.

Good to see Gabrielle, Alan Cottle and Clive playing to support higher handicappers.

Times were limited, maybe too strictly,a as most games did not peg out! A lesson for the next time!

The winners were Bob and Robyn Clark with 12 points, followed by Simon and Margaret from Ealing with 6 points, and Clive and Tony also with 6 points. So Bob and Robyn received the chocolate bars from Chairman Clive.

Many thanks to all who played and supported. Plenty of ideas emerged from the play, particularly, tactical, so we will have to try and assist players to improve their standard and understanding of the game.

Thanks to the AC referees and the ROT Gabrielle.

Frances (Manager and Organiser)

And thanks to Frances for arranging the event.

Croquet South East GC Ladies Day

The 2026 SE Fed GC Ladies Day was held at Southwick on Wednesday 1st July with a full house of 14 teams competing for the trophy.

Congratulations to Chichester for winning the tournament by just 1 game, with last year's winners Dulwich in 2nd place and Hove Beach 3rd. Well done to Sussex County who finished 5th. The team, captained brilliantly by Rosemary W, consisted of Sandra, Angela A, Linda F, Sue K and Rachel P.

It was good to see so many familiar faces back and also to welcome new ones to Southwick. Returning players were all very complimentary about our new clubhouse.

We probably couldn't have asked for better weather conditions, mostly sunny, but not as hot as last week!

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the day, in the kitchen and the bar, cake makers, and a special thanks to Bob Clark for acting as referee of the tournament and for all his help on the all-important spreadsheet keeping track of the results. Thanks also to David Larkin for acting as referee on the day and Linda for her work on the bell and hooter.

Jo, Diana and Nira

Club Open Afternoon

The weather was wonderful and we had 35 guests to look after!! Because it was Fathers day we had whole families having a go!! We had lots of comments about the wonderful lawns and the quintessential, calm and peaceful atmosphere

Thank you to all the helpers on the lawns and in the kitchen and bar and also to all the people who donated delicious cakes. There were too many helpers to thank individually, but I would like to say the kitchen helpers headed by Jo Mander, and Deborah in the bar, worked tirelessly and were greatly appreciated, especially as the weather was so hot.

Jo handed out 10 subscription forms to potential new members!!

Thanks to Fran for organising the afternoon. Photos by Bill Arliss.

GC singles 19 June 2026

A fine day at Southwick greeted 24 player who were divided into 4 divisions.

Division A was a close run event with Brian Aikens just beating Tony Jolly for first place, with 4 wins and plus 13 hoops against Tony's 4 wins and plus 12 hoops. Chrissie Merrington was third with 3 wins.

Francis Ainley was a clear winner of Division B with five wins, followed by Beryl Hughes - 3 wins and Kathy McColgan - 2 wins.

Division C again was close with Phil Harrison just winning with 4 wins plus 9 against John Low 4 wins plus 5. Jane Powell was third with 3 wins 2 hoops.

Our visitor from Bromley Gloria Perez-Vertiz won Division D with 5 wins against Tim Weller 3 wins and Jim Mander also with 3 wins.

Thanks to Roger for managing the event

Full results

Summer club competitions

Changes have been made to the menu for club competitions to improve accessibility on some devices.

Sussex County Open Evening Singles – 16 June

The weather improved to give us a pleasant (if slightly chilly) few hours of croquet for our first evening event of the summer. 12 players were grouped into 3 divisions of 4, and some excellent croquet was enjoyed by all.

Division C was the first to finish. Tim Weller dominated proceedings, winning all 3 games with a net +13 hoops.

The other two divisions, A and B, were much closer, with net hoops required to establish the winners. In Division B, both Phil Harrison and Mark Barnham secured 2 victories, but Phil’s superior net hoops score of +4, gave him the win.

Finally. Division A went right down to the wire. Tim Bick was leading after 2 rounds, but had to play Morgan Case in the final round to claim victory. Morgan won 7-3 putting both on 2 wins and +2 net hoops. However, as Morgan had won the head to head, he took home the much prized chocolate bar (aptly named “Sweet and Salty”).

Thank you to everybody who made it such a good natured and enjoyable evening.

David

Thanks to David for managing the event

Sussex County v Guildford & Godalming

Another U League win for Sussex County today at Guildford.

Our team comprising Deborah Marcus, David Dickens, Rob Harper and Nigel Billingham won the match 5-2 on difficult playing surfaces - it certainly brought home just how good our lawns are!

We won the morning session ( 3-0) and convincing wins by David and Nigel in the afternoon secured the win.

That's now 3 out 3 so far , with just Ealing to come in a few weeks.

Nigel Billingham

GC doubles competition 13 June

After a week’s bad weather the sun finally shone on Saturday for the one day GC Doubles Competition, although there was still a chilly wind.

22 pairs took part (including five married couples and one father and son team). Because of the numbers involved there were four divisions but two of the divisions only had five pairs each. This meant that divisions C & D were put into a crossover division in effect playing the opposing division so they could still have five games each during the day without byes etc.

Division A had six pairs and the winners were Steve Chapman and Paul Green with four wins. There were three pairs with three wins but Konstantin Yudintsev and Brain Aikens took second place with +8 net hoops. All players were from Sussex County.

Division B again had six pairs. Stephen and Debra Hayns from Ryde and Philip & Julie Tremble from Guildford tied with 4 wins each. However Stephen & Debra took first place with +10 net hoops.

In the C & D Crossover Division Tony Marjoram and Laki Marangos took top spot with five straight wins and therefore won Division C. Kathy McColgan and Davide Cogrossi were in second place with 3 wins and as they were from Division D they took the prize for that division.

Andrew Stewart

Thanks to Andrew for managing the event

Full results