Category: News

In reviewing Cornwall Croquet Club’s AC coaching notes, I came across these Commandments. Do not disobey!

The final CCC team for Division 5 at Budleigh on the 2nd of October is:

Andy Shipley (SC 8), Brian Wainman (SC -3), Nigel Leeming (SC 4) and Rod Dunlop Brown (SC 3.5)

Bob Burnett (SC 0) moves to reserve as he is currently unfit to play.

Match report to follow!

All members are invited to the CCC BBQ this Sunday, 6th of September!

Please let Richard or Bev know in advance if you want a burger
As usual, it’s £5, and all profits go to club funds!

Back by popular demand, there will be a barbecue on Sunday 9th August starting at midday.

Please place your order with Richard and Bev to ensure your burger/veggie option.

As always, there will be a few extras, but we can’t guarantee it unless you order.

Heads up our AGM will be on the 22nd November at 2pm at Cuddra Hall. 

Kind regards 

Felicity

Please note that until further notice, Lawn 2 is closed. The court is so dry (is this really Cornwall?!) that walking on it is causing too much damage.

The Cornish weather was just about perfect for croquet when the team from Budleigh came to play at Porthpean.  The courts looked glorious in warm morning sunlight and blue skies, although, on closer inspection, they were baked hard in the recent dry weather.  This proved a challenge for all players.

In the first round, Cornwall lost all four games, which belied the closeness of the scores.  Richard Croft, Mark McNair, Kevin Wright and Ken Wilcox from Budleigh all triumphed.

Cathy McCammont (9) replaced Dorianne Forsdick for the second round but unfortunately drew Budleigh’s captain, Mark McNair (1.5), who pegged out in short order.  The other games were, again, won on relatively narrow margins.  Nothing could change the fact that, at lunch, Cornwall were 8 games down.

After lunch, things looked a little more hopeful for Cornwall.  Rod Dunlop Brown (3.5) beat Kevin Wright (2.5), who was primed to win with a peel set up on hoop 6 but struck the wire on hoop 5 and stalled, allowing Rod to peg out.

Dorrian (7) took on Richard Croft (6) and had a splendid game, beating him 13 points to 9.  Andy Shipley (8) engaged with Mark (1.5) and clearly used his bisques to good effect, winning by a margin of one point in a low-scoring game.  Unfortunately, the canny Ken Wilcox (5) got the better of Nigel Leeming (4), leaving Cornwall with 3 wins to 1 in the third round.

The last round was again tough for Cornwall, with only Rod  (3.5) winning his game against Mark (1.5), 8 points to 3.  Nigel (4) and Kevin (2.5) had a real slog in the afternoon heat, ending their game on time with all four balls for hoop 4.  All lawns were lightning fast, but on lawn 2, Newton’s law of inertia was in full effect, seemingly without any force acting to slow balls down, especially near hoop 4.  As they went to Golden Hoop (the next player to score a hoop wins), they both had great difficulty getting the approach right, overshooting time and time again.  In the end, Kevin made the hoop after using the three other balls to get a finer and finer adjustment for hoop position.  

The net result was 12 wins for Budleigh and 4 for Cornwall.  

Special thanks go to the Budleigh team for coming all the way to Porthpean, and to Andy Shipley, who produced a new set of smart bisque pegs for the club – most generous.

Onwards Cornwall!

We hosted 16 NHS colleagues today from the local hospital for a series of games and skills tests. After a picnic and dividing into teams, they were hosted on our three croquet courts for some lively GC games and “shooting practice”. Fine weather and a cooling breeze made for a fun afternoon. We look forward to seeing you again!

It was blisteringly hot even as we set out the hoops ahead of play, with the temperature rising later in the day to 32°, even in our coastal location.  It’s been a while since Cornwall has hosted an AC league match, but the laid-out lawns looked excellent in the bright morning light.  (Well done to the “Mowers”.)

The games were arranged quickly, with initial pairings following the standard protocol, resulting in the last of the four games being played by the lowest-handicapped players on each side, ranked in order.  

The first round saw Cornwall lose all four games, but with two very close.  Marian Gadian(10) from the Sidmouth team, playing in her first league match, pulled an absolute blinder with her best game yet, smashing Rod Dunlop Brown(3.5) 9 to 12.  

In the second round, things evened up a little with Rod and Nigel Leeming(4) both pegging out in their respective games, which Bob Burnett was suggesting loudly from the spectators’ gallery, “was the [redacted] aim of the game”!

The third round was also even, with Dorianne Forsdick(6) and Nigel winning.  Entering the fourth round with only the prospect of a draw if all games were victories, Cornwall was on the back foot.  In the end, Rod and Nigel both pegged out in their games against Philip Harris (2p) and Penny Ball (5), respectively, and Andy Shipley (7) held off the confident Marian. Unfortunately for Cornwall, John Coombes (7) held up for Sidmouth in an extended game in oppressive heat against Dorianne, and the match was lost 7 games to 9.

Cornwall can take heart that this was their best performance of the year, but Sidmouth are to be congratulated on their win and for making the long journey to tropical Cornwall.

Association Croquet players might be interested in the open event at Hamptworth CC at the end of July. If so, click here to contact the organiser.