News

Mike Hodgson reports:

Mike, Sue and Roger travelled to Chester on Monday 16th June to play Chester at Short Lawn. The game was played in perfect conditions. Westmorland, in top form at the moment, won 5--4.

Roger won his three games, Mike won two and unfortunately Sue failed to win a game. The match was a very close encounter and could have gone either way. Roger, in fine form, had a scare in the last game with his opponent on peg and hoop five, had to peel his last ball to win with his opponent aware of the situation and playing an extremely defensive game to make thinks difficult for Roger. But she failed to hit in. Roger applied his skills to secure the game and a win for Westmorland. 

Fiona Armer reports:

Thursday 12th June saw Westmorland travel to Crake Valley. A team of John Armer, David Snaith and Mark Hartnett versus Chris Williamson, Frank Sharps and Graham Jowett. Each player had to play the opposition twice. Many games went to golden hoop with Crake having the lead all day. Final score Westmorland 4, Crake Valley 14 

Mike Hodgson [captain] reports:

On Monday 9th June Westmorland Short Lawn team entertained Fylde from Blackpool. The weather was perfect and Levens Hall Lawns looked the best we have had for this time of year, playing true and quick.

Fylde arrived early and following coffee and introductions we made an early start. Fylde had an evenly split handicap side ranging from 3 to 10 against our Westmorland side with a range from 3peels to 7.

The first four games were very evenly matched resulting in a 2-2 score line for the first four games. The second four games however was a different story

with captain Mike the only winner. Westmorland were losing.3--1. After an early lunch the score line for the next four games was reversed with Mike this time the only loser. 

So into the last four games the match was all square at 6--6, with everything to play for. Roger was the first to succeed with a quick 14--0 win.  Mike followed suit with a 14--6 win. Unfortunately Sue had a nightmare of a game losing 14-1, and Robert fighting to the death losing 14--6. 

In the end it was probably a fair result of 8-8, a draw.

19 club members turned out on Wednesday 4th June for the club’s annual Fun Day, organised as usual by Fiona Armer.

Fun Day is expected to be fun, of course, but also a great chance to practice skills and several ingenious skill games were set up around the lawns: Obstacle Course, Bullseye, Run the Ball Down the Gutter and Through the Hoop, 18 Hoop Challenge, Jump Shots, and Straight and Angled Hoop Running.

With the results quite close it was all down to the final game - Last Man Standing, for at that stage the coveted Broken Mallet trophy was open to any one of 10 players.

In the end John A felled all other contestors (not literally!) and was indeed the last man standing and so won the day with 98 points.

Runner up was Bill Patten with 95 points. David Snaith and Francis Tidmarsh shared equal third place. Well done everyone.

The raffle was drawn on 3rd June. Norman was the winner of a bottle of fizz, and Brenda won a box of biscuits.

Fiona Armer, captain, reports 

Westmorland's team of John Armer, Mike Hartnett, Rob Harvey and Fiona Armer played a handicap league match on 31st May, at Pendle and Craven Croquet Club.

The day was mixed, with an even start of 3 all after 6 games. In the next 4 games Pendle pulled ahead 6/4.

The next set of games saw Westmorland trying to pull back, ending with 8/6 to pendle.

With everything to win or lose in the final 4 games  Westmorland went out fighting . However Pendle kept landing the balls in the hoops and slamming the opposition away every time.

The final score was Pendle 11 Westmorland 7.

Fiona Armer, tournament organiser, reports 

Saturday 17th May saw 14 players attending the lawns for a Golf Croquet Advantage Doubles competition. The day was beautiful with clear blue skies and warm sunshine.

Play got going at 10am and continued until 3pm, when after the final block match ended a clear winner was declared.

1st Place went to Christine and Bill with 28 points scoired, and 17 scored against them.

The final placings were:

• Equal 2nd place:  John and Debbie with 27 points and 17 against, and Rob and Jacqui with 27 points and 23 against.

• 4th David M and Dianawith 24 points and 25 against

• 5th Mark G and Marysia with 22 points and 26 against

• 6th Sue P and Brenda with  20 points and 26 against

• 7th Bob and Colin with 16 points and 28 against

Mike Hodgson, Captain, reports 

On Saturday 10th of May Westmorland played Short Lawn away against Llanfairfechan in North Wales. The conditions were perfect and Westmorland fielded a reduced team of 3 players due to travel distance.

The Westmorland team of Mike Hodgson, Sue Pritchard and Roger Brooks arrived at the lawns on Saturday morning after a local overnight stay. They were confronted with an opposition of players with very high handicaps, averaging 10, playing on their pristinely cut lawns provided by their new Dennis mower. Westmorland had quite a challenge but stuck to their task very well.

The first round of 3 matches went in Westmorland's favour 2--1. There was a similar result to the next 3 matches giving Westmorland a lead of 4-2 going into the final session. Westmorland required 1 match to win the fixture. After Roger and Mike failed to win their games, this led to a nerve-racking finish relying on Sue to pull us through. She produced the result we required, winning 14-9, allowing Westmorland to be successful winning 5-4 overall.

Westmorland played very well, losing some games by just one hoop. Our next challenge is against Fylde, at the top of the league. We hope we can retain our winning streak.

Fiona Armer reports 

On Tuesday May 13th, a beautiful warm sunny day, Westmorland entertained the visiting team from Bowdon in a handicap advantage golf match. Both teams came out fighting and playing well, and after a lot of close-run games the overall score ended on Westmorland 3, Bowdon 15.

Fiona Armer reports 

Twelve individuals competed for the 25th Lancashire Open Golf Croquet Tournament managed by Paul Rigge. It was an international affair with 2 from Lithuania, 1 from Ireland and 1 from Malta, and players from Leighton-Linsdale to Penrith. Our own Westmorland member John Armer entered. Play started on Saturday 26th April and continued on Sunday.

The first day's play was slow, with the players coming to grips with fast running lawns and tight hoops. One game took 1hr 40mins to complete. John got through the blocks into the quarter-finals.

Sunday's play started at 9.10am after a warmup. The manager decided the quarter-finals would be a single game of 19 points, to enable the final to start by late afternoon. The quarter-finals began, withHoward from Penrith taking on John. Howard playing on a 3 handicap won 10/6.

Congratulations to the ultimate winner Ross Bagni who won through with 7/4, 7/4.

A full report is available on Pendle and Craven website

https://pendleandcravencroquetclub.org.uk/blog/category/news/

Fiona Armer reports 

David Snaith, John Armer and Mark Hartnett, with combined handicaps of 19, took on 3 of Southport's finest, with total handicaps of 11.

Each player would play his opponents twice on the day making a total of 6 games per person.

Both teams were fighting hard throughout the day with 5 games going to the golden hoop and four games ended 7/5. A lot of tension in the air and excellent play.

The day ended with Southport winning by 11 games to 7.

A good home performance against strong opposition, in the most demanding of GC's formats.

Fiona Armer reports:

Saturday 19th April saw the Handicap Golf team of John Armer. David Snaith, Mark Hartnett and Mark Gregory visit Whitehead Park at Bury.

The day set off with 2 doubles matches leaving the teams even at 1-1.

Singles matches followed. After the next 4 matches the teams remained level at 3-3.

Westmorland crept ahead in the 3rd set, WCC 6, Bury 4.

Westmorland then took all the next 4 matches pulling into a clear lead of  W10-B4.

That secured victory for the Westmorland visitors. Shariung the honours in the final round, Westmorland returned home the winners, with a superb 12 games to 6 win.

Well done to all players. David Snaith deserves special mention as Westmorland's Man of the Match, winning all of his games.

Norman Winter reports:

On 11th April WCC welcomed visitors from Southport to play the first league match of the 2025 season.

A day's play in pleasant sunshine once early mist had dispersed was in sharp contrast to the start of the 2024 season, when water-logged lawns caused the cancellation of our first match.

Southport fielded a team with handicaps ranging from ½  to 9, while WCC players ranged from 3P to 7. A player with a handicap of 1P, 2P or 3P has extra difficult shots required to complete their game. Only the best players are in this range. Such a spread of handicaps almost always leads to interesting matches and so it turned out. That's all part of the entertainment of croquet, where unpredictability combines with skill in the outcome of matches.

Fortune and skills combined to leave home captain Mike Hodgson a happy man at the end of the day, with 4 out of 4 possible wins. Roger Brooks won 3 of 4, as did Rob Harvey. Norman Winter came out even with 2 matches won and 2 lost.

Those individual results all added to Westmorland winning the overall match with a comfortable margin of 12-4.

Fiona Armer reports on this social event and fundraiser:

Thursday 13th March saw 17 members and friends attend Holgates bowling/skittles alley. A fun morning was had followed by many members staying for a very hearty meal.

The winner of the bowling, who obviously had a misspent youth, was again Norman with 294. Mike Hodgson finished, strolling behind, with 237. and being pushed by John F who finished on 226.

The ladies leader was Alison M followed by Sue F and in third place Fiona. Well done everyone.

Due to reduced charges the club gained £125.

Fiona Armer reports on this social event and fundraiser:

A dominoes evening was held on Tuesday 18th February, attended by 17 members and friends. It was a great fun evening. 

Many thanks to Mike Ho who kept us all in order and then managed to win overall with 86 points . He was followed closely by John A with 83 points. 

A huge thank you again to Margaret for her catering skills and providing a great supper. The event added £104 to the club funds.

Fiona Armer reports on this social event and fundraiser:

The yearly quiz took place on Tuesday 4th February 2025.  It was attended by 17 players plus the quizzer.

After several rounds the winners were Christine, Jeannie, Sue F and visitor Fiona. Runners up were John A, Mark Hu, and Fiona A.

Many thanks to everyone who attended, and to Lynne for creating the quiz and keeping people in order.

Food was provided by Margaret and was, as ever, very good. Thank you Margaret. A total profit of £120 was made for the club funds.

Fiona Armer reports on this social event and fundraiser:

Tuesday 14th January saw 18 members and guests visit Holgates at Silverdale to take on the challenge of 10 pin Bowling, or skittles as some called it.

A very successful morning with Norman storming ahead  with 280 points. He was followed by Neil M on 227 with Mike Ho chasing for third place on 224.

The Ladies was won by Jayne  on 222 with Christine on 214 and Alison coming in third with 156.

16 stayed and enjoyed lunch afterwards in the Holgates Cafe. A great and fun time, and £105 went into club funds.

19 club members turned out on Wednesday 4th June for the club’s annual Fun Day, organised as usual by Fiona Armer.

Fun Day is expected to be fun, of course, but also a great chance to practice skills and several ingenious skill games were set up around the lawns: Obstacle Course, Bullseye, Run the Ball Down the Gutter and Through the Hoop, 18 Hoop Challenge, Jump Shots, and Straight and Angled Hoop Running.

With the results quite close it was all down to the final game - Last Man Standing, for at that stage the coveted Broken Mallet trophy was open to any one of 10 players.

In the end John A felled all other contestors (not literally!) and was indeed the last man standing and so won the day with 98 points.

Runner up was Bill Patten with 95 points. David Snaith and Francis Tidmarsh shared equal third place. Well done everyone.