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Fylde fielded a team with handicaps very similar to Westmorland's on their visit to Levens Hall for their AC Midweek League match on 30th August. It made for an enjoyable day of croquet with players pretty evenly balanced in their skills and capabilities.

Mike and John partnered up for a doubles match in the morning session, with the closing score as close as it coluld be, 25-24 in Westmorland's favour. The singles matches, too, were evenly balanced, with Sue losing and Norman winning.

So with a lunchtime score in Westmorland's favour by 2-1, Westmorland needed two further victories to win the day. Norman and Mike both lost, while John won, leaving Sue on the lawn needing to secure a win, which she duly did but with a margin of just one hoop. Final result: Westmorland 4, Fylde 3.

The sun shone again on 29th August for the Westmorland Croquet Club. 15 members arrived to take part in the single day competition with Fiona trying to keep order.

With 3 blocks of 5 people and an all-play-all format within each block, play commenced under the Golf Advantage rules, which the club adopted for the first time this season. Matches started at 9.50 and with 30 to play the timers were set to 45mins.

Well past 4 pm only one player had succeeded in winning all of their games, so the trophy was presented to Mark Hutchinson  [Hcap 12] with 27 p

At the close of the day the Advantage system had proved its worth in generating a tight competition:

Jacquie, Neil M, Bill P, John A, Rob H all had 25 P

Christine 24

Hilary 23

Other ranged from 21 to 13.

Many games were close on points and concentration was deep. Well done to all the players.

Social Events Secretary Fiona co-ordinated an extremely successful fun day at Levens Hall on Tuesday 22nd August, and also provided an extra gazebo which proved invaluable during the downpours which soaked the lawns during the morning build-up.

20 members took part in a variety of challenges using croquet mallets, balls and hoops in imaginative and unorthodox games, and the positions gained in each category were totalled to decide an overall winner. Sue Pritchard won the unlikely-to-be-coveted broken mallet trophy.

Games included an obstacle course devised by Mike, various tests of hoop-running skill, a new game of Bullseye testing players' aim and direction, and speed croquet, counting hoops run in 5 minutes against the clock. John Shakespeare ran Last Player Standing as a fitting and gripping culmination to the day's events.

Various members contributed some delicious cakes to supplement our packed lunches, and as the weather improved the morning's soaking was forgotten.

Galleries of further photos can be viewed on our Facebook page and in the Members' Gallery

The draw was made at the Fun Day on August 22nd. Lynn won a relaxation pack, while Fiona took home a bottle of wine.

Westmorland welcomed a strong Southport team to Levens Hall on Thursday 24th August for the penultimate AC match of the 2023 season.

The visitors trailed at lunchtime 1-2, having won just one singles match. But following the lunch break they played the afternoon singles matches strongly, winning all four. 

David Venables, their highest handicap player on 18, will surely prove to be a rapidly improving player, with a mature grasp of the complexities of AC and with confident skills. He won both his games on the day. Southport's final victory was by 5 matches to 2. 

Westmorland played their final short lawn fixture of the season on home ground at Levens Hall on Friday 11th August. 

The team comprised Sue Pritchard, Rob Harvey, Norman Winter and Neil Adams. The team's handicaps ranged from 6 to 2P, against a Southport side fielding players in the range 5 to 10, so in all but one of the games the Westmorland players faced opponents starting with more bisques. 

This made for an interesting fixture. Westmorland started strongly with all four games won in the first round. Only one game was dropped in the second round, so at lunch the score was going strongly in Westmorland's favour, standing at 7-1. 

In each of the following afternoon rounds the victories were balanced evenly, so at the end of the day Westmorland's lead of 6 games remained intact, with the final result being an 11-5 win. 

Neil Adams achieved a clean sheet winning all four of his games.

Westmorland Croquet Club member Neil Adams won the Cavendish Clock event at Crake Valley, held on 5th and 6th August.

This is an Advanced Croquet event, with top-flight AC players from around the North-West region. Neil achieved triple peels in both the group stage and the final, which he won 26-4 TP.

For a full report and picture see http://www.croquetnw.co.uk/cavendish-clock/ 

Westmorland played Chester on August 2nd. Mike Hodgson [Captain] reports:

First of all I would like to mention Roger Brooks who played for  the first time in a Westmorland shirt. He had an incredible performance, playing off a handicap of 2 peels, and won all his four games. Well done.

Westmorland were reluctant to travel to Chester today, due to the extreme weather forecast. I made one or two calls to Chester on the previous evening and although they had cancelled Thursday's game, they were confident we would be able to play.

Westmorland's team left Kendal at 7.15 am to travel to Chester. Our first problem was an accident that had occurred near Burton services, with the road partially blocked, but were able to weave around debris before the police arrived, our good omen for the day. Following a pickup at Lancaster we travelled on to Chester in heavy rain, with plenty of grief from the team. However, while travelling along the M56 a cheer was heard from Neil as blue sky appeared and from then on we had perfect weather all day.

The team comprised Mike Hodgson [capt], Neil Adams, Sue Pritchard and Roger Brooks. We made a very good start winning 3 out of the first 4 games, and carried on similarly in sessions 2 and 3, only faltering in the last 4 games winning just 2 out of the 4 games. Such consistency led to an overall result Westmorland 11, Chester 5.

The team had a very enjoyable day, enjoying good hospitality and good weather, and travelled home in good spirits.

On Thursday 3rd August 2023 the team of Mark Hartnett, Mark Gregory, Neil Marland and Colin Pritchard took on the Golf team from Pendle. The sun was shining brightly when play got under way at 10am.

Both sets of doubles matches went to 7-6. Each match was won by Westmorland. A good start to the day, 2-0 up. Then

Pendle came out fighting in the singles, and after the first set the score was W 4-2. The next set was again even, and when play stopped for lunch the score was W 6-4.

With both teams energised after the break, Pendle again matched Westmorland in the next and took the score to  W 8-6.

With everything to play for and the result still undecided, the teams went out for the battle for the final set. Westmorland were on good form and made a clean sweep of it. The final result was Westmorland 12 games, Pendle 6 games.

It was a great result and many thanks to the players who battled hard to win the day.

With two wins under their belt, Westmorland took to the lawns at Crake Valley club on Monday 31st July in an attempt to win Cumbria's croquet triple crown, the Cumbria Tankard.

Sue Pritchard [acting captain], Neil Adams, Elaine Newman, Phil Hyman and Norman Winter took to Crake's excellently manicured lawns in waterproofs, for an extremely wet afternoon of croquet.

Neil and Norman played AC singles, each against opponents with closely matching handicaps. Neil made short work of winning his match, while Norman's match extended well beyond the sounding of the 3-hour timer as his opponent played a final break which, if successful, could have brought him victory. The other players had all by then retired to the warmth and shelter of the clubhouse, where Crake Valley's players were generously hospitable with tea and cake.

Meanwhile, on two short lawns, Sue and Phil paired up for a doubles which they won. They then each played two singles, both again winning. Elaine Newman, meanwhile, had two consecutive singles matches, narrowly losing one but convincingly winning the other.

In the end Westmorland came away winners by a margin of 6-1, regaining the Cumbria Tankard. Their nearest rivals were Penrith, who won two of their matches. Keswick was the other team in the competition.

Thanks go to Mike Hodgson who captained Westmorland for the series but did not play in this final match of the 2023 season.

A Westmorland team comprising Sue [acting captain], Norman, Robert and Elaine welcomed visitors from Bury on Thursday 27th July. The score was all square after the opening round, but Bury then inched ahead, and at lunch the score was 5-3 in Bury's favour. 

The session after lunch saw a significant turnaround in fortune as Westmorland won all 4 matches, to lead 7-5. A final round of games finishing all square meant that Westmorland emerged as winners, with an overall score of 9-7.

From Fiona: The Raffle was drawn on Tuesday 25th July on the lawns. The first prize, a pair of fine crystal wine glasses, was won by Mike. The second prize went to Neil M, who won a bottle of bubbly.

Thanks to everyone who takes part and especially to the people who donate prizes.

Fiona Armer reports: Westmorland Croquet Club's chairman, Mike Hodgson, held his 80th (yes 80th) birthday celebration on Friday 21st July at the Greenodd Village Hall. There was an open invitation to all members, and 10 of us attended. Colin and Sue, Fiona and John, Hilary and Mark, John and Val, and Robert and Elizabeth, along with around 60 other friends and regulars. 

It was a dance evening. The format of the evening was old time and sequence dancing. Great to listen to the accordion player belting out all the tunes which some of us sang along to, in between trying a dance or two.

A great evening was had by all. Margaret Hodgson provided the supper and a raffle was held. Many thanks to those of you who donated a raffle prize for the table.

The croquet club was the recipient of the funds from this event and we were given £360 . Wow! It was a great night all round.

Congratulations Mike, and Happy Birthday.

An AC team comprising Sue Pritchard [Captain], Mike Hodgson, Robert Harvey and Norman Winter travelled to Bury on Wednesday 19th July for a match in the NW Federation Midweek Handicap League. Despite a warm welcome from the hosts and delightful summer weather, Westmorland's recent good fortune seemed to desert them and it proved something of a frustrating fixture.

The morning session started late as one Bury team member failed to appear, so Bury's Roger Schofield took to the lawn to play as the solo player in a doubles pair, using the handicap that would have been assigned had the missing player turned up. He played a clever game using his skills as a low handicap player with bisques to play with, and emerged the victor over Sue and Mike by one hoop. Norman lost his singles narrowly by 2 hoops, but Robert played his bisques skilfully to gain the only Westmorland victory of the day, by a convincing 19 hoops.

From 2-1 down, after lunch things got worse for Westmorland. Bury conjured up a replacement team member at short notice, so no Westmorland player was left idle, and all four singles matches were played. Bury won all four games though some were close results and only narrowly lost by Westmorland. Returning home with only one game won and a scorecard of 1-6 was a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise pleasant day.

Westmorland's fixture against Keswick in the 2023 Cumbria Tankard comprised just teams of 3, each member playing just one AC match on the afternoon of Monday 17th July.  The best of 3 matches went Westmorland's way with 2 victories against Keswick's 1. All of the matches were close fought, and all went to full time.

This follows the defeat of Penrith by a 5-2 margin at the start of the season. One fixture remains, against Crake Valley on the 31st July, with Westmorland well-placed to take the trophy.

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

Thursday 13th July turned out to be unlucky. Although the sun was shining, the horse flies came out in force along with the wasps and any form of blood sucking insects when Westmorland took on the visiting team from Bury North.

Following a delayed start the games ended up being played out of order. Bury fielded a strong team of players, who showed all their skills, tactics and experience.

Attempting to meet the challenge, Westmorland came out fighting and were playing some excellent shots, but just could not get the edge on the opposition.

The final result was Westmorland 5 - Bury North 13.

Westmorland hosted Bowdon's Short Lawn team at Levens Hall on Thursday 6th July.

At the end of the first round of matches the score was level, and again following the second round, when lunch was taken with the match score at 4-4.

Neil Adams had a third consecutive victory in the first session after lunch, which proved a decisive turning port in the match as every other Westmorland player [Sue Pritchard, Elaine Newman and Robert Harvey] also won their matches. 

The visitors from Manchester still had the possibility of levelling the match in the final session, but honours were shared with two games going to each team. Robert also ended the day with three personal victories, and the Westmorland team were pleased to record a 10-6 win at the end of an enjoyable match.

Westmorland's AC team made a remarkable recovery in their 2nd round cup tie against Bury, playing at Levens Hall on Sunday 2nd July.

The format of AC matches allows 3 games to be played in the morning, and 4 in the afternoon, so the result is never decided by lunchtime. However, the team of Sue Pritchard [captain], Mike Hodgson, Rob Harvey and Phil Hyman failed to gain any points in their morning games, losing by sometimes the narrowest of margins in the morning session and spending the lunch break 0-3 down. Phil partnered Mike in the doubles, while Sue and Rob played the singles.

The afternoon session of four singles games saw Rob, Phil and Sue all win, but unfortunately Mike was unable to complete a miraculous four-cornered hat-trick and the day ended with a narrow 3-4 defeat.

Westmorland had beaten Penrith in the first round on 19th May, with a 5-2 win.

From Fiona: The Raffle was drawn on Wednesday 22nd June on the lawns. The first prize went to  Mavis who won the boxed set containing Frizzante wine/wine glass and scented candles. Second prize went to Mark Ha who received a bottle of wine.

Thanks to everyone who takes part and especially to the people who donate prizes.

Report by Norman Winter: 

Westmorland played host to an experienced AC team from Chester on Thursday 22nd June, and were able to welcome the visitors to Levens Hall at its best on a beautiful midsummer's day. The lawns had greened up well benefitting from recent rain, on top of the artificial watering offered by our recently installed sprinkler system.

Mike Hodgson paired up with Robert Harvey to play the morning's doubles match, while Sue Pritchard [Captain] and Norman Winter played singles. At lunch the score lay totally in Westmorland's favour, leading 3-0. All the matches had been close with very small winning margins.

Sue's and Mike's matches in the afternoon session were also tight and went to full time. Sue's result was a win, while Mike lost . Robert emerged with the highest winning margin of the day, and Norman succeeded in achieving the only outright win of the day. Westmorland's victory score was a resounding 6-1.

The Westmorland Golf team(WCC) of Fiona Armer (TC), David Snaith, John Armer and David Massey were the visiting team to Fylde on Sunday 4th June. Hosting the match were the Coasters team of Fylde Club (FC). It was a very warm sunny day with an occasional gentle breeze.

The teams took to the lawns with FC taking the 2 double games and 6 of the next 8 singles. The score at lunch time was  FC 8 - WCC 2. With things looking very bleak at this point for WCC, the teams sought shade to eat lunch. A good move for WCC, not so good for FC. When play resumed, of the last 8 games WCC won 7, making the final score a draw at 9 all. Well done Team. A great day out.

The annual Garden Party was held at Limestones in Underbarrow, at the invitation of club chairman Mike Hodgson and his wife Margaret. The day was hot and sunny with clear blue skies and at times with a welcoming but slight breeze.

The event was a fundraiser for the club and was attended by 31 Members and partners. Mike laid on several crazy games for everyone to play. Sue P organised the game of Kubb (a game with wooden blocks which you have to knock down with wooden batons) while others played ring toss and Mike was keeping people in line with the crazy croquet. This event appeared to be the highlight of the day as most people got involved in the knockout game.

The semi-final was an entertaining game between John A and Phil H, who battled away to get around the course. When John realised he was not going to get past Hoop 4 he turned his sights to stopping Phil from getting to the final hoop, thus creating some laughter and fun entertainment. Well done, Phil.

In the final, however, it was Neil M who mastered the most difficult hoop on the course with a hoop-in-one looping shot to race to a winning finish.

Margaret created a wonderful Buffet of cold meats/various quiches and salads followed by a divine selection of homemade desserts.

Hopefully everyone had a great afternoon. The event raised approx £400 for club funds. Thank you everyone and a huge huge thank you to Margaret for the wonderful food and Mike for hosting and setting out the event.

A Short Croquet team comprising Sue Pritchard [captain], Phil Hyman, Rob Harvey and Norman Winter travelled to the outskirts of Blackpool to play Fylde on Thursday 1st June for a league match.  A strong Fylde team quickly established their authority taking the first morning round 3-1. Things evened up slightly later in the morning, and at lunch Westmorland were trailing 3-5.

Westmorland must have slumped after lunch because in the first session of the afternoon Fylde made a clean sweep of it and won all their matches, establishing a winning lead of 9-3.

In the final session Westmorland rallied, winning 3 of the 4 remaining matches, finishing the day with a more respectable score of 6-10.

Each player on both sides lost at least one game, and every Westmorland player won at least one game, so it was a game of mixed fortunes with Fylde on home turf emerging the better team.

Sue Pritchard [Captain] reports: We had a very successful day for our first AC match of the 2023 season, playing away against Pendle. Playing doubles were Mike Hodgson and Neil Adams, and on full-time they were 2 hoops down. Fortunately Neil saved the game by scoring his last 2 hoops, then driving Mike's ball towards his next hoop. A clever peel gave them the winning hoop.  Westmorland ended the morning 3 games to 2.  The  next 2 games to finish were won by Pendle, so everything depended on Mike Hodgson and Robert Harvey. Both won their games, to end the day Westmorland 4, Pendle 3. 

Fiona Armer [Social Secretary] writes: The May croquet raffle was drawn at the club on Tuesday 23rd April. Mark Ha won a Planter, complete with plant.

Elaine N was the winner of a bottle of wine.

Many thanks to everyone who has been so generous with the prizes.

Mike Hodgson [Captain] reports: Westmorland made a convincing start in the AC National Longman Cup, travelling to Penrith on Friday the 19th of May to play a very strong Penrith/North Lakes team who have previously progressed through a few rounds.

Due to handicap restrictions to a player being 3.5+ handicap, this did not allow Westmorland to play their key men of Neil Adams [handicap 0.5] and Roger Brookes [handicap -1] but selected the following players to take up the their challenge: Mike Hodgson, Norman Winter, Robert Harvey and Sue Pritchard.

The morning games format of 1 double and 2 singles gave Westmorland a good challenge, winning all three. Norman Winter was in brilliant form and won his game 26-0, not allowing his opponent to win a hoop. Similarly Sue Pritchard won her encounter 26-12. Mike and Robert were successful in the doubles match 24-7. This gave Westmorland a convincing lead at lunch of 3-0.

Listening to the Penrith pep talk at lunch, Westmorland were ready for the afternoon challenge and Norman, playing their no 1 player, only allowed him to win 1 hoop an incredible day's play, winning 52 points/hoops and only conceding 1hoop in 6.25 hrs play, and also clinching the match. Sue followed suit with a very convincing win 26-3. The result for the last 2 singles was very close with Robert losing by 1 hoop on full time 22-21. Mike, battling on, lost by 7 points 26-19.

Westmorland played brilliant croquet. Our next round opponents are the winners of the Bowden  v  Bury game.

Mike Hodgson [Captain] writes

The setting at Levens Hall for Westmorland's opening match of the season in the Cumbria Cup was perfect. In beautiful sunshine, and on excellent lawns which were prepared earlier in the morning by Keith and Mark, there was a possible advantage to Westmorland as Penrith commented on the speed the ball was travelling in comparison with their lawn where the grass is longer.

The Cumbria Cup matches are half-day fixtures, and mix AC Full-Lawn singles with Short Lawn doubles and singles matches. Four participating Cumbria Clubs, Westmorland, Penrith, Keswick and Crake Valley, play a single fixture against each other.

The format for the afternoon game was enjoyed by five players in each team. Westmorland fielded Mike Hodgson [captain], Norman Winter, Robert Harvey, John Shakespeare, and Sue Pritchard. 2 Full Lawn AC and 1 doubles Short Lawn and 1 singles were followed by 3 Short Lawn games, 7 in total.

Mike Hodgson with short lawn partner Norman Winter, and Robert Harvey, set a good winning base taking the first two games. Sue Pritchard followed suit by winning an 18-point AC game. Due to Sue having to leave early, a shorter game was played. Westmorland now had 3 wins to their credit and only needed one game from the last four games. Norman Winter and Mike Hodgson completed the winning streak and Westmorland were 5-2 winners.

The next Cumbria Cup game is at home to Keswick on the 17th of July.

Fiona Armer reports: The King Charles Coronation Cup Golf Croquet Advantage Doubles competition got under way at 10am on Tuesday 9th May, with the skies unsure on what was happening. Rain or shine? A big question mark.

With 6 teams of 2 in an All Play All competition, the day ahead was looking busy. There were no time limits, and all games had to play to a conclusion.

The Teams consisted of John A and Brenda, Rob and Hilary, Elaine and Sue F, David S and Mark Hu, Neil M and Christine, and Lynne and David M.

As the day went on the clouds dispersed and the sun came beating down on everyone.

Winning and second place positions came down to the very last game on the lawns.

In the end third place went to David and Mark with 32 points. Second place went to John and Brenda, with 33 points. And the winners of a Cup and Coaster in 1st place were Rob and Hilary, who only dropped 1 point all day and won with 34 points. They received a King Charles Coronation Cup.

Well done to everyone. It was a great day all round. We all look forward to the next excuse to hold a doubles competition.

Above: Hilary and Rob [centre], winners of the Coronation Cup, flanked by runners-up John A and Hilary.

Further pictures are in the Members Gallery.

Fiona Armer [ Captain] writes: Thursday May 4th saw the home team welcoming a team from Bury South to Levens Hall on a blustery but dry and sometimes sunny day.

Play got off with a good start and after 8 games we were neck and neck, 4 games each. Bury took the next 3 then Westmorland 1, making W5 - B7. Bury then stormed ahead with another 3 games Now 5 -10.

Westmorland won the last 3, to finish Westmorland 8 - Bury 10.

All games were close with many ending at 7/6 . Well done to both teams

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

The Team arrived at Fylde on a very wet morning.

After team captains thrashed out the paperwork under the new advantage scheme rules, the day got off to a start at 9.55am.

Two doubles games started. The first to finish had a score of Fylde7 - Westmorland3.

The second game went on much longer with both teams battling at every hoop. An hour and 15 minutes later, the game went W7 - F6.

The rain stopped and play was much improved. The singles got going and the score was keeping close together until the last 4 games, the score being F8 - W 6

All to play for. 2 more games down the score was F9 - W7.

The sun tried to shine through and waterproofs were removed.

This left the game hanging for a draw on the last 2 games. Sadly for Westmorland, Fylde came good and took the final 2 games winning overall: Fylde 11 (111 points) - Westmorland 7 (92 points).

A good day's play under the new rules. A lot of brain work and a lot of good play from both sides.

On Tuesday 18th April Westmorland Short Lawn Team began their defence of the Short Lawn league with an away game at Pendle played at Earby. Westmorland arrived at Earby in good spirit with the forecast of a bright sunny day although with a very cold wind, and set about their task.

The Westmorland team of Mike Hodgson [Captain], Norman Winter, Robert Harvey and Sue Pritchard started well and won three out of four games in the first session and similar in the second giving Westmorland a 6-2 lead at lunch.

The afternoon games produced totally different results. Requiring three wins out of the last eight games looked a formality, but the lunch break had changed the tempo and the next set of four games ended equal. With the score 8-6, Westmorland still needed one more win from the last session to clinch the game.

It had been a long day with some extremely hard fought games. With the sun receding and fatigue creeping in Westmorland struggled against a strong home side. Mike Hodgson played a true Captain's game. He managed to win and give Westmorland the result they required.

Result: Pendle 7--Westmorland 9