News

Members of the club and their guests rounded off the 2024 season at Crooklands Hotel on Sunday 23rd November.

Following a 3-course lunch Club Chairman Mike Hodgson presented the club's season competitions and day tournament trophies, first receiving one himself from Competitions Manager Norman Winter for winning the Short Lawn Handicap Block competition.

Other winners present to collect their trophies were John Armer, Mark Hartnett and Fiona Armer. Fiona also as Social Secretary organised the lunch. Winners not present were Phil Hyman, Marysia Lear, Robert Harvey and Roger Brooks. A full list of the 2024 winners was posted belolw on 21st October.

Phil Hyman, one of our club members, won a bronze medal for hockey at November's Men's Over-60s Masters Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, playing in all 5 of England's matches over a period of 7 days.

The following list is of members who were winners in the various club competitions and day tournaments held during the 2024 season.

Trophies will be awarded at the Annual Awards Lunch on 24th November.

AC Handicap Knockout Roger Brooks

AC Handicap Block Roger Brooks

AC Handicap Doubles Robert Harvey and Roger Brooks

AC Level Play Block Roger Brooks

AC Short Lawn Handicap Block Mike Hodgson

AC Short Lawn Handicap Knockout Roger Brooks

Golf Croquet Advantage Block Roger Brooks

Golf Croquet Advantage Knockout John Armer

Golf Croquet Level Play Block Roger Brooks

AC Handicap Day Tournament Phil Hyman

AC Short Lawn Day Tournament Phil Hyman

Reports of the following have already appeared on the website:

Golf Croquet Advantage 7+ Day Tournament Mark Hartnett

Golf Croquet Advantage Open Day Tournament Fiona Armer

Golf Croquet Advantage Doubles Day Tournament Marysia Lear and John Armer

The last of the 2024 season monthly raffles was drawn on Tuesday 17th by John Shakespeare.  Hilary H won a triple candle in a carved wooden bowl. Phil H won the bottle of fizz.

Many thanks to everyone for there donations and taking part.

The yearly Xmas Cake donated by Margaret Hodgson will be raffled off at the End of Season Lunch. Anyone not coming to the lunch should let Fiona know if they wish to try to win the cake.

Penrith visited Levens Hall on Monday 16th September. It was a gloriously sunny day to end the AC season of matches. Mike Hodgson [non-playing captain] was on the lawns at 7.30am along with Keith, who mows our lawns, to cut the extremely wet grass after the previous day's downpours, and also to lay out three short lawns and one full lawn for the matches.

The Cumbria Tankard is contested by the Cumbrian clubs Keswick, Penrith, Crake Valley and Westmorland. Westmorland were defending the trophy, being holders at the close of the 2023 season.

The home team comprised Sue Pritchard, Roger Brooks, Phil Hyman, Robert Harvey and Norman Winter. Roger and Sue played singles AC, double-banked on Lawn 1, while Robert and Phil partnered up for a short lawn doubles and Norman played singles in the first games of the afternoon. The three short lawn players then played a singles match each.

Westmorland found themselves behind 2-0 at the halfway stage. Three victories by the close of play proved insufficient to overturn Penrith's lead, and the match was lost 3-4, the narrowest of margins. In consequence the trophy goes to Crake Valley.

Westmorland's hopes for finishing top of the Short Lawn league evaporated in the team's final two rounds of games in the final match of the season, at Southport on Saturday 14th September.

Mike Hodgson [captain], Roger Brooks, Sue Pritchard and Robert Harvey gave Southport a good run for their money but, having finished the morning all square, lost all four games in the session after lunch.

By winning all four of the final round of matches they would still have been able to finish level, but unfortunately the team only won three, leaving Southport the winners by 9 games to 7. 

It was a pleasantly warm and sunny late summer's day for the Westmorland Team's penultimate match of the Short Lawn season on Friday 6th September. Bury hosted the match at their Coronation Park site, and the tall trees surrounding the lawn provided very welcome shelter from the blustery wind. It was something of a tale of defeat snatched from the sweet taste of victory, as early good fortune was overturned in the final round of games. 

Mike Hodgson captained a team also comprising Roger Brooks, Rob Harvey and Norman Winter. The Westmorland team started strongly, taking a 3-1 lead in the first set of matches, and holding the lead at 5-3 at lunchtime. 

Unfortunately the afternoon did not go so well, the lead evaporating as Bury drew level again leaving the final round beginning with the teams level at 6-6. With only one Westmorland win in the final round, the match was lost by a narrow margin. Bury 9, Westmorland 7.

Despite the defeat, Westmorland is still at the top of the Short Lawn table with 4 wins and 2 drawn matches, level with Bowdon Bullets, who also have one further match to play. Westmorland's team is still in contention to be the outright league winner. but any of four teams could still win outright, or share first place. Westmorland's final match is against Southport on Saturday 14th September. 

Fiona Armer reports:

Sunday 1st September saw the final Advantage handicap match of the season being played. Westmorland welcomed Fylde Falcons to the lawns.

The day managed to stay dry until half an hour after we left Levens Hall. Once again many matches were close and at lunch time it was 5 games all.

After lunch we played 4 more and were still level at 7 all. So all was to play for in the last 4 matches. The Falcons stepped up their game and won 3 of the last 4, making the final score Westmorland 8 Fylde Falcons 10.

Well done everyone. Many very close games once again.

Fiona Armer reports:

This Advantage Golf Day Event held on Thursday 29th August was advertised as an under-7 competition, but only 3 members entered so it was opened up to anyone who could not play in the 7+ earlier in the season.

It was agreed to have an all-play-all competition. So with 7 entries the games got underway. The winner would be decided on how many hoops were won on the day over the 6 games each played,

With the scores being very close David Massey and Sue Pritchard gained joint 2nd place with 38 points each. With Fiona Armer winner overall with 39 points.

Sue Pritchard  [captain] reports:

On Wednesday 28th August Westmorland played at Southport  in a 14point AC match which resulted in a draw of 8 games each. Most of the games were very close. This means that Westmorland is at the top of the  league table and can only be beaten by Llanfairfechan.  

Fiona Armer [captain] reports:

Bury South entertained Westmorland handicap golf team on Saturday 24th August. The weather went against all the forecasts for the area and stayed dry and sunny. Phew.

John Armer, Fiona Armer, Mark Gregory and Mark Hutchinson represented Westmorland. We stepped out onto lovely short cut flat lawns, where the balls ran fast and almost always went where they were sent.

Two games of doubles went ahead with the visitors winning both. In the next 8 games W3 B5, making the two teams level at lunch time.

With all to play for the teams set out to forge ahead. Sadly Bury knew the lawns a touch better and crept into the lead. The day ended  Westmorlan 7, Bury South 11.

Of the 18 games 7 went to golden hoop, and the rest were all very close.

Well done both teams a great day.

Sue Pritchard [capt], Mike Hodgson, Phil Hyman and Norman Winter travelled to Bury on Wednesday 21st August to play in the AC Handicap 14pt League.

The handicaps of the players were fairly evenly matched and many of the games were decided by narrow margins. Overall Sue had a disappointing day with no wins. Mike won 2, and lost 2. But both Phil and Norman had victories in all 4 of their respective matches, leaving a Westmorland team happy to have secured a further win in this new format, and with an impressive 8 points from 4 matches, heading the league points table.

Norman Winter drew this month's raffle on the afternoon of Thursday 22nd August.

Two of our club's Marks were the winners. Mark Hu won 1st prize, biscuits for cheese with a complementing chutney. Mark Ha won 2nd prize, a bottle of Red Wine.

The North West Federation of Croquet Clubs covers an extremely large area, stretching from the Lake District to Snowdonia. A team of 3 players travelled from Llanfairfechan to Levens Hall for their match in the Level Play Golf league.

Unlike the scheduled match in the AC league back in April which had to be cancelled due to the closure of the waterlogged Levens lawns, the Welsh visitors this time were rewarded with lawns in good shape and a dry and sunny day.

The handicaps of the Llanfairfechan players totalled 11, while the Westmorland team's totalled 27. That is a significant difference in Level Play, and Westmorland faced a big challenge. The home team put up a good fight and ended the day with a creditable score of 4 games won. However, that meant Llanfairfechan returned home with a 14-4 victory.

Over the summer we have played 7 matches in this league, winning 1 and losing 5, with just one draw.

10 people lined up for August 9th's Doubles Tournament, on a mostly dry and sunny day. With mallets at the ready, the pairings were as follows:

• Christine C and Mark Ha

• Bob L and Jeannie M

• Fiona and Mark Hu

• Marysia L and John A

• David M and Francis T

The day consisted of all play all, each pair playing 4 games timed at 45 minutes. The scoring was done on how many hoops over the day that a team won.

There was lots of excellent playing from all teams. At the end of the matches there was a draw with two teams having 26 points each. John and Marysia then played a decider against Fiona and Mark. With the teams taking alternate hoops until 4-4, the game was very close.

John and Marysia crept into the lead and finally, with a stunning jump shot from John, won the match and the Day. Well done to everyone who took part.

Westmorland remained top of the Short Lawn NW league following a 12-4 win against Pendle on August 2nd.

Fiona Armer reports:

Thursday 1st August saw a wet start to the morning as the team from Westmorland welcomed Southport. But as play got underway the sun started to shine and waterproofs and jumpers started coming off. Once again Westmorland put up a good fight with a combined handicap of 25 against 13, and several matches going to the 13th or golden hoop.

Southport raced ahead and the final score was Westmorland 4. Southport 14.

Well done to both teams.

Fiona Armer reports:

July raffle was drawn on 23rd July on the sunny lawns at Levens.

Colin won a cocktail maker and kit. Rob won a desk note pad.

Many thanks to everyone for supporting.

Fiona Armer reports:

On Thursday 24th July the Westmorland Level Play Golf team travelled to Crake Valley Croquet Club.

With a warm welcome on a wet morning the teams set off playing. The weather dried up and the waterproofs and jumpers came off.

With 18 games to play, results were coming back in with Crake taking the lead at lunch time 8/1. By the end of the day the result was Crake Valley 12, Westmorland 6.

Many matches were very close and this was shown in the the overall points gained on the day: CV 112, W 91.

Fiona Armer reports:

Not A-levels but C-levels: Golf Croquet has a Level C for players with handicaps of 7 and over.

The rain held off on Thursday 11th July for the Club's One day C level advantage golf competition. 12 people entered and the format of the day began with 2 leagues of 6, with the top player in each league going on to a play-off Final.

In the end 11 people played giving a good standard of matches,  and was very interesting to watch.

Mark Hartnett came top of League A having won 4 of 5 games, and Mark Hutchinson (the reigning champion) came top of League B having won all his games.

With the final completed Mark Hutchinson's reign came to an end with an exciting finish. Mark Hartnett now holds the coveted 7+ handicap award within the club.

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

On Sunday 7th July a team of 4 went off to Pendle and Craven for a league handicap golf match. With the rain pouring down in Levens area the team managed to stay dry until late into the day when rains finally hit at the Pendle club.

The team of David Snaith, John Armer, Neil Marland and David Massey set off well and won both doubles games. However, fortunes turned as Pendle won the next 3 of 4. Score 3 all.

The next 4 were all won by Pendle. Score P 7 W 3. Fighting back with close scores on the next round P 10 W 4. By the end of the final round Pendle took the day with 13 wins against Westmorland's 5.

Once again the final scores did not fully reflect the individual games, of which many were lost with narrow margins 6/7 or 5/7.

Norman Winter reports:

Westmorland got off to a resounding start when they welcomed a Bowdon team to Levens Hall for a fine summer's day of croquet on Monday 8th July, winning all four games. The momentum continued with a further 3 games in the bag by the halfway point at lunchtime.

The first session after lunch saw Bowdon in fine form, taking all 4 games and leaving the match wide open at 7-5 to the home team. Westmorland regained their composure and won 3 of the games in the final session, and with a winning match score of 10-6.

Phil and Sue recorded 3 wins each. Norman and Rob both won 2, lost 2. 

The 14-point league is in its first year. One feature of the day that may be noted is that only 4 games in the day were fully finished with a winner pegging out to get all 14 points, the other 12 games being ended by the 90-minute timer. Double-banking on both lawns contributed to slowing the play. 

Mike Hodgson [Team Captain] reports:

Westmorland's Short Lawn team comprising Mike Hodgson [Captain], Roger Brooks, Sue Pritchard and Phil Hyman welcomed Bowdon's top of the table superstars on Thursday 4th July. The Bowdon team comprised very strong players with handicaps of 3p, 2p, 1.5 and 2. Westmorland's line-up were 3p, 3.5, 5 and 6. The visitors referred to their club's recent game at Levens [level play golf] which they had won 17-1, and were full of confidence.

The day's weather was not favourable, with some heavy showers. Westmorland went 3-1 up in the first round, with only Mike losing narrowly 14-12 in his game. against their 2p player. The next round went similarly, leaving Westmorland 6-2 up at the halfway stage at lunch. Roger and Sue lost to the 3p and 2p players in the first session after lunch, which left Westmorland confident of at least a draw going into the final round at 8-4 up.

The tide turned again in Westmorland's favour with 3 of the last round of 4 games going Westmorland's way. The day finished with Phil having won all 4 of his games, and with Roger having secured 3 wins.

3 matches are still to be played this season, 2 away and 1 at home. 

Norman Winter [Competition Organiser] reports:

Phil Hyman completed a notable Day Event Double when he came out top in the Short Lawn Day Event held on Wednesday June 26th. The previous week he had headed the scoreboard at the Full Lawn AC Day Event.

We had six participants for the Short Lawn Day, which meant that with match times shortened to 75 minutes from the usual 90 minutes we could run an all-play-all block tournament. Roger Brooks and Phil Hyman both won 4 of their 5 matches with Phil out in front on hoop difference, with an average 5 hoop lead over his opponents across the day.

Norman Winter [Acting Captain] reports:

Our matches with neighbouring Cumbrian clubs in the annual Cumbria Tankard include both Short Lawn and Full Lawn AC games, played over a single morning or afternoon session.

Westmorland's match with Crake Valley was played this year in the morning on their home ground at Greenodd, on Monday 24th June, a lovely sunny summer's day. Lawns are always slower at the start of the day, but their excellent grass was already running far faster than we have been used to at Levens Hall this season. The rain damage of the winter seems to have fallen rather unequally on different clubs in our region.

Roger Brooks, Sue Pritchard and Rob Harvey played two short lawn matches each [including Sue partnering Roger in a doubles resulting in a draw]. Rob won both his matches, emerging as our most successful team member. Phil Hyman and I took to the full lawns and lost by narrow margins to experienced opponents.

That left the result of the match drawn at 3½  games each, with honours shared.

Fiona Armer [Golf Teams Captain] reports:

Westmorland Croquet Club welcomed The  Bowdon Bombers to Levens for a Level Play League Match on Friday June 21st. The midsummer day was warm and sunny and dry.

Play got underway well before 10am. Bowdon fielded a team of 3 with handicaps of -3, -1 and 0. They were clearly a very able and accomplished opposing team. The home team had handicaps of 6, 9 and 9, so an uphill challenge began.

John, Mark and Bob [pictured above] took on the challenge and fought hard but sadly ended the day W1 BB 17. John Armer, however, was very happy to have taken Bowdon's  -1 player to the golden hoop and won.

Norman Winter [Competition Organiser] reports:

Just 4 players were able to take part in the club's Association Croquet competition day on Wednesday 19th June. It seemed that summer was at last arriving and we enjoyed a very pleasant day on the lawns.

The number of entrants allowed a format of 3 x 2 hour games in which each player played each other, using the 18pt version of the game. This is shorter than a full 26pt game but more complete than the 14pt form which is being tried out in the North West Federation Midweek league this year. 

Phil won all 3 of his matches, which also took his handicap down to 14 at the end of the day, an indicator that he is an improving player within our pool of those who play the AC game.

Mike Hodgson [Captain] reports:

Westmorland's short lawn team travelled to Bowdon on Friday 14th June to play Bowdon Bullets on their perfect lawns. Short grass, and no undulations.

Westmorland adapted well with the game played in good spirit and evenly matched. There followed a long day the last game ending at 5.40pm, two games going to golden hoop which extends playing time.

Westmorland made a good start winning  three of the first four games. But the tide turned in the second four in favour of Bowdon. At lunch time the score was 4-4.

After lunch, Westmorland adapting to the perfect lawns could only manage to win two of the next four games. The pressure was beginning to tell with the score at 6-6. Fatigue was beginning to take hold. The last four games swung to and fro, with Robert Harvey first to win his game, and then Sue Pritchard and Philip Hyman lost. So the final game lay with myself as captain. When time was called the hoop count was even with a golden hoop to play. Fortunately I was able to produce a good finish and won 8-7, giving the match an overall score of 8 games each. 

All players played extremely well and were unlucky to finish in a draw. 

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

The Westmorland team welcomed Chester Chariots in a Level Play league match at Levens Hall on Thursday 13th June.

In contrast to the previous week's match at Chester against the Chester Centurions, Chester's stronger team, this match still had Chester the stronger team by handicap on paper, but by a far narrower margin.

Westmorland's team of David Snaith, Mark Gregory and Neil Marland could not have had a closer tie, neck-and-neck with the strong opposition. At lunch, Westmorland had gained a narrow 5-4 lead. The format means that the afternoon is effectively a replay of the morning with the same pairings drawn in the further rounds of singles matches.

8 of those remaining 9 games went to a close finish, 7-6 or 7-5.

At the end of the day the teams shared the laurels, with a 9-9 draw.

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

The Westmorland team took a battering at the hands of the Chester Centurions in their Level Play league match at Chester on Thursday 6th June.

Playing on Chester's sloping Lawns, which were freshly cut that morning, the day was a challenge. John Armer, Mark Gregory and Neil Marland turned up with a combined handicap of 26, and were faced with a team with a total handicap of 3. It can happen in Level Play, but that is a significant difference.

The final score of the day did not reflect the quality of play from Westmorland who kept fighting back, positioning in front of the hoops only to be knocked away from a ball sent from far across the lawns.

It seemed wherever Chester were sent they always managed to come straight back.

A special mention to Neil for managing to hold his own against a 1 handicapper, and win Westmorland's only win of the day.

An excellent day of play but the final score was Chester 17, Westmorland 1.

Fiona Armer [Captain] reports:

On a beautiful warm and sunny day the Westmorland Handicap Golf team arrived bright and early to play the Bury North team at Coronation Park. Play got off to an early start with Bury winning both Doubles 7/6 7/5.

From the on through the day tha gap between the teams did not widen. At Lunch time the score was B 6 W 4.

After the next round of 4 games Bury did storm ahead, taking a 9-5 lead.

Westmorland  were in a position still to achieve a draw and worked hard to bring back the 4 games. 

At the end there was just one game in it: Final score Bury 10 Westmorland 8

The score does not reflect the high standard of play on the day from both sides who battled individually over many hoops almost to a "who blinks first" to win the game.

Fiona and John Armer kindly hosted the Annual Garden Party at their home on Saturday 1st June. Fiona writes

The 1st of June turned out to be a warm sunny day with the sun shining mostly onto the terrace of our home.  With 18 people attending the annual garden party, silly games got under way. Who knew you get so competitive over Giant Connect Four, Table Football, Pool, Tossing the Hoops, garden croquet with 2 hoops, and a summer quiz set by Lynne Woods.  Well it turns out 18 enthusiastic croquet members.

All accompanied by a great buffet supplied by Burneside Bakery

Many thanks to all who came and with the profit on the food and the drinks and two books that Brenda sold and kindly donated the money the club has gained £189.50 into the funds

The May raffle was drawn on on a wet soggy Tuesday 28th on the lawns . Sue Pritchard drew out Norman who won planters, and Roger Brooks who won a memory box file.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated prizes.

The NW Federation voted at their 2023 AGM to replace the existing 26-point AC midweek Handicap League with a 14-point version. This means that each player now plays singles against each member of the opposing team, in matches timed at 1½ hours. The bisque allocation has also been changed. The match against Fylde on 29th May at Levens Hall was Westmorland's first match in the new format.

By lunchtime, the halfway point, Westmorland were leading by 5-3. Nothing could be taken for granted and the afternoon session saw results spread evenly between the two teams. Westmorland retained their 2 game lead and sealed a 9-7 victory.

The ground had dried out to some extent in comparison with the previous week, but overnight rain still meant that the lawns had not regained the speed we would hope for by this stage of the season. Mowing was hampered by technical problems and continuous rain the day before the match, so the persistent heaviness of the lawns is not for want of trying to get the grass cut shorter, which would be desirable.

Mike Hodgson captained the team on the day. Other players were Roger Brooks, Phil Hyman and Norman Winter, pictured above with members of Fylde's visiting team.

Report by Norman Winter

It was a pleasant day on the lawns, with no need to take shelter under the gazebo, much used this season to provide protection from the elements.

Fylde sent a very capable team and the play ran in their favour, providing them with a comfortable winning margin 11-7.

Report by David Snaith

A reduced team of three players [Norman Winter, Sue Pritchard and Rob Harvey] took on an all-ladies team from Chester in an each-play-each format on Wednesday 22nd May.

In contrast to the previous few sunny days, a rain warning was in force and it rained right through the day. The gazebo offered welcome shelter between matches. For the visitors Sarah Clements, an accomplished golf croquet player, was making her short lawn debut, and won each of her games by a good margin.

Chester's captain Jane Taylor was involved in two finishes with all eyes watching. Against Sue, with the other matches having been completed, she began a final turn with one second to spare on the clock, with only two balls left in play, and four remaining hoops to run, 9-13 down. It looked like impossible odds but she had us all enthralled as she successively ran all four hoops and then pegged out for a 14-13 win accompanied by a round of applause all round.  Then in the final game of the day and the last to be finished, the match stood at 4-4 and she found herself again at 9-13 down. In this match however fortune favoured Westmorland as her opponent Norman pegged out to close the match, and Westmorland finished the day as 5-4 winners.

Report by Norman Winter

The Longman Cup is an annual knockout competition between croquet clubs in Croquet England. Westmorland were drawn against York in the first round, and welcomed the visiting team on Thursday 9th May. The day begand overcast but with a dry forecast, and by the close of the afternoon play the sun was shining in an almost cloudless sky, which made for very pleasant conditions.

Rob and Mike scored a morning win in the doubles. With players very evenly matched in their handicaps, and under special Longman Cup rules regarding bisques, the team qualified for just one bisque. The singles matches had players Sue and Norman matched against York players with equal handicaps, so their matches were effectively level-play matches from the very start. Sue won but Norman lost, leaving the lunchtime score 2-1 in Westmorland's favour.

York turned the tables in the afternoon session with victories in all four matches, an impressive turnaround. We wish them well in further rounds.

Report by Norman Winter

In complete contrast to the beginning of April when the first scheduled match of 2024 in the Short Lawn league had to be cancelled due to a waterlogged lawn, the season actually got under way on the warmest day of the year so far.

The Fylde club were our hosts. The handicapping system for Short Lawn can often work in favour of the less proficient higher handicapped players, so our team of Mike Hodgson [captain, hcp 6], Sue Pritchard [hcp 3.5], Norman Winter [hcp 2.5] and Roger Brooks [hcp 3P] looked on paper to have an uphill task to win.

Some games went to a very close finish but the day began well for our Westmorland team, with wins in all our games. Fylde recovered tin the next round, where the games were split evenly, two to each side. At lunch it was 6-2 in Westmorland's favour.

Fylde won three of the four games directly after lunch, leaving themselves just two games down with a final four games to play, and a reversal of fortunes still possible. However, Westmorland's victory in all but one of the final four matches left the final score 10-6.

An enjoyable match on a pleasant day, and a vistory too, left the Westmorland team feeling very satisfied with the season's delayed start.

Report by Norman Winter

Westmorland have been able to muster a team this season to enter the Level Play Golf league, in addition to the team in the Advantage Handicap league.

On the 1st May the Level Play Golf team headed off to Bury to play the Bury Sovereigns team. It was a beautiful sunny day for both teams to use their skills on super smooth short cut lawns. The Bury team welcomed us warmly and looked after us throughout the day.

With a team of three players in each team, and each player playing each opponent twice in the day, there were 18 games to be won or lost.

Each game was for the first to complete 7 hoops . Many games were close and there was plenty of tussling going on. However Bury had the edge all day and the final score which did not reflect the standard of play was Bury Sovereigns 12 WCC 6.

Well done everyone.

[Report by Fiona Armer]

It was a great sunny but very cold day at Levens Hall on 26th April for Westmorland's Golf Advantage Handicap Match against Crake Valley. 

A very close game, there was all to play for at lunch time as the score was 5 games all.

The next four games went to Westmorland. 9-5 to the home team.

With 4 games left to play and WCC needing only 1 game to win the day, the Westmorland team completed their final matches one by one: lost,7-3; lost, 7-6; lost, 7-6. 9-8 to the home team.

All hung on the last game between Neil Marland vs Karen. Down to the 13th hoop Karen ran through and ended up being very close to the 14th, the deciding hoop. Whoever got it would win the game.

Neal, being at the back of hoop 13 congratulated her, and then casually hit his ball, which ran the full lawn length and quietly rolled through hoop 14.

A cheer went up from everyone watching, including Crake (if though gritted teeth). That made the final score WCC 10 CVCC 8.

Well done to all players, and Man of the Match definitely goes to Neil Marland for that shot.

Report by Fiona Armer [Captain]

The winter and spring weather left the croquet lawn so wet at the start of the season that play had to be suspended till ground conditions improved sufficiently for play not to damage the lawn. Unfortunately the Short Lawn Croquet fixture v Llanfairfechan had to be cancelled. Play resumed in the middle of April.

Fionas Armer's report:

By popular demand another domino drive was held on March 6th at the Bowling Club. The evening was well supported by 22 members and friends.

Thanks to everyone who attended we made £160 for club funds.

All enjoyed a fun night of Dominoes and a super supper provided once again by Margaret Hodgson. Many, many thanks to her. Mike organised the evening's play and the winner was Les Bye with 85 points, with Fiona Armer a close second with 82 points. Both received a "smarties" easter egg.

Thankyou everyone.