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Sunshine, Scones, and Undefeated Champions: The Abbot’s Cup Delivers!
What a glorious, sun-drenched day we had for this year’s Abbot’s Cup internal doubles tournament! Six intrepid pairs took to the lawns for a spirited round-robin contest, expertly managed by Mark and Alison. We even had a tough panel of four-legged judges keeping a watchful eye on proceedings—big wags of approval to Poppy, Fred, Bertie, and Chippy! It was a delight to welcome Shirley back for her first appearance on the lawns in two years, though the real stars of the sidelines might just have been the refreshments. Players fueled up on homemade cheese & chilli scones, blackberry crumb tray bake, and blackberry crumble. The hoops were feeling generous, even if the lawn speed was a bit of a guessing game—hit a green patch and your ball practically came to a full stop! While the double-bankers suffered a few classic tests of patience with untimed games, the good humor never wavered.
On the competitive side, the drama kept everyone on their toes until the very end. Mark and Gillian Baverstock were looking virtually unstoppable until Ian and Shirley—who hadn’t won a game all day—decided to cause absolute chaos by pulling off a staggering 7-1 upset against them! That set up a fairy-tale final round: an undefeated Andrew and Phil going head-to-head with Gillian and Mark. Down to the absolute wire, it all came down to a golden hoop. The boys held their nerve under pressure to seal the victory and complete a clean sweep of the tournament.
Huge congratulations to Andrew and Phil on taking the trophy, with Susan & Mark Lansdale landing a fantastic second place, and the Baverstocks rounding out the podium in third. A brilliant day of croquet, laughter, and top-tier baking!
Great Effort and Mallet Mayhem at the English National Doubles
The Leicester contingent made their presence felt at Cheltenham for the English National Doubles, bringing plenty of fight and more than a little drama. Brothers Ian and Mark Buckley joined Alison Murray and Paul J. Williams to take on a formidable national field. Day one saw both pairs battling hard in their respective blocks, picking up crucial wins amidst a sea of agonizingly close finishes, though neither quite managed to make the cut for the main knockout.
Day two dialled the excitement up to eleven when the draw pitted our four Leicester players against each other in the Plate knockout. The drama started before a ball was even hit: Alison’s mallet mysteriously vanished, prompting a frantic search and forcing her to navigate the crunch match with a heavy, borrowed clubhouse mallet. Paul rallied brilliantly to keep the scores tight, but the Buckley brothers edged it 10-8. The game was so tantalizing that fellow club members Julie and Phil Selvidge made the trip on day two to cheer on the big local derby, only to arrive just after the final hoop was run!
To cap off the weekend, Alison's missing mallet was eventually tracked down in another competitor's car—who admitted they knew it wasn't theirs because "it had pink on it," before walking off with another player's mallet instead! Though the Buckleys eventually succumbed to Neil Fillery and Stephen Custance Baker, and ultimate glory went to youngsters Sam Cuthbert and Levi Franks, our team returned home with heads held high and an unforgettable new piece of club folklore.
B-Team Brilliant in Gainsborough Battle!
There’s nothing quite like a local derby to bring out the crowds, and our fantastic Leicester B team didn't disappoint when friendly rivals Gainsborough B came to town on July 20th . Supported by a dedicated crew of six cheerleading club members, the squad braced themselves for a proper nail-biter . The match was packed with high drama, tactical mallets, and games so close they could have gone either way. We endured the ultimate croquet tension with several games finishing at 7-5 and others pushed to the absolute limit, deciding themselves on a heart-stopping golden hoop at 6-7.
Despite Gainsborough giving it everything they had and sneaking a few tight wins, Leicester held their nerve beautifully . Richard, Andrew, and Mark Baverstock put on a stellar performance across the five rounds, racking up an impressive 73 hoops to Gainsborough's 60 . When the final clips were counted, Leicester walked away with a brilliant 8-4 fixture victory ! Huge thanks to everyone who came down to shout their support—the B-team juggernaut rolls on!
Club Duo Brave the Northampton Lawns
Susan Lansdale and Julie Selvidge decided on a whim to put in a late entry for the Northampton D Level tournament last weekend. Stepping onto lawns that looked considerably more brown than green, it was a particularly big day for Julie, marking her very first time competing on the national stage. Susan narrowly missed making the main event cut by a single, agonizing hoop, landing herself in the Plate tournament with a first-round bye. Meanwhile, Julie shook off any debut nerves to pick up a fantastic first competitive win against Maureen Ward (7-6), which set up a dramatic, friendly-fire second-round showdown against Susan. Susan took that one 7-6, but the real drama was yet to come.
As the afternoon wore on, the dreaded "double banking" caused massive delays. By the time the Plate final rolled around, patience had apparently run thinner than the grass. With the score deadlocked at 2-2 after 30 minutes, the match was completely abandoned because the opposition decided they simply wanted to get home! Delays aside, it was a brilliant showing from our pair, with Julie officially breaking into the national circuit and Susan proving as formidable as ever.
Mallets, Mayhem, and Melodrama: Nottingham GC Championship
The lawns were buzzing this past weekend as our players fought tooth and nail in a grueling series of best-of-three matches. With handicaps ranging widely from -3 to +3, every hoop was a strategic battleground where seasoned pros and ambitious players met on entirely even terms. Our club trio—Alison Murray, Ian Buckley, and Mark Buckley—were right in the thick of the action, experiencing the full rollercoaster of croquet fortunes, from the sweet taste of a clean sweep to the character-building agony of a narrow defeat.
In Block A, Mark Buckley had a brilliant start, cleanly dispatching David Thirtle-Watts (7-2, 7-3) and showing nerves of steel to edge out Declan MacPhee in two tight frames (7-6, 7-5). While the later rounds having made the cut, brought some tough hurdles courtesy of Rachel Gee and Joshua Wise.
Alison Murray proved to be the star of the Shield event, putting on a clinical display to defeat Giles Pepperell and securing bragging rights with a straight-games victory (7-3, 7-6) over none other than Ian Buckley.
Three cheers to everyone who competed but it was Richard Bilton who won the event.
Marriage Test At Southwell
Claire & Nick Van Dijk decided to test their marriage and croquet skills at Southell in the doubles competitions. They have not really played together and never experianced the Southwell small lawns but they fancied a bit of competitive play. The weather was good (hot) and people were lovely (Nick chatted his way round) but no trophy this time.
Owen is the Star Again
The team for the East Midlands Fed - 14 Point Association Tournement was Richard, Mark Lansdale and Owen travelling to Ashby. Mark struggled with their "no grass" lawns but it was not a problem for Owen who once again played out of this skin securing wins 14-0, 12-2 &12-2. In the end it was a close competition with Leicester coming second to Ashby. Well done guys.
Leicester Croquet Quartet Denied by Southport in Golden Hoop Thriller
A fearless Leicester quartet consisting of Alison Murray, Mark Buckley, Mark Lansdale, and Paul Williams ventured north on July 10 for a high-stakes Murphy Shield quarter-final. The road trip was highly efficient, with the team successfully putting the world to rights before arrival, though their subsequent evening quest to find a pub with a decent pint of beer proved entirely fruitless. Undeterred by the lack of local hospitality, the early-rising squad turned up at the Southport lawns at 8:30 AM—a full hour before the start—pleasantly surprised to find grass awaiting them.
With only a single handicap point separating the two sides, the encounter transformed into an absolute marathon of nerves. Every single match was a grueling best-of-three-games affair, featuring an agonizing seven "golden hoop" tie-breakers and another six games finishing at a tight 7-5. Paul Williams dismantling Dave Venables including a 7-1 in their final game, while Mark Lansdale and Alison Murray both dug deep to secure hard-fought games in their respective three-game singles battles but victory was avail. In the doubles, Buckley and Williams pushed the hosts to the absolute limit, trading 7-6 nail-biters. Though Southport ultimately clinched the match 5-1, the Leicester squad can hold their mallets high after pushing the hosts to the wire in a truly epic contest.
REMEMBERING DAVID WHITE
David joined Leicester Croquet Club in the early years back in the 1980’s. Initially he came on a Learn to Play course run over 6 weeks by Lawrence Whittaker. In those days it was Association Croquet or Short Croquet ( no-one played Golf Croquet !). He quickly picked up the game and became very proficient. Indeed, he started helping Lawrence with the introductory courses and was a very good teacher. His brother, Richard, joined about the same time and the two of them rapidly improved. David was an important part of the Leicester team that won the local Federation league 7 times between 1989 and 2001. League winners were entered into the national Secretary’s Shield in the following year, which Leicester won, (David taking part) in 1992. In those years David was also an important part of Leicester’s Longman Cup team. That team won the cup in 1990 and also did very well between 1991 and 1996. In 1989 David won the national individual All England Handicap Singles tournament which his brother Richard also won in 1990. Not only that, but David was also an intrinsic part of the Leicester Short Croquet team that won the national team event 3 times in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His handicap plummeted. David continued playing his beloved A.C. at a very high level until recently.
Off the lawns David was a valued member of the club’s committee for many years and was always willing to share his immense expertise and experience with anyone who asked for help.
David passed away on Saturday 20th June at Glenfield Hospital of heart failure (a problem he had suffered from for about 14 years but which he had kept to himself). He will be greatly missed.
REMEMBERING DAVID WHITE
David joined Leicester Croquet Club in the early years back in the 1980’s. Initially he came on a Learn to Play course run over 6 weeks by Lawrence Whittaker. In those days it was Association Croquet or Short Croquet ( no-one played Golf Croquet !). He quickly picked up the game and became very proficient. Indeed, he started helping Lawrence with the introductory courses and was a very good teacher. His brother, Richard, joined about the same time and the two of them rapidly improved. David was an important part of the Leicester team that won the local Federation league 7 times between 1989 and 2001. League winners were entered into the national Secretary’s Shield in the following year, which Leicester won, (David taking part) in 1992. In those years David was also an important part of Leicester’s Longman Cup team. That team won the cup in 1990 and also did very well between 1991 and 1996. In 1989 David won the national individual All England Handicap Singles tournament which his brother Richard also won in 1990. Not only that, but David was also an intrinsic part of the Leicester Short Croquet team that won the national team event 3 times in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His handicap plummeted. David continued playing his beloved A.C. at a very high level until recently.
Off the lawns David was a valued member of the club’s committee for many years and was always willing to share his immense expertise and experience with anyone who asked for help.
David passed away on Saturday 20th June at Glenfield Hospital of heart failure (a problem he had suffered from for about 14 years but which he had kept to himself). He will be greatly missed.
REMEMBERING DAVID WHITE
David joined Leicester Croquet Club in the early years back in the 1980’s. Initially he came on a Learn to Play course run over 6 weeks by Lawrence Whittaker. In those days it was Association Croquet or Short Croquet ( no-one played Golf Croquet !). He quickly picked up the game and became very proficient. Indeed, he started helping Lawrence with the introductory courses and was a very good teacher. His brother, Richard, joined about the same time and the two of them rapidly improved. David was an important part of the Leicester team that won the local Federation league 7 times between 1989 and 2001. League winners were entered into the national Secretary’s Shield in the following year, which Leicester won, (David taking part) in 1992. In those years David was also an important part of Leicester’s Longman Cup team. That team won the cup in 1990 and also did very well between 1991 and 1996. In 1989 David won the national individual All England Handicap Singles tournament which his brother Richard also won in 1990. Not only that, but David was also an intrinsic part of the Leicester Short Croquet team that won the national team event 3 times in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His handicap plummeted. David continued playing his beloved A.C. at a very high level until recently.
Off the lawns David was a valued member of the club’s committee for many years and was always willing to share his immense expertise and experience with anyone who asked for help.
David passed away on Saturday 20th June at Glenfield Hospital of heart failure (a problem he had suffered from for about 14 years but which he had kept to himself). He will be greatly missed.
Leicester Foursome Brave the Heatwaves and Hoops in Nottingham
Four of Leicester’s finest—Claire Van Dijk, Susan Lansdale, Anne Wright, and Jen Housden—braved enemy territory recently to compete in the scorching Nottingham C-Level tournament. On a day hot enough to melt a mallet, the lawns were blisteringly fast, but our intrepid players managed to survive by aggressively hunting for shade and treating ice cream and water as competitive necessities. The fierce conditions didn't stop the squad from making an impact, with Jen and Claire successfully battling their way into the high-stakes knockout rounds of the main event, while Susan and Anne pivotally pivoted to hold the fort in the Plate competition.
The intradistrict civil war started early in Block C, where Jen Housden secured a 7-2 victory over clubmate Anne Wright, setting the tone for a brilliant run. Jen went on a merciless tear, knocking out Claire Van Dijk 7-2 in the main knockout and later dispatching Christopher MacPhee 7-5. She made it all the way to the grand final, ultimately finishing as a spectacular runner-up after a razor-thin 7-5 loss to Alex Aiton. Meanwhile, Anne Wright exacted her revenge on the sport by crushing Dave Webb 7-2 in the Saucer, and Susan Lansdale dominated Kate Packham 7-5. It was a day of sunburns, stellar sportsmanship, and serious silverware potential, proving once again that Leicester croquet players only get better when the pressure—and the temperature—stews.
Susan Conquers Nottingham
The lawns of Nottingham were treated to a proper Leicester masterclass on July 7, as our very own Susan Lansdale marched into the D-Level Tournament and essentially refused to leave without the silverware even if it was very small. Displaying the kind of cold-blooded composure usually reserved for chess grandmasters—or people avoiding the club cleanup duty—Susan racked up an impressive string of victories. She dispatched Andy Neill in a tense knockout match, coolly outmaneuvered Katy Hill in the final. Huge congratulations to Susan for bringing the glory back home!
Leicester Trio Takes on Nailsea: Alison Murray Claims Plate Glory!
A formidable Leicester trio consisting of Mark Buckley, Paul Williams, and Alison Murray made the journey southwest to Nailsea over the weekend of July 4th–5th to compete in a highly competitive A-Level tournament. Split across two blocks for the initial stages, the Leicester contingent found themselves facing stiff opposition. Despite fighting hard through a grueling series of block games on Saturday, none of the trio managed to qualify for the Main Knockout. However, as any resilient croquet player knows, missing out on the main trophy simply means a second chance at silverware in the Plate event—and that is where the magic happened.
The Plate Knockout on Sunday turned into an absolute showcase for Leicester determination, particularly for Alison Murray. While Mark and Paul battled courageously against tough opponents like Martin Strange and Steve Durston, Alison went on an absolute tear. She comprehensively dispatched Martin Strange with a resounding 10–5 victory and then bounced back from an early 7–6 glitch against Budleigh Salterton’s Pat Coulter to defeat him twice (7–5 and 7–4) to claim the Plate title and a bottle of wine! It was a fantastic weekend of high-level croquet on some tight hoops, proving once again that you can never count a Leicester player out until the final hoop is run!
Branston C Weathers the Lawns to Edge Past Leicester B
A mid-summer day on July 21st saw Branston C host Leicester B in a fiery encounter that tested both stamina and accuracy . Players arriving at the club might have mistaken the venue for a desert outpost; Branston’s lawns had completely traded their traditional British look for a crisp shade of baked-potato brown thanks to the relentless summer heat. Despite playing on a surface that felt more like a backyard patio than a standard croquet lawn, the home side adapted remarkably well to the lightning-fast, scorched conditions
The match itself proved to be a masterclass in perseverance, turning into a tight 12-game battle where every hoop was fiercely contested. While Leicester B put up a stellar fight—frequently finding their range on the baked terrain—Branston C managed to keep their cool when it mattered most. The hosts ultimately clinched a hard-earned 7–5 victory, out-scoring the visitors by 60 hoops to 54 . It was a fantastic team effort that proved Branston C can handle the heat both literally and figuratively
Leicester A Triumphs Over Branston A on the Home Lawns
It was a glorious day for croquet as Leicester A welcomed Branston A to our beautifully manicured green lawns -not a sight they are used to seeing! The home side absolutely hit the ground running, setting a blistering pace that left the visitors chasing shadows. Mark and Ian Buckley proved to be an absolute powerhouse duo, while Jen Housden held her nerve in some incredibly tight battles—including a thrilling 7-6 nail-biter in Game 6. In total, Leicester racked up an impressive 9 wins and scored a whopping 74 hoops, commanding the day from start to finish. Branston fought back valiantly in a few close rounds (with Pauline and Stuart picking up a tight 7-6 win in Game 3), but Leicester’s home turf advantage proved far too strong to overcome. With a final match score of 9-2 in favor of the hosts, with Game 12 officially being marked as "Not Played" after one of the Branston players unfortunately began to feel unwell. Jen also dropped a handicap to now being a 6!
Remembering David White
David joined Leicester Croquet Club in the early years back in the 1980’s. Initially he came on a Learn to Play course run over 6 weeks by Lawrence Whittaker. In those days it was Association Croquet or Short Croquet ( no-one played Golf Croquet !). He quickly picked up the game and became very proficient. Indeed, he started helping Lawrence with the introductory courses and was a very good teacher. His brother, Richard, joined about the same time and the two of them rapidly improved. David was an important part of the Leicester team that won the local Federation league 7 times between 1989 and 2001. League winners were entered into the national Secretary’s Shield in the following year, which Leicester won, (David taking part) in 1992. In those years David was also an important part of Leicester’s Longman Cup team. That team won the cup in 1990 and also did very well between 1991 and 1996. In 1989 David won the national individual All England Handicap Singles tournament which his brother Richard also won in 1990. Not only that, but David was also an intrinsic part of the Leicester Short Croquet team that won the national team event 3 times in 1991, 1994 and 1995. His handicap plummeted. David continued playing his beloved A.C. at a very high level until recently.
Off the lawns David was a valued member of the club’s committee for many years and was always willing to share his immense expertise and experience with anyone who asked for help.
David passed away on Saturday 20th June at Glenfield Hospital of heart failure (a problem he had suffered from for about 14 years but which he had kept to himself). He will be greatly missed.
C Team Sweat It Out With Derby K
On one of the hottest days on record, the C team welcomed members of Derby K to Monks Rest. With the high temperatures,
and Derby’s combined handicaps of 23 against our own of 33, we knew it would be a tough day - and it was! At the start of the day, Claire & Susan were joined in the doubles games by Julie J
playing her first league match; under the league rules, Michael, also playing his first league match, substituted for Julie before lunch. By lunchtime, we were drawing 3-3, but fortified by (not too
much!) lunch, Leicester resumed play with added determination, taking 4 of the next 6 games (including MIchael’s singles win). Overall score, a win to Leicester at 7-5, although the overall hoop
score of 63 to 59 indicates just how close the games were.
Ashby A Sizzle to Victory Against Familiar Foes in the June Heatwave
On a blistering June 22nd that saw temperatures soar to a melting 27°C, the lawns of Ashby played host to a classic, tight-fought clash in the FEMCC Golf Croquet League. It was Ashby A facing off against long-time rivals Leicester A. Given how many times these two squads have battled over the years, the players knew each other’s playing styles, tactical quirks. To make matters more interesting, the Ashby lawns were as delightfully chaotic as ever—proving to be an absolute minefield with both lawns being incredibly bumpy, while one ran agonizingly slow and the other lightning fast due to the patchy summer grass. It was a true test of patience and survival, particularly during the heavyweight clash of the top seeds, as Ashby's Mike O'Brian (Handicap 0) and Leicester's Mark Buckley (Handicap 1) tried to navigate the terrain.
The 5-round marathon proved to be an absolute thriller, with neither side willing to give an inch under the baking sun. While Leicester A drew blood early in the doubles and managed to snatch some tight 7-6 victories in the later rounds, Ashby A’s local knowledge of their own bumpy backyard ultimately saw them through. Thanks to a dominant Round 3 sweep and crucial singles victories, the home side managed to keep their cool just enough to handle the unpredictable bounces. When the dust (and sweat) settled, Ashby A emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins: 7 match wins to 5, and a razor-thin 73-70 advantage in total hoops scored. Rumor has it the true winners of the day were the cold beverages which kept everyone going throughout the day.
Solstice Swings, Snacks, and a Sunset Standoff
A brilliant turnout of 18 members gathered at the club to celebrate the summer solstice, eagerly trading the oppressive daytime heat for the mercifully cooler evening air. The main event was a wonderfully casual tournament where, if we are being completely honest, the fierce competition took a back seat to the relentless gossiping and a spectacular spread of food between games.
As the sun fully set and darkness crept over the lawns, the tournament reached a dramatic climax. In a classic display of sibling rivalry meets solo survival, Phil—bravely playing entirely on his own—faced off against the formidable brother-and-sister duo of Claire and Mark. Ultimately, it wasn't tactical genius that decided the match, but the complete inability to see the hoops anymore. In what was a beautifully fitting end to a relaxed evening, the game was called at a 5-5 stalemate as darkness got the better of everyone.
Leicester B Clatters Darley Dale A 11-1
Mallets aligned perfectly for Leicester B as they handed Darley Dale A a masterclass in polite ruthlessness in the EMCC Golf Croquet League (GC45 Div 3).
The home trio of Richard Whiting, Phil Selvidge, and Anne Wright dominated from the opening swing. Leicester swept Rounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 entirely—including a spectacular 7-0 exclamation point in the final game.
Darley Dale A bravely avoided a total whitewash by clawing back a single, hard-fought 7-6 win in Round 3. While we applaud their fighting spirit, it did briefly ruin our perfect clean sheet.
The final damage ....
A resounding 11-1 victory! Brilliant play from Richard, Phil, and Anne. To our visitors: thank you for the wonderful company and sportsmanship.
A Home Win for Leicester C
Julie S, Rob & Mark L represented the C Team for their first home match this season v Southwell C.
Strong performances in the first 3 rounds (with Julie, cool under pressure, securing two of the doubles games on the Golden Hoop), saw Leicester take a 4-2 lead by lunchtime. Southwell fought back in the 4th round winning 2/3 singles games, so, with the score standing at 5-4 to Leicester, there was a lot riding on final round. Mark and Rob both won their singles games to secure a 7-5 victory for Leicester. Tight matches throughout the day from friendly opposition.
Leicester C Team's First Match of the Season - Drawn
Dire warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms (which thankfully proved to be completely unfounded) Mark L, Julie S and Susan set out for Derby for the first C Team match of the season.
A warm welcome was provided by members of Derby F team and play commenced promptly on the club's 5/7 sized lawns. All the games were challenging and the day unfolded with both teams keeping their neck drawing every round- 3 all at lunchtime turned to six all at close a play, with Derby taking 66 hoops to Leicester’s 65. Some good play by Leicester's team with everyone winning at least two of their games - and Julie's golden hoop win clinching the draw! We look forward to welcoming the Derby K team at Leicester later in the month.
Leicester Cruises to Victory as Chester’s Early Onslaught Ends in Scones and Defeat
The highly anticipated GC InterClub Tier 2 clash between Leicester and Chester took place on our home turf this week. On paper, it was a dead heat—both sides boasting an identical handicap spread of 1, 2, 3, and 5. On the lawns, however, it was a day of swift play, superb catering, and a highly satisfying 5-1 victory for Leicester.
Evidently eager to get the psychological edge—or perhaps just desperately seeking midlands hospitality—the Chester squad arrived a full hour before the agreed start time. Thankfully, our tactical response was flawless. With heavy rain forecast, the Leicester defense immediately deployed a counter-offensive of scones and biscuits. Once the baked goods were successfully consumed, play commenced ahead of schedule.
The morning doubles saw old friends and circuit rivals face off, as Leicester’s Paul and Mark took on Chester's Sarah and Sam. Our boys stormed the first game 7-2, only for Chester to mimic the scoreline right back at them in the second. Showing true grit, Paul and Mark rallied to take the decider 7-3, securing the first crucial point.
Over on the singles lawns:
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Alison put on a clinical display, dispatching Chester's Andy in straight games.
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Richard fought valiantly against Chester’s captain, Edward, but ultimately fell in two tight games after a nail-biting tie-breaker.
At lunch, Leicester unleashed its secret weapon: a substantial feast catered by the brilliant Claire. Heavy with carbs and ambition, the teams headed out for the afternoon singles with Leicester needing just two more wins to seal the tie.
They didn't have to wait long:
- Mark put on a masterclass against Sarah, winning 4-7, 5-7 to put Leicester on the brink of victory.
- The eternal rivalry renewed: Paul battled his old nemesis Sam in a tense affair, ultimately breaking Chester hearts with a 7-3, 7-6 triumph.
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Richard found his rhythm on the outer lawn, comfortably avenging his morning defeat by dismantling Andy 7-3, 7-3.
Chester’s captain, Edward, did manage to claw back a consolation point by defeating Alison 7-5. However, with the overall match already mathematically dead at 5-1 to Leicester, the pair sensibly decided to wrap things up early.
Summary
In an unprecedented turn of events for British summertime, the forecast rain completely failed to materialize. Instead, the only thing pouring was the good spirits. By 2:00 PM, the whole affair was wrapped up, allowing our delightful visitors from Chester to hit the road early to beat the traffic.
A fantastic day of competitive croquet, wonderful company, and excellent food.
Inter Club Tier 3 - Bowl: Leicester Beat Woodhall Spa 6-1
With a wet start to the week and a cooler and variable outlook forecast on the day of the match the likelihood of showers was easily forgotten as play got underway.
With both teams having closely matched handicaps every hoop was keenly contested. The best of 3 games per round was unfamiliar for the less experienced Leicester side. The away team, Woodhall Spa, soon eroded any home advantage as they transitioned to full sized lawns. Each of the games were keenly contested with the doubles lasting 3 hours and together with one of the singles games going the full distance. As lunch approached Leicester were 2:1 up.
The afternoon welcomed minimal wet stuff and therefore continued uninterrupted. Again 2 out of 3 matches went the full distance. So 18 games, a couple of hundred hoops, a couple of packets of biscuits and many cups of tea and squash latter Leicester won 6:1 and is through to the quarter finals.
Both teams enjoyed the competition and thank you to JP for organising the tournament.
Home Team : Richard Whiting H'Cap 5
Phil Selvidge H'Cap 6
Andrew York H'Cap 7
Jen Housden H'Cap 7
Away Team : John Palframan H'Cap 5
Robert Potter H'Cap 5
Patricia Duke-Cox H'Cap 6
Robert Scott H'Cap 6
Leicester Conquers Watford in Longmans Cup Thriller (And Owen Strikes Silver!)
The opening round of the Association Croquet "Longmans Cup" saw Leicester drawn against Watford. Opting for a neutral venue, our intrepid quartet of Ian, Richard, Owen, and Mark Lansdale set off for a grueling day of tactical warfare.
The format was demanding: a three-hour time limit for a doubles and two singles matches in the morning, followed by four singles in the afternoon.
Morning Glory & The Owen Show
The morning kicked off with Mark and Ian (proudly carrying the title of "The Novice") taking on the doubles. Armed with a 5-bisque advantage and nerves of steel, they ground out a thrilling victory by a single, solitary hoop.
If the morning belonged to teamwork, the rest of the day belonged to Owen, who played as if his mallet had been blessed by the gods. After blazing through a massive 22-hoop victory in his first game.
The afternoon singles saw Leicester truly assert their dominance. Most impressively, Owen ran 12 hoops in a single turn without using a single bisque—a spectacular display that earned him the Croquet England Silver Merit Badge. Richard was in form, winning one of his matches, while Mark put the icing on the cake with a stellar performance of his own in the singles.
When the dust settled, Leicester emerged victorious with a commanding 5-2 win. Watford has been sent packing, and the squad is already looking ahead.
Shrewsbury, we are coming for you.......
Dixon's Cup at Ashby...... Oh So Close
From Mallets to Mayhem: Leicester’s Season Opener
The lawns were manicured, the whites were (mostly) bleached, and the tension was thick enough to trip over as Leicester A hosted Sheffield A for the first clash of the season.
The Morning Masterclass
Leicester came out swinging—or rather, swinging with precision. The trio of Jen, Paul, and David looked unstoppable in the early hours. By the time the lunch bell rang, the home side had carved out a commanding 4-2 lead, having snatched two out of three doubles matches and two out of three in the initial singles rounds.
The sandwiches tasted like victory, and the mood was buoyant. With only three more singles wins needed to seal the deal, the "Mission Accomplished" banners were practically being unfurled.
The Post-Lunch Plot Twist
However, as any croquet veteran knows, a lunch break can be a dangerous thing. Whether it was the digestive process or a sudden surge of Sheffield steel, the tide turned faster than a stray hoop-shot.
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The Clock Strikes: David found himself in a grueling tactical battle against Sheffield’s third seed, ultimately falling victim to the relentless march of the timepiece.
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The Number One Menace: Both Jen and Paul put up a valiant fight against Sheffield’s top-ranked player, but the visitor proved to be a mountain too high to climb on this occasion.
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The Lone Point: In a gritty display of afternoon resilience, Paul managed to claw back a win against the Sheffield number three, providing the only bright spot in a challenging second half.
The Final Verdict: 7–5 to Sheffield
It was a classic game of two halves. Despite the early dominance, Leicester finished the day with 5 games to Sheffield’s 7.
While the trophy cabinet remains empty for this week, the performance showed plenty of promise. The A Team has proven they can outplay last year's league winners; they just need to figure out how to keep that momentum going through the afternoon tea!
The challenge for the league title is officially on. Watch this space.
Northern Star Qualifier & The Double Gee
For the second time this year Paul, Alison, Ian & Mark made the short trip over to Ashby. This time it was to compete in the new one day competition a Northern Star qualifing round. The Leicester guys were split evenly across both blocks and were joined by some familiar faces. Mark was second in his block with 4 wins out of five having dropped a game to Rachel Gee who was top. In block B Mike O'Brien and David Cornes took the top 2 positions both with 4 wins, with Ian being third. Paul & Alison went into the bottom section of the next round of the competition along with John Picken & Judith, while Ian played Sandra Cornes and Andy Sherwood. Mark beat Mike O'Brien in the Semi final and then faced Rachel Gee in the final. Mark stated well with a 3-1 lead, then at 9-6 everything was looking good but Rachel was not backing down and she pulled it back to 9-9. Mark put a good black in for the 13th but Rachel pulled out a fantastic clearance from the baseline behind hoop 12 sending Mark's black to the 13th hoop baseline. Mark held his nerve and ran the hoop with the black to win the match and entry into the main Northern Star event at Bowden later in the season. He also won the challenger award for the most points gained on the green card (over 70 changing his handicap to 1). Full details are on Croquet scores.
More impressively Mark did the Double Gee beating both Will and Rachel Gee in match games this week!!
Inter Club Tier 1 - Nottingham v Leicester
On a dull bank holiday Leicester made the short trip up to Nottingham knowing it was likely to be the end of this years competition with Nottingham's total handicap equaling -5. Euan & Ian Burridge were joined by Will Gee & Andy Sherwood. Leicester had the normal lot and David came to support as skipper. The match was over quickly with a few hoops scored along the way and Mark even managed a game againt Will but the result was 5-0 to Nottingham
The Baverstocks Kick Off Their Season
Mark & Gillian travelled to Watford for the C level to start their season of competitions. Mark managed 2 wins out of 3 in his group but missed out on making the cut on hoop difference. Gillian did not manage a win so both went into the plate competition in the afteroon. Mark & Gillian came head to head in the second rouund of the knockout and after a close game 7-5, Gillian took the match and booked her place in the final, which she went on to win in another 7-5 game.
And The New Season Opens
Alison, Ian, Mark & Paul have staters the season's competitions with the Cheltenham Open (11/4/26) and Murphy Shield (16/4/26).
Only Ian made the cut after day one and he managed to progress to the semi final where he narrowly missed out on Golden hoop. Others had a shortened second day due to heavy rain.
Then the four travel to Ashby for the Murphy Shield. It was a good start with Mark & Ian winning their doubles and Paul & Alison both winning their singles in 2 games. After lunch they started slowly in the next round of singles with Ian falling to Arthur in just 2 games, Paul & Alison each won one and lost one but the last games were not played as Leicester secured the win with Mark beating his opponent in 2 games. Next round will be either Nottingham or Chester.
National Competitons - Sign up to Play
Leicester have entered teams in 4 National competitions so make yourself known if you want to be in the squads as each round of the event needs a team of 4 players.
Golf Croquet Competitions:
Inter Club Tier 1 - No handicap restrictions
Murphy Tier 2 (Shield) - Handicap of the team must be at least 8
Tier 3 (Bowl) Handicap of the team must be at least 20
Association Croquet Competitions:
Longsman Trophies - Handicap of the team must be at least 24 and each player must have a handicap of at least 3.5
2026 Coaching Sessions
A number of GC coaching sessions will be taking place on Mondays and Fridays throughout May. Please see the notice board for more information and sign up sheets.
There is also Extra Turns Handicap Coaching taking place on Sundays at 12:30 in April once the season starts.
2026 Season Starts.....
Club house spring clean takes place on Saturday 17th April. Come down and lend a hand.
AGM takes place on Sunday 18th April. Please come to cast your vote and have your say.
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