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Bakewell Croquet Club started the season enthusiastically despite the chilly weather, it was hard to recognise anyone under the layers of woolly hats and scarves. However last weekend everything improved when the sun came out. Ten members went to enjoy a stay at The Ripon Spa Hotel and play on their superb courts. The mornings were spend playing a friendly tournament with the afternoons free to enjoy exploring the surrounding area. Some of our party took advantage of tuition from the hotel resident coach. As always the club has a busy calendar of events, including friendlies with other clubs, league games, two club tournaments and a BBQ. If anyone is wondering what croquet is all about, please come along to one of our club sessions and one of our members will be pleased to give you a taster lesson.

Bakewell Croquet Club member Dorothy Evans won a closely fought final to win an East Midlands Tournament played at the Nottingham Croquet Club on 30 May, beating fellow club member Mike White into second place.


The tournament was open to all qualifying players within England and had a starting line-up of twenty-four hopefuls. Both Dorothy and Mike topped their group matches in the morning and went on to win their semi-finals to set up an all Bakewell clash for the final. It was a tense game with the lead changing hands throughout the match and Dorothy running out the winner on the last and deciding hoop with a score of 7-6.

After the final Dorothy said, “It was a tense match and at times I thought that I had lost it, but I got a good position on the last hoop and managed to score”.

Mike commented, “It was a very close match all the way through that could have gone either way.  It was great to be part a match that was so close, Dorothy just got the advantage at the last hoop and so deserved to win”.

This is the first year in which this tournament has been run and so Dorothy will be the first name to be engraved on the base of the cup, which will be competed for again next year.

Alan Reeves, Chairman of the Bakewell club remarked, “This is the first time that any club member has entered an external competition and we are all delighted that Dorothy won, although sorry that Mike had to lose”.

Alan went on, “I think that this win really puts us on the map as a club and I encourage anyone who has an interest in a game of skill and tactics to either contact me or come along to one of our club sessions. We provide all the equipment and have qualified coaches to give tuition and guidance”.

Alan’s telephone number is 01629 812603 and club sessions are every Monday and Thursday at 2.00pm and Saturday at 10.00am.

You might have missed it – what with the Olympics and European Cup, but Bakewell Croquet Club played Southwell Croquet Club in a return ‘friendly’ match on Sunday, 10th June. The weather nearly forced us to cancel but it turned out to be a lovely day after two weeks of rain.

We fielded a team of six to five from Southwell so Billie generously offered to play for the opposition. We now have to suspect her loyalties as she played like a demon, ending the day with the best result of her new ‘team mates’, all of whom are very good players! Well done Billie!!!

Despite such treachery, Bakewell managed to sneak a close win at 116 hoops to their score of 91.

Keep an eye open for our next visit to Southwell, it really is a good day out.

By Bob Furniss

This was once again great fun and was held in beautiful weather. I really can recommend it to anyone in the future.

The duo of Furniss & Nursaw was less than dynamic – being let down by the lamentable play of Bob!! One of their more charitable opponents felt so sorry for them, she knocked three of their balls through the hoop for them. No such sentiments from the rest of the opposition though, resulting in a 4 to 2 drubbing overall.

Carol and Dorothy wasted all their lucky (?) shots in one game winning that 7:0. They should have saved some for the other five which they lost.

This left our former semi-finalists, Steve and Gill to salvage our pride – but they weren’t in the salvage business on the day!! Never-the-less, they were still the best of the bunch, winning three games out of six.

Roll on next year!!

by Bob Furniss

KENILWORTH TOURNAMENT
In response to a general invitation from Kenilworth Croquet Club, Steve and Bob found themselves playing there on May 11th.

The Club has two full size courts, probably the best we have ever played on and had attracted five very good teams plus “yours trulys”.

You will be relieved to know that we didn’t completely disgrace Bakewell Croquet Club, winning two out of our five games – admittedly mainly thanks to Steve.

The tournament is run annually as part of the Kenilworth Festival and at no cost to ourselves, coffee and lunch were provided along with excellent hospitality and facilities.

Highly recommended to anyone in the future.

John Handy did a brilliant job of organising the event and we repaid him by playing so slowly that poor John had to shorten some later games to seven hoops as time was running out!! I can tell you, that really focuses the mind.

A really good day and I hope that we will be invited again next year.

Bob Furniss

CLUB SPRING TOURNAMENT

This was held on Saturday 21st May 2011 and was at least as successful as the 2010 event. A total of 21 club members signed up and with Patricia Duke-Cox visiting from the East Midlands Federation there were 22 of us playing. The weather was very kind and the coffee/tea plus cakes that were available all afternoon were enjoyed by all, as was the competition itself.

In term of playing standard, this was the best yet and everyone gave a good account of themselves. The highest scoring club player was Dorothy Evans with 21, followed by David Mackenzie on 20, Steve Marsh had 19 and Janet Flatman, Allen Flatman, George Wolfe and Joan Perry all had 18. The rest of us were distributed in the lower orders.
We now look forward to our Summer Tournament scheduled for 27th August.

David Peters

On Sunday 22nd May the first A team league match was played away at Leicester. Representing Bakewell were Alan Reeves, Bill Robinson and Steve Marsh. The match was played at Victoria Park on the outskirts of Leicester and the three lawns, which are shared with a local bowls club, were near perfect and as the weather was very good (sunny with a little light wind) playing conditions were ideal.

The Leicester team consisted of David Bell, Bob Hall and John Godall, and although they all played well and were strong opposition, Bakewell managed to win the day 8 games to 4.

Mid-way through the afternoon the Home team put on a lovely spread of various types of sandwiches, cake and tea. Unfortunately, during this break the only light shower of the afternoon arrived and the cake was taken inside the pavilion to keep dry. Even more unfortunately, it never re-appeared! However we would like to thank the Leicester team for arranging the match and looking after our team so well.

Steve Marsh