End of Season Club Closedown
What a fantastic turn out of helpers arrived to clean, tidy, weed and generally help with all the jobs needed before closing the club for the winter period. It was a bright sunny morning and everyone’s positivity made for a fun session. Well done everyone!!!
Annual General Meeting 25th October 2025
The AGM was chaired by our club’s President Simon Carter with report updates given by Chairman Roddy Willett, Secretary Grenville Perry, Tournament Manager Terrey Spark and Treasurer Mary Williams. Huge thanks were given to all officers and committee members and others who help make the club successful throughout the year. The cost of membership subscriptions for the next season were voted upon and good ideas proposed for discussion at future meetings. Welcome to the committee it’s new members Dan, Mary and Dorothy and special thanks to Roddy, Gwenda and Mary who have work incredibly hard this year and have now stepped down.
Annual End of Season Croquet Club Lunch and Trophy Presentation
Great to see so many members attending the end of season croquet club lunch at Heacham Manor Hotel on 20th October followed by Chairman Roddy Willett presenting trophies to the season’s competition winners. Congratulations to all.
E.A.2025 Challenge Series – Weekend 20th/21 September
The final and third meeting took place this weekend which determined the overall winners. Unfortunately due to inclement weather the July meeting had to be abandoned, however the general opinion appeared that the event split into Golf & Association Croquet was a great success.
Saturday being for Golf Croquet Advantage attracted nine teams and play proved to be most competitive and overall teams managed to complete five games each resulting in a nail biting finish in which the Norwich ‘A’ team consisting of Sarah Barley, Eppie Zandvoort and Don Holgate ran out the winners. The Hunstanton 1 & 3 teams being the joint runner-up.
Sunday attracted four entries for Association which resulted in the Great Dunham ‘A’, team of Duncan Hector and husband & wife Roland & Marilyn Bergan running out the overall winners.
Thank you to Tournament Manager Terrey Sparks and everyone who helped make the series a success. Well done to all the teams with particular congratulations to the competition winners.
Members League Final 15th September
After 100 matches contested by 23 competitors this year’s inaugural Members League reached it’s climax with the final held before our club afternoon. A closely fought match ended with joss Vincent narrowly beating Maria Crompton 7-6. Huge thanks to everyone involved over the season especially Bev Runchman for co-ordinating the event.
Wrest Park AC Handicap Weekend
Congratulations to David Boxell on another AC win after beating Tim Nurse in a dramatic final.
Photo – Eric Audsley (Manager) presenting the trophy to David Boxell. George Collin (on the left) receiving Wrest Park’s version of the Wooden Spoon!
Kendal Cup Doubles – 14th September
Despite the rainy afternoon some great croquet was played – congratulations to winners Janet and Maria who were pushed all the way to the golden hoop by runners up Thelma and Gwenda.
Kendal Cup – Singles 13th September
Lovely day for the Kendal Cup. Thank you to Gary for running a super smooth tournament, to Ellie for the catering and Janet for presenting the trophy and to all the participants. Huge congratulations to the winner Colin, the runner up Roddy and Ellie and Peter the semi-finalists.
Nottingham Croquet Club AC Handicap Weekend Tournament
A massive congratulations to David Boxell who won the Nottingham Croquet Club AC Handicap Weekend Tournament – what a fantastic achievement. Pictured below L-R Andy Sherwood (runner up), Ian Vincent (Nottingham CC) and David Boxell (winner with a score of 26-8).
Carpenter Cup 2025
Showery but enjoyable day for the Carpenter Cup. Congratulations to winner Mary Core and runner up Zena Penty. A massive thank you to Tournament Manager Gary Lewis, Noelene for the lovely afternoon tea and Janet Carpenter for presenting the trophy. As always thanks to everyone who helped set up and clear away the lawns and clubhouse.
East Anglian Challenge Series 2025 – 2nd Leg
Club Doubles 28th August
A lovely day for the annual club doubles tournament. Congratulations to winners David Thirtle-Watts and Dorothy English and runners up Colin Spencer and Mary Core.
126th Annual 4 Day AC 23rd-26th August
This historic tournament took place as usual over a (mostly) warm and sunny bank holiday. The entry numbers were slightly down on previous years, and we missed some familiar faces, but the standard was as good as ever.
As always, a huge thank you to the teams who give up their time over the 4 days – from some at 7:15 in the morning, during the day and at 8pm closing the shutters and locking up. These tournaments could not happen without them!
Lovely to see our past president George Noble, presenting the trophies.
Trophy winners were:
Class A : Phil Eardley (Big thanks to Phil for running the tournament)
Class B: Mark Simmerson
Class ?: Martin Russell
Egyptian: Ken Knock Runner up: Betty Bates.
Bright Shirts Day 2025
One of our favourite events ‘Bright shirts day’ kept the rain away! Well done to worthy winner Alf looking very tropical and thank you to Marian Loades for being the judge. What a fun day!!
Invitation Weekend Singles and Doubles 26/27 July
What a wonderful weekend meeting up with friends old and new. Good weather, good lawns, good company and cracking games to enjoy – including a nearest the pin decider for runners up in the doubles!
Singles Level Play: Alex Wood (1) defeated Marilyn Wood (6) on the golden hoop. Advantage: Ellie Lewis defeated Gwenda Mackenzie twice – winner and runner up.
Doubles: Les Heard gets his name on the trophy once again – this time assisted by Mary Core . Runners up (by nearest the pin) Pauline and Clare. See full report from Terrey Sparks below.
Another sunny day for the doubles when 6 top and tailed pairs were expertly managed by Gary. Some close games ended with Ellie and Gerry as runners up to David and Richard – guaranteeing at least one new name on the trophy. Happy birthday too, to Mary. I won’t say how old she is, but Mary, you are amazing!
Green Shutters Doubles Tournament – 17th July
Golf Croquet A- Level (0+) Series Tournament 12th -13th July 2025
Green Shutters Singles Tournament -3rd July
Another beautifully sunny day was enjoyed throughout the Green Shutters Singles tournament on Thursday 3rd July. 8 entrants battled through to the knockout round and the overall winner was Roddy Willett and runner-up Ellie Lewis. Thanks to tournament manager Gary Lewis and to everyone who helped to make the day a success.
B and C Level Golf Croquet Series 28th and 29th June 25
Thank you to Tournament Manager Terrey Sparks, catering volunteers and everyone else who helped during the continued extremely hot weather.
Reports by Tournament Manager Terrey Sparks.
Competition Hoop Setting
26th June 2025
Thank you to everyone who came along this morning to help with the hoop setting and Gary and Pete for their expertise. It was also a perfect opportunity to clear some of the pine cones and needles sitting menacingly near to the lawns. Everyone was rewarded with tea and hot cross buns – thanks as always to Ellie!
East Anglian 2025 Challenge Series
21st-22nd June
A fantastic 1st weekend of association and golf croquet played on amazing lawns in a lovely atmosphere.
Hunstanton Golf Croquet Championship (7-8 June) Report
Hampson Salver GC Open Series May 17-18
Tournament Report
The sun might have shone over the weekend, but regular visitors were not surprised that, although it was Sunny Hunny, the flags were still being driven by that regular North Easterly off the North Sea. Still, croquet players are a hardy bunch and a full complement of 16 from far and wide with a range of handicaps were not going to be put off enjoying the 5 superb lawns that were awaiting them
Using the standard C.E. format, for the first day the players were split into two groups of eight in an all play all after which the following day the top four proceeded into a straight knock-out. The lower group met in a subsidiary group of all play all for the Plate. In Group ‘A’, it was no surprise that Simon Carter and last year’s winner Andrew Hobbs soon became the early favourites. However, Mike Bilton and newcomer Colin Spencer were not far behind. In Group ‘B’ Albie Willett always set the pace but was always in the sights of Alex wood, Ross Bagni and Edwin Bone.
On the second day, after proceeding through to the semi-finals of best of three games, the final round ended up with Club President Simon Carter meeting Albie Willett. This game produced some very high class play, which not only entertained the audience through the whole length of the three games, but kept them glued to their seats in the mildly cold wind. Despite a strong start by Simon winning the first game 7 – 4, Albie raised the stakes by winning the second and third games both by 7 – 5 producing some very entertaining croquet.
Alex Wood beat Mike Bilton 10 -7 to run out the winner of The Shield and Ashley Deacon ended up the winner of the Plate.
Presentations were made by The Club President Roddy Willett
Terrey Sparks
Tournament Manager
PRICHARD AC OPEN LEVEL WEEKEND
Many thanks to everyone who organised and helped at the Prichard Tournament played over the May Day bank holiday weekend. Well done to all players who braved the chilly wind and huge congratulations to winner Neil Adams.
INTRODUCTION TO CROQUET COURSES AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Congratulations to everyone who attended the 4 half day ‘Introduction to Croquet’ training course. A huge thankyou to Andrew, Caroline and everyone who gave up their time to teach and support the attendees. Welcome to everyone who has joined the club for the 2025 season.
Chairman Roddy Willett and The Committee have increased the availability of group and 1-1 coaching within the club and coaching can be arranged with David Boxell at a mutually convenient time – please see the clubhouse noticeboard for more information.
Superb Lawns and Hoop Setting
Thanks to both Davids for their hoop setting expertise and the many members who turned up to help and learn. The superb lawns were measured out and the hoops precisely set ready for the start of the season. Beautiful sunny days made it a very enjoyable experience!
Calendar
Please note, the committee has been working hard to draft the calendar for 2025. Some dates have been inserted, but please do not plan your world cruise or book your wedding based on these dates – there are more to be added and inevitably there will be some changes as more information becomes available.
Clubhouse Preparation for re-opening on 24th March
A massive thank you to everyone who helped prepare the clubhouse and outside tasks ready for the new season starting on 24th March. We look forward to seeing you there.
