About the Club
Ashby Croquet Club is based within the sports grounds of Moira Miners’ Welfare Sports & Social Club, Bath Lane, Moira DE12 6BP (opposite Conkers Waterside entrance). Free car parking on site.
Our main season runs from April to October, and membership is open to people of any age. We now have over sixty members, and new recruits are always welcome. All members have the use of our equipment as well as access to coaching from our more experienced players.
For both formats of the game (see more details below), there are internal events and regional and national leagues and tournaments for those who wish to play competitively. These cater for all levels of player from beginner to expert.
New and potential players are welcome to visit us at our open club sessions during the main season (April to October):
Tuesday 5 to 8pm (earlier in April/Sept/Oct). BBQ available, weather permitting. (Please note the change of day for the later session – now Tuesday for the 2024 season.)
Wednesday 10am to 1pm
Thursday 3 to 6pm
Sunday 2 to 5pm (On occasional Sundays during the season we have tournaments on our main lawns, in which case opportunities for casual play may be limited – please check our Calendar. Visitors are welcome to come in and watch if there is a tournament going on.)
Club members wishing to play at other times may book lawns (subject to availability) via the online Lawn Booking system.
During the winter season (mid-November to mid-February, weather permitting), our open sessions for club members are 11am to 1pm most Wednesdays and Sundays.
Interested in playing?
Before deciding whether to join the club, prospective members are welcome to try the game. See our Introductory Sessions section for details, and contact us if you want more information.
Croquet is one of the finest outdoor sports. It is a friendly game combining ball skills as well as tactics, it’s relatively easy to understand, and it’s fun to play.
We are always pleased to receive new members, of any age or level of experience from beginner to advanced. If you are an experienced club or match player, please browse this website to learn more about the club and how to get in touch.
If you are thinking of taking up croquet from scratch, please keep reading this section for a brief introduction to the game and its benefits.
Why play croquet?
Croquet is an enjoyable, sociable game that can be played by people of any age and of either sex.
There are two principal forms of the game – Association Croquet and Golf Croquet.
Association Croquet is a game of complex strategy and high levels of skill, and is similar in many ways to games like snooker or pool.
Golf Croquet is quick to learn, but requires accuracy and tactics to master.
Both forms of the game may be played as singles or doubles and many people enjoy playing both, as skills learned in one form of the game may be applied to the other.
Croquet’s effective handicap system recognises smart thinking as much as physical skill, so everyone has a good chance of winning.
As with any game, the best players probably start young, but many take it up after retiring from more energetic pursuits. It can be as skilful as you want it to be – advanced players can take it very seriously, but most club members probably see it as a relaxing and friendly way of passing an afternoon.
Ashby Croquet Club is a member of Ashby Sport – a collaboration between multiple sports clubs and associations in and around Ashby, to increase the profile, engagement and participation of local sports activities across the community.
