Category: News

Sat 9th August, Moira Manager/reporter: Andy

Play started on time with a full field of twelve players, in two blocks of six, all-play-all over five rounds.

The first three rounds were completed comfortably before lunch. After lunch, both blocks finished with no hint of time limits being applied.

Both blocks produced outright winners, with Andrew Grant from Woodhall Spa CC winning the blue block with five wins out of five. Nigel Wulcko from Camerton & Peasedown CC also won five from five in the red block.

The block runners-up were a much closer affair, both decided on hoop difference, with Simon Draper from Norwich CC in the blue block, and Pamela Dawson from Gainsborough CC in the red block narrowly making the semi-finals.

Andrew beat Pamela 7-3 in the first semi-final. Nigel won through against Simon 7-6 in a closely-fought second semi-final, leaving the final to be contested by the two unbeaten players.

Andrew prevailed 7-3 against Nigel, giving him seven wins from seven games and the title.

The last game to finish was the 3/4 playoff, with Simon beating Pamela 7-3 in a much closer game than the score suggests.

The final was well supported by the other players at end of a good day’s croquet.

Result:
Winner: Andrew Grant (Woodhall Spa)
Runner-up: Nigel Wulcko (Camerton & Peasedown)

Full results (CroquetScores)

Fri 8th August, Moira Manager: Mick

Eleven players contested our C-Level tournament, with blocks of 6 and 5 followed by semi-finals and final.

Gillian Baverstock (Leicester) won the final 7-5 against Eddie Wilson (Backworth).

Ashby’s Colin P Carr won 4/5 of his block games, but lost 2-7 to Gillian in his semi-final. The other Ashby representative Ormond Hooper won 2/4 block games but it wasn’t quite enough to progress to the semis.

Result:
Winner: Gillian Baverstock (Leicester)
Runner-up: Eddie Wilson (Backworth)

Full results (CroquetScores)

Thurs 7th August, Moira Manager/reporter: Andy

After a late withdrawal, the tournament started with a block of seven players, all play all with the block winner taking the title.

Play moved along smoothly until lunchtime with all players winning at least one game.

Play progressed nicely in the afternoon, until a late cloudburst disrupted the finish. Because of the rain, play ended slightly later than hoped. But all games were completed with no time limits having to be imposed.

Liz Johnson from Nottingham CC finished as the winner, with an impressive five wins from six games.

The tension was high in the last game to finish, with Rob Yates from Ashby CC needing a big win, against Susan Alderman from Gainsborough CC, to take the runner-up spot. Rob made a spirited recovery to take the game 7-6.

Brenda Ash from Nottingham CC, who had been the front runner for most of the day, finished as runner-up with four wins and a better hoop difference.

The field was completed by Avril York from Ashby CC, Catriona Peterson and Kate Packham both from Nottingham CC.

Special thanks on the day for Janet Sherwood for her assistance and providing refreshments. Also, to Mike Bilton who kindly offered, and was kept busy as referee.

The standard of play was excellent, with good hoop running and some spectacular jump shots. With a mix of experienced players and newcomers to tournament play a good time seemed to be had by all.

Result:
Winner: Liz Johnson (Nottingham)
Runner-up: Brenda Ash (Nottingham)

Full results (CroquetScores)

Wed 6th August, Woodhall Spa

Ashby B lost 4-8 away at Woodhall Spa.

Tues 5th August, Derby

Lesley reports that the Ashby C-team of Avril,  Ormond and Jeff had a very successful day away at Derby beating them 9-3. 

Sun 3rd August, Moira Manager: Richard

The Max Morris tournament attracted a full field of 12 players for the first time since 2012, and a range of GC handicaps from 1 to 10. The format was two blocks of 6 (no time limits), and then a final between the two block winners. As in previous years we used the ‘extra turns’ handicap system, rather than Advantage play.

In Block A, Arthur Rowe and John Picken both finished on 4/5 wins, with Arthur winning the match between them (7-6) to secure a place in the final.

Block B was not so straightforward, with the unusual situation of four people (Andy Sherwood, Heather Hardy, Richard Sanville and Pete Marshall) all finishing on 3/5 wins! Heather and Pete were the leaders on hoop difference, both +6, but as Heather had beaten Pete (7-5) in their game, she progressed to the final.

Heather won the final 7-5 against Arthur, making good use of her three extra turns.

Sat 2nd August, Moira Manager/reporter: Arthur

Four players contested this FEMCC 14pt handicap event on Saturday 2nd August, in an all-play-all format played to base 6 (meaning that everyone with a handicap above 6 got some bisques). This worked well with all the games being completed within the 90 minute time limit, although only just in some cases.

Half the games were close, with a difference of 4 or less. Andy Sherwood from Ashby won all his games and took home the trophy, with Tim Ash from Nottingham runner-up with 2 wins. Andy also earned a handicap reduction to 6.

Sun 27th July, Newport (Essex)

After enjoying home victories in earlier rounds against Wrest Park (4-3) and Shrewsbury (5-2), our 2025 Longman Cup run came to an abrupt end in the quarter-final with a 0-7 whitewash away at Newport (Essex). Three of the Ashby team had previously played there in a Secretary’s Shield match in the hot dry summer of 2022, but this time their lawns were much greener and slower.

Two or three of the singles games were fairly close and could have gone either way, but in the end they did not go the way of the Ashby players.

Teams:
Newport: Alex Lake (7), Fran Lambert (8), Jerome Gasson (8), David Hills (11)
Ashby: Adam Wheatley (11), Richard Sanville (11), Heather Hardy (12), Mick Haytack (14)

Scores:
Fran & David 26-14 Richard & Heather
Alex 26-14 Mick
Jerome 26-19 Adam
Alex 26-10 Adam
Fran 26-18 Richard
Jerome 26-24 Heather
David 26-5 Mick

Fri 25th July, Sheffield Parkhead

Ashby A (Arthur, Keith, Andy) lost 3-9 away at Sheffield Parkhead.

July 19th & 20th, Moira Managers: Martin, Heather

Twelve players contested our GC A-Level tournament including Heather who stepped in at the last minute to replace a late withdrawal.

Mike Hills (Northampton) won a close final against Chris Higgins (Bishop Monkton) 10-8, 6-10, 10-9.

Andy Sherwood (Ashby) beat Paul Williams (Leicester) 7-3, 7-4 in the third-place play-off.

Results (Croquet Scores)