By 09.00, when 16 players gathered for the annual charity One-Ball tournament, Brian and Carol had set up four impeccable short croquet courts and heat was building in Joe’s charcoal barbecue. Not anywhere else though. Not on Easter Monday: competitors shivered in thermals and waterproofs, many with touches of blue out of respect for the Alzheimer’s Society, the national One-Ball’s chosen charity for 2025. Carol’s ultramarine nails were particularly impressive.
The whistle blew, the gloves came off. David Long, the 2024 national handicap champion in this discipline, was asked to start by your over optimistic correspondent. No messing about: he shot through hoop 1 and into the distance. We shook hands at the peg a humiliatingly short time later. DL was on his way.
Steve Fisher stalked meticulously and prospered. Likewise Paul Wolff in a variant that rewards his crisp strokes. And Carol, as ever an implacable giant killer off the maximum handicap. Liz Webb, our guest from Bowden, and Avril struck the ball with attitude as they renewed an old acquaintance.
After four hours, the rain began: it was time for lunch. As smoke from 6kg of prime barbecued topside swirled over the courts, many realised they were very hungry indeed. But not for long. The larger gazebo proved its worth, providing covered seating for a dozen or so, while wimpier folk enjoyed the clubhouse bench. After as much beef as you could eat, followed by strawberry cream meringues and Sandy’s authentic American cinnamon buns, afternoon play yielded winners: 1st DL, 2nd Steve, 3rd Paul.
Donations totalling £255 – way above the £10 a head requested – secured three allocations for Blewburians in regional qualifiers in Nottingham and Surbiton. The sun came out as David accepted his victory wine and hastened home to secure his slot before places run out. With Steve and Paul otherwise engaged, Carol (4th) and Avril will get their chance.
All in all a lovely day. Huge thanks to beef baron Joe, organisers Brian and Carol, sous chef Sandy, ever helpful David Grinstead and the Freunds for courageous skivvying in narrow greasy spaces. Maggie and Nick, you are great new members, but you really should have played.
See you all at the Roger Cambray: for one year only on Deirdre and Malcolm Cochrane’s court at Hall Barn, on Saturday, July 5th. Sign up, sign up….