Bank Holiday Monday, four short croquet courts, 18 players out to enjoy fresh aspects of the game we love. Can the sun be blazing down on this ambitious set up? Yes, it can. It would be curmudgeonly to say it overdid it, but a record breaking C29 is toasty. As it passed its zenith, David Long revealed his intricate schemes to get people playing variants they’d never tried before in 45 minute bursts.
David and Joe selflessly stood down from playing themselves to explain and coach. On the AC front, Joe took new members, James and Valerie Bentley, through their first transition steps, while Clare King tackled her inaugural game of GC. Her partner was Malcolm Cochrane, a rare but prized visitor who hits the ball with silky mastery. Clare’s verdict, ‘ I think I’ll stick to AC’, was no reflection on him….
Speed croquet? Joe was poised to operate the two faced clock he’d had so much fun making: other than winning tournaments, there’s nothing he likes more than devising intricate gadgets. Two pairs, each with a 20 minute allocation, scampered around the court at his command, desperate to be in the right place at the right time. Wasting precious seconds might be costly when the bell halted proceedings for one team, leaving the time hoarders to dominate the end game. In theory, anyway…
Kwik? Good intentions, but it hasn’t caught on. Luckily Blewbury – in this case. David Long and Edmund – have invented three ball, a version of one ball that eliminates the dreary procession factor. The extra ball is used to create a three ball break, giving craft and guile a chance. This will be presented to Croquet England as an ideal way of inducing GC players to explore AC, consigning Kwik to history. Expect three ball tournaments in the CqE 2026 calendar. Should BCC patent it first…..
As a successful project manager should, David worked out a points system for rewarding good play and enterprise switching between lawns and games to provide an overall winner. Step up Simon Bryant, 4 victories, 4 different games.. To you the bottle of fine red wine and the hearty round of applause. Bruce, Andrew and Carol were joint second, with honourable mentions for David Weston, Clare and Jackie who were close behind them.
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David and Simon celebrate in front of Joe’s clock.
Minty provided a rolling buffet of canapés and snacks throughout the afternoon, the perfect excuse to avoid direct sunlight. Also a raffle which covered all the costs of food and the open bar for several hours. Her attempt to fulfil an ambition to play speed croquet provided comic relief for everyone except her partner: sorry, Deirdre.
As David said, this lighthearted, mildly competitive event is a first for BCC. He wants feedback on all fronts: what you particularly enjoyed, anything that could be better/different, would you like the chance to do it again next year. Please take the time to send him your thoughts: David.long@btinternet.com