The croquet lawn at Pinchbeck is all set for a new season of roquets, casting, stalking and double taps.
With freshly mown grass and hoops reset, a small group of hardy players returned for a knock around this week. Both Golf Croquet (GC) and Association Croquet (AC) are played at the club. Players compete in internal ladder and a new round robin competitions, where hoops scored is the key, not winning or losing.
In recent competitive action, Nottingham, Ashby and Pinchbeck played both 14-point and 26-point AC league matches. Pinchbeck won the 26-point event in Nottingham to qualify for the Secretary’s Shield.
In the Anderson Shield, Pinchbeck beat Norwich in a tie break after drawing their semi-final 2-2 and are due to play Wrest Park in the final.
The club host the Lincolnshire GC opener on April 5, which is an invitation tournament for all the county’s clubs. Pinchbeck will be represented by Tim Barzycki and Ken Knock. The club have also entered two teams in the East Anglian Federation League. Qualification for the National GC handicapped tournament will also take place.
A new Most Improved Player award (the Gordon Mills Memorial Trophy) will be given at the end of the season in memory of former member Gordon Mills, who together with his wife, was killed in a road accident on holiday last year.
There are numerous local and national competitions that individuals are able to enter. Coaching is available, provided by a Croquet England-qualified club coach. Mike Bowser, whose home is where the playing lawn is situated, was thanked for his hard work.
Tydd St Giles Golf Club
Results – Seniors pairs better ball: 1 Ken Doughty/Tony Adkins 45pts, 2 Mark Amor/Peter Williams 39ocb, 3 Chris Moore/Alec Harding 39.
Men’s March Stableford, Div 1: 1 Mark Whittaker 35pts ocb, 2 Ady Bills 35, 3 Wayne Alder 34. Div 2: 1 Tim Hipkin 38pts, 2 Paul Brown 37, 3 James Horscroft 36. Div 3: 1 Oliver Ewing 37pts 2 Samuel Thorpe 34, 3 Barry Hill 33.
Seniors March Medal, Div 1: 1 Paul Milward 79-20=59, 2 Chris Moore 72-11=61, 3 Peter Williams 78-14=64 ocb. Div 2: 1 Peter Jackson 82-23=59, 2 David Worrall 93-27=66, 3 Martin Ward 107-36=71.
