Pinchbeck Croquet Club is proving to be a region-wide attraction.
The club has attracted members from as far afield as Hunstanton, on the Norfolk coast, and now has more than 20 active players, many competing in national and international tournaments.
The club, which is in the private garden of Mike and Rachel Bowser, is registered with Croquet England and boasts a full-size competition lawn, beautifully managed, irrigated and maintained by the Bowsers and their team.
The season started with Pinchbeck hosting the inaugural Lincolnshire Open. All the county’s clubs were represented.
Home players Tim Barzycki and Yvonne Edgoose were unbeaten but were pipped at the post by a team from Dunston.
The highlight of the season saw Ken Knock and Gordon Mills become international champions, regaining the Greek National Association Croquet doubles title in Corfu, having previously won in 2021.
Pinchbeck entered a team in the East Anglian Federation Golf Croquet League and, although did not get any wins, they learned a lot and gained valuable experience.
The club was more successful in other competitions. At Hunstanton, Knock and Barzycki represented the club and Knock reached the final.
Barzycki went to Wrest Park, near Bedford, where, despite losing all his first-round games, found form and went on to win the Plate. He then represented the club at Branston, near Lincoln, and came home with the trophy.
Charles Ostler was victorious at Hunstanton and Gordon Mills won tournaments at Hurlingham in London while Terry Sparks won the Hunstanton Golf Croquet invitational tournament
Knock and Barzycki have successfully qualified as referee and coach respectively.
The club plan to play on until November, weather permitting. Some indoor competitions will run in Cambridgeshire over the winter ahead of a new season starting in April 2024.
New members are welcome, visit the website for details – tinyurl.com/PinchCroq
