Author: Phil Extance

If you would like to learn how to play Association Croquet, we will be holding a taster session in April so that you can get a feel for the game and then we will be running a course in May over a number of sessions to teach you the basics of how to play.

Taster Session / Open Afternoon

Sunday 26th April: 2-4pm

If you would like to express an interest please email the Club Chairman on philip.extance@btopenworld.com.

This will be held at the Corbet Arms on Sunday 18^th October 2026 at 1pm

Provisional dates for 2026, so far, are as follows:

Wednesday 3^rd June – against Kenilworth – to be played at Shrewsbury

Tuesday 14^th July – against Eardisley – to be played at Shrewsbury

Thursday 20^th August – against Broadwas – to be played at Broadwas

Thursday 30^th July – against Church Stretton – to be played at Church Stretton

Thursday 6^th August – A49 Annual Competition at Shrewsbury

If you would like to learn how to play Association Croquet, we will be holding a taster session in April so that you can get a feel for the game and then we will be running a course in May over a number of sessions to teach you the basics of how to play.

Taster Session / Open Afternoon	Sunday 26th April: 2-4pm
Beginner’s Course – Session 1	Tuesday 5th May: 6-8pm
Beginner’s Course – Session 2	Tuesday 12th May: 6-8pm
Beginner’s Course – Session 3	Tuesday 19th May: 6-8pm
Beginner’s Course – How to start a game!	Sunday 24th May: 2-4pm
Beginner’s Course – Strategy (use of Bisques etc)	Sunday 14th June: 2-4pm

We can arrange for you to practice between sessions if you wish.

If you would like to express an interest please email the Club Chairman on philip.extance@btopenworld.com.

Congratulations to all our club winners this year (David Hart not in photo).

The Matrix is over.

After almost 80 matches, which between them amounted to 234 hours on the lawns, over 3,100 hoops were run and hundreds of bisques were deployed, except of course by Robbie! 

Eventually it all came down to the last match, with Robbie Dodds and David Hart playing a ‘winner takes all’ head to head match at the end of September. It was a tense affair, but David, armed with 7 bisques, held off a strong mid match rally from Robbie, to claim the win and the Matrix title.

The competition was extremely close throughout the season, illustrated by the fact that there are three runners up. Sporting drama at its absolute best!

Thanks to everyone who played and kept to the monthly timetable, which made my administrative role, ably supported by Tina, considerably easier.

Here are the final points totals.

1^st – David – 32 points

Equal 2^nd  – Robbie, Phil and Robert – 28 points

Equal 5^th – Julian and Mike – 26 points

Equal 7^th – Margaret E, Gerraint and Max – 22 points 

Equal 10^th  – Alberto  and James- 18 points

12^th  – Sean – 16 points

13^th – Malcolm – 14 points 

Report by David Hart

Four people were able to play in this years Founder’s competition, a fifth had to drop out at short notice for medical reasons. One player, Nicky, had done the beginner’s course this year so this was her first competition. Max, Clare and Dave were more experienced but all with handicaps of 18 or over.

The lawns were quite wet, but the weather did not prevent play, except for a few shower intervals. Alan R and Margaret E “refereed” the two lawns to explain rules but not to advise on shots!

In the first round, Clare beat Nicky 3-2, given Nicky had only learnt to play this season, it was a great start for her. Dave beat Max 8-2, demonstrating a great understanding of strategy.

In the second round, Clare beat Max 6-3, a great result for Clare. Dave beat Nicky 11-1, making few mistakes so Nicky could do little to fight back.

In the third round, Max beat Nicky 7-5 but he was a great sport, effectively coaching Nicky for most of the game as he could not win the overall competition. Thank you Max! The remaining game was effectively a final as both Clare and Dave had won two games each. In a great game, with some fantastic shots by both players, Dave eventually triumphed 11-6 but Clare was very pleased to have fought well and to have won two previous games.

Congratulations Dave on your first trophy.

Gilly, another new learner this year who had been unable to play, generously provided delicious cake and enthusiastic support to Nicky.

Thanks to Steve (Gilly’s husband), Tony (Clare’s husband), Dave and Tina, and Alan Smith for coming to watch some of the games.

Phil

The league was very close as you will see from attached – in fact if Church Stretton had beaten Broadwas and prevented Broadwas from getting a bonus point then all teams would have been on 9 points with 2 wins and 2 losses.

In the matches involving the 3 teams on 9 points, all of the teams won one and lost one, so I had to then go on ‘net match points’. This makes Kenilworth second and Eardisley and Shrewsbury third equal.

Thank you to all who played for Shrewsbury!

Phil

With good weather and an initial eight players involved this event finally engaged in its inaugural contest at 10.00am on Saturday 9^th August at Shrewsbury.  The event was a pilot for a future regular competition for low handicapped players qualified to represent Shropshire.  The first round of the preliminary stage saw some decisive results, but the second round had some much tighter contests determined on time. These were as follows:

A.M.

John Knowles   beat    Julian Remfry         +13

James Handley   beat   Jeff Billing              +15

Brian Christmas   beat   George James    +22

Alan Ridley    beat    Robin Trew         +7t (18-11)

P.M.

John Knowles   beat   Jeff Billing                   +9

James Handley beat Julian Remfry   +1t (18-17)

Alan Ridley beat Brian Christmas    +3t (17-14)

George James beat Robin Trew        +2t (17-15)

Suitably tired out, we all went home to rest up for second day. Alan, in particular, who was recovering from a recent operation, was apparently suffering more than most. Early on Sunday morning he phoned me to say he was unwell and unable to play that morning. By midday, despite his hopes to re-join us at quarter-final stage, he confirmed his complete withdrawal. Though he did reappear as a spectator of final on Monday. I much appreciate his support of this event.

Since Robin had always going to be unavailable on Sunday morning, we had played our match in advance on Thursday afternoon at Stretton, either side of a massive thunder storm which flooded the lawns for a while. So only two matches were in play on Sunday morning, with George being without an active opponent. He took it well. Furthermore, after calculations in mid-day, I had to give John a bye through to Semi-finals. Three games being played at Stretton on Sunday afternoon.  We even had a few high handicapped members spectating on Sunday morning, and Mary and Claire offering usual light matchday refreshments.  Results as follows;

A.M.

John Knowles beat James Handley               +18

Jeff Billing beat Julian Remfry                           +18

Robin Trew had beaten Brian Christmas     +8t (18-10)

P.M.  QUARTER-FINALS

Brian Christmas beat Julian Remfry                 +9t (18-7)

James Handley beat George James                  +3t (17-14)

Jeff Billing beat Robin Trew                                    +4t (17-13)

John Knowles had Bye.

As the few of us who were taking up the option of sampling the Pound Inn’s ‘Life of Pie’ menu in the evening, gathered for drinks and convivial conversation, the competition was hotting up. No quarter final having gone to peg.

There was a provision for an option for a fifth game on Monday morning, even for the QF losers, but neither George (who does not have a car) or Julian wished to take up this option.  Robin came, supporting us both physically and psychologically during the day, and had his mallet in case anybody came who he could play, but nobody did.  His support is also noted and appreciated.  So, Monday morning, back at Shrewsbury, saw Semi-Finals only, played single banked, followed by a final and third place play off after lunch.  Results now follow.

Semi-Finals.

John Knowles beat Jeff Billing     +2t (18-16)

James Handley beat Brian Christmas      +4t (19-15)

Third Place Play off.

Brian Christmas beat Jeff Billing         +18

FINAL

John Knowles beat James Handley     +13

So, we have our first SHROPSHIRE champion.  A worthy winner who had won all his games, though things got pretty tense at climax of semi-final and he claimed more than once in event that he had been fortunate. I say class brings its own fortune. John is worthy of his ‘2’ handicap. It was just a shame our other ‘2’ and fellow top seed, was unable to complete his matches.

Unfortunately, I was unable to award John a physical trophy. I had thought about purchasing an engraved medal in advance, only to find Shropshire Trophy Centre had closed!

Perhaps next year when I hope event will grow into a bigger, more widely entered competition, better promoted (my fault), and hopefully better supported by those not involved. It has unique qualities which deserve a higher profile. I duly received thanks from many of this years’ participants for all my efforts.   B.C.

A.M.

John Knowles (2.5)   lost to    James Handley (5)         13-17

George James (5)     beat     Julian Remfry  (6)                14-13*

Clain Nicholas (20)   lost to    David Hart  (7)                 12-14

Daryl Goodwin (20)   lost to   Barbara Edwards (11)   11-18

P.M.

John Knowles    beat     Julian Remfry                                  26 – 6

George James   lost to   James Handley                             12-20

Daryl Goodwin   beat    David Hart                                        16-13    

Mary Proctor (12)   lost to    Barbara Edwards                  16-17*  

CHURCH STRETTON  3    SHREWSBURY   5

REPORT by Brian Christmas

On a very hot day with freshly mown lawns, conditions were testing, and competition intense. A glance at scores shows how close most contests were.  As I arrived about 11.00am, my captain for day, John Knowles, was really struggling to get his game together, though he later improved to lose by only 4 on time to James.

George and Julian ended up with a ‘next hoop’ tiebreak (*) in their match, not the last of day.  George claiming Stretton’s only win of the morning.  David eventually triumphed over Claire who was a last minute replacement for injured Shelley, but, aided by bisques, she certainly gave him a contest.  Barbara beat Daryll more comfortably.

After lunch, however, the boot looked to be on the other foot. John had now found his form and was only player in match to peg out, and with a twenty point margin over Julian.  George lost to James, who claimed his second win, but David lost to Daryll (also with many bisques). 

The last game gave us a dramatic finish.  Barbara had been having what she described as her worst game of the season and was well behind to Mary, well matched on handicap. I really thought it was going to end in a match tied at four games each, but then John pointed out that Barbara was catching up!  As time was called, they were all level!  Barbara had the innings, setting up a dolly rush two feet from her next hoop. A moment later she was attempting to run it from two inches but a slight angle after a sloppy approach. It was blobbed!  Mary had a twelve foot roquet. She missed it and Barbara duly won game and match. To her delight, I presented her with trophy, which Stretton had so nearly retained. 

However, both teams expressed satisfaction in a well spirited friendly encounter, and many thanks go to our caterers (cum players) Mary and Claire.