Category: News and Reports

The opening game began with some drizzle but it eventually turned into a hot but pleasant day with the lawn playing extremely fast and everybody hitting a ball out of court at times. The two Alans narrowly beat Sean and Julian on time.
The second game saw Rob, not played for three years and has lost his mallet so had to play with a club mallet, partnering Barbara and they lost on time to Sean and Julian.
The third game saw the two Alans playing Barbara and Rob and near the end there were three clips on two back and Alan R got in and and as time was called he took his ball round and pegged out. The result was the Two Alans retain the trophy.

There was heartbreak for the players and fans of our wonderful club after suffering a nail-biting 3-2 defeat at the hands of Broadwas in our latest West Midlands Federation AC League match.

Commiserations to the team, Alan Ridley, Alan Smith, Barbara and Margaret Hudson, who gave it their all in sweltering conditions only to be pipped at the post.

Our next match is away at Kenilworth (I think). I’m unreliably told that extra trains are being laid on for this one.

Alan R

Congratulations are due to the four malleteers who played against the Ashby club. The morning play was James and Barbara in the doubles and winning +17T, Philip losing -16T and Tim winning +8T. A lead of 2 – 1 at lunchtime.
The afternoon play was Philip winning a very close game +1T, Tim again winning +16T, James had another close game winning +3T and Barbara losing -8T. The Shrewsbury players all were conceding bisques in the afternoon session but the final score was a great 5 – 2 win.

It is a number of years since we last played in the Longman Cup, and the club did reach the last four one year. I understand that we will be due to play St Albans in the next round. Alan S.

By the time the event started the Bowlside lawn had been prepared for the exhibition match to follow and the Parkside lawn was laid out for two half-lawns so that members’ children could try out their croquet skills. A cold buffet lunch was being laid out on a large table under gazebos, and all the chairs the club could muster were out in the sunshine.
At 12.45 lunch was announced, with the exhibition players and their families invited to be served first, followed by the thirty or so members and their guests. The buffet, prepared and served by the ladies of the club, led by Margaret Extance, was absolutely magnificent and thoroughly enjoyed by all.
At 1.15, Robbie Dodds, partnered by Alan Ridley, introduced Omied and Sanna Hallam, scratch players from Nottingham CC. The exhibition match would be played under Advanced Level rules, with leaves and lifts to be explained when the occasions arose. The players in each team would take alternate shots. It soon became apparent that the game, although played in a very friendly manner, was very serious, with neither side prepared to let the other gain the upper hand. We were treated to hard hit, long roquets, almost impossible approach shots, and very canny defence by both sides. We were also encouraged to learn that even scratch players can blob hoops and miss easy roquets, but only very rarely. The game progressed slowly, with neither side making a decisive break, and, after four and a half hours play, stalemate seemed to have been reached. Robbie and Alan had both clips on rover, whilst Omied and Sanna were on peg and hoop 5. It was agreed to play for a further 10 minutes and then time would be called. Further attempts by each side to reach an attacking position were thwarted by their opponents, until, just as time was called Robbie roqueted his partner ball three yards in from the north boundary. It was a long shot to the peg, and if he missed, his opponents would have the chance to win the match. Robbie spent a long time carefully lining up his shot at ground level and, finally satisfied and with mounting pressure, took croquet. His ball sped to the peg and hit, and he was able to peg out his partner ball with his continuation shot, and the game was won on time.
Afterwards, Julian Remfry, the Club President, thanked all those who had helped to make the day such a success and presented Omied and Sanna Hallam with commemorative medals. Omied responded by saying that they had been delighted to receive an invitation to play at Shrewsbury and had both enjoyed themselves hugely.

Julian Remfry

Additional comment:

The exhibition match for the 40th anniversary although it did last a long time, for myself I hardly noticed, it was, although played in good spirit, very intense and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The great weather was probably also a factor and a saving grace for the spectators who had not expected the match to last so long (including me, telling my wife it will not be worth coming if you don’t get there before 4pm). The catering was the highlight of the day though. The spread was amazing, so much thanks from everyone, I’m sure, to all involved in preparing and presenting it.

Robbie Dodds

Congratulations to Shrewsbury on beating Church Stretton in their West Midlands Feb match. The Shrewsbury team comprising Margaret Extance, Phil Extance, Julian Remfry and Alan Ridley won by four games to one.

The day started in a very strange fashion.  I arrived at the car park to find the police questioning a youth and combing hedges.  I wondered if that was where all of our ball markers had disappeared to.  I opened the gate to find the gardener standing next to a dead lawn mower in the middle of Park Side lawn.  It couldn’t be pushed off the lawn, so we faced the prospect of playing on a single lawn.  Fortunately, two mechanics arrived and fixed it in time for play to start.

How could the games live up to that excitement?  Well, we felt very excited at 2-0 up by lunchtime, having won a doubles and a singles game, the latter on a golden hoop.  In the afternoon we won two of the three singles games to run out 4-1 winners, which had the virtual champagne corks popping!  Julian was the star player as he was the only one to peg out.

The next game is at home to Broadwas on 14th June.  If anyone would like to take part, let Sean know or put your name on the sheet in the clubhouse.

Alan Ridley

The 14 Point Advanced competition was held on Saturday, May 13th, in perfect conditions for croquet and with the lawns looking in fine condition and the lines freshly marked (thank you to the line markers). The Eight players were divided into two Groups of four. Richard and Sean, with three wins each, qualified for the final.

In the final, both players took their first balls to Rover. Richard then took his second ball to Rover and attempted to run it with both balls in the same stroke. Although both balls ran the hoop, striker’s ball wasn’t sufficiently through to make a roquet, however this only delayed the result for a short time, with Richard eventually pegging out shortly before time ran out, to retain the Silver Salver.

Congratulations to Richard and thank you to all of the players and spectators for contributing to an enjoyable day’s croquet.

Alan Ridley

If you are on this page then you have found the beginnings of a new website for Shrewsbury Croquet Club. It is an incomplete work but should be up and running before the 2024 season starts.