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Meldreth Croquet Club
https://sites.google.com/view/meldrethcroquetclub/home
Now that the summer season is coming to an end, I thought I would write to report that Meldreth Croquet Club have once again had a very successful year. Having won the East Anglian Croquet Federation Handicap League in 2022, we were eligible to enter the Federation Shield which is a National competition. In the first game which was played at Wrest Park, against Himley from Dudley in the West Midlands, Meldreth won 4-3 and were through to the semi-final. This was played against Phyllis Court, a much bigger club with 250 members who play at Henley-on-Thames. Our team put up a good fight on a day interrupted with a couple of thunderstorms and lost 4-2. It was a great experience for the team members who enjoyed their day despite the loss. The image above shows some of the play at Henley-on-Thames.
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This year, Meldreth have again won the Central division of the East Anglian Croquet Federation Handicap League. The team played Stony Stratford Blues, the winners of the Western division, at Watford Croquet Club in the semi-final, winning the match 11-7. The final will be played at Wrest Park in October.
Closer to home, there is the singles golf croquet handicap competition as well as the golf croquet doubles competition both of which were hotly fought over the summer. The doubles competition was won by Keith Holgate & Sue Bishop. The singles final, as I write, is yet to be played. The association croquet Nickisson Cup final was played between last year's winner, Chris van Essen, and Janet Pope. Janet made a strong start and established an early lead but Chris gradually overtook her and in the end won by 20 hoops to 11. The Cup is the club's oldest trophy and was first played for in 1991 - when it was also won by Chris.
An annual get together and prize giving recently held at the British Queen in Meldreth behind which the croquet lawn is sited was enjoyed by all.
For more information, please see our website at sites.google.com/view/ meldrethcroquetclub/home.
Lin Wallbridge Meldreth Croquet Club
