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By coming second in a Preliminary Heat competition at Ashby, Bakewell Croquet Club player Steve Marsh qualified for entry and played in the B-Level National Finals.

The finals took place at Budleigh Salterton on 8th/9th October with sixteen players coming from all over the UK each playing fifteen games over the two days. They have nine perfect lawns at Budleigh Salterton – being likened to a billiard table in smoothness! ‘The best I have ever played on’ quoted Steve!

At the end of the first day Steve was in the lead, though eventually coming third by winning 10 of his 15 games.

The winner was Paul Gunn (handicap 1), the runner-up was Richard Bilton (handicap 2) and third was Steve (handicap 4).

Congratulations to Steve for doing so well in his first National Golf Croquet competition.

The ‘Croquet Experience’ was enjoyed by many participants on a glorious summers day at the Derbyshire Dales Bakewell Recreation Ground on the 5th June ‘National Croquet Day’.

 

Two full sized lawns were well presented and fully occupied throughout the day by visitors from all corners of the globe and watched by many more interested spectators.

 

Bakewell Croquet Club catered for over 80 players from many backgrounds and age groups ably recruited from the visiting public and refreshments were available at the pavilion for all to enjoy.

 

A thoroughly good experience was enjoyed by all with many ‘hooked’ on the opportunity to further their knowledge of the sport.

 

 

 

Some more images, click on an image to open the gallery and click through the images:

A few photographs of our first club tournament of the 2016 season which took place on Saturday 28th May. We look forward to the next Club Tournament in late August, see our calendar.

Click the images below a larger version:

Bakewell croquet club has now begun a new playing season, with lots of events organized as well as league matches and friendly games with other clubs, see our calendar for 2016 for the details. The courts are located in the recreation ground , in front of the cricket pavilion, see here.
Playing sessions are … Monday- 2-4 , Thursday 2-4 , (association croquet 6 p m Thursday) and Saturday 10-12 a.m.  Any one interested is welcome to come along and have a go .

The club’s annual dinner was held on 16 th March at Bakewell golf club and much enjoyed by all. Our tea lady Mrs Billie Reeves has hung up her pinny and in appreciation of her 10 years of hard work was presented with a tea cosy embellished with croquet motifs.

 

National croquet day is to be held on Sunday 6th. June.  Bakewell croquet club is taking part in this event, so if you have ever wondered what this game of skill and tactics is all about please come along and talk to the members who will be happy to explain and demonstrate. Hope to see you there!

It will soon be time to hang up our mallets as far as outdoor play goes, but we can look forward to indoor croquet and socialising at Fitism (formerly Born 2 MOVE ), still with the same management of Matt and Sarah and still providing delicious, healthy soup and rolls .

This year members have been using the cricket pavilion for tea and biscuit breaks also entertaining visiting clubs when playing league matches.

We have greatly appreciated the new tables, chairs and kitchen, provided by the football club.

A charity event was held at Ashford cricket club for Bakewell Rotary club, who have asked if we can do the same again next year, I’m sure we can.

Fifteen members visited Brodsworth hall to play on their lawns, there was also a trip to Snitterton Hall, both were thoroughly enjoyed.

A group of about twelve members are off next month to Ripon Spa Hotel for a few days of croquet, sightseeing and socialising .

Membership has grown to forty members.

Last year’s 10th anniversary dinner held at Bakewell golf club was such a success that we have booked for next year to mark our 11th.

There is to be a walk in January followed by lunch at a local hostelry.

A croquet evening held in Ashford in the Water on 17th July where the club members offered their services and equipment helping the Rotary club raise funds for their good causes.

Click the images to see a larger version.

As can be seen on our calendar page the club has  a full program for the summer, in addition to the regular club sessions where we recently saw this rainbow overhead. Here are some of the things we have been doing over the last month or so.

 

 

 

Gobaka Rwanda Trust

In may the club provided a croquet evening for around thirty people raising funds in aid of the Gobaka Rwanda trust, which was held in the garden of one of the trustees.  The food was delicious and the play energetic, inventive and competitive, a fun evening for a good cause.

We received a letter of thanks which can be seen on the right.

 

Ripon Spa Hotel

Also in May around a dozen members had an outing to the Ripon Spa hotel for a few days of socialising and games of croquet on the hotels’s championship quality lawns. The weather could have been warmer but it didn’t spoil the enjoyment.

Tansley School

Four afternoon sessions at Tansley school with members of the croquet club introducing the children to a form of croquet. An annual event that we have been requested to do for several years.

Snitterton Hall

In June we had an afternoons playing on the lawns at Snitterton Hall.