CROQUET YEAR WRAPS WITH AGM AND LUNCH

Friday 29th November, 2024

The Croquet Club rounded off a successful 2024 with its AGM and Lunch in the Village Hall. Thirty-eight members attended the AGM, most of whom had attended the end of year lunch held before the meeting. The event also provided an opportunity to award cups to the various competition winners - 

Men’s Singles Champion – John Feeny

Ladies Singles Champion – Jo-Ann Hughes

Mixed Doubles Champions – John & Christine Feeny

Super Friday Progressive Doubles Competition – Jo-Ann Hughes and Daphne Pepler

The club itself was a winner of two competitions - the Cross-Pennine Croquet League with Bob Strover accepting the cup on behalf of the club.  

Bishop Monkton also won the YCF Level Play league but the trophy is currently in Sheffield so could not be awarded.

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CHRIS DOES WELL AT THE SEASIDE

Saturday & Sunday September 21st & 22nd

Back home again, after finishing sixth in a field of 17 in the B level (3+) National Finals held in Poole, Chris Higgins sent the report below to share with members.

Losing his quarter final game, Chris was then eligible to contest the Shield for places five to eight, winning the semi-final 10-8, but eventually losing the final by the same score.                                                                                                                                                                  
Chris writes:-

“There were two ‘all play all’ groups on the Saturday, one of 9 (group A) and one of 8 (group B). I played in the latter and, after a slow start, won five of my seven matches thus qualifying easily for the knockout stages which comprised the top eight players from the group stages. The weather was excellent on the Saturday, but overnight there were torrential downpours which continued until 9 a.m. Sunday morning. As a result, three of the four lawns were flooded! Some of the group A matches had to be completed in poor conditions. At 12 noon most of the lawns were just playable, so, to avoid delays, the knockout stages took place.

The club were very hospitable and the facilities (bar and cafe) were very welcome. The lawns were pretty good but not the best I have played on this season especially in swamp conditions.”

A general report on this competition also appears on the News page. Please click here.

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HOOP HOOP HURRAY FOR OUR FUNDRAISER 

Saturday 14th September, 2024

Lindy Wainwright writes-

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to thank you all for your contributions of delicious cake, raffle prizes and help this morning for our very successful fundraising coffee morning.  After the cost of the hall hire we will be banking £242, which I think is a great result.  Couldn’t have done it without you so thank you again.

There is one unclaimed raffle prize for ticket number 354. Call me if you have that ticket.

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BISHOP MONKTON TRIUMPHANT IN MAGGIE COWMAN FESTIVAL

Tuesday September 11th, 2024

The Maggie Cowman Croquet Festival is held annually in Ripon to raise money for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association and to celebrate the life of Maggie Cowman who was an inspirational member of the Ripon Croquet Club which she joined after having a double lung transplant in her fifties. She went from a complete beginner to playing for England within the space of three years. Sadly she died three years ago having lived every minute of the ten years which she described as being given to her to the full. 

On the second day of the Festival Jo-Ann Hughes battled not only against her opponents in the Singles Competition but also against icy cold gale force winds to win 6 of her 7 games and take home the trophy. 

The previous day was the Progressive Doubles which was won by Daphne Pepler from our club playing in the final with Ted Flexman. 

Once more Bishop Monkton reigned supreme!!

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JO-ANN TOP IN LADIES SINGLES

Tuesday 3rd September, 2024

It was a perfect day on the lawns for the Croquet Club Ladies’ Singles Championship - sun, blue skies and no wind! Eight members battled it out in an All Play All format, so seven matches each over the course of the day. It was also nice to see quite a few spectators enjoying a day watching the games. 

It was a close-run competition with the following result:

Champion - Jo-Ann Hughes

Second - Hilary Philpott

Third - tie between Lesley Wood & Gill Brent

The day finished with well-earned cake in the Village Hall, everyone having enjoyed a great day. 

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