Last weekend saw the first of Bowdon’s 2025 tournaments, the Cheshire Open (GC) being held in surprisingly sunny conditions. Fifteen players assembled, representing 11 different clubs, with a range of handicaps from -3 to 8. Five debutants were welcomed onto the tournament scene. Two blocks of 7 & 8 were completed on the Saturday, with the top 4 qualifying from both blocks without too much trouble. However, a special mention must go to Pam Dawson, who surprised herself (and many others) by beating top seed Angharrad Walters 7-5 in her last game of the day on Saturday.
On Sunday, the main event moved into a best of 3 knock out. Both the semi-finals went to 3 games, with Angharrad beating Giles Pepperell 3-7, 7-5, 7-4 and Ian Burridge beating Stephen Wright 7-2, 6-7, 7-2. The final was closely contested between the two Welsh Internationals and looked to be heading for a decider when Ian led 6-4 in the second. However, after Ian had missed a short but angled attempt at hoop 13, Angharrad steadied herself and ran the hoop from near the north boundary to win 7-4, 7-6.
Congratulations also Robbie Dodds, who beat Sarah Clements (7-6, 7-3) to win the Shield.
The managed opted to carry forward the relevant completed games from the Saturday into the Plate Block, leaving just the cross-block games to be played. Octogenarian Fred Owen matched fellow debutant David Beddy with four wins from four on the Sunday, but narrowly missed out in the final play-off, losing 7-5 to David.
Thanks to all who participated, the Grounds Team (in particular John Greatbanks, Charles Harding & Brian Medley), Sheila Dix for the cakes, and Angharrad for managing.
The presentations were made by Bowdon’s new President, Lorna Frost. Angharrad announced that she had decided to name the new trophy after her mother-in-law, Dina Crowson, who had called her earlier in the week to relate a childhood memory. She had been taken from Nelson to Southport, by her father, to see the flowers on Rotten Row and came home having seen her first glimpse of croquet being played.
Presentation Photos by Carol Sinclair
Winner – Angharrad WaltersRunner-up – Ian BurridgePlate Winner – David Beddy
Two Bowdon players, Jack Good and Euan Burridge, are in the England team at the GC World Team Championship being held in Tasmania. Good luck to both Jack and Euan, and to the England team.
The tournament started at 8am on 17th Feb Tasmanian time (9pm on 16th Feb UK time) with the final on Saturday 22nd Feb (Friday 21st Feb UK time).
The games can be watched live on Youtube by clicking here.
Jack Good has won another major GC competition. This was the English National Singles Championship, for which the trophy is the Ascot Cup. Very well done Jack.
Photos kindly provided by Graham Good.
Jack receives Ascot cup from Ian Vincent
Jack won his group, only dropping one game, whilst winning all three of his matches. The top 2 players from each group went into the Championship knockout stages. Jack won his quarter and semi finals without dropping a single game, before beating Stephen Mulliner in the final 2 games to 1.
The semi finals and final were played on lawns affected by torrential rain, which required volunteers to clear them. Jack of course did his bit.
Jack on lawn clearing duty
See the Championship results below, courtesy of the Croquet Scores website.
David Maugham and Nigel Matthews played in the South of England Championship. David won his first round match but lost in the second round. Nigel, -1, had some great wins. He lost his first match in the Championship, and found his way into the Plate Swiss. There, he won 2 of 4 matches against better ranked opponents. He beat Nigel Polhill -1.5 and Andy Myers -2. Well done Nigel.
The Croquet England ‘Eights’ are tournaments in which top players compete in groups of eight, according to ability. There are 4 groups of eight players. The President’s Cup is for the best eight.
Jack Good is playing in the second Eight, for the Chairman’s Salver, at Ramsgate. Andrew Winn and far country member Robert Essler are both in the third Eight, for the Spencer Ell Cup, at Pendle.
Jack GoodAndrew WinnRobert Essler“Diagonal Spread” Advanced leave
Places are allocated by the AC Selection Committee. Each competitor plays a single game against each of the other 7 competitors twice. Thus, there are 14 rounds of single games, the winner being the one with most wins. In the event of a tie in the number of wins the possession of the trophy for the year will be decided by a play-off if time permits. For a 2-way tie it will be a single game; in the event of a tie between three or more competitors, the names will be drawn at random and single games will be played in each round. Play is according to Advanced Rules, or if both players agree, Super-Advanced Rules .
We wish Jack, Andrew and Robert the best of luck and fine weather.
To keep up to date with the scores you can access the Croquet Scores website for the Eights at:
Bowdon CC is proud that Brian Medley, Mike Sandler and far country member David Cornes were selected to play for Team England in the Challenge event against Croquet Scotland. Sadly, it did not turn out to be the successful performance that the England team, and our members, hoped for. Croquet Scotland won the match 18-6. Congratulations Scotland, and commiserations to England.
Photo above shows the teams before battle commenced.
The England team are in their splendid shirts provided by the sponsors, Ambassador Cruises. The England team are, from the left; Mike Sandler, Paul Rigge, Stephen Skelton, Brian Medley, David Cornes and Roger Staples. I am unable to identify the Croquet Scotland team. Sorry about that.
Brian won one of his three singles and lost both doubles. Mike lost all three singles and both doubles. David won two of his three singles and one of his two doubles. Thus David featured in half of Team England’s wins. Well done David. The full results are shown below, as taken from the Croquet Scores website.
The Mary Rose Inter-Club Trophy is a knockout competition for advanced play. Players must have handicaps of 0 and above. The total handicaps of the team must be at least 4. Bowdon beat Chester in the second round (both teams had byes for the first round) and Bury in the Quarter Finals. They faced Nottingham in the Semi-Final, at Bowdon, on Friday 30th August, and sadly lost 2 -5.
Nottingham won the morning doubles and both singles to take a 0 – 3 lead. Bowdon would have needed to win all of the 4 afternoon singles to win the match. As it was, we could only win 2 of them. Particular mention should be made of Mike Shelmerdine’s success against a 2 handicap player in the afternoon.
The Mary Rose competition began in 1983 and Bowdon have won it 7 times, the last time in 2019. Next year we will try again. Well done team, for getting to the semi-final this season.
Bowdon’s team was a strong one, as below, with their handicaps.
Charles Harding, Captain 0Mike Sandler 1Mike Shelmerdine 7Adrian Apps 2
Nottingham Team was – Alex McIntyre 0.5, Sophie McGlen 0.5, Ian Draper 1.5 and Bob Thompson 2.5
Game results, provided by Charles, are shown below, Bowdon’s scores first.
AM – Charles & Mike Sandler lost to Alex & Sophie -17
Adrian lost to Bob – 3
Mike Shelmerdine lost to Ian – 23
PM – Charles lost to Alex – 13
Adrian lost to Ian – 7
Mike Sandler (joint star of the afternoon) beat Sophie + 5
This national Golf Croquet event under the auspices of Croquet England is Level Play, without handicap restrictions. Bowdon have been very successful in beating Chester in the first round, and High Wycombe in the second round.
Our team travelled to Edgbaston for the match on Thursday 29th August. The result was a great win, 5 – 2, for Bowdon. This match was the semi-final, and Bowdon now have to play Nottingham in the final. Well done team.
The game results are shown below, courtesy of the Croquet Scores website.
The Mary Rose Inter-Club Trophy is a knockout competition for advanced play. Players must have handicaps of 0 and above. The total handicaps of the team must be at least 4. Bowdon beat Chester in the second round (both teams had byes for the first round) and Bury in the Quarter Finals. They now face Nottingham in the Semi-Final, at Bowdon, on Friday 30th August. Should Bowdon win this match they will play against Surbiton in the final.
The Mary Rose competition began in 1983 and Bowdon have won it 7 times, the last time in 2019. Spectators will enjoy seeing some exciting advanced play.
As you would expect Bowdon’s team is a strong one, as below.
Charles Harding, CaptainMike SandlerMike Shelmerdine ( Captain)Adrian Apps
