St Mary's Road, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2PL
News from the club
At our charity 1-ball heat in March, we raised £245 towards the charity MIND. This entitled Bowdon to 3 places in the regional final, which takes place on Saturday 7th May. Fiona & Andrew Whittaker offered to represent Bowdon at Nottingham, where they will meet players from other clubs who held their own heats.
We wish them the very best of luck.
This years club handbook is now available and are in the clubhouse for collection. They are arranged alphabetically and each has a label on the back with members name on.
Far Country members have had theirs posted to them.
If you spot any errors please can you let Mike Flannery know.
Bowdon have drawn against Belsay Hall in the Croquet Association Golf Croquet inter-Club championship. The Bowdon team is Angharrad Walters (Captain), Alan Mayne, Will Mellor and Colin Irwin.
We wish them all the best for Saturday’s match. Specators will have a chance to see some top class Golf Croquet at Bowdon.
Ged Smolskas from Bury wins Reed Cup (+15), with Bowdon’s Andrew Whittaker being the runner-up. Philip Jay from Huddersfield wins Egyptian.
In the semi-finals Andrew beat Liz Web +12T and Ged beat Mike Steer +25.
Andrew Whittaker earned his Croquet Association Bronze Award for running 10 hoops using bisques and winning a game. Ged’s handicap changed from 10 to 9, Philip’s handicap changed from 8 to 7, and Andrew’s changed from 14 to 10.
THE PLAYERS
Bowdon faced a strong team at Fylde in their first match of 2022, and lost 6 – 10. At least the weather was good. Fiona Whittaker made an impressive debut with 2 wins out of 4. The first two rounds of games went Fylde’s way 1 – 7, but as the Bowdon team adjusted to the lawns they won the last 2 rounds 5 -3.
The Bowdon team, with their handicaps, was: Richard Saul, Captain (4), Fiona Whittaker (8), Nan Saul (8) and Margaret Moss (10). The Fylde team was Alan Morton (3), Betty Bates (3.5), Phil Snowden (3.5) and Alison Broughton (10).
Results were as follows: Richard beat Alan +1 and Betty +7, and lost to Phil -7 and Alison -10. Fiona, on her debut, beat Alan +6 and Betty +13, and lost to Phil -2 and Alison -9. Nan beat Alison +1, and lost to Alan -10, Betty -3 and Phil -8. Margaret beat Alan +4, and lost to Betty -8, Phil -3 and Alison -2.
Bowdon faced a strong team from Southport in their first match of 2022, and drew 9 – 9.
Bowdon’s team, with handicaps, was Ros Pimlott (6), Mike Flannery (6), Margaret Moss, Captain, (11) and Diana Jerman (12). Southport’s team was Terry Dunbar (3), Tina Kelly (8), Eddie Green (10) and Frank Melling (12).
In the doubles, Mike and Margaret beat Terry and Frank (7 – 2), and Ros and Diana beat Tina and Eddie (7 – 5).
In the singles, Ros beat Frank (7 – 3) and Tina (7 – 5), and lost to Eddie (4 – 7) and Terry (4 – 6). Mike beat Frank (7 – 3), and lost to Eddie (5 – 7), Terry (3 – 7) and Tina (4 -7). Margaret beat Tina (7 – 5) and Frank (4 – 3), and lost to Terry (5 – 6) and Eddie (2 – 7). Diana beat Terry (7 – 5) and Eddie (4 – 3), and lost to Tina (4 – 7) and Frank (0 – 6)
Over the coming weekend, and Bank Holiday Monday, Bowdon will host our prestigious Croquet Association handicap tournament, the Reed Cup. You are all welcome to come along and watch 12 determined, but friendly, players striving to win. Kay Martin will be serving delicious tea for players and spectators. Lorna Frost will be managing the tournament – so behave yourselves.
The players, with their club and handicap details are listed below:
| Adrian Apps Bowdon, 4 | John Henderson Penrith, 4 | Philip Jay Huddersfield, 8 | Ken Jones Bury, 4 |
| Ged Smolskas Bury, 10 | Cas Sinclair Bowdon, 16 | Mike Steer Bowdon, 6 | Sylvia Steer Bowdon, 7 |
| Brian Storey Bowdon, -1 | Liz Webb Bowdon, 10 | Andrew Whittaker Bowdon, 14 | Brian Medley Bowdon, 3 |
The tournament will occupy 3 full lawns leaving 3 short lawns available for general play. Short lawns B and C may be converted into a full lawn. Members can book short lawn A as normal and if you require a full lawn book under short lawn B.
For those that aren’t aware the Reed Cup was originally instigated in 1922 by Mr and Mrs Reed, Club members at that time, for the Open A class singles in the Clubs July tournament. Currently the trophy is awarded for the May Handicap weekend.
Fiona Whittaker won Week 5 of the Wednesday John Saxby Competition, by some distance over Sue and Nigel in 2nd and 3rd.
| 1st | Fiona Whittaker | 90 pts |
| 2nd | Sue Cooper | 68 pts |
| 3rd | Nigel Matthews | 65 pts |
The full table can be found here
As only 3 full lawns are required for the May handicap the three short lawns are available to members.
Short lawns B and C will be converted into a full lawn. Members can book short lawn A as normal and if you require a full lawn book under short lawn B.
Our team in the North West Federation Short League will play against Fylde, away, on Saturday 30th April. The Bowdon Team is:
We wish them all the best of luck.