Paul Rigge (aka Riggey), Chair of the North West Federation has been awarded a well deserved Diploma by the Croquet Association, for his massive contributions to Croquet.

Citation read;

Paul started his croquet some 24 years ago at Bury Croquet Club. In 2002 he was involved in getting access for Croquet at the Commoneealth facility at Heaton Park in Manchester and in 2010 was on the team that organised the MacRobertson Shield there, being instrumental in getting the openning banquet and television coverage of the whole event. In fact he has been a television and radio presence representing the North West Croquet Scene on several occasions.
He is larger than life character and has had a very positive effect on croquet in the North West in the last 10 years. In 2012 Paul became Secretary of the Federation and served a three year term. Since 2016 he has been the Federation Coaching Officer. His coaching is second to none for beginners, improvers and at an advanced level. Together with another player he ran the 'Advanced Pods' at Bury. He is willing to travel anywhere to deliver his help and advice to the Federation members.
In 2017 Paul also volunteered to Chair the Federation, a post he also still holds at present. In 2019 he visited Stoneyhurst College and helped establish a new croquet club at the school, which is now a member of the Federation. He has constructed and maintained the websites for both Bury and now Pendle. For many years he has been Team Co-ordinator for the Lancashire team at the Counties.
He has recently become a very active member of Pendle Croquet Club and despite the Covid crisis has co-ordinated and run no less than 6 competitions in 2020. 10 more competitions are scheduled at Pendle this year - all motivated and co-ordinated by Paul.
He is active on the Tournament scene representing the North West countrywide. He works hard for the sport both on and off the lawns.

Members - why travel to New England to enjoy the Colours of the Fall? Come along instead to Earby and compete in the club's Internal Competitions, whatever your preference - all disciplines' are currently posted up on inside notice board - so grab your bat and enter your name into the dairy so others can see who's available to play....

We are sad to announce that Abdul Passed away suddenly but peacefully in Royal Blackburn Hospital on 31st August.
Abdul has been a long-time member of the club and achieved some success as a player, winning the All England AC Handicap Title in 1999 and the Same crown for Golf Croquet in 2002.
He also won & defended the CA's Men's Silver Challenge Bowl in 2009 & 2010.
Abdul managed and refereed many events for the club, for the NW Federationand even the World Croquet Federation! Lately he was instrumental in the success of the club's U3A group visits with his gentle coaching style - "Will be sadly missed"

A well attended service was held for this retired Maths Teacher at St Thomas' Church, Barrowford on Monday 20^th September where eulogies covered his passion for Gardening, Croquet, Poetry, Contract Bridge, Chess & Bowls, his love of Spanish Guitar Music and his tolerance of Live Jazz (due to his love of his wife's company and taste).
Now reunited with his wife (Judith) in Barrowford Cemetery, who preceded him in 2019.

Rigge took part in both the remaining Federation Milleniumm Events and Libby joined him for the the Level GC, both hosted this year by Bury CC who restricted numbers that could enter by electing to play at their Coronation Park venue.
Neither member came away with any silverware but were there to witness new names being entered into the record for both Advanced AC play - Mark Lloyd (Chester) & Jack Good (Bowdon & Bury) grabbing the GC Level title.

Visit NW Fed Site... for Adv report. or GC Level report.

Morning
Robert/Liz lost to Mike/Brian -9
Andrew lost to Will -24
Peter lost to Nigel -12

Afternoon
Robert beat Mike +23
Liz lost to Brian -20
Peter lost to Will -9
Andrew lost to Nigel -18

Morning
Robert & Robin beat Richard & Gail +1
Paul beat Tony +6
Libby beat Pauline +14t

Afternoon
Paul beat Richard +8
Robert beat Tony +21
Libby beat Gail +13
Robin lost to Pauline -3

Only 3 man teams, hence only 5 games in total.

Morning
Andrew & Libby lost to David & Brian -5
Paul beat Robin +26
(including a 12 hoop break with peel!)

Afternoon
Andrew beat Robin +11
Paul beat David +13
Libby beat Brian +19

North West Federation Handicap Golf Tournament, hosted this year up at Crake, featured 12 players from seven different clubs; Westmorland, Chester, Fylde, Penrith, Pendle & Craven, Crake Valley and Bury.
Managed by Sue Cornes, she split the entries into two blocks of 6 to give everybody 5 games, at the end of which it was calculated who had won most games and most hoops, and if equal, to determine semi finalists. Our own David Carpenter reached the Semi-Final but lost out to Fylde's Lou Pel, who went on to lift the Federation's Green Slate Trophy.

Saturday evening, after the campaign's first day. the squad members (who were staying in Southport) enjoyed a Tournament Dinner - huge fun and a fab way of analysing the day's 'derring dos'
We retained the overall Cup by accruing enough points from all sections and won both the AC Advanced and GC Handicap Sections outright,

no mean feat, since the GC Handicap section was the busiest with twelve clubs contesting for top honours, Riggey & Bob had it easy - only six clubs wanted that title!
The valuable points earned in the other three variations by the squad helping the overall total to claim the Championship title again.

Visit NW Fed Site... for 2021 report.

Morning
Andrew/Garry lost to Nigel/David -16
Paul lost to Will -16

Afternoon
Andrew lost to Will -4
Paul beat Nigel +4
Garry lost to David -15

Morning
Robert/Robin lost to Margaret/Phil -5t
Garry lost to Ged -26
Paul lost to Malcolm -1t

Afternoon
Robert beat Malcolm +14
Robin lost to Ged -26
Paul beat Phil +26
Garry lost to Margaret -9

Morning
Robert/Robin beat David/John +11t
Paul lost to Cas -12t
Garry beat Mike +2t

Afternoon
Robert lost to David -26
Robin lost to Cas -11
Paul lost to Mike -19
Garry beat John +9

What a difference twelve months can make! This time last year, Pendle was the only tournament held in this country, so players came from far and wide to enjoy our Covid safe outdoors. This time, we had to compete with an 'A' Level, an 'Open' grade & even the Home International's all scheduled onto our allocated Northern Championship weekend.

Unsurprisingly then,

Paul D Reports;
Morning
Robert/Lorna lost to Phil/Terry -5t
Roger beat John +23

Afternoon
Rober beat Phil +4
Lorna beat Terry +6
Peter beat John +11
Roger lost to David -1t

Tyneside's 'A' team were somewhat depleted due to a minor procedure with a 4 week 'no croquet' recovery time and a last minute 'ping' of one of the players.

The day started wet but improved to dull as the day progressed. The doubles pair of Robert Essler (c) and Lorna Dewar played on the Pavilion Lawn which was in poor condition due to restricted access for maintenance during the many lockdowns. It actually played better than expected with a win for Phil and Terry. On the other lawn (Clock Tower) Peter beat David Milliner and Roger beat John Portwood; 2-1 to Pendle at lunch.
After lunch the spies were out! If you don't know Tyneside's set up it is not possible to see one lawn from the other so in a team game you are effectively playing with zero feedback! Liz Wilson turned up from her shopping trip and ran from one lawn to the other feeding information whilst a Tyneside player also did the same thing for their side.
Despite the difference in handicaps it could have gone either way with both Robert and Lorna getting quite a long way behind. It was up to Peter and Roger to come up with the goods - and they were fed this information emphatically! As it turned out both Robert and Lorna came back from behind to win the match with Peter and Roger still in play. Peter also finished with an Aspinall peel followed by oppo miss and then a rush back through rover to peg out. Roger had a spectacular break in the time turn from 6 to box with a peel on partner ball at 4 back to go one point ahead. Oppo hit in and ran penult to level the score!
Golden hoop !..and Roger missed penult from straight in front (as Roger said "it wont 'ard") and so David had the opportunity to hit the peg and win.
A victory for Pendle - Next match either Chester or Bowdon

The women dominate....(spoiler alert)

Clubs again sent their representatives to contest this event, well at least the members who were prepared to allow their names to be submitted in these risk-adverse times.
Pendle lawns looked resplendent in the sunshine for the start of play,

but player's optimism and the clouds quickly clouded over as a very heavy cloud-burst passed through. After three rounds (manager tried to push for a 4th ) on the first day, only last year's victor was unbeaten..each of which was a timed win, the 2^nd & 3^rd being by the margin of +2t & +1t - what a grinder, what a performance!

Busy month for Lorna,she entered the above, got a bye in the first round (useful with all rounds being Bo3), but had a real scrap with first oppo before succumbing with each game going to time,with neither being able to deliver the killer punch.
Did well in the plate though - two good wins.

Our Sharon ventured afar (well up to Greenodd) for her first taste of tournament play away from home turf. She managed some very close games in the National 'C' series, but only won one.
In the National 'B', she started the day brilliantly with a win against a much stronger oppo, but unfortunately that again was her only winas the day progressed.
Still - the sojourn earned her a entry into the GC world ranking database.

Our Lorna fancied her chances in the British Open in the Midlands, held over a three day weekend, With all matches being Bo3, she dropped just a single game on her way to the Final, great levels of concentration needed for that feat at this level!
Opponent in Final - former World Champion and current Female World N^o1 Rachel Gee - Lorna's run ended there but what a name to have on your playing record!

Full results can be found at Croquetscores.

U3A group has visited every Wednesday this month irrespective of the weather that Earby has thrown at them on each visit so far (dry, wet, wet & dry today), but they do turn out in sufficient numbers (20, 20, 19, 12) to keep the manager (Abdul) busy keeping the games turning over.

The U3A group run by our Graham overran the place in the sunshine today. A huge group of Twenty turned out, including four newbies, ably instructed in how to play by Abdul. The session was also supported with sterling efforts from Pauline and Lesley..

Again the easiest play format to fill the day with play for the competitors was an all play all round robin, and again the players chose to use the WCF Trial Handicapping method instead of 'CA Extra Turns'. Games not being 'carded', play tended to be more adventurous - hoop 10 being scored from just north of C4 for example. Good to see.

Everyone managed at least two wins but two players dominated, winning six of their seven games each. It required Net Hoops to separate them, so our own Karen took home the winners wine.

- also back by popular demand was the pre-play Bacon Buttie service so well received in the Heaton Park days!
AC - 'the game in decline' was fully booked, with entries from Fylde, Bury, Southport,Keswick & Pendle, so just like the Easter events, the field was split into a Handicap KO & a 'free-for-all' Egyptian playing a mixture of Hcp & Adv.

The day progressed as it should've, with both divisions being won by competitors from a single club....Fylde CC, the players; Lee Hartley & Phil Snowden.
(Sure it's just coincidence that Riggey had held his first coaching clinic at Flyde this Thursday).

Following yesterdays successful Golf Croquet event, today it was the turn for AC to step into the lime light and fill the courts.

Sufficient numbers attended (some playing in their very first tournament) to avail the manager to split play into 'A' & 'B' groups.
The 'A's played under advanced rules & the 'B's played handicap, to base 8. Things duly progress, more or less on time, with Lee Hartley, returning to the game after an 18mth hiatus, winning the 'A' class and Libby Dixon winning the 'B' Knockout.

Stage One of the Roadmap opening ended yeaterday to coincide with a heatwave hitting the country and the weather in Earby matching Madrid, Spain!

Yes it was great to be allowed back onto our courts. Stress and anxiety relieved as muscle memory revived and the balls began to move where the were intended. We were allowed to meet up, but we all still adhered to the two metre social distance rule.
The grass played well despite it being still at 'winter' length.. what a fun day.
Day's winner? - the eleven who turned out.

With the country seemingly on an 'opening soon' trajectory, the clubs tournament plans have yet again needed to be amended. Out goes the Easter John Beech from this year's calendar, Hotels & Guest houses can't open yet so any competitors intending to come wouldn't have anywhere to stay, so what we *are* going to try instead is to offer two single day events to local players. One on the Saturday for GC & AC on Easter Sunday.

January and February was a write off, play-wise, with only essential travel allowed and any exercise taken had to start or finish at your home. Not much use for Croquet, but I've been keeping my eye in with practice games of Palle Malle up & down my street..,,,(not really!).
The UK Government has announced that we *will* be able to access the courts and play again from March 29^th IF the monitored trends continue their promising direction until then.
However, maintenance is now allowed, so please step up and volunteer to blow away some of the winter cobwebs down at the club - there's plenty to do...