Bright warm sunshine, full blue sky but numbers attending got hit by the road from Skipton being totally closed for road-works. So fourteen made it via the back roads for todays play.
Week's winner - Marie, after a shoot at the peg from penalty area tie-break with David

Sue L'Anson won the Plate competition with a 7-4 win over Marcia Henderson.
Mention should be made of our own Andrea who lost in the semi final to Tom 5-6, belying the fact that her index for seeding purposes was reduced by 100 pior to the first draw.
1-Tom Grievson from Frank Sharps, Malcolm Daines, Andrea Widdison,

Special thanks go to Libby for providing wonderful food & two of the visitors Sandy & Sue, both of whom assisted Libby with the catering.
A good day; enjoyed by all.

It is with deepest sadness that we report the passing of club member and former Treasurer today. As we who knew him know, he put up a brave fight, undergoing many sessions of Chemo and usually always rallying with a smile. In recent times however as the body grew weaker the time between his visits to the club got longer.
Our thoughts & prayers, of course, now rest with Gill.

Dull start to session but brightened up as afternoon played out Nineteen attendees and our Graham contested the muliple games.
Week's winner - Syd (who ducked last week).

The U3A group run by our Graham returned for the new season. Seventeen braved the drizzle but such was the positivity, the blue sky soon replaced the damp and the clamour for games began.
First session included two newbies (Kathy & Linda - welcome).

First winnerof 2022 - David Ball, (who cruised it).

Today it was Social Sunday. 6 members turned out. We enjoyed golf croquet and One Ball practice as Andrea has won through to the One Ball Final at Nottingham on the 8th May through her primary club Ripon.
Andrea entertained those present at lunch with her latest croquet themed poem.
Look out for our next "Social Croquet"

A big welcome to our latest new member Andrew. Keep up your practice as you are proving to be a natural at this game. Several of us are trembling with your accuracy and you have only been 3 times!

What to do for the best about Covid now that the mask mandate has been dropped along with all 'distancing' guidance we've suffered under for the last two years - well play croquet of course, preferably in the sunshine on fine dry courts. Fortunately Earby delivered just such over the early bank holiday. Not saying we didn't get any rain, we did, but it confined itself to the rules of 'Camelot' - rain once, in the small hours of Monday.

Fourteen players sensibly booked their places in this friendly (either Hcp or Adv) AC format tournament to be faced with four freshly laid-out courts
In the very first round on Friday, a CA Bronze medal was gained with a further award (Silver) being earned upon the Saturday by the eventual overall winner.
In line with previous years, the tradition of buttered Hot Cross Buns for all on Good Friday & choccy Eggs on Sunday were available.
This year it took until the very last round on Monday for the Major trophies to be decided, such was the competition by those in contention, so after 66 games, the following overall results were presented;
John Beech Handicap Trophy - Ged Smolskas
Peter Dowdall Cup (adv) - Paul Rigge.
Under 10 Handicap Trophy - Richard Harding
10 & Over Handicap Trophy - David Harding
Fastest Game - David Harding (42mins Vs Lee Hartley)
Most Games - Lee Hartley.

a different kind of down-pour

Can you make a conribution?

Busiest day of the year..(so far!), with thirteen members enjoying the 'mild' temperatures - well it is mild for January and winter is still awaited.

Blue Sky & members entering names into on-line Diary to turn-up and play

So time to give first cut of year - out came the Allett mower to give a 'once-over' down the left hand side - courts 2 through 4 were 'striped' and hoops reset on four.

What's not to like - good company from club mates and balls rolling about in bright sunshine.

The World Croquet Federation has today issued a update to the 'starting scores' table to be utilized for any games played under this system from today (replacing last year's draft).
The full details of the data analysis and the rational for this change can be found on the WCF site. The on-going trial will again be run throughout this year and you are invited to give the game a try and, if you wish to, send feedback. Please let them know your impressions and observations and also provide game results which show the handicaps and/or DGrades of the players involved
Please use the dedicated email address set up for this purpose "advantagegc@worldcroquet.org" - again, games played this way do *not* go on your card!.