News
We received the following extract from the Bear of Rodborough CC Newsletter. Caroline is a past student of the Croquet Academy.
Bear of Rodborough Croquet Club
Special Edition Newsletter January 2014
CONGRATULATIONS
CAROLINE
It has just been announced that Caroline has been awarded the Croquet Association’s prestigious Steel Memorial Bowl. This award is made annually to the most improved female player in the country. We nominated Caroline at the end of last season but had no idea of who else may be nominated so it has come as a wonderful surprise to hear this news. The nomination we presented read:
Caroline started learning croquet and joined this club three years ago and also joined Cheltenham Croquet Club earlier this year.
Caroline started 2013 on a handicap of 20 (index 995) and ended the season on 8 (index 1322).
In April, she played in the Budleigh High Bisquers Handicap Tournament which she won;
In May, she played in the Latham Cup Handicap Tournament in Bristol and won;
After playing in the Cheltenham Handicap May Weekend, her index had 25 points added to give her a handicap of 12;
She was the runner up in the Bristol High Bisquers tournament in June;
She won the Cheltenham High Bisques tournament in June;
She entered the Cheltenham Class tournament in July; (cont)
After these and other club matches her handicap came down to 8 by late August.
At Cheltenham Croquet Club this weekend, she won the D class club competition.
She has also played in club competitions at The Bear and has played in fixtures in the South-West Federation leagues.
Of the 91 games she has played this season, she won 63 ( 69.2%) of them.
Caroline will have to wait until the CA AGM in October to receive the award but in the meantime, we can all celebrate her amazing progress and wish her continued success in 2014.
CONGRATULATIONS.
The newsletter subscription box has been removed from the website. It was felt to be no longer useful as Academy communications have been re-organised and it was unlikely further website-based newsletters would be produced.
Virtually all subscribers have other connections to the Academy so they can expect to continue to receive communications from us.
The Croquet Academy Winter Coaching Programme 2013/2014
From October to next March, The Croquet Academy are offering one to one and small group coaching.
Suitable for GC and AC players of all levels seeking to improve their game.
Courses will be run by experienced Academy Coaches. Each session will last 3 hours
Cost for non SCCC members -‐ £20 per session including tea or coffee and biscuits.
Session timings will be agreed individually between the coach and the player.
To apply, download, complete the application form and post or email it to: Janet Hoptroff, 111 Mallon Dene, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 2JW Email: entries@thecroquetacademy.com
The Academy administrator will identify a suitable coach to meet your needs and arrange for the coach to contact you.
This coaching season is over. Thanks to all who came on courses and helped the Academy.
Once the new programme for 2014 is finalised it will be posted here and a newsletter sent to all registered addresses.
The annual High Bisque tournament was run by the Croquet Academy on 18/19 July. There was the usual good entry of 22 players with handicaps ranging from 14-24. The weather was unusual sweltering heat and blue skies and unbroken sunshine! The players lasted well and were sustained by gallons of water and by seeking the shade of the trees and huts.
The main event, the High Bisque Salver was closely contested. Block A was won by Vivien Fryer from Rother Valley, and Block B by Pam Gooders from Southwick. Both ladies won all their block games. The final took place at the end of a very hot day and both players were very tired but they rose to the occasion with Pam winning a close contest +1 on time! So our chairman Jonathan Isaacs was delighted to present Pam with the High Bisque Salver her first win after loyally supporting the event for a number of years. She also had a handicap reduction from 16 to 14.
We ran 2 supervised blocks this year due to the varying nature of handicaps. The main supervised event was a close call with Isobel George from Rottingdean winning in the end. The other supervised group for very high bisquers was managed by Nancy Allen who helped players through their games and explained the 4 ball break thoroughly.
We saw some very interesting and good play but the heat did affect everyone but it was pleasing to see many try to use their bisques affectively and set up and maintain the 4 ball break.
The event would not be possible without the support of our loyal coaches and I thank wholeheartedly Jack Davies, Gene Mears, Nancy Allen, Alan Theobald and Jonathan Isaacs for their help and encouragement. Grateful thanks to Don Mears for his refereeing on both days.
We were well served as ever on the catering front by Southwick, and we remain grateful to all the volunteers who make the tournament possible.
We always take on board suggestions to improve the event, so watch this space for the High Bisque event next year!
Frances Low
Manager.
Caroline Denny reports
"Delighted to be able to tell you that I won the Latham Cup at Bristol this weekend, winning 5 matches and with 11 bisques in the final full game, beat Bob Scott who plays off 6.
Almost all the games I held on to the last bisque and used it to peg out.
Regards
Caroline"
