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News of Our Club & Members...

Congratulations ..............

.............to club member Gediminas Smolskas on winning the Alford Cup AC Tournament at Colchester C C over weekend of 20th April.

Bury v Pendle 'B' level AC match at Whitehead Park on 20/4/24

The North-West advanced play league is for matches between teams of three, with a doubles and a singles game in the morning followed by three singles games in the afternoon. Our first match of the season was against Pendle, and Ken Jones stood in as captain while Paul Kenworthy was involved in the Open Day at Coronation Park.

The day's preparation started at 8:30am with a lawn inspection by Ken and our chairman Roy, following heavy rain causing some flooding over the previous two days. Lawns 1 and 2 were pronounced fit for play, with a section of lawn 3 still unplayable.

Morning session

Richard Forman (handicap 4.5) played Paul Dowdall (7) in the singles. Richard continued his good form from the previous weekend's Mary Rose match, playing two tight breaks to steadily build a significant lead. Late in the game Paul found his form, ran the final hoop and pegged Richard's front ball out, leaving his second ball with many hoops to make and Richard's second ball with only two hoops remaining. As time was called Richard hit in, made the final two hoops and pegged out to record a win by 26-13.

The doubles was an altogether different affair. Ken Jones (3) and Roger Schofield (6) played the 'alternate stroke doubles' option for the first time and struggled for any consistency. They ran their first hoop after an hour (!), by which time their opponents Robert Essler (0.5) and Libby Dixon (11) had worked well together and established an 8 point lead. Play then continued in fits and starts for the next two hours and was mercifully brought to an end by time being called, resulting in a win for Pendle by 15-6.

Score 1-1 at lunchtime.

Afternoon session

There was an extraordinary turnaround in the top singles game with Ken making two good controlled breaks against Robert to establish a 15-3 lead after only 40 minutes. Ken continued to play well and made steady progress to win by 26-10.

In the second game Libby started well against the lower handicapped Richard for the first hour. Richard then found his form and made some well-controlled breaks to establish a big lead and win by 24-10. Score 3-1 and match won by Bury!

In the third game Roger was unlucky to miss some long shots early on and Paul went into the lead. There then followed a fascinating tactical battle, with Paul maintaining the lead, until Roger found his form to catch up in the final half hour. Paul just held off as time approached, winning 19-18.

Result - a narrow 3-2 win for Bury.

Ken Jones 22/4/24

Bury beat Tyneside in Mary Rose national AC competition

On Sunday 14 April the Bury team travelled to Pendle & Craven croquet club, a neutral venue to reduce travelling time, to play a Mary Rose match against Tyneside. This was very early in the season and all players were playing their first competitive games of 2024. The Mary Rose national competition is a prestigious AC event of level Advanced Play for club teams of four players, with a doubles and two singles games in the morning session and four singles games in the afternoon.

Morning session
The top Bury pair of Paul Kenworthy (handicap 1) and Ged Smolskas (2.5) played Derek Watts (2) and Terry Vernazza (4) in the doubles. After a tentative start, the Bury pair got into their stride and quickly established a significant lead. They then both made good breaks and their opponents failed to take advantage of the few openings available to them, which resulted in a quick and comprehensive win 26-0 to Bury.

Richard Forman (4.5) struggled to find any rhythm in his game against David Millener (7), and other players were treated to some monosyllabic comments from Richard as the morning progressed. He eventually lost 9-26.

In his singles game Ken Jones (3), the Bury captain, struggled to get the pace of the lawn against his opponent Derek Johnson (11). Despite the difference in handicaps the game was very close until Ken finally started playing some good well-controlled shots, eventually winning 25-19 by pegging out his first ball as time was called.

Score at lunchtime 2-1 to Bury.

Afternoon session
Paul and Ged started their afternoon games before Richard and Ken had finished their morning games, so there was no leisurely lunch break for the teams to plan tactics for the afternoon. Ged had established a big lead against Terry, and Paul was making steady progress against Derek W, by the time Richard and Ken started their afternoon games.

Soon afterwards, following some impressive A class play, Paul ran his final hoops and pegged out to claim a comfortable victory by 26-3. The match score was now 3-1 to Bury and only one more win was needed, but ....

Terry started a fightback against Ged by playing two steady breaks to get one of his balls most of the way round. Was defeat about to be snatched from the jaws of victory? Not if Ged was in our team! He quickly regained the innings, got both his balls round and, following some good tactical play, pegged out for a 26-11 win. A 4th game for Bury and the match was won!

At this point Richard suddenly found his form against Derek J and played some impressive croquet to record a comprehensive victory by 26-4. In the final game Ken had established a comfortable lead against David, but Tyneside had a long journey back north so it was agreed to abandon this game and leave the result as a victory for Bury by five games to one.

Our next Mary Rose match will be a first ever quarter final appearance, against the winners of the game between Bowdon and Chester. The quarter final will be a home match and will probably take place in late June or early July.

Historic note
This is only the fourth time Bury have entered the Mary Rose tournament. On the three previous occasions, between 2007 and 2013, we have been knocked out in the first round. This means that yesterday's match was Bury's first ever victory in the competition.

Ken Jones, 15/4/24

Match Report Bury North v Bury South
6th April 2024

Firstly, I want to give my thanks to Ian for preparing an excellent lawn especially taking into account the persistent wet weather.
Also, thanks to Peter Duncan for the score spreadsheet which made everything much easier for the team managers.
Also, thanks to Dawn for keeping us in refreshments.

Now, down to the croquet. I was impressed with the high standard of play since no one has had sufficient pre-season practice. Bury North got off to a good start by winning the two doubles games which was followed by three quarters of singles which left us with level play for the singles. Then Bury North won 3 of the last quarter resulting in an 11-7 final scoreline. Duncan led the way for Bury North with victories in all his games.

Many thanks to Bury South for high standard of opposition.

Best Regards
Bernard

CROQUET OPEN DAY

AWARDS PRESENTATION AT ANNUAL BQC DINNER 8/3/2024

Millennium Award for making exceptional progress in providing a good playing environment and promoting croquet in the community. Also came with £250 cash reward.

NZ tray bestowed upon Bury as the club Anne Alvey is a member in recognition of her winning the All England AC handicap title.

Anne Alvey being crowned All England AC Handicap Champion.

NWFCC AC weekend Handicap league winning team - Caesars, retaining their title

Internal AC Short lawn winner - Chris Alvey

Internal AC Full Lawn winner - Margaret Eccles

Internal One Ball winner - Margaret Eccles

Golf +8 handicap Winner - Duncan Meachin

Golf handicap winner - Duncan Meachin

Golf Doubles (High/Low Handicap Winners - Simon Attwell & Malcolm Daines

CA Title - AC Advanced trophy at Nottingham - Ken Jones

RIP JOHN CASSELL

It is with great regret and sadness that we have to report that our friend and fellow member JOHN CASSELL passed away on Saturday 9th March 2024 at home. In addition to croquet, John enjoyed most forms of sport, particularly football and golf, and was for many years very involved in playing badminton, plus of course a great fondness for a cup of tea! He will be missed by his friends, and on behalf of everyone at the club we extend sincere condolences to John's family.

John's funeral will be held on Friday 5th April at 9.45 a.m. at St. Vincents RC Church, Norden, Rochdale, OL12 7QL

TENPIN BOWLING 15th JANUARY 2024 AT THE ROCK BURY
First social of the 2024 calendar year saw a brilliant turnout by Club members.
27 members braved the cold weather conditions, hats off to you all, especially the ones who travelled from afar.
An enjoyable evening was had by all.
13 played 2 games and 14 played 3 games

Participants were:-
Lanes 1-3 – Margaret Anderton, David Barrett, Gail Burnett, Steve Lent, Phil Mather, Vi Richards, Roger Schofield, Roy Spencer, Barbara Young, Helen Artingstall, David Artingstall, Hilary Hamer, Peter Hamer

Lanes 4-7 – Ken Anderton, Alan Driver, Lynne Driver, Ken Eccles, Ken Jones, Paul Kenworthy, Bernard Lord, Pat Lord, Dawn Meachin, Duncan Meachin, Phil Nuttall, Ian Saunders, Gabija Smolskiene, Gediminas Smolskas

Prize winners on the night -
Highest score first game – Ken Jones 99
Highest score second game – Duncan Meachin 136
Highest score third game – Paul Kenworthy 125

2 game overall winner – Steve Lent 184
2 game overall runner-up – David Barrett 182
2 game overall third – David Artingstall 180

3 game overall winner – Phil Nuttall 449
3 game overall runner-up – Ken Anderton 338
3 game overall third – Gediminas Smolkas 327

Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone (you all are winners).
Big thankyou to Margaret Eccles for gathering the monies and collating all the scores, to Ian Saunders for presentation photos, and finally our Chairman Roy Spencer for presenting the prizes and additional photos.

£75.50 was raised on the night.

Bring on the next social!!

Report by Phil Nuttall

BCC WINTER POLICY