It was all over way too quickly for my liking.
A few days ago, the Broadwas High Handicap GC team played their final game of the 2024 season with a trip to the flat lawns of Cheltenham. The lawns are SO flat, I’m amazed that Croquet England let them get away with it. I feel that there should be some sort of public inquiry, but that’s by the by.
Our High Handicap season was a delight, but it felt shockingly brief. It’s been a great joy to take up the captaincy of such a lovely bunch of enthusiastic players this season and I would have very much liked a couple more games in order to set ourselves up for next season. I don’t know about any other members of the squad, but I wanted more.
But before I outline our final game of the season, I’d just like to take a leaf out of Jon Carrington’s book and outline our 2024 season.
As I mentioned above, this is my first season as captain and I was appointed after Nick Reed stepped down from the role at the end of the 2023 season. I am most grateful to Nick for his initial guidance.
I was also most fortunate that the dependable stalwarts of Jim Norris, Mary Dryden, David Harington, Jean Faulkner, David Creed-Newton, Vivien Ellis and Hazel Felton stayed on the team, and they were all welcoming and supportive of the five new players on the squad, Paula Armstrong, Brian Humphreys, Derry Bancroft, Malcolm Armstrong and David Kaner. I’m also grateful to Chris Croft who volunteered his services as a valuable, reassuring reserve. I was sad that Dave Holt had to pull out of the squad before the league games commenced.
Moreton-in-Marsh A – Away
Our season kicked off on May 8th, just five days after the Broadwas lawns were declared open. It meant that the team had hardly any time to practise before travelling to Moreton-in-Marsh to play the club’s ‘A’ team in the South West Federation’s High Handicap League (North).
Despite a spirited performance from all the Broadwas players, led by Jean Faulkner, the team finally went down 14-6 to Moreton A. Paula Armstrong, making her debut for the squad scored great wins in the singles and doubles, while 20-handicap Hazel Felton – stepping into the team at short notice – had a good win over 12-handicap Ron McAlpine. Meanwhile, David Creed-Newton and Malcolm Armstrong – also making his debut – both grabbed valuable points from their draws in the singles rounds.
Moreton-in-Marsh ‘B’ – Away
The High Handicap team was back in Moreton-in-Marsh in early July, but this time to face the equally resilient ‘B’ team. This time, Brian Humphreys and David Kaner made their debuts for the team in another tough battle by an on-form Moreton side.
Jim Norris started the day with a 7-4 singles win, while newcomer David Kaner teamed up with Jean Faulkner to win their doubles game 7-3. Brian Humphreys and Hazel Felton grabbed half a point with a 4-4 draw in the first round of doubles. Jean Faulkner and David Kaner also drew their respective singles games when time was called. David then went on to beat Moreton ‘B’ captain Wendy Coleman, 6-4, while Hazel Felton managed a draw in a tough 3-3 battle.
In the later rounds, Hazel Felton grabbed a 5-3 win in the singles, while Brian Humphreys and Jean Faulkner won a half-point in the second round of doubles matches. The final score was 13.5 to Moreton B and 6.5 to Broadwas.
Moreton-in-Marsh ‘B’ – Home
Just a week-or-so later, we entertained Moreton ‘B’ at home and had a reversal of fortune, beating the Moreton-in-Marsh side 11-9.
There were early singles wins for David Harington (7-3), Jim Norris (7-4) and Brian Humphreys (6-5), while in the third round, Malcolm Armstrong scored a magnificent 7-1 singles win and the rookie captain beat fellow 16-handicapper Marilyn Talbot-Smith, 7-2. David Harington took his second win of the day 6-4, despite facing four extra strokes in his opponent’s favour. Jim Norris and David Creed-Newton capped the morning with a 6-3 doubles win.
In the afternoon, Malcolm Armstrong emphatically scored a second big win in the singles, 7-2, while Jim Norris also won 7-6 in a thirteen hoop battle. Brian Humphreys and David Harington won their doubles game 4-3 when time was called.
In the final round, only Brian Humphreys grabbed a win for Broadwas when he won 6-5 in a dogged game on Lawn 1.
Cheltenham – Home
Cheltenham was the next team Broadwas faced at home – the eventual winners of the High Handicap GC SWF League (North).
Despite a bright start to the day with two wins for the doubles partnerships of Mary Dryden and Hazel Felton and Brian Humphreys and Jim Norris, Broadwas struggled to catch up with the Cheltenham team, which dominated for most of the day.
Although Brian Humphreys managed to hold Roy Hemming to a 6-6 draw, Cheltenham generally dominated the morning’s play, despite a determined performance from the Broadwas team. After lunch, the doubles partnership of Malcolm Armstrong and Brian Humphreys produced a good win over the very strong doubles partnership of Chris Basset and Chris Ogden, 7-3.
In the final round of the day, Mary Dryden and Hazel Felton pulled off great singles wins over the superbly consistent Roy Hemming and Captain Bob Knight. Mary beat Roy 7-5, while Hazel beat Bob, 5-4.
The final score was Cheltenham 14.5 and Broadwas 5.5.
Moreton-in-Marsh ‘A’ – Home
In early August, Having been soundly beaten at Moreton-in-Marsh in May, just five days after the Broadwas lawns were opened early in the season, the team scored its biggest victory of the South West Federation competition when we beat Moreton-in-Marsh A, 13-7, at Stoney Ley
Broadwas set the tone in the first round of the day, winning three games out of four. Jim Norris and Malcolm Armstrong were first away on Lawn 2, beating Ron McAlpine (12) and David Heitler (14) in the doubles, 7-4.
In the singles, Paula Armstrong beat Doreen Exton (12) 7-5 on Lawn 5, while Mary Dryden scored a great win over Moreton’s lowest handicap player – Silke Bruening (8) in a thirteen hoop cliffhanger, on Lawn 3.
The Round 2 singles games brought an overwhelming victory for Malcolm Armstrong against David Heitler, 7-1, on Lawn 2, while the rookie captain did manage to finally beat fellow 12-handicap Ron McAlpine in a gloriously thirteen hoop battle on Lawn 1 after coming back from starting 2-0 down.
In Round 3, Jim Norris got back into his winning ways when he beat Doreen Exton 7-6 on Lawn 1, while Mary Dryden continued her winning streak by beating Glenys Seal on Lawn 5.
After a welcome lunch outside in the sun, Vivien Ellis enjoyed a terrific 7-3 win over Ron McAlpine on Lawn 1. In the doubles, Broadwas won both games in Round 4. Mary Dryden and Jim Norris beat Doreen Exton and Veronica Courtney, 7-3, while Malcolm Armstrong and I beat Silke Bruening and Glenys Seal, 7-2. Meanwhile,Vivien Ellis scored a great victory over Ron McAlpine, beating him 7-3 on Lawn 1.
By the final round, Broadwas had the match in the bag, but the team was still full of fight. Mary Dryden beat David Heitler, 7-6 on Lawn 2, while Malcolm Armstrong also won a thirteen-hooper when he beat Silke Bruening on Lawn 3. In a timed-out game, the rookie captain managed to beat Doreen Exton – an absolute demon at clearances – with his last shot with the black, 5-4.
Special mention has to be made of Mary Dryden and Malcolm Armstrong. They both won every game they participated in.
Cheltenham – Away
And then, in our last game of the tournament, we visited Cheltenham who were by that time, unconfirmed league champions.
Despite every Broadwas player giving their best, there was little that could be done to overcome a confident Cheltenham side on their home turf.
There were notable performances from David Creed-Newton who beat captain Bob Knight in the singles, 7-2, and the doubles partnership of David Harington and David Creed-Newton who won their doubles game 7-5.
Malcom Armstrong won both of his singles games, 7-6, 7-6, while David Harington also grabbed a 7-6 victory in the singles at the end of the afternoon, as did Jim Norris.
During the day, Paula Armstrong and David Creed-Newton won their doubles game 7-5, and David Creed-Newton and David Harington both picked up half-a-point each with 4-4 draws in the singles.
The day ended with a 13-7 win for the eventual winners of the league.
Overall, the season went very well with good, solid performances from a determined squad and their spirit bodes well for the future.
Along the way we formed friendships with team members of all the other clubs and it was a joy to be involved in the tournament. I can only encourage club members to consider putting themselves up for the various GC teams Broadwas puts up for the various South West Federation and West Midlands leagues.
All the teams we played very much enjoyed their experience at Broadwas and it was summed up best by Moreton ‘A’ team member David Heitler, who sent this poem to me after his team’s visit to Stoney Ley on August 10th. I felt it was a lovely tribute to our club. Thank. you David.
Moreton vs Broadwas Croquet Club and the Malvern Hills
By David Heitler
The Malvern Hills are full of thrills,
We found on the lawns of Broadwas.
There’s always a slope and we always had hope
That our shots would curve round because …
Like a man on the make they could just overtake
To stand in front of a hoop.
Or, just like the weather, we never knew whether
They’d slope off left with a droop.
So joyous to see just how merrily
Our balls flew away unexpected.
Either uphill with drive (would they ever arrive?)
Or downhill in ways undetected.
We won some games – but lost rather more
While the sun sang for us that day.
We were made to feel so welcome,
Almost sad to drive away.
Paul Felton