High Bisque winner Dave Holt received the competition trophy from wife and tournament organiser, Eileen Holt.
Dave Holt was the winner of the Broadwas High Bisque GC competition held at the club on Thursday.
In the final, Dave beat 2025 winner Alison Disley 5-7 in a thoroughly enjoyable, hotly contested tournament held under this season’s newly introduced target score advantage handicap rules.
Competition winner Dave Holt after receiving the tournament trophy from Eileen Holt.
Eight players entered this season’s competition, organised and run by Eileen Holt. The start of the competition was delayed until 1.00pm in order to avoid the heavy rain that had swept in from the Atlantic overnight. Eileen’s meteorological decision paid dividends. Although playing conditions were very breezy, there were no interruptions in the playing schedule due to rain.
High Bisque competitor Vivien Ellis congratulated Dave Holt as he left the lawns after his win.
Split into two blocks, competitors played three games each, timed at 50 minutes per game.
In the Blue Block were Debbie Kaner 12, Vivien Ellis 20, Dave Holt 9 and Derry Bancroft 20, while the Red Block comprised David Harington 11, Howard Freeman 8, Alison Disley 9 and Paul Felton 12.
Eileen receives a hug from husband Dave
As the afternoon’s blocks’ play concluded, Alison Disley topped the Red Block, while Dave Holt pipped Debbie Kaner for top spot in the Blue Block. Howard Freeman was the runner-up in the Red Block.
Dave Holt scores the final hoop with his black against Alison Disley, in the final.
The final games of the afternoon were between Howard Freeman and Debbie Kaner on lawn 1, to decide third and fourth spots, while the final between Dave and Alison was held on lawn 2.
Debbie Kaner made her yellow fly during her third place win against Howard Freeman.
Alison Disley removes Dave Holt’s black from the jaws, during the competition final on lawn 2.
Derry Bancroft hoops his red during his win in the blocks over Vivien Ellis.
Howard Freeman hoops his blue during his win over David Harington in the blocks.Vivien Ellis places her black in a hoop-running positon during her blocks’ clash with Derry Bancroft.David Harington in action on lawn 3 against Howard Freeman during the blocks.Dave Holt puts his blue in the jaws during his finals win.
Eventually, Debbie Kaner won third place in the competition by winning her game against Howard by securing a higher percentage of her target hoops – 6/7 to Howard’s 7/9.
Many thanks to Eileen Holt for organising the competition and also to Jackie Guy for her assistance with the administration of the tournament during the day. Special thanks also to club coach David Kaner, who served as the day’s tournament referee.
The Bath and Broadwas players pictured after a hard day’s play. Inset – Eileen Holt
The Broadwas GC Level Play 5+Team travelled away to Somerset on Friday for their second game of the 2026 season, against a very much in-form Bath Croquet Club.
The game was a follow-up to the Broadwas team’s fine home win thriller against Camerton and Peasedown in May.
Travelling to Bath’s Recreation Ground lawns were captain Malcolm Armstrong 8, David Kaner 6, Eileen Holt 6, Peter Hill 5, Howard Freeman 8 and Alison Disley 8.
Led by non-playing captain Mary-Jane Middlehurst, the Bath team were Sue Duncan 7, Feona Bickley 5, Stephen Barrett 9, Brian Owens 5, Anwen Owens 6 and Adrian Raybould 7.
Eileen Holt hoops her red with a jump shot during her 7-3 win over Sue Duncan.
After having left Worcestershire under clear blue skies, the Broadwas players were met with overcast and drizzly skies on their arrival at the Bath lawns, a stone’s throw from the Bath Rugby Club Recreation Ground, where preparations were being made for the final round of the Gallagher Premiership.
After greeting and a warmup, the drizzle ceased and the players took to the lawns in intermittently overcast and slightly chilly conditions.
David Kaner hoops yellow during his first round partnership with Malcolm Armstrong against Adrian Raybould and Stephen Barrett.
The first round of one doubles and two singles games brought a win for the Broadwas side when Eileen Holt beat Sue Duncan in a game in which she scored a hoop with a tremendous angled jump shot. Eileen won the game 7-3 – the first of three victories she was involved in.
In the second round there were victories for Broadwas in both the doubles and singles.
Peter Hill and Howard Freeman enjoyed an emphatic win over Brian Owens and Anwen Owens, 7-2, whilst David Kaner had a tremendous battle with the spectacularly accurate Feona Bickley. David took the 13th after a magnificent approach shot which put him just in front of the hoop. Almost wired, even Feona was unable to clear David’s winning ball.
Pictured against the backdrop of Bath Rugby Club, Peter Hill is pictured during his timed-out game against Feona Bickley.
In the third round, Alison Disley narrowly lost out to Sue Duncan 6-5 in a timed-out game against Sue Duncan, while Eileen Holt was involved in her second victory of the day with a 6-3 timed-out win in the doubles, partnering Malcolm Armstrong, against Adrian Raybould and Feona Bickley.
An emphatic clearance from Howard Freeman during his doubles partnership with Peter Hill against Brian Owens and Anwen Owens.
The fifth and final round brought victory for Eileen again, when she beat Anwen Owens 7-5.
Final Score – Bath 11 – Broadwas 5
On the day, Bath players were extremely accurate in front of the hoop and their clearing skills were exceptional, but the Broadwas players battled hard, with most games being close.
Pictured just a stone’s throw from Bath Rugby Club, Malcolm Armstrong is pictured in action during his doubles partnership with Eileen Holt against Adrian Raybould and Feona Bickley.
In his address to the hosts at the end of the afternoon, Malcolm praised his players for their performances in some close games, but offered his sincere congratulations to the Bath team.
Paul Felton
Alison Disley hoops red during her singles game against Sue Duncan.Howard Freeman in action during the afternoon’s singles games. David Kaner hoops his yellow again, during his first round doubles partnership with Malcolm Armstrong.Malcolm Armstrong puts his black in the jaws during his doubles partnership with David Kaner against Stephen Barrett and Adrian Raybould.Peter Hill hoops brown during his fourth round game against Feona Bickley.Alison Disley congratulates Stephen Barrett at the end of their tight timed-out game during the morning session.
The Moreton A and Broadwas teams pictured after the match with Marilyn Talbot-Smith (5th left), Christine McCormick (8th right), Gill Hindshaw (3rd right) and Malcolm Armstrong (far right).
Members of the Broadwas High Handicap GC squad played their first away game of the season at Moreton-in-Marsh on Tuesday, against Moreton A.
After enduring a lengthy journey, circumnavigating early morning Worcester traffic and roadworks, the team arrived at the delightful Moreton lawns facing ominous weather warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms.
For two new members of the team – Debbie Kaner 12 and Peter Dobson 11, it was their first match away. They were joined by David Harington 11, David Creed-Newton 11 and captain Paul Felton 12. Paula Armstrong 14 and Hazel Felton 20, who have both been carrying injuries, shared playing duties, playing two games each.
Led by captain Veronica Courtney 16, the Moreton A team comprised Adrian Grimes 12, Peta Kuck 12, Clint Parker 14, Glenys Seal 14, Nicky Middleton 14, Jean Terry 18 and Ron McAlpine 14.
The Moreton lawns looked glorious in the under the early-morning sunny spells. The club, under the newly appointed chair Marilyn Talbot-Smith, has put a lot of work into the lawns over the winter and they looked silky smooth as the players took to the courts.
Despite starting the day with sunny spells, the first round (played under the newly-introduced advantage handicap target score rules) – comprising two doubles and two singles, only brought gloom to the Broadwas team, with all-round losses, making it 4-0 to the home side.
The second round brought little comfort. Debbie Kaner came close to victory during her 13-hoop battle with Nicky Middleton, but she was defeated after Nicky put her green just in front of the 13th after a terrific approach shot which went through the back of the hoop from the 12th.
The only victory in the second (singles) round was from Paul Felton, who beat old adversary Glenys Seal. Glenys beat him in the same competition last season, but even after he put his red in the jaws of the 6th hoop and Glenys scored a terrific jump shot to take the hoop, she was unable to repeat her victory, with the Broadwas captain winning 7-4.
After round two, the score appeared to be running away in favour of the on-fire home side, standing at 7-1 to Moreton A.
Games had to be interrupted due to the strength of the rainfall and the distant rolls of thunder, but Broadwas must have found the torrential intermittent showers refreshing during the third (singles) round, because we won three of the four games played.
Making his debut for the team, Peter Dobson beat Adrian Grimes 3-2 in a timed-out game, while 20-handicap Hazel Felton beat Glenys Seal 4/6 to 1/7 in a timed-out game. Meanwhile, David Creed-Newton enjoyed his first singles win of the day when he beat Ron McAlpine 6/9 to 4/7.
The score now looked a little more respectable for Broadwas although it stood at 8-4 to Moreton at lunchtime.
Round four (two singles and two doubles, double-banked) brought three wins for Broadwas. Playing in her first away match, Debbie Kaner grabbed her first singles win of the day by beating Peta Kuck, 7-3.
In the doubles, High Handicap stalwart David Harington partnered newcomer Peter Dobson to beat Veronica Courtney and Glenys Seal 6/8 to 5/7 – 75% to 71% under the new target score rules. Meanwhile, Paula Armstrong and Paul Felton recaptured their form from last year (as a partnership they were undefeated all season), by beating Clint Parker and Adrian Grimes 7-5.
The score now stood at 9-7 to Moreton A.
It was all to play for in the final singles round. Moreton’s Clint Parker took first blood when he narrowly defeated Paula in a 13-hooper in front of the clubhouse.
Debbie Kaner took her well-deserved second singles win of the day with an 8/8 to 4/7 win over Veronica Courtney, while Paul Felton beat Ron McAlpine 7-6 just as the clouds began to break again.
With the score standing at 10-9 to Moreton A as the last game played out, it was down to David Creed-Newton to snatch the draw and he did, magnificently, with a 7-4 win over Adrian Grimes.
Final Score – Moreton-in-Marsh A 10 – Broadwas 10
Many thanks to Moreton-in-Marsh A for their usual conviviality and hospitality. It was a great day, played in good spirit. Thanks to Veronica Courtney for making the onerous match day paperwork much easier by working out the playing schedule well in advance and thanks to Gill Hindshaw for refereeing. Thanks also to Christine McCormick for looking after us in the clubhouse.
Thank you also, to my vice-captain Malcolm Armstrong, for his help and encouragement as well as to David Kaner for his coaching of the squad pre-season. My biggest thanks go to members of the Broadwas team, who kept battling despite looking like we were heading for defeat for much of the day. Well done. Next stop – Bradford-on-Avon.
BSA Chair Malcolm Armstrong’s Public Thanks To Broadwas Croquet Club’s Volunteers
Dear members,
I am sure you are all enjoying the green, manicured lawns at Stoney Ley. They looked fabulous in the sunshine for the GC Open competition held on Wednesday.
But the upkeep of the lawns is not without its problems. The tractor which tows the trailer into the woods with our clippings is very poorly and still out of action. We are hopeful that it will be repaired soon, returning to service after a few weeks of inactivity.
In order to enable us to still play our beloved sport, the mowing teams are having to manually wheelbarrow the clippings some distance between the lawns in order to tip them up by the surrounding hedges. This task is no mean feat and I wanted to go on record to publicly acknowledge our thanks to the club’s mowing teams who are currently operating under less than ideal circumstances.
Our club benefits from having a tremendous group of volunteers who undertake many roles and I know all club members are grateful for that. These tasks, performed weekly under sometimes difficult conditions, deserves a “mention in dispatches.”
So, thank you for all your hard work.
Malcolm Armstrong Chair of the BSA Chair of the Review Task Group
Alison Disley congratulates Jim Dryden on his win against her in the blocks
Eight Broadwas players braved the prospect of high temperatures at Stoney Ley on Wednesday to compete in the Broadwas heat of the All England Advantage GC Competition.
Organised by club captain John Guy, the winners of the two blocks in the tournament will go to the semi-finals held later in the summer. The national final will be held in Watford in September.
In the 2025 competition, David Harington and Peter Hill both won through to the semi-finals held at Bath.
Howard Freeman hoops his red during his blocks game against David Harington
There were eight entrants to the competition this year. Last year’s winners – David Harington (11) and Peter Hill (5) both entered the fray again, joining Jean Faulkner (9), Alison Disley (8), Howard Freeman (8), Jeff Faulkner (4), Jim Dryden (2) and Paul Felton (12).
This year, the competition is using the newly introduced target score system, which replaces the starting score system which ran in the 2025 season. Broadwas handicap team players have been introduced to the new system in the past couple of weeks and have largely embraced the concept of target scores, though the new method of filling in their handicap cards still needs practice.
Jim Dryden in action during his game against Alison Disley in the Red Block
In practical terms, using one example from today, a 2-handicap player met a 12-handicap player in a blocks match. The new system meant that the lower handicap player had to score eleven hoops in order to win, whilst the high handicap player had to score just five.
After some intense, untimed battles on the increasingly warm lawns during the day, two winners emerged.
Jeff Faulkner secured his place in the regional semi-finals by beating Howard Freeman on lawn 3. Jeff hit his target of seven, to Howard’s score of two out of five hoops.
Jeff Faulkner goes for the hoop with his yellow against Howard Freeman in the semi-final.
Meanwhile on lawn 5, David Harington secured another trip to the regional semi-finals after he beat Jim Dryden. David secured all five target hoops while Jim, the lowest handicap player in the competition who appeared to be hooping at twice the rate of players around him, hit six of his nine hoop target.
David Harington lines up his winning shot against Jim Dryden, to secure his place in the regional semi-finals.
Many thanks to John Guy for his organisation of the competition and for his refereeing during the day.
Good luck to Jeff and David in the regional semi-finals.
The Broadwas GC Handicap team pictured at Cheltenham on Friday. From left: Jeff Faulkner (captain), Alison Disley, Jackie Guy, Jean Faulkner, Peter Hill and David Harington.
By Jeff Faulkner
Last Friday, The Famous Five, consisting of the three ladies, Alison Disley, Jackie Guy and Jean Faulkner plus the two men David Harington and Jeff Faulkner, who make up the Broadwas handicap team, set off for their first adventure of the summer, a SW league fixture at Cheltenham. Peter “Harry” Hill guested for the team to play The Third Man.
The team was slightly disadvantaged before the start of the match. The handicaps of all three ladies had been reduced in the few weeks since the season started. They had listened too attentively to the Three Wise Men during the weekly winter coaching sessions at Cripplegate Park and then implemented their musings too assiduously in the lead up to the match. The Third Man had the opposite problem in that he had been enhanced – not his handicap but his girth, through too much Sachertorte, too many Viennese fingers and more than the odd drop of Zweigelt in the close season perhaps? This meant that he could no longer squeeze into his trademark shorts and had to resort to his white long johns on the warmest day of the year.
The first round of matches was unusual in that it consisted of three doubles but this was considered by the Cheltenham captain to be the best way to get everyone involved from the outset and used to the verdant, flat and fast Cheltenham lawns. Peter and Jean completed their doubles first with a good win but the other two doubles were lost, albeit after long battles.
Jeff rested himself and Jean for the second round which consisted of 4 singles. Jackie crushed fellow 7 handicapper, Peter Martell 7 – 0, Alison had a comfortable win over 6 handicapper Andy Brister and David lost out to the Cheltenham captain, Iris Brooksbank. The fourth game was an epic tussle between Peter and fellow 5 handicapper Graham Brooksbank. Peter was 6 – 5 up after over an hour’s play when Jeff, the match referee, imposed a 15 minute time limit. With Jeff watching, Graham ran hoop 12 unexpectedly from some distance to level the match. Peter was about to play his ball to the 13th not realising that both his balls and Graham’s other ball were all offside. Jeff pointed this out, so all three balls went off to the same penalty spot from where Peter gauged his two approach shots to hoop 13 to edge the game. This made the score 4 – 3 to Broadwas after two rounds.
Thereafter the heat intensified and it was agreed to keep the match flowing by doing away with structured rounds and a lunch break. The next four games of singles were shared 2 – 2 with wins for Jackie who sneaked home against Sheila Pedley, Cheltenham’s star player on the day, and The Third Man. Jeff and Peter Martell had a close encounter with Peter winning the deciding hoop and Jean losing to old adversary Richard Pinder.
In the four singles that followed Cheltenham edged ahead by winning three of them with Alison, Jean and David losing one sided games. Fortunately, Jeff played his best croquet of the season to defeat Richard Pinder 9 – 5 to set up a tense finish with Cheltenham one game ahead with one doubles and four singles to go.
With Alison and David playing together in the doubles it left the team’s most experienced players to contest the singles. Alison and David were heading for a quick and heavy defeat against the strong Cheltenham pair of Peter Martell and Graham Brooksbank. As David had become dispirited Alison applied some TLC and they rallied very strongly to prolong the match by over 45 minutes before losing on the final hoop. So with Cheltenham 9 – 7 up and four singles to contest all match outcomes were possible.
Jean hit her stride with some devastating long hoop running to overwhelm Iris, Jackie narrowly lost out to Richard and Jeff and Peter were still battling away.
Unfortunately Jeff was up against his nemesis, Sheila Pedley, a lethal assassin heavily disguised as a sweet little old lady. Jeff’s target score was 9 and Sheila’s 7. Jeff started in exemplary style, winning the toss, Blue to 8 foot in front of the hoop before scoring with Blue’s next shot and racing into a 4 – 1 lead. Percentage play on hoop 6 would be to ignore a jumping opportunity and go half way to hoop 7 but Jeff went for the KO blow and not only knocked Sheila’s ball through but left his own in the jaws – result 4 – 1 became 4 – 3 and things weren’t quite so rosy. The next three hoops took time but after ten hoops Jeff was 6 – 4 up so both players needed three hoops to win. The assassin then struck with devastating speed. Jeff was well in control of hoop 11 but a straightforward clearance shot propelled Sheila’s red through hoop 11 and down to 12. Black was hampered and could do nothing, yellow took position alongside red and blue was left with Hobson’s Choice – a long hoop run of 7 yards from an angle of 30 degrees but of course Hobson’s Choice often works and it did this time to make the score 7 – 5 to Jeff, Sheila put two great balls in front of hoop 13, jawsed the first, ran hoop 13 straight through 14 to reach her 7 target. THE LAST 4 HOOPS TOOK 4 MINUTES!!
GOODNIGHT VIENNA.
The Third Man was still out there fighting for the cause against Young Peter, 23 years his junior, but by this time he had melted so much in his long johns that he could barely keep them up and having made sure his score was respectable he finally succumbed.
At 17.00 we partook of excellent tea and cakes provided by Mary Berry on the patio, congratulated Cheltenham on their 12 – 8 win and looked forward to the next Adventure for the Famous Five which is on Sunday June 14th and entitled ‘ Five Gain Revenge On Cheltenham ‘ with Howard Freeman taking over the role of The Third Man.
The Broadwas and Camerton and Peasedown players after tea and cake. (Images: Paul Felton)
Played on a perfect Saturday, the Broadwas GC Level Play 5+ team entertained Camerton and Peasedown at Stoney Ley in their first match of the season in the South West Croquet Federation league.
New captain to the Level Play 5+ team, Malcolm Armstrong (8), led Eileen Holt (6), Howard Freeman (8), David Kaner (6), Peter Hill (5) and Alison Disley (8) to a great victory over a highly skilled Camerton and Peasedown side.
Our Somerset visitors, captained by Ann Munton (6), were Phil Hendy (8), Jonathan Flatt (7) and Simon Munton (7).
Play began earlier than scheduled, in slightly overcast but comfortable temperatures. The games were untimed and were overseen by referee for the day, John Guy.
Broadwas were first out of the starting gates with three singles wins in the first round from David Kaner who beat Phil Hendy 7-2 on lawn 1 and Howard Freeman who beat Jonathan Flatt, 7-6. Eileen Holt enjoyed the first of her day’s victories with a 7-6 win over Simon Munton.
David Kaner hoops yellow during his 7-2 win over Phil Hendy.
Fortunes changed a little in the second round, with Malcolm and David just losing out 6-7 in the doubles, to Simon Munton and Jonathan Flatt. Peter Hill was also pipped at the post by Phil Hendy, 6-7. The only Broadwas winner in the round was Eileen Holt, who beat Ann Munton, 7-3.
Malcolm Armstrong shoots for hoop 8 during his game against Jonathan Flatt.
By midday, the lawns were hotting up under the now, clear blue skies and Broadwas were mindful of taking back control. David Kaner started the ball rolling by beating Jonathan Flatt 7-6 on Lawn 2, while the partnership of Alison Disley and Eileen Holt took the first of their doubles victories of the day, beating Ann Munton and Phil Hendy, 7-3 on lawn 5.
Simon Munton puts his black in the jaws during the opening round against Eileen Holt.
Alison Disley in action on lawn 5 during her doubles win with Eileen Holt on lawn 5 against Phil Hendy and Ann Munton.
After lunch, the fourth round saw Malcolm Armstrong beat Phil Hendy on lawn 5, 7-3, while in a timed-out game, Eileen and Alison beat Jonathan Flatt and Simon Munton, 6-5.
Peter Hill hoops at the lawn 5 third hoop, during his doubles partnership with Howard Freeman.
By the fifth and final round, it was all to play for. With the match score standing at 8-5 to Broadwas and three games to go, our visitors could snatch a draw. Camerton and Peasedown indeed triumphed in the doubles, with Peter and Howard just losing out in a 13-hoop game to Jonathan Flatt and Simon Munton, while Alison lost to the on-form Simon Munton.
Howard Freeman hoops his black during his game against Ann Munton on lawn 3.
Unbeknown to Eileen, who was playing Jonathan Flatt on lawn 1, the match was down to her. Standing at six-all, Eileen hit a magnificent approach shot to the 13th hoop, going through the back of the hoop and stopping directly in front of the hoop, about 18 inches away from it. Jonathan just missed out with a long clearing shot with his red. Having pretty much been on fire all day, Eileen made no mistake with her hooping shot to clinch the victory for Broadwas.
Eileen didn’t know it at the time, but this was the Broadwas match winner. At the 13th, Eileen placed her black perfectly, going through the back of the hoop from hoop 12.
Final score – Broadwas 9 Camerton and Peasedown 7.
After the game, over a magnificent array of tea and cakes, Malcolm praised our visitors for their spirit, skill and friendliness.
Later, he praised his own players for their outstanding performance. He said our visitors ‘Were a good team who mastered our lawns quickly. With perseverance, guts, commitment and determination in the sunshine, we ended up with our first win of the season. I am sure there will be many more to come.’
‘Everyone contributed to the winning score, thus it was a true team effort.’
‘In particular, Eileen Holt was outstanding and her performance in the last match, at the end of several games for her, ensured our overall win for Broadwas.’
‘John Guy was an outstanding referee and support during the day help.’
Malcolm added ‘Jackie Guy and Paula (Armstrong) were brilliant hostesses and skilfully managed the cake ceremony and provided liquid refreshments, tidying everything away at the end of a long day.’
He concluded ‘Thank you all, onwards and upwards.’
MORE ACTION BELOW
It was a picturesque scene at sun-drenched Stoney Ley.Busy all day putting himself in precarious positions, it made you wonder if referee John Guy should be compensated with danger money.David Kaner hoops blue during his partnership with Malcolm Armstrong against Simon Munton and Jonathan Flatt.Malcolm Armstrong scores the winner from a distance, against Phil Hendy.Congratulations for captain Malcolm Armstong from Phil Hendy after his 7-3 win on lawn 5.Camerton and Peasedown captain Ann Munton makes her black fly in a jump shot during her game against Howard Freeman.Alison Disley puts her red in the jaws during her second doubles partnership of the day with Eileen Holt.Eileen Holt scores the winner in the 7-3 doubles win with Alison Disley against Phil Hendy and Ann Munton.Peter Hill appears to be signalling left during this shot on lawn 5.Howard Freeman pictured in action against Ann Munton on lawn 3.David Kaner scores the winner in his 7-6 clash against Jonathan Flatt.Howard Freeman clears red during his doubles partnership with Peter Hill.Alison Disley in action on lawn 5 during her doubles win with Eileen Holt on lawn 5 against Phil Hendy and Ann Munton.Peter Hill takes the 11th hoop on lawn 5 during his 13-hoop game against Phil Hendy.
The Broadwas and Bradford-on-Avon GC teams after the game on Wednesday. Inset: Gwen Cooke (left) and Paula Armstrong.
The Broadwas High Handicap GC Team welcomed newcomers Bradford-on-Avon to Stoney Ley on Wednesday for their first encounter in the South West Croquet Federation’s High Handicap League (North).
In their second league game of the 2026 season, Broadwas comprised Gill Brooks (12), David Creed-Newton (11), David Harington (10), Paula Armstrong (14), Hazel Felton (20) and captain Paul Felton (12). Both Paula and Hazel decided to turn out for the team despite both currently nursing injuries. Making her debut in the team – in fact playing for the first time in any croquet team – was Gwen Cooke (12).
David Harington in action during his singles clash with Mike Gorvett
Making the two-hour journey from West Wiltshire were captain Carol Gorvett (12), Chen Woodward (12), Gerrye Edmunds (16), Roger Edmunds (12) and Mike Gorvett (11).
The day began with threatening skies overhead and a chilling breeze coming from the North, so warm and waterproof gear was favoured as the teams took to the lawns.
Bradford-on-Avon captain Carol Gorvett takes the 11th hoop during her 13h-hoop thriller with Gill Brooks
The Bradford-on-Avon players were completely unfazed by our lawns and sprang into a three-one lead in the first round, winning both doubles games and one singles game. David Creed-Newton (returning to the team after a 12-month break from the squad) was the only Broadwas victor – beating Roger Edmunds 7-1.
David Creed-Newton pictured during his game against Chen Woodward
During the second round, which featured only singles games, Bradford-on-Avon once again displayed dominance. Our guests won three of the four pairings while Gwen Cooke snatched her first singles win of the day, beating Carol Gorvett, 7-6.
Gwen Cooke was pretty much unstoppable on her debut. She is pictured in action against Gerrye Edmunds.
Round three brought two singles wins for Broadwas. Gwen Cooke won her second game of the day when she beat Gerrye Edmunds 8-5, while Paul Felton beat Roger Edmunds, 7-4.
The final stages of the match saw two wins in the doubles for Bradford-on-Avon. Broadwas fared much better in the singles, with Gill Brooks beating Carol Gorvett, 7-6 on lawn 2, whilst the seemingly unstoppable Gwen Cooke, beat Mike Gorvett 7-5.
Gill takes the 10th hoop during her 7-6 win over Carol Gorvett
Bradford-on-Avon were a team on top-form on Wednesday, but every member of the Broadwas team could be very proud of their performances – overcoming injury worries and first-time nerves.
David Harington attempts an emphatic clearance during his doubles partnership with David Creed-Newton against Carol Gorvett and Gerrye Edmunds on lawn 1.
If we had a player-of-the match, it would surely go to Gwen Cooke, with three singles wins out of three games. I had been working on Gwen for about 18-months to join the team (as I did with Debbie Kaner). I hope neither of them regret succumbing to my pleadings.
David Creed-Newton hoops his yellow during the final doubles match of the day, watched by partner David Harington.
The final score was Broadwas 6 – Bradford-on-Avon 10.
We had a great day with our friendly Wiltshire guests and we look forward to the return game down at Bradford-on-Avon in July.
Many thanks to my team members for entertaining our guests in the clubhouse and for their work in distributing and providing end-of-day cakes. Thanks again to my vice-captain Malcolm Armstrong for his administrative help, especially in helping players from both sides in filling in their handicap cards under the new advantage GC target score system.
Captain Fran Wall pictured before the rain came down, with Jon Carrington, Stuart Smith and birthday boy, Jim Dryden.
Report by team captain Fran Wall.
The West Midlands Federation Golf Croquet League has six teams that compete annually. Broadwas, Himley, Eardisley, Kenilworth Abbey, Kenilworth Castle and new to the league this year, Stourbridge. The Kenilworth teams have changed their names from A and B to remove the suggestion of one being better than the other.
The first match of the season for Broadwas was Kenilworth Abbey with a fixture date set at Wednesday 5th May. A few days before the match, Kenilworth contacted Broadwas saying they were unable to raise a team and could we reschedule. Strictly under the league rules Broadwas could have claimed a win but Broadwas Captain, Fran Wall thought this wasn’t in the spirt of the game and a new date was negotiated, May 13th.
Stuart emphatically clears blue from the jaws with his yellow during his 7-3 win over Tony Watmore on lawn 2.(Images: Paul Felton)
Two regular members of the Broadwas team were available Jim Dryden (2) and Fran (3), with other members of the team were either suffering with ailments like bad backs and other medical issues or were on holiday in Cornwall or simply not available. From past experience we knew that Kenilworth play well, so to strengthen the team the big guns were rolled out, Stuart Smith (0) and Jon Carrington (0).
What we didn’t know was that two of Kenilworth’s regular team were still unavailable. Kenilworth’s team were Captain Philip Wood (3), Mervyn Harvey (1) and two less experienced players: Alan Hulme (5) and Tony Watmore (6).
Jim Dryden perfectly placed his red for an easy final hoop shot on lawn 4, during his 7-4 win against Philip Wood.
This match is level play with four rounds of singles, where all play all, and then a round of two doubles. In the first round Stuart played Tony, winning 7 : 3, Jim played Philip winning 7 : 4, Fran played Mervyn losing 2 : 7 and Jon played Alan. Their gamed turned into a real tussle. Alan whose handicap was set at 5 but played like a 2, gave Jon a run for his money. Hoop 11 was one of those tortuous events of positioning, knocking away, positioning, knocking away and continued for at least ten minutes. All the other games had finished by this stage and we watched it develop. The score became 6 : 6 and a break was made for the 13th. Jon Carrington won but Alan who’s only been playing for a year is a man to watch in the future.
Jon Carrington had to think things through really carefully during his 13-hoop thriller against Alan Hulme.Jon finally took the 13th hoop with his red against Philip Wood. His first approach shot to the hoop was spectacular, going through the back of hoop 13 from behind hoop 12.
The day proceeded with wet weather gear being necessary to neutralise squalls of rain, running to the pavilion and mutterings about the temperature. But we enjoyed it.
Fran takes the first hoop from Philip Wood. Fran won the game, 7-3.
Rounds 2 and 3 were victorious for Broadwas winning all eight games. Round four ended with two games each. Before the doubles round Kenilworth accidentally showed their teams and we quickly reshuffled ours to be advantageous, leading to 7 : 5 and 7 : 1 wins.
The over result was 15 games to Broadwas, 3 to Kenilworth Abbey.
Ours thanks to Mary Dryden for sharing Jim on his birthday and providing a wonderful birthday cake which was enjoyed by all.
The Broadwas High Handicap team. From left, Diana Hill, Vivien Ellis, Debbie Kaner, Paul Felton (captain), Alison Disley. Inset – Derry Bancroft.
The Broadwas High Handicap GC squad started their 2026 South West Federation campaign with a home match against Cheltenham on Thursday.
Broadwas welcomed three new players to the squad – Diana Hill (18), Vivien Ellis (18) and Debbie Kaner (12). None of them had previously played in a competitive team.
The day was punctuated by frequent heavy showers and players had to leave the lawns a couple of times during the day.
Round one saw Broadwas equal the more experienced Cheltenham team, with one doubles and one singles win. Derry Bancroft (20) and Alison Disley (9) beat Pat Di Mambro (16) and Cheltenham captain Roy Hemming (9) in the first doubles round of the day, 7-4, under the new Advantage Handicap target score system. Alison had kindly stepped in to play at short notice following a late unavoidable team member had to withdraw. In the singles, Paul Felton (12) beat Gill Walker (10) after hitting his target of seven hoops.
Round two brought three wins for Broadwas in the singles.
Debbie Kaner beat Roy Hemming when she attained a 100% target, while Alison Disley hit her target of seven, against Gill Walker. Paul Felton made it three wins when he attained all eight of his eight-hoops target against Gundi Bunker (16).
The third round brought another win for Alison Disley when she beat Roy Hemming by hitting her seven hoop target after a 13-hoop thriller on lawn 3.
Alison ended her day with her fourth win of the match by beating veteran Bob Knight (10), 7-5.
The final win of the day for Broadwas was secured by Derry Bancroft (20), who beat Gundi Bunker (16), 7-5.
It was a great overall result for the Broadwas side, convincingly taking eight games off the more experienced Cheltenham team.
The final result was Broadwas 8 Cheltenham 12.
Congratulations to members of my team who put in a superb performance and can justly feel proud of the effort and skill they demonstrated during the day.
Thanks are given to the Cheltenham team for a great day of croquet played in good spirit and to Malcolm Armstrong for his valuable support as non-playing vice-captain during the day – especially with regard to advice on navigating the new rules for recording target score results and helping players in filling in handicap cards. Thanks, are also due to Caroline Bancroft, Diana Hills, Vivien Ellis, Debbie Kaner, Alison Disley and Hazel Felton for their cake contributions and invaluable help in entertaining our guests. Thanks again for David Kaner for his coaching input. Thanks also to the members who visited Stoney Ley to watch the afternoon’s play.
The High Handicap GC squad’s next match is at Stoney Ley against Bradford-on-Avon, on Wednesday 20th May.
