Our web site provides access to everything you need to know about Croquet and where we don't have it, we provide the links to the best sites in the World (see below). The site also features a range of Croquet Videos and a link to Duncan Hector's Video channel which is more to do with the full blown game. 
The club promotes the playing of Garden Croquet but some of our members also play Association Croquet which is a natural progression from the garden game. The garden game does not require a manicured lawn, in fact by definition it is played in gardens each one of which has its own character. So don't worry about weeds or the fact that your lawn is rather small - it doesn't matter. In fact almost everything about Garden Croquet defaults to "it doesn't matter". There may be a tree in the middle of the lawn or slopes, bumps and hollows - that is what makes it good fun. While the top croquet players argue about how to make the game more difficult, we have cracked it. You can vary the difficulty of the game in several ways, more slopes, odd shaped garden, rose bushes in the middle of the lawn. If that isn't enough, let the grass grow longer and squeeze the hoops up so they are narrower.

For more information about the club and the village see About Us

We had 13 participants in the afternoon's competition and after two 40 minute games of doubles Anne and Bridget were the leading pair. They played each other singles in the final. This was the first time they had played singles and spent some of the time helping each other which was fun to watch. The game was played in great spirit and Bridget came out the winner by a narrow margin.
The President of the Croquet Association, Quiller Barrett visited Bygrave to discover how we coach beginners. He was roped in to demonstrate hoop running (see picture below) and also helped by playing doubles with Annette whose game dramatically improved as a result. George was also here and helped to demonstrate break building and he partnered Geraldine. Duncan talked about how to rush balls and also played with Paul in an interesting game against Quiller and Annette.
It was another great afternoon blessed by brilliant sunshine and Carol's cakes which were consumed with gusto and washed down by wine of various colours.

Quiller Barrett demonstrates hoop running

May 18th Champagne!

We started the new season with Champagne all round!
The lawns looked resplendant with the two new croquet sets laid out complete with corner flags and brand new colourful pegs.
There were 8 new club mallets with brass bound hardwood heads and Englich Ash shafts. These proved to be very popular and a definate step up.
Unfortunately the photographer failed to take any pictures but we had all three lawns in operation. Terry Mahoney who is a scratch player came and demonstrated his excellent coaching skills. Bridget and Graham visited us from Hinxworth where they hope to set up a Garden Croquet Club. Graham had a marvellous old Slazenger mallet, round head and brass bound.
Duncan demonstrated how to run an angled hoop by jumping the ball through. It was a seemningly impossible angle but the ball obliged by leaping into the crown of the hoop and spinning through. This was one of our new mallets showing off! Paul and Anne were there too and Anne has made a definate improvement since last year. Trevor and Geraldine came too - Trevor with a damaged shoulder but apparently still able to absorb red wine! Pauline was our "newcomer of the week" and soon got to grips with the concept of croquet. A dark horse methinks! On the third lawn Annette played her 90 year old mother who thoroughly enjoed the challenge.
 
Next meeting Friday 25th May at 2.30pm. There is no cost of membership so the subscription is refreshments! Please bring some sort of refereshment to share, bottles, cans, cakes etc but not too much.

Links
Croquet Association official website for the Croquet Association
East Anglia Croquet Federation regional events, Soham indoor series etc
Oxford Croquet the most comprehensive information about croquet anywhere.
Croquet Records up-to-the-minute World and UK rankings
Letchworth Croquet Club local club with superb flat lawns.

News
22nd April
Nick Mounfield won the  Colchester Advanced weekend tournament and, as a result has shot up the rankings to 50th UK - 110 World.
Duncan Hector won the  East Anglian Championship of Club Champions at Wrest Park, currently ranked 60 UK - 128 World.
Bygrave in the Beds and Herts League
Bygrave and Meldreth have combined forces to play int the Beds and Herts League under the name of "Melgrave". Peter Whiting will be playing in the team away at Northampton on 28th April.

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