Sidmouth Journal published 18 May 2017
Sidmouth Croquet Club A team travelled to Exeter Croquet Club to play their first tournament of this season’s South West Federation (SWF) Golf Croquet Level Play League fixtures, writes Richard Thurlow.
The usual 20 games were played, comprising four doubles and 16 singles.
The home side got off to a good start, winning three of the doubles, but Sidmouth came back winning two of the four singles with another drawn which left the lunchtime score one of Exeter four-and-a-half, Sidmouth three-and-a-half.
The afternoon action saw the playing of the remaining dozen singles matches and the these proved to be equally matched.
After 11 of the 12 the overall score was nine-and-a-half all!
That left everything dependent on the outcome of the final game which saw Sidmouth represented by John Coombes, and the hosts by Adam Wimhurst .
When time was called, the score was five hoops each with only eight hits remaining – it could not have been much closer!
Whoever ran hoop 11 would win the match. In the event, despite near misses, neither player was able to run the hoop and the game ended in an honourable draw!.
The final result was therefore Exeter 10, Sidmouth 10 – a fair result after a splendid day of croquet.
Earlier in May, the Club Hosted the Annual 'Visiting Medics' Match
Photo: John Coombes [Sidmouth Croquet Ref shsp 27 17TI 6449 Picture Terry Ife]
The ‘Medics’, a disparate group of medical doctors, gather for an annual reunion and play a bit of Croquet and Golf, in between less formal activities.
The day started off with medicinal honey vodka and sloe gin, and finished with medicinal honey vodka and sloe gin, some croquet being played in between.
The club won, we think!