Club

Croquet

Wrest Park

Beds & Herts League 2025

v Enfield (home)     19 June     lost 2-4

David Marsh (-1) and David Woolley (11) lost to Nigel Owen (18) and Colin Carver (22) -1t

John Bevington (½) and Eric Audsley (1) beat Thomas Halliday (6) and Malcolm Perkin (20) +1t

David Marsh lost to Thomas Halliday -13

John Bevington lost to Nigel Owen -16

Eric Audsley beat Malcolm Perkin +24

David Woolley lost to Colin Carver -13t

Overall we were in receipt of one bisque as David and Colin’s game was full bisque base 10, but we conceded a massive 83, which could well be a record. The doubles were split, both games going the distance.

With time approaching and two points behind, David M (on rover) set David W up by hoop 3. Enfield, for 1-back, were together near corner 2 . On our last turn David W approached hoop 3, ran it and got a forward rush which finished near the south boundary. He then did a backward take-off to hoop 4 which ran seven yards past the hoop, and then ran the hoop (!) to bring the scores level. Enfield then stuck in 1-back but made the golden hoop after David’s shot missed by a whisker.

In the other game Eric had a chance to make the golden hoop but turned down a risky attempt at hoop 6 in favour of leaving John a perfect rush to 2-back, which he made after Enfield (who had been playing alternate stroke) missed. The fact that the score after three hours was 13-12 was in part due to the weather (very hot) and the lawns (very fast).

After lunch Eric had an easy win and Nigel beat John with four bisques standing. David W did his best to salvage a draw but was well behind when time ran out.


v Northampton (home)     29 May     drew 3-3

George Collin (1) and Peter Rothwell (2½) lost to Lionel Tibble (-1) and Mike Hills (2) -16

John Bevington (½) and David Woolley (10) beat Nick Evans (2) and James Skelton (2) +14

John Bevington beat Lionel Tibble +17

George Collin lost to Nick Evans -14

Peter Rothwell beat James Skelton +18

David Woolley lost to Mike Hills -7

Another sunny day, albeit with a blustery wind. In the doubles Peter was still in an advanced play mindset and stopped at 4-back with a leave, which Mike hit and he and Lionel went on to win. John and David finally won after having been on peg and peg for a considerable time. After lunch John took advantage when Lionel uncharacteristically stuck in hoops on a couple of occasions, and when David finally lost to Mike the match ended in an honourable draw. As the first to finish John cut lawn 4, and George and Peter then cut the rest in readiness for the GC tournament at the weekend.


v Watford (home)     1 May     won 4-2

John Bevington (½) and Peter Aspinall (12) beat Geoff Johnson (3) and Arthur Reed (4) +7t

George Collin (1) and Tim Brewer (2½) beat Simon Hathrell (-1) and Andre Machell (4½) +21

John Bevington lost to Simon Hathrell -12

George Collin beat Geoff Johnson +22

Tim Brewer beat Arthur Reed +10t

Peter Aspinall lost to Andre Machell -5

David Marsh had to pull out with a dodgy knee, but was able to come along and offer support. Peter Aspinall stepped in as replacement, and he and John held on for a win on time on lawn 4 after George and Tim’s win on lawn 2, which had everyone in trouble at hoop 2 where any approach had to allow for a distinct swing from left to right. 2-0 became 3-0 after lunch when George beat Geoff, but after two losses Tim got the better of Arthur to seal the win.

A warm and sunny day - the Glorious First of May indeed - and we were grateful for the shelter of the gazebo. Elsewhere the farmer was busy cutting grass in the field opposite, which was raked and collected the following day.

Geoff Johnson and Tim Brewer watch their opponents on lawn 4, while David Marsh keeps an eye on Peter Aspinall and Andre Machell on lawn 2.

Another type of mowing. The six specks in the sky are red kites.

© Wrest Park Croquet Club  

v St Albans (away)     27 July     lost 1-3

John Bevington (½) and Tim Nurse (6) lost to Roger Bowman (9) and Roger White (18) -12t

Peter Rothwell (1) beat Stephen Mills (2½) +10

John Bevington and Peter Rothwell lost to Heather Bennett (1½) and Roger White -3t

Tim Nurse lost to Roger Bowman -2t

St Albans only have one lawn, so teams of three play two doubles and two singles between them. John and Tim, playing alternate stroke, were conceding 10½ bisques and never got going. Any attempt to force the use of bisques by leading our opponents into temptation was usually punished, and it was only a late rally that put some points on the board. Peter and Stephen had a much better game with some proper breaks, which Peter won +10 in the only game not to go to time.

After lunch, with Heather replacing Stephen, John and Peter reverted to normal doubles play. Heather and Roger opted for alternate stroke and established a big lead before Peter got in and went round to rover. With several bisques remaining it was some time before John got a chance and in the last turn had got to 2-back with a chance of getting past 4-back and levelling the score when he tried for a controlled hoop and failed to get through.

In Tim’s game Roger used his bisques to get a ball round, but Tim found his form and fought back, finally losing by 2.

In a word, Rogered.

St Albans in play: Roger White, Heather Bennett and Roger Bowman.

Wrest Park in play: Peter Rothwell and Tim Nurse on the lawn while Roger W, Heather and Roger B look on.

v Letchworth (away)     3 Sept     drew 3-3

Bryan Harral (-1) and Tim Nurse (5) beat David Matthews (2) and Sheila Haggett (20) +13

John Bevington (0) and Tim Brewer (3) beat Robert Skeen (4½) and Colin Davies (7) +5t

Bryan Harral lost to David Matthews -10

John Bevington lost to Robert Skeen -1

Tim Brewer lost to Colin Davies -26

Tim Nurse beat Sheila Haggett +7

Clubs with watering systems have seen the benefit this year, and Letchworth’s lawns were a uniform brilliant green, in marked contrast to those at Wrest Park. But there had been heavy rain overnight, and when Colin came to insert the hoops the holes were still full of water nearly to the brim and the lawns were much slower than their appearance suggested, so the balls needed a bit of urging. Bryan and Tim N won against David and Sheila (playing alternate stroke), but the other doubles was in the balance until the end when John hit in and made a substantial break, during which time was called, to overhaul the deficit and give us the win when Letchworth missed with their last shot.

In the afternoon singles Tim B had less than a handful of shots as Colin belied his form of the morning and his handicap to win easily. The only compensation was that his game was over before the expected wind and rain arrived in earnest and successive downpours left the lawns with numerous pools of standing water, but not enough to stop play. John had a chance to finish with a long pegout, but red missed and he pegged out yellow. Robert hit red and later attempted a pegout of his own with the same result, and John then missed the last shot. David’s accurate play was responsible for his win against Bryan, and it was left for Tim N to overcome the conditions and Sheila’s bisques to give us the draw. As so often happens the miserable afternoon then gave way to bright sunshine.

The league was won by Watford, who finished equal with St Albans on seven points but who won the match between them. Wrest Park were one of the four other teams with four points, finishing fourth equal with Letchworth, both teams having identical records of W1, D2, L2 and game differences of -2. Our thanks to Bryan for continuing to organise match dates and teams in spite of having little opportunity to play himself.


Tim Brewer’s video of the rain lashing down at around 4.30pm.