2025 News | Pccc

28 December 2025 – PCC team invited to play in Spain in March

We have been invited to send our strongest team available to a prestigious Spanish weekend tournament in March.

The invitation comes from the Real Club de Pineda, Seville, and if that club sounds familiar, it is the team that visited Phyllis Court last season (along with Zurich) for our hosted heat in the 2025 European Teams League.

Without doubt, the good time that their team enjoyed in Henley, and the performance of our A team in finishing third the European Grand Final, will have been contributors to us receiving this kind invitation.

Our team selected for this 'stand-alone' 16-team tournament in Seville is:

PCC 'A' - Ian Norris (0), Rick Lilley (0), Roger Goldring (2), Michael Marcel (3) - reserve Alastair Broom (3)

19 December 2025 – One Ball and pre-Christmas fun

26 members enjoyed a One Ball event and were oined by more at our pre-Christmas drinks

gathering that followed.

The One Ball Tournament was won by Helen Essa & Frances Colman

by Patricia Mulcahy

10 December 2025 – McKibbin formally presented with National C-Level Series Trophy

Dee McKibbin had been unable to attend our Annual Prizegiving Dinner a few weeks ago and so, today, she was presented with her National C-Level Series Trophy by our President Frances Colman.

by Chris Roberts

9 December 2025 – Ralph Chambers, R.I.P.

It is with sadness that we report the death of our long-standing Croquet Club member Ralph Chambers.

Ralph died last two days ago after illness and recent hospitalisation.

We extend our sympathies at this sad time to Ralph's wife and fellow Croquet Club member Mary, and their family.

Ralph joined the main Phyllis Court Club in 2000, was a member for twenty-five years, and was a member of Croquet Club for most of that time.

It is lovely that, although well advanced in years, Ralph was able to attend the GC mix-in several times this season along with Mary.

Ralph was a thoroughly nice man, who had a quiet and gentle demeanour that masked steely croquet skill that often caught-out his opponents.

Always the gentleman both on and off court, Ralph was a very regular Mix-in attendee along with Mary, and he enjoyed a good deal success in the competitive arena too.

In addition to his personal achievements detailed below, Ralph was in the Phyllis Court 'C' team that won the SCF Handicap League in 2014.

It was always a pleasure being in Ralph's company and we shall miss him.

Ralph Chambers:

Season-long competitions -

5+ Singles - Winner in 2014

5+ Doubles - Winner in 2013 (with Paul Kerry)

7+ Singles - Winner in 2017 - runner-up 2016

7+ Doubles - Winner in 2016 (with Dianne Browne) - Joint winners in 2019 (with Bill Pitkeathley)

Tournaments -

Restricted Doubles Tournament - Winner in 2013 (with Bruce Mason)

(Cave & Wolfe Salvers)

Chris Roberts, Committee member

Chairman

again for 2025-26

Patricia

Mulcahy

and new

Committee

face

Philip

Rowley

4 December 2025 – Our AGM was well attended today

Chairman Patricia Mulcahy lead her second well attended AGM in the Club's Findlay Suite this morning, which heard good news reports from Committee office holders without exception.

Secretary Julia Green will be sending out the minutes to all members very shortly.

Retiring from the Committee (with thanks)

Rick Lilley and Hilary Cowley retired from the Committee after their maximum five years service, with grateful thanks from everyone. (Hilary will continue to run our Thursday mix-ins and to oversee Membership administration, and will report to the committee on this).

New Committee member for 2025-26

Philip Rowley was elected as a new Committee member and a warm welcome is extended to him.

Other than the retirees, all other standing committee members were re-elected.

Post-AGM the committee elected the sitting Club Officers to serve again:

Chairman - Patricia Mulcahy

Secretary - Julia Green

Treasurer - Alastair Broom

Russell Robinson - special presentation

A Special Presentation was made to Russell Robinson, our former Treasurer and designer of the computer systems that keep our bookings, handicaps and even this website running so well.

Russell is moving away from Henley to Oxford, so is leaving, not only the Croquet Club, but the main Phyllis Court Club as well. Chairman Patricia presented Russell with case of wine and glasses engraved with our Club badge as a thank you for all that he has done for us throughout his membership - Fairwell, and thank you Russell

3 December 2025 – Falle wins 3+ Plate final

Pete Falle won the much delayed final of the 3+ Plate competition this morning in a topsy-turvy game with Jon Rumford.

The pair had repeatedly re-scheduled this match due to wet or frozen ground, and their persistence in doing so, was rewarded by a dry, sunny and (for the time of year) warm morning with courts freshly cut by our marvellous groundman Stefan.

Falle won the first game 7-3, only to be pegged back 2-7 by Rumford in the second, before the former won the decider 7-3.

Photo: Winner Pete Falle received the 3+ Plate from President Frances Colman this morning (photo by Chris Roberts)

- The settling of this final leaves only one GC competition outstanding.

The 10+ Doubles final between Eva Kompanik & Des Walsh v Jonathan Pendennis & Barrie Scott has also been beset by postponements, and may well now not be played until the spring.

25 November 2025 – Sylvia Thomson, R.I.P.

it is with sadness that we report the death of our long-standing Croquet Club member Mrs. Sylvia Thomson.

Sylvia died last, Thursday 20 November, after a long illness which had greatly limited her visits to the Club for the past few years.

She had been a Member of Phyllis Court Club for twenty-six years, and the Croquet Club for all of that time.

In her heyday, Sylvia was a near ever-present at the Club, seldom missed a GC mix-in and she developed a great friendship with our honorary member Mrs Pauline Wood.

Back then, the Club's competitive opportunities were few but Sylvia was a good supporter and took part in the mainly Doubles events that were on offer; and she enjoyed some success too with a variety of partners, including husband and former Chairman Vivian Thomson.

Sylvia was a very lively character with a good sense of humour and was often the life of group social gatherings in the members bar, pre and post croquet. Always immaculately dressed and manicured, with her signature high heels and handbags, and hair never out of place; Sylvia will be fondly remembered by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Sylvia Thomson:

Restricted Doubles Tournament (Cave & Wolfe Salvers) - Winner in 2001 (with Daphne Walker)

- Runner-up 2002 (with Vivian Thomson)

- Runner-up 2009 (with Pauline Wood)

Open Doubles Tournament (Iain Lindsay Cups) - Winner in 2011 (with Mike Fensome)

Chris Roberts, Committee member

Julia Green, Croquet England's Most Improved Female GC Player 2025, was presented with the Colman Trophy by our President Frances Colman, on behalf of Jonathan Isaacs, the President of Croquet England.

(photo by Chris Roberts)

20 October 2025

80+ members enjoy our Prizegiving Dinner - headlining 5 National Champions at our Club!

Julia Green is the National Most Improved Golf Croquet Female Player 2025 by Croquet England and the presentation of the Colman Trophy was the highlight of this evening's Annual Prizegiving dinner.

Our President Frances Colman, made the presentation on behalf of Jonathan Isaacs, the President of Croquet England.

This an exceptionally high accolade for Green, who won three national D-Level Series tournaments in 2025 on the way to becoming National D-Level Champion, improving her handicap from 11 to 7 and her international ranking by +241 points, which is the highest tally of any female player in the world this year!

The physical award to Julia is the splendid bespoke bronze ‘jumping ball’ Colman Trophy, which was commissioned and donated to Croquet England by Frances Colman when she was Chairman of the governing body’s handicap committee six years ago.

The Prizegiving event also honoured and unprecedented four other NATIONAL CHAMPIONS from our Club:

Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin won both the National AC Seniors handicap Championship

Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin won both the National AC Veterans handicap Championship

Dee McKibbin won the GC C-Level Series national title

Chris Roberts won the Welsh GC Championship

Heading a long list of internal competition and tournament

winners, were our own Club Champions:

Chris Roberts won the Phyllis Court GC Championship

Charlie von Schmieder won the Phyllis Court AC Championship

All of our other competition and tournament winners are

detailed on the 'Past Winners' pages

(press the tab in the top menu above).

Winners Jeff Smith and Patricia Mulcahy with the Caversham and Orr Plates respectively.

(photo by Chris Roberts)

18 November 2025 – Mulcahy wins AC Women's handicap Competition

Patricia Mulcahy won the Women's AC handicap season-long competition this morning with an 13-8 victory over Helen Essa.

This was the remaining game in a three sided competition also including Frances Colman, who had first beaten Essa but then had lost to Mulcahy last month.

Today's second win won the competition outright for Mulcahy who will receive the Orr Plate for the second time.

– Smith wraps-up victory in AC Summer tournament delayed final game

Jeff Smith won AC Summer tournament's much delayed deciding game this morning when he beat Rob Eagle 13-5.

Smith was tied with Roger Goldring on 4 wins from his 5 games at the end of the two-day tournament back in August, and he had the head-to-head advantage too.

However, Rob Eagle was also on one loss (crucially to Goldring), and had played one game fewer, so the tournament result was held pending the lining-up of an extra opponent for Eagle.

Holidays and other commitments meant shelving those plans, until it was realised that pitting Eagle directly against Smith would settle the matter with that one game.

Victory for Smith would win him the tournament outright, whilst a win for Eagle would create a three-way tie (that 'who beat whom' could not break) with Goldring included.

Smith's win today, settled the matter simply and he will be awarded the lovely Caversham Plate for the first time.

17 November 2025 – Essa wins AC Handicap knock-out Adlam Cup final by the narrowest possible margin

Helen Essa beat Kevin Ward by a single hoop in extra time to win the final of the AC Handicap knock-out season-long competition this afternoon.

In a very low scoring game, Essa had overhauled Ward's slight lead and was ahead by one hoop, with all three of her bisques (extra Turns) spent and 20 minutes remaining on the clock.

The innings changed hands multiple times as both players spurned risks time and again, before Ward eventually got a crucial hit-in with both Essa's balls left vulnerably close to his target hoop, allowing him to both score and get forward to the next hoop in order well, as the time limit approached.

However, a poor take-off lost Ward a scoring position from which he would surely have won the game, and he had to retreat with the scores tied, forcing Essa to also play safe, taking the game to a 'next to score wins' scenario, and the so called 'Golden Hoop'.

With possession of the innings, Ward had another chance in his next visit to the court, as time was called in his turn, but he needed to execute a more difficult backward take-off and again he missed taking a scoring position.

Faced with the dilemma to continue to play safe, or go for the score, Essa chose the latter but over-hit her own backward take-off, giving herself a far from easy angled hoot shot from three yards.

With Ward sure to pounce on failure, Essa composed, hit with purpose and scored with an excellent stroke worthy of the win, and the Adlam Cup was hers.

16 November 2025 – Raunkiaer moves up in status to Grade 1 Coach

Ruth Raunkiaer (left) has been moved-up to in status to Grade 1 GC Coach by the Croquet England Coaching Committee, following recommendation from Examining Coach Rich Waterman.

Raunkiaer has worked hard at her trade, taking beginners courses and improvers classes here at Phyllis Court, as well as being a hands-on coach and a member of the Management Board at the Chiltern Croquet Academy.

Mulcahy completes coaching work for Club-Grade coaching badge

Also impressing in coaching news this week, is our Chairman Patricia Mulcahy (right) who, following completion of the necessary five observed coaching sessions at Phyllis Court, has been awarded her Club-grade coaching badge, which she should receive shortly from Croquet England.

Eva Kompanik with the 10+ Evening Series Trophy, flanked by third placed Daphne Spiers (left) and runner-up Maureen Ward. (by Chris Roberts)

9 November 2025 – Kompanik wins three-sided Evening Series final by a single hoop point

Eva Kompanik won the delayed final play-off of the Phyllis Court 10+ Evening Series by a single hoop point this week, when the three-sided event was decided on net hoops.

Kompanik had qualified for the play-offs with a 100% record from her six Evening Series games in the last summer, and her achievement was matched by rivals Daphne Spiers and Maureen Ward, at the head of the 40-player competition.

The latter pair played first in the round-robin event and Spiers got ahead 3-1 and maintained that two hoop cushion for a comfortable win 7-5.

Defeat meant that Ward lined-up as Kompanik's first opponent and the former played much better in that second game and led throughout to win 7-4, which kept her in with a chance of the title on one win and a +1 net hoops score.

The last game brought back Spiers to play Kompanik, with the Series victory possible for all three players.

Spiers simply needed to win, whereas Kompanik needed a win by 7-2 or better to get in front of both Spiers and Ward on net hoops, and it was perhaps just as well that she didn't know that going into the game.

It looked like being a tall order but when Kompanik won the two middle hoops to stretch a hard-fought lead from 3-1 to 5-1, the odds on her victory shortened considerably.

Spiers promoted her ball well in front of hoop seven and coolly converted the hoop shot for 5-2 but a super long-range effort at hoop eight from Kompanik nestled in the hoop jaws, to keep her in the play-off.

She scored on the next rotation to take took the contest to 6-2 and a 'winner takes all' contest at hoop 9.

Looking on from the pavilion, Ward could now not win the play-offs, and when Spiers over-shot with her first approach stroke and Kompanik took good position, the crucial 7-2 result was on.

Spiers cleared the immediate danger but could not hold position and back came Kompanik to have two balls in front of the hoop and she duly wrapped-up the game, tying the event on wins and won with a net hoops tally of +2, to Ward's +1 and Spiers -3.

Croquet Club President Frances Colman commiserated with both Ward and Spiers and presented the 10+ Evening Series trophy to Kompanik

Julia Green
has been
awarded the
CROQUET ENGLAND
Most Improved
GC Female player
Award
and
will receive
The Colman Trophy

5 November 2025

Julia Green has been judged to be the 'Most Improved GC Female Player' by the National Handicap Committee on behalf of Croquet England.

This truly is a high accolade and many congratulations to Julia, who won three D-Level Series tournaments in 2025 on the way to becoming National D-Level Champion.

She improved her handicap from 11 to 7 and her international ranking by +241 points, which is the highest tally of any female player in the world this year!

The physical award to Julia is the splendid bespoke Bronze Colman Trophy which was commissioned and donated to Croquet England by our own Frances Colman.

The President of Croquet England Jonathan Issacs, has deputed our own President Frances Colman to make the presentation on his behalf, and this will take place at our own Prizegiving Dinner on Thursday 20 November.

ulia Green
WINNER

1 November 2025 – Seagrief survives Gordon's comeback in 10+ Plate Final

Michael Seagrief had to work hard to win the 10+ Plate Final against game opponent Dilys Gordon this afternoon.

Gordon lead the first game 3-2 and should have gone 4-2 up but allowed Seagrief to steal hoop 6 before missing vital clearances at to the next two hoops to gift Seagrief a two hoop lead that he capitalised on to win the first game 7-4.

Gordon's commendable strong clearing positive game style paid dividends in the second game where she reverse the score line to win 4-7 and she went into the decider with all the momentum.

However, Seagrief's patient in returning to position time and again, wore down Gordon's challenge and won him the third game 7-3 and with it the 10+ Plate title.

Club President Frances Colman presented Helen Essa (left) and Dee McKibbin with winner and runner-up trophies respectively. (by Chris Roberts)

27 October 2025 – Essa comes from behind to win the Advantage Singles Final

Helen Essa did it the hard way this afternoon in winning the Advantage Singles season-long competition final against Dee McKibbin.

McKibbin was quite dominant in the first game and took no time al all to unwind the -1: 0 starting score line that favoured Essa.

Solid hoop running and more centre ball clearances were at the root of McKibbin's easy 7-3 winning margin leaving Essa with it all to do to save being blown away in the next game.

Game two was a revelation however, when an altogether different Essa tightened her play, scored a confidence boosting hoop two from the other end of the court, and from then on, she never looked back.

Essa improved her clearance strokes to stay in the hoop contesting area more often, and as the match wore on, she slowly overhauled Mckibbin in that crucial aspect of a really good contest.

Essa won the second game 7-4 to take the match to a deciding game, which was a treat for spectators braving the cold, as the light began to fade with the match running close to the three hour mark.

A two hoop lead was established by Essa after a prolonged battle at hoop four and McKibbin did well to peg back that margin by winning the next two hoops, only to see Essa's bold strategy of taking position and hoop seven, pay-off in spades with a brave long hoop score.

Back came McKibbin again but, when Essa ran hoop 9 from an angle with confidence now sky high, she had all the momentum to control the game from then on.

Hoop 10 was won with a deft and soft centre ball clearance to a hidden position and, at match point, Essa's patience was rewarded with the winning score after two more rotations.

This was an excellent match between two evenly match players and it fully befitted the final.

24 October 2025 – PCC 'B' are surprise winners of the SCF 3+ League

Well done PCC 'B' who had already completed their league programme back in August, and needed several of their rivals results to go their way to be in with hope of the league title.

But this time, it did happen!

An unexpected late run of poor results from rivals left PCC 'B' at the top of the league table!

PCC ‘B’ won the 3+ League with an unlikely tally of 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat, and so unlikely was this to happen, we didn’t know a few days ago.

Representing the 'B' this campaign's 6 games have been:

Mike Fensome (5 games), Raghu Iyer (5), Patricia Mulcahy (5), Michael Marcel (3), Alastair Broom (2), Dianne Browne (2) and Kevin Ward (2).

21 October 2025 – Essa & Eagle win the AC Handicap doubles 'Greenbury Bowls'

Helen Essa and Rob Eagle won the AC Handicap Doubles 'Greenbury Bowls' Final today for the first time.

- And congratulations to them!

The pair got off to a shaky start using two of their ten bisques for little gain on the scoreboard and it was their experienced opponents, Frances Colman and Chris Roberts (playing alternate strokes) who got first beak of the game to 2-back from a good long range hit-in from Colman.

Essa then used four bisques to establish and then control an excellent break round to Rover and, soon after, Eagle hit in well and did much the same, albeit with a number of visits to the court.

Colman and Roberts failed to run a couple of hoops cleanly, which hampered their progress when they did get in, so they certainly had their chances, but a game winning hit-in from Eagle, and Essa's calmness in the final minutes sealed the match in their side's favour for a worthy win 20-14 on time. (+6)

Julia Green
WINS
Croquet England D-Level Series NATIONAL TITLE

Fabulous
Phyllis Court
1 & 2

Julia Green
WINNER
&
Philip Rowley
runner-up!

20 October 2025 – Green awarded trophy as NATIONAL D-LEVEL SERIES CHAMPION

Julia Green has been conformed as the winner of the National D-Level (10+) Series with the awarding of the trophy by Series Director Chris Roberts, late last week.

in this, its inaugural year, the D-Level Series (of 18 tournaments) ran as a 'points race' with no National Final and with 30 points earned for tournaments won at Phyllis Court, Ealing and Camerton (near Bath), Green set a tally that no other player could beat.

Phyllis Court Club mate Philip Rowley got closest, and he finished joint runner-up with his 20 points haul coming a tournament win at Guildford and 'podium' places at Phyllis Court and Ealing.

Congratulations to Green and Rowley for putting Phyllis Court's stamp on this new competition.

19 October 2025 – Smith & Warren win our 7+Doubles Final

Liz Smith and Aly Warren won our 7+ Doubles season-long competition Final today with a 2-1 over Gillian Symons and Hugh Crook.

The latter pair won the first game 4-7, but Smith found her mojo in the subsequent games and that made all the difference and her side cruised to victory 7-3, 7-5.

Congratulations to Warren & Smith who, coincidentally, both retained a winning record:

Warren retained this 7+ Doubles title, having won it last season with Michael Marcel, and for Smith this was a step-up in class after she won the 10+ Doubles in 2024 with Carol Wadsworth.

Photo: Liz Smith & Aly Warren (by Maureen Ward)

18 October 2025 – Roberts wins our GC Open Singles Final and Club Championship

Chris Roberts won our GC Open Singles Final and Club Championship today with a 2-0 win over rival Charlie von Schmieder.

Roberts pounced on an uncharacteristic hoop shot miss by von Schmieder at hoop 1 and, with a good hoop run at hoop 3 to down in front of hoop 4, he established a two hoop lead.

Von Schmieder did well to level the scores at hoop eight but a solid ninth hoop score and then an excellent clearance to a wired position behind hoop 10 gave Roberts game point, which he scored calmly to win 7-4 when von Schmieder missed is clearance at hoop 11.

Von Schmieder bounced back well in game two and won the first two hoops, only for Roberts to level after some good tactical exchanges at hoop 4.

Roberts missed his only clearance of the match and failed to capitalise on a chance but he more than made up for that when his centre ball strike from 18 yards to save, and eventually win hoop 6, gave in all the momentum.

Von Schmieder missed scoring a routine hoop at 7 allowing Roberts to take the game two lead for the first time, and he then tightened his grip on the contest with a repeat of the clearance to wired position trick from game one.

With is tail up and a 5-3 lead, Roberts confidence was sky-high when he took on and scored hoop 9 from the boundary and, following a couple of clearances later, he wrapped up the game 7-3 and the GC Championship.

* * *

Von Schmieder leads Roberts 14-12 in Final appearances and 9-5 in Championships.

Von Schmieder wins our AC Open Singles title and Club Championship

Charlie von Schmieder won our AC Open Singles Final and Club Championship with a 2-1 win over Chris Roberts last month, and missed reporting until now (Chris Roberts apologises).

This competition is played as a three-player block, so there is no final as such, but having already beaten Richard Peperell 2-0, von Schmieder's win over Roberts brought him the club AC title yet again.

Roberts won a fairly quick first game in fairly routine fashion and the speed of that was fortunate because the second game was a marathon that von Schmieder won my a small margin.

As the light began to fade, the pair pressed on with the deciding game, and von Schmieder soon took control and froze Roberts out well.

Von Schmieder managed to peg-out well after dusk and, with probably less that ten minutes left before it really would have been too dark, he won the AC Championship.

As the Boucher Trophy retunes to its regular home on the family von Schmieder mantle piece, Roberts will play Peperell for the runner-up Bucknall Tankard, in what will be Peperell's final competition game at Phyllis Court before his move to Sussex.

* * *

Von Schmieder is way ahead of Roberts in AC Championships and leads that haul 12-2.

16 October 2025 – Colman & Roberts win Open Doubles Club Championship

Frances Colman and Chris Roberts retained the Open Doubles Club Championship (season-long competition) title in a closely fought three game final against Terje Johansen and Raghu Iyer.

Johansen and Iyer controlled the first game well and gave few opportunities away, with the former rolling back the years with a good jump score to augment solid hoop runs of both players.

Colman and Roberts had to gamble aplenty to fight their way back into the game from 2-5 down to level at 5-5, and they had a chance at hoop 11, thanks to Colman's lovely promotion of Roberts' ball. That gave her partner a long hoop shot to wrestle the lead for the first time, but a firm 'clang' from a hoop leg not only surrendered the chance but hampered him for contesting hoop 12 and the first game was lost 5-7.

Thereafter, from Roberts' deft 'in-off' at hoop 1 in game 2, Johansen and Iyer never saw the lead again and as first ball placements from Colman and Roberts put a stranglehold on the remaining two games which they won 7-2 and 7-4 for the match.

14 October 2025 – Good attendance at the AC mix-in

Despite the absence of a few regulars, there was a good attendance at this morning's AC mix-in.

(photo by Patricia Mulcahy)

Phyllis Court 'A'
at the
European Teams League Finals

45 clubs entered in total.
12 clubs from England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Latvia
qualified for the Finals at Southwick (near Brighton)

- Reports from all three days below -

We finish 3rd in Europe!

PCC 'A' - Rick Lilley, Charlie von Schmieder, Frances Colman (referee),

Ian Norris & Chris Roberts (by Patricia Mulcahy)

10 - 12 October 2025 – Phyllis Court 'A' finish in third place European Teams League Final

Preview

Phyllis Court 'A' take on 11 fellow qualifying club teams from England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Latvia in three days of competition from Friday to Sunday.

The Phyllis Court team is: Chris Roberts (-2), Charlie von Schmieder (0), Rick Lilley (0) and Ian Norris (0).

Our President Frances Colman is on international refereeing duty again.

Teams have been split into two blocks for games on Friday and Saturday, with the top four from each block progressing to a three round knock-out on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Our team start their campaign versus Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain).

Block A - Roehampton PHYLLIS COURT, Balgreen (Edinburgh), Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain), Broadwas (Worcestershire), Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri (Spain).

Block B - Carrickmines (Dublin), Sussex County, Cheltenham, Ikskile (Latvia), Real Club de Golf Vista Hermosa (Spain), Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro (Spain).

Day 1 - Phyllis Court 'A' started well enough with a 4-2 win over Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain), before our likely toughest match verses top seeds Roehampton, against whom we had high hopes as they were without their two top guns until tomorrow. Sadly, we could not capitalise on that and crashed to a 1-5 defeat with only Ian Norris' singles victory saving our blushes.

More disappointingly still, was our third match versus Balgreen (Edinburgh) who were seeded below our team, but played very well indeed to inflict a 2-4 defeat.

With only one win today, Phyllis Court 'A' have it all to do tomorrow, and will likely need a win and a draw in their remaining two block matches tomorrow against Broadwas (Worcestershire) and Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri (Spain).

The top four teams from both blocks qualify for the 8-team knockout which will start tomorrow afternoon and conclude on Sunday.

Day 2 - Phyllis Court 'A' had a terrific day today winning all three of their matches to reach the semi-fails of the European Teams competition

They beat Broadwas (Worcestershire) comfortably 5-1 in the morning, to require only a draw in their final block games versus Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri (Spain) to secure qualification for main 8-team knock-out.

However, the 'A' went one better and beat the Spaniards in both doubles rubbers before sharing the four singles two apiece for a 4-2 victory, which earned third place in the block and an potentially easier quarter-final tie.

Cheltenham were lined-up as opponents with an unbalanced team of England Internationals James Death and Sam Cuthbert and two mid-range handicappers.

Again, Phyllis Court got the best of starts with Chris Roberts scoring from the boundary to win the lone doubles tie 7-6 with partner Ian Norris, and both Charlie von Schmieder and Rick Lilley winning their first round singles 7-4 and 7-5, with the latter's defeat of Cuthbert probably his best career win yet.

Fittingly, Norris, who has been Phyllis Court's most successful player in the number 4 berth, secured the match win with a tough 7-4 victory over Debbo Albertsen and, after a 25 minute battle at hoop 13, Lilley added an extra win against Brent Watkins 7-6.

Phyllis Court now face top seeds Roehampton again in the semi-finals, and with the London Club now bolstered by the arrival of England AC Internationals Harry Fisher and Mark van Loon, will be looking for a major up-set with victory tomorrow.

Day 3 - Phyllis Court 'A' had it all to do this morning against red hot favourites Roehampton, now bolstered by internationals Harry Fisher and Mark van loon, and they put up a really good fight.

In the lone doubles game, Chris Roberts and Ian Norris matched Fisher and Nick Yates hoop for hoop until an excellent centre ball clearance from Fisher gave the London club a two hoop cushion at 10 and then the clearance of the match by Yates won Roehampton the game 4-7 at hoop 11.

On the adjoining court, Rick Lilley also lived his opponent Van Loon for half the game by he was then blown away 3-7 whilst Charlie von Schmieder was caught by Tim Russell's strong finish and went down 6-7.

This left Phyllis Court needing all four of the round two singles and when Norris was also taken out 3-7 by van Loon's remarkable accuracy, the team match was lost.

Lilley was left in Russel's wake 2-7, von Schmieder was agonisingly beaten 6-7 for the second time in the match, this time by van Loon, but Roberts saved the whitewash with an excellent 7-5 win over star player Fisher.

The third/fourth place match brought round surprise package Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain) for a repeat of the day one block match and this time the doubles and two first round singles went Phyllis Court's way, with a 7-5 doubles win for Roberts and Norris, and 7-5 and 7-4 victories for von Schmieder and Lilley respectively, against Salvador de Sas and Alberto Varala-Grandal.

Norris secured the team win for Phyllis Court with his round two win over Celastino Montenegro, while Roberts and Lilley lost to 4-7 Angel Nunez and De Sas, before von Schmieder eventually won a long game 7-4 against Varela-Grandal to win Phyllis Court third place with a 5-2 match score.

Attention then switched to the tournament final where Roehampton beat Balgreen (Edinburgh) 7-1.

Our President Frances Colman was thanked by the organisers and winning Roehampton captain on behalf of all the players, for her three days of refereeing.

And she accepted our third place trophy on behalf of our team, who were also very grateful to our Chairman Patricia Mulcahy who made the long trip south to support the team on the final day.

Results digest:

Block games

PCC 'A' 4 - 2 Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain)

PCC 'A' 1 - 5 Roehampton

PCC 'A' 2 - 4 Balgreen (Scotland)

PCC 'A' 5 - 1 Broadwas

PCC 'A' 4 - 2 Real Club de Golf Novo Sancti Petri (Spain)

Quarter-Final

PCC 'A' 5 - 2 Cheltenham

Semi-Final

PCC 'A' 1 - 6 Roehampton

3rd place match

PCC 'A' 5 - 2 Club de Campo de Vigo (Spain)

Charlie

von Schmieder with jump score

(by Paul S Felton)

12 October 2025 – Eagle, Essa & Mulcahy are all newly qualified GC Referees

Congratulations to Rob Eagle, Helen Essa and Patricia Mulcahy who all passed their GC Referees

exams yesterday.

7 October 2025 – Lilley & Mulcahy win prizes in Corfu

Phyllis Court took a contingent of 8 players and 2 supporters to Corfu for the annual

Greek Open AC Championships this past fortnight, where a good time was had by all.

26-point Handicap Doubles event

This was played as a six round Swiss over the first two days.

Chris Roberts and Frances Colman to the fore in the early rounds, chased by Kevin Ward and his partner

Alan Clark (High Wycombe), and Rick Lilley and Sara Anderson (Woking), but no pair was undefeated by the

end of round four, leaving the event wide open.

Golf croquet player Maureen Ward had bravely agreed to step-in as last-minute replacement to cover for a

injury and, guided in her first ever association croquet game by the experienced Ian Anderson Woking), the

pair where actually in contention at that stage.

After the sixth and final round, David Warhurst (Budleigh) and Karen Quilter (Corfu) won the event, one win

ahead of four other pairs including Roberts and Colman, and Lilley and Anderson.

26-point Handicap Singles MAIN event

Helen Essa and Rick Lilley won their first games, versus Sara Andereson (Woking) +3T and Kevin Ward +6T

respectively, to qualify directly for round 2.

All the other Phyllis Court players lost their first games and went into the repechage round where Chris Roberts

beat Patricia Mulcahy +1, Rob Eagle beat Frances Colman +11T and Kevin Ward lost to John Crompton (York),

taking Roberts and Eagle into Round 2.

Poor weather then robbed the tournament pf a good day's play and, upon resumption, there was no time left

for Essa & Eagle to play a proper part in the event and they withdrew pending a pre-planned (earlier than

everyone else) flight home for a pressing engagement.

In round 2, Lilley got Phyllis Court's own back on Crompton with an +8T victory and Roberts scored an unexpected large +21 win over Ian Anderson (Woking).

Lilley lost out +4T in the quarter-finals to the experience of Liz Wilson (Fylde) while Roberts bided his time to eek out the bisques of Richard Quilter (Corfu) to win +9.

Roberts then played poorly in the semi and, despite much running around against the clock in the last ten minutes, he lost +3T to Wilson, who the following day lost the final by a single point to Aland Clark (High Wycombe).

14-point Handicap Singles consolation event

Rick Lilley came into the 14-pointer from the main event, ad with only a couple of tournament days remaining, he set his sights on this consolation event.

Charlies Harding (Bowdon) had set an early pace in this event but he flounders in later games, allowing Lilley to overhaul his wining percentage to end with a perfect 5 victories from five games for a 100% score which was more than enough to win the event.

Advanced Singles event

Chris Roberts was in the running for this impromptu event for the senior players, but in the final analysis, he had not played enough games and David Warhurst (Budleigh) won the 'crowing rights cockerel' trophy.

Golf Croquet Doubles day

Patricia Mulcahy won the UK/Ireland prize with her impressive 5/6 winning tally in doubles games with ever changing Corfiot partners, one of whom Pedro, won the Corfiots' prize.

Back: Rick Lilley, Rob Eagle, Paul Franklin, Kevin Ward & Chris Roberts

Front: Helen Essa, Frances Colman, Maureen Ward & Patricia Mulcahy

Absent: Jill Meredeth (Photo by Karen Quilter)

Dee McKibbin
WINS
Croquet England C-Level Series NATIONAL FINAL

Fabulous Phyllis Court 1 & 2
Dee McKibbin & Carol Huntington - WINNER & Runner-up!

27 & 28 September 2025 – Dee McKibbin wins the C-Level Series National Final

Phyllis Court’s Dee McKibbin won Croquet England’s National C-Level title with a crushing victory at the National Final last weekend.

And club mate Carol Huntington was runner-up, giving the Henely Club an unprecedented ‘one-two’ result at Compton Croquet Club in Eastbourne).

McKibbin and Huntington had qualified for the Final as winners of C-Level Series tournaments earlier in the season with the former victorious at Woking and the latter being a double winner at both Roehampton and Guildford.

McKibbin enjoyed a fabulous first day with a faultless eight out of eight game wins to head the strong 16-player field, who were themselves, all winners of qualifying tournaments around the country.

Huntington ended her day embedded in chasing pack on five wins, in the demanding all play all format of 15 games in the weekend.

The Phyllis Court pair didn’t let up on day two either and McKibbin romped to a further six wins from seven, dropping only one game 6-7 to Paul Stroud of Guildford and she wrapped-up the National title with a round to spare.

Huntington repeated her first day five game winning haul to end on ten victories for the tournament and in a tie with Lisa Furnival of Eynsham, but the Phyllis Court player had the better net hoops tally of +18 to +10 and so claimed the runner-up position.

The President of Croquet England Jonathan Isaacs, who had only been appointed days before, was pleased that his first act in the role was to present the National C-Level Series Cup to Dee McKibbin.

Rob Eagle won our own

B-Level in July

20-21 September 2025 – Eagle played in the B-Level (4+) Series National Final this weekend

Phyllis Court's Rob Eagle played in the B-Level (4+) Series at Budleigh Salterton in Devon this weekend, and well done him on that achievement.

Eagle qualified when he won the Phyllis Court/Blewbury hosted B-Level Series heat (pictured left, and see the report dated 30-31 July below).

He was to have been joined by clubmate Alastair Broom (who won the Cheltenham heat) but a hip injury has prevented Broom from participating unfortunately.

Alastair and Barbara made the trip anyway and split their time enjoying their wedding anniversary and supporting Eagle (along with his partner Helen Essa).

Eagle was surprisingly the outsider, having the lowest ranking DGrade, in the filed of 16 playing the demanding National Final tournament program of 8 games on Saturday and 7 on Sunday in a giant 16-player 'all-play-all' block format.

Eagle had a tough first day, winning only his last game of the day, and it didn't get any easier on a winless day two, as the tournament seeding played out only too well. Hard luck Rob.

There is a digest of all results on Croquet Scores here -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/b-level-4hcp-national-final/competition/all-play-all-block

24 September 2025 – 10 strong Phyllis Court contingent head to Corfu for the AC Greek Championships

10 Phyllis Court are making their ways to Corfu for the annual AC Greek Open Championships which start on Saturday.

Frances Colman and Chris Roberts are again managing the tournament and inclusive holiday, and they are joined this year by:

Rob Eagle, Helen Essa, Paul Franklin, Rick Lilley, Jill Meredith, Patricia Mulcahy, Kevin Ward and Maureen Ward.

The Phyllis Court group are joined by other players from all over England - Bowdon (Cheshire), Budleigh Salterton (Devon), Fylde (Blackpool), Middlesbrough, York, Woking & High Wycombe - who make up a party of 24 players and 3 non-playing partners.

The tournament starts with two days of handicap doubles, continues with 26-point and 14-point consolation handicap singles events and there is even a GC doubles event with visitors being paired with local players from the hosting Croquet Club of Corfu.

- Occasional reports and a photos will be posted here, as the 9-day tournament progresses.

19 September 2025 – PCC 'D' retain SCF Advantage League title in close final

PCC 'D' 9 - 7 Ryde 'Clubs'

Phyllis Court 'D' retained the SCF Advantage League title today when they beat Ryde 'Clubs' 9-7 in a close final.

Bob Clapp was the star performer for the hosts, winning all four of his games and looking assured throughout, as Ryde matched Phyllis Court win for win in the first three of four rounds.

The 'D' had to do without their captain Ruth Raunkiaer who was on holiday for this big finale, which was an unfortunate clash of dates, given she had played in all bar one of the match in this campaign.

Dee McKibbin lead the team today and got off to a great start, with a 9- 3 win over Ryde captain Mick Abbot despite conceding a two hoop advantage, and Clapp also won easily 6-4 against Martin Briggs.

Mckibbin was dominant again in the second round in winning 7-1 against Ryde's Nick Westmore and Clapp got to his required five hoops target before Harry Oldham reached his seven.

Phyllis Court's Carol Huntington and Philip Rowley both played well without winning in the two morning rounds and between them were just one hoop short three times out of four, sending the team match into lunch, tied at 4-4.

Huntington registered her first win by a single point in the third round as Clapp kept visitor Westmore still looing for a maiden victory and tying the team match 6-6 with four games to play.

In the last round, Rowley finally got a win, and did it the hard way, coming from behind to best the the hapless Westmore 7-4 and Huntington won for the second time 7-5 against Oldham, as Phyllis Court began to celebrate because Clapp was well in front against Abbott and Clapp fittingly brought home the crucial third victory that won Phyllis Court the team match.

McKibbin chased Briggs all the way to his 6-9 win in he head to head match between the two number ones as Ryde got one win back as a consolation, but the team match ended 9-7 to Phyllis Court D and McKibbin was presented with the Advantage League Cup by SCF committee member Chris Roberts on behalf of the Southern Croquet Federation.

PCC D' - Dee McKibbin (5), Carol Huntington (5), Philip Rowley (6), Bob Clapp (8) & reserve Julia Green (7).

Representing PCC 'D' in this campaign has been - Ruth Raunkiaer & Carol Huntington (both 7 Games), Dee McKibbin (6 Games), Bob Clapp & Philip Rowley (both 5 Games), Julia Green (4 Games), Ramsay Adams & Daphne Spiers (both 1 game)

This win qualifies Phyllis Court for another shot at the National Federations Shield competition next year, so congratulations and well done to PCC 'D' on that score too!

15 September 2025 – Goldring & McEntee win 80+ Singles Tournaments classed events

Roger Goldring and Cathie McEntee won the 80+ Singles two classed events, when the second part of the annual tournament took place this morning.

The two part tournament attracted RECORD NUMBERS with 18 participants overall, split 11/7 into senior & junior classes.

Goldring won his three scheduled games versus Christine Searle 7-2, Trevor Day 7-1 and John Maguire 7-2, and it was these large winning margins that brough him his event win on net hoops from rival Pete Falle.

Falle had beaten Goldring in the first part of this tournament a few weeks ago, but had himself then lost to Mike Sayer and these were the only defeats for the pair throughout, as Falle completed his own wins over Day 7-3 and Maguire 7-5 today.

It was then realised that even a 7-0 win for Falle in his last game would not be enough to overhaul Goldring's impressive net points tally, so that last game was left unplayed, as a brief but heavy shower signalled a slightly earlier than planned finish.

In Class 2, Fay Ahara won twice, including a victory over leader Cathie McEntee, but she then lost her last game Val Cumming, which handed McEntee the title.

President Frances Colman was on hand to referee during the morning and present the two trophies to Goldring and McEntee as all sheltered from the rain under the gazebo.

17 September 2025 – Roberts & Kompanik win our Restricted Doubles Tournament

Chris Roberts and Eva Kompanik won our Restricted Doubles tournament today which, very pleasingly, attracted a full field of 16 pairs for the first time in a number of years.

In weather that was decidedly autumnal, a reasonable pace was kept up by most players and, again very pleasingly, all bar one of the last round (of six) placing games were played out, so the enjoyment of this tournament was very evident in all quarters.

Most of the morning block games went with seedings, however the biggest upset was Kevin & Maureen Ward's win over the in-form Rob Eagle & Helen Essa, which brought the former pair qualification for the afternoon main knock-out phase at the expense of the latter.

Eagle & Essa only lost that one game all day and having missed the cut, cruised to win the consolation Plate event.

Roberts and Kompanik's closest game was in their quarter-final versus Michael Marcel & Tony Peperell who's respective ball placements and clearance strokes kept them ahead for the whole game, and when Roberts was forced to run hoop 12 and leave his junior partner to play their side's first approach shot to 13, the smart money was with Marcel & Peperell.

Kompanik played her approach very well and good enough to put doubt in the mind of Marcel when playing his potential game winning stroke which he could only jaws.

For once Peperell mis-cued his clearance Roberts' ball ran into a difficult angled jumping position from which, and with no other choice, he nailed the jump for the winning score.

Meanwhile, Robin Coates and Carol Wadsworth, Dee McKibbin and John Rumford, and the Wards, all emerged from their quarters to fill the other semi-final berths.

Coates & Wadsworth beat the Wards 7-2 and Roberts & Kompanik won a second close knock-out tight game to win through to a late final that didn't start until after 1700.

As thee light began to fade on the croquet that had brightened up and otherwise dull day, placing games finished one by one but the players stayed on in good number to watch the final and third place match.

The Wards prevailed over McKibbin & Rumford for third place after a prolonged battle and hoop 13, and in the Final, Kompanik's relentlessly good approach positioning provided the bases for she, with Roberts' controlled power clearances, to control most of the hoop battles for a steady 7-5 victory.

President Frances Colman presented Roberts & Kompanik with the Stella Cave and Josephine Wolfe silver salvers, and to Coates & Wadsworth she gave the Hilda Dobson Cups, all of which are amongst the oldest of our club trophies.

(photos by Rob Eagle)

13-14 September 2025 – Alastair Broom played in the NATIONAL FINAL of the All England Handicap (Advantage) competition

This weekend our Treasurer Alastair Broom played in the NATIONAL FINAL of the All England Handicap (Advantage) competition, at Camerton & Peasedown CC, near Bath.

Broom qualified for this final via our own internal Advantage Singles tournament back in May (which he won), and then the Area Final in July (where he was runner-up to Rob Eagle).

Eagle also qualified via the same route but withdrew from the final due to the team match this week and his qualification for another national final next week.

There is no coverage on Croquet Scores this time but Alastair has reported:

Day 1 - Alastair Broom won 4 of his 8 games and there are 5 rounds of games left to play tomorrow.

No player is unbeaten and most have lost 2 or more games, so Alastair has everything to play for tomorrow and his confidence is high.

Day 2 - There was disappointment for Alastair Broom today as the slumped to just 1 win in his 5 remaining games as a hip injury came to the fore the longer the tournament went on. Nevertheless, he can look back on the achievement of having reached his first National Final and hope that the experience stands him in good stead for another National Final (the B-Level Series) next weekend.

Winner Cliff Hampton with Chairman Patricia Mulcahy (by Andy Jones)

12 September 2025 – Hampton beats Rowley at 13th hoop to win our 7+ Singles tournament

Manager Andy Jones reports:

There was plenty of tension in the air as well as rain for the 7+ Singles GC tournament for the Black Ball trophy.

When it came to the latter stages, practically half the games in the Knockout phase to decide the winner, went to the 13th hoop and a 7-6 result with both players having a chance to grab victory.

Before that, however, the morning had seen the 12 competitors, with handicaps ranging from 7 to 18, compete in three all-play-all blocks to decide the 8 who would proceed to the afternoon quarter finals and beyond.

It was terrific to see players new to croquet and new to tournaments taking the chance to play against more experienced people, gain more insights into how the game is played and build their confidence by finding they can have an enjoyable and exciting game in such company, however the result turns out in the end.

Setting the early pace in the morning were Philip Rowley, Carol Wadsworth and Cliff Hampton who all got to lunchtime unbeaten.

They were joined in the quarter finals by Dilys Gordon, Bob Clapp, Steve Morton, Christine Searle and Hilary Cowley, with Joanna Rowley missing out on qualification only on the 'net hoops' comparison.

She was joined in the consolation Plate event by the remaining contenders, Chris Miles, Mark Loader and Ellen McKenzie.

The post-lunch contest between Philip Rowley and Gordon demonstrated how a golf croquet game remains an open issue until the very last moment, when trailing in the early stages, Gordon staged a tremendous comeback from hoop 10 onwards, to earn herself an attempt at hoop 13. She required a jump shot to clearRowley's ball that rested in the jaws and claim the victory. Her shot got good height but struck the upright, and when it might so easily have gone through, it bounced back!

So, 7-6 to Rowley and he moved on to then take a semi-final win over Clapp.

The other semi was another 7-6 thriller, with Hampton edging Wadsworth out at the 13th.

The final was another hard fought contest, again going to hoop 13, and another jump shot attempt to decide the result,

This time Rowley's attempt failed to clear Hampton's and the latter ball became our 7+ Black Ball winner for 2025, with Rowley runner-up and Wadsworth and Clapp third and fourth respectively.

Joanna Rowley claimed won three games in the afternoon to win the Plate event and a good day's croquet concluded with Club Chair Patricia Mulcahy presenting the trophy to the main event victor Hampton.

Ready to defend the Shield, Phyllis Court lined-up with Crake Valley hosts against the beautiful Lake District backdrop before the start of play. (photos by Chris Roberts)

10 September 2025 –

Phyllis Court 'team B' narrowly lose NATIONAL FINAL of the Federations Shield (Advantage) competition

Phyllis Court 3 -4 Crake Valley

Phyllis Court’s reign as National Federations Shield Champions ended last week when the Henley Club’s B side lost narrowly to Crake Valley in the southern Lake District today.

Setting a new distance record for an English away fixture, Phyllis Court could not have come closer to victory, that even the ending 3-4 score line fails to reflect the closeness of the contest.

Three of the four matches that were lost were decide at the last hoop of the deciding games.

Phyllis Court started very brightly, as indeed did the weather, and with the forecast of heavy rain combining with a high tide in the early afternoon, cast doubt over the long-term playability of the courts at Crake’s river-moth location.

Rob Eagle and Jeff Smith both raced to fast and decisive first game wins, 7-0 and 7-1 respectively against Crake’s Chris Williamson and Ray Hodgson, which boded will for the visitors, and all the more so wen Eagle chalked up the first match win for Phyllis Court with a 4-7 win in his second game.

In the Doubles rubber, Frances Colman and Helen Essa had to chase down a 0-3 staring score in their Advantage (handicap) match against Graham Jowett and Benda Knight, and the hosts started really well, more than holding their own against Phyllis Court’s better graded pair.

Consistent good positioning from Colman and steady clearing from both players kept them in the first game with the highlight being a far from easy jump shot success from Essa.

Phyllis Court lost the first game 7-5 and then chased down Crake’s advantage again in the second, this time falling short by just the one hoop, 6-7, which was entirely down to Jowett’s good fortune when his poor clearance stroke from distance, missed it’s intended target but ricochetted his partner’s ball into the penultimate hoop.

The same 6-7 fate that befell Smith in the third game of his singles match which he lost 7-1, 5-7, 6-7, which gave Crake a half-time 2-1 lead in the team match, thanks to those two single hoop victories.

Colman restored parity for Phylis Court when she raced to big leads in the first and third games of her afternoon singles head-to head match with Crake number 1 Williamson, to whom she had to concede one hoop advantage.

Again, first ball positioning was key, and with a hundred percent jump shot success in three attempts in the match, she excitedly leaped in the air herself upon wining 7-4, 6-7, 7-5.

In the number 2 match, Eagle allowed Hodgson’s slow play to get to him and when the latter got very lucky in running the last hoop of their match cleanly from the wrong side, there was nothing that the Phyllis Court man could do and he went down 6-7, 6-7.

Smith had a topsy-turvy match with Crake’s high handicapper Knight in the number 4 match, and in a reverse of fortunes to his morning rubber, he lost the first game but stormed back decisively to win the match 3-7, 7-3, 7-3.

This tied the team match again with just Essa’s number 3 match with Jowett to finish.

Essa had to concede one hoop advantage and was unlucky to be edged out of the first game 5-7, came back well to win the second 7-4 but fell short in the third 3-7, doing nothing wrong as she tried the higher risk tactics necessary to overhaul the handicap start.

On behalf of Croquet England, Frances Colman, who had overseen the introduction of the GC Federations Shield and donated the trophy to the then Croquet Association, made the presentation to the happy Crake Valley team.

There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cqe-national-federation-shield-final-crake-valley-v-phylis-court-b/competition/crake-valley-vs-phylis-court

PCC 'Federations Shield B': Frances Colman (2), Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (5), Jeff Smith (6).

6-7 September 2025 – Chairman Mulcahy plays for Ireland Women v Spain Women

Croquet Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy made her third appearance for Ireland Women versus Spain Women at Carrickmines CC, Dublin, this weekend.

Ireland held their own at the half-way stage, to trail just 14-16, but Spain pulled away on Day 2 to win 24-33.

Over the two days, in her singles, Mulcahy won 3 and lost 4, and in doubles she won 2 and lost 1.

There is a digest of results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cai-v-fec-womens-match/competition/cai-vs-fec

4 September 2025 – June Robinson, R.I.P.

it is with sadness that we report the death of our very long-sanding Croquet Club former member Mrs. June Robinson.

Fellow Club stalwart Terje Johansen, remembers June:

June Robinson was a longstanding member of Phyllis Court Croquet as well as the Club itself. However, she resigned from PCC last year when she was no longer able to go there. She just passed away two days ago after a long battle with lung cancer.
June only played AC and was very accomplished due to her tireless study of the game.

She played in our season long AC tournaments at Great Davidis (Terje & Thoney's home at Kingwood) for more than 20 years and was an inspiration to us all.

June organised the Croquet Club's AC schedule for many years and she also had a very close relationship with Hurlingham and Wimbledon during her prime.
I do not yet have the funeral details, but will let you know when I receive them.
She was such a good friend of ours for so many years. A great loss.

June Robinson:

Club Championship - Runner-up 2007, 2011

Handicap Block - 2000, 2003, 2005

Handicap Knock-out - 2005, 2007, 2009

Handicap Doubles - 2008 (with RS 'Smokey' Eades), 2010 (with Frances Colman)

Handicap Women's - 1999

Spring Tournament - 1997 (with R Hicks)

Summer Tournament - 2009, 2010 - junior event 1997

One Ball - 2009

Chris Roberts, Committee member

Iain Lindsay Cup winners Rick Lilley & Roger Goldring flank Club President Frances Colman, together with (on the left) runners-up Robin Coates & Alastair Broom and Class 2 winners Dilys Gordon & Cathie McEntee (by Chris Roberts)

3 September 2025 – Goldring & Lilley win Open Doubles 'Iain Lindsay Cups' for third time

- and Gordon & McEntee win Class 2 event -

Roger Goldring and Rick Lilley won the Open Doubles tournament 'Class 1' and lifted the Ian Lindsay Cups for the third time in four seasons today.

And the Dilys Gordon and Cathie McEntee combo won the higher handicappers Class 2 event alongside.

Goldring & Lilley cruised through their three block gams with apparent ease, to qualify for the afternoon two-round knock-out, along with the Robin Coates & Alastair Broom combination, who got through on net hoops following a tie on games with Rob Eagle & Helen Essa and Kevin & Jon Rumford.

In the other block Helena & Mike Fensome were the quickest to find form and that set their standard for the challenges ahead, as they also swept to a trio of morning wins;

Chris Roberts and Frances Colman qualified in second place to set up some interesting semi-finals.

The weather did its best to dampen the enthusiasm of the players in the afternoon, with frequent runs for the gazebo shelter in the heaviest of downpours and the Club's 'Bowdry' water removal machine had to be deployed twice.

Goldring scored with two long-range in-offs and, if that wasn't enough, scored hoop 10 from 28 yards which sunk the comeback hopes of Roberts & Colman, and he and Lilley won 7-4, whilst in the other semi, Coates & Broom came form behind to win 7-6 against the Fensomes.

The heavens opened after 10 minutes of the final rounds of games leading to abandonments of all but the main event final, in which Coates & Broom kept Goldring & Lilley within range but trailed from the mid-point onwards before Lilley won it spectacular style at hoop 11 with a tight angled score from 13 yards on the north boundary.

- In the Class 2 event, what should have been six pairs were reduced to four by illness and no-shows, and the decision to run this higher handicappers' second tier event independently on Courts 3 & 4 was appreciated by the participants, who enjoyed the competition with their peers.

Rupert Hunte & Val Cumming were the main threat to the undefeated Dilys Gordon and Cathie McEntee in the 'all play all' morning block, but they lost their semi to Veronica Lawson-Smith and Penny Godfrey, as Gordon & McEntee won again in the other semi against John Moore & Sheila Ferris.

The finalists dodged the frequent rain bursts and Gordon & McEntee rounded off their tournament undefeated.

23 August 2025 – PCC '4+' lose to Nottingham in Inter-Club Championship (tier 3) semi 'Cliff-hanger' ending

PCC '4+' 3 - 4 Nottingham

Phyllis Court is out of the National Inter-Club Championship (tier 3) following a cliff-hanger ending to their match with Nottingham today.

The Henley Club's doubles pair Kevin Ward and Helen Essa fought back valiantly in the deciding game of the deciding rubber from 'near dead' at 1-6 down.

They showed terrific survival spirit to steadily claw back the score to level at 6-6 and had all the momentum going to the so called last 'golden hoop', where a lengthy and combative exchange was played out for fully 20 minutes.

But there was to be no Hollywood ending to this enthralling contest between two very evenly matched teams, and when Nottingham's Ian Dewar lodged his ball into the jaws of that final hoop, the end was nigh and the visitors' team victory was completed with his next stroke.

This doubles rubber had started the day but had been suspended at one game all at lunchtime so that the program of afternoon singles could be played, with the team match also tied at 1-1 in completed rubbers.

Phyllis Court's Rob Eagle had given his side the lead with a 7-6, 4-7, 7-2 win over Nottingham captain Cathy Turski, but Nottingham had countered with the closest of wins from their Celia Billau 1-7, 7-4, 6-7 over the host's Jeff Smith.

Typical of the day's fortitude, Ward fought off a big revers in his afternoon opener to give Phyllis Court the lead 1-7, 7-6, 7-5 over Dewar and Essa followed soon after in similar style completing a 5-7, 7-4, 7-5 win over Roger Steeper.

Eagle looked comfortable in starting his afternoon with a good margin victory but hen fell unexpectedly to Billau 7-2, 4-7, 4-7 and the Nottingham fightback was further enhanced when Smith lost to Turski 6-7, 4-7 on a day of close run result for the Phyllis Court man.

And so it came to a return to the incomplete doubles rubber, the drama of the fightback and the heartbreak of getting so close.

PCC '4+' - Kevin Ward (4), Helen Essa (5), Rob Eagle (5), Jeff Smith (6)

PCC 4+ line-up behind visitors Nottingham before the deciding game today (photo by Frances Colman)

1 September 2025 – The Croquet Club lose the annual match to The Bridge Club, as the contest is abandoned due to flooding.

The annual Croquet versus Bridge match fell foul of the weather this afternoon following a good and competitive bridge session this morning, very well organised by David Young.

The Croquet Club held its own and actually 'halved' the middle set of matches, but Bridge scored a clean sweep in the final set, and lead the teams match 10-26 at lunch.

The croquet element of the contest started well enough but very heavy rain arrived to scupper any serious play after the first of six rounds.

A scrabbled solution arrived in the form of a single stroke 'nearest the peg' wins each of the games in the next two rounds, which at least retained some croquet skills element, and enough to provide a mathematically convenient resolution to the team match.

The Croquet Club won the croquet session 20 -16 but lost the overall teams match to the Bridge Club 30 - 42.

The Croquet Club: Frances Colman & Chris Roberts, Raghu Iyer & Colin Morgan, Roger Goldring & Christine Searle, Jeff Smith & Philip Rowley, Fay Ahara & Val Cumming, Marion Strachan & Liz Roach.

The Bridge Club: David Young & Mike Sayer, Gillian Symons & Hugh Baylis, John Howie & Carol Wadsworth, Des Walsh & Sue Rumford, Antonetta Kaye & Richard Kaye, Dianne Browne & Kathy Tuomey.

Phyllis Court at The GC Women's Open Championship:

Frances Colman, Helen Essa & Patricia Mulcahy

(photo by Chris Roberts)

31 August 2025 – Patricia Mulcahy & Helen Essa at The GC Women's Open Championship - Day 2 (of 2)

Phyllis Court's Helen Essa enjoyed a terrific second day at her debut Championship.

She won 5 of her 7 Plate event games to finish tied on wins with two others, but sadly she missed out on net hoops to Sue Pendry (Surbiion) and winner Rose Gebhardt (Surbiton).

Essa beat Beryl Hughes (Cheam) 7-6 , Lindsay Hobbs (Dulwich), 7-5, Yvonne Marrinan (Ireland) 7-6, Sue Pendry (Surbiton) 7-5 and Patricia Mulcahy (Phyllis Court) 7-3 and only lost to Gebhardt 5-7 and Caroline Denny (Belgium) 4-7.
Patricia Mulcahy had a tougher day following her good wins yesterday, she had success only twice today versus Denny 7-5 and eventual Plate winner Gebhardt 7-6.

The final of the main event was contested by the top two seeds and Alison Maugham (Old Brentwoods) beat Diana Wilson (Roehampton).

- The President of Croquet England Patricia Duke-Cox appointed our President Frances Colman (a former Croquet Association Councillor and Executive Board member, who oversaw the introduction of this Championship 5 years ago) to deputise for her and make the trophy presentations this afternoon.

There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/golf-croquet-womens-open-championship

30 August 2025 – Patricia Mulcahy & Helen Essa at The GC Women's Open Championship - Day 1 (of 2)

Phyllis Court's Patricia Mulcahy and Helen Essa were up against it today as 9th and 13th seeds on Day 1 at the 16-player GC Women's Open Championship at Surbiton.

Both were competitive in all their games but failed to qualify in the top two positions in their blocks.
Mulcahy won one of her 'best of thee games' matches, beating Yvonne Marrinan (Ireland) 6-7, 7-3, 7-3 and ran 4th seed Sarah Clements (Chester) close 3-3, 6-7 but she will be more disappointed to have lost to 8th seed Lynne Pearcy (Roehampton) 5-7, 4-7.

Essa was in, what looked, like the toughest group, headed by favourite Alison Maugham and the results recorded by the Phyllis Court debutant showed that she opened with three very close game, 5-7, 5-7 against Caroline Denny (Belgium) and then a 'so close' 6-7 reverse to high flying Maugham, who responded well with a 3-7 match winner.

Essa fell away rather in her last match, recording 3-7, 3-7 losses to the experienced Glynis Davies (Northampton).

Mulcahy and Essa now move on to the Plate event, which will start tomorrow (Sunday) morning.

You can follow the results in real time on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/golf-croquet-womens-open-championship

29 August 2025 – Good luck to Patricia Mulcahy and Helen Essa on the eve of The GC Women's Open Championship - Preview

Phyllis Court's Patricia Mulcahy and Helen Essa are playing in the GC Women's Open Championship at Surbiton this weekend - and good luck to both of them.

Essa will be making her debut at this high level, whilst Mulcahy is a relative old hand, and will be playing in her fourth Championship.

The format is 'best of three games' matches throughout, with the 16 competitors split into 4 blocks playing on Saturday - Essa is in Block B and Mulcahy is in Block D.

The top two in each block will play in the Championship knock-out on Sunday and the others will contest the Plate knock-out alongside.

You can follow the results in real time on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/golf-croquet-womens-open-championship

- The President of Croquet England Patricia Duke-Cox has appointed our President Frances Colman (a former Croquet Association Councillor and Executive Board member, who oversaw the introduction of this Championship 5 years ago) to deputise for her and make the trophy presentations on Sunday afternoon.

28 August 2025 – PCC 'AC 7+' draw with Aldermaston

PCC ‘AC Handicap' 1 - 1 Aldermaston

Paul Franklin reports:

This AC match featured just two players on each side, with Robin Coates and Roger Goldring representing Phyllis Court.

Goldring prevailed in his game with peg out 26-4 but Coates had a defensive opponent who kept the Phyllis Court man at bay 8-12, to draw the team match 1-1.

PCC 'AC 7+' : Roger Goldring (AC 11), Robin Coates (AC 12)

26 August 2025 – PCC 'AC 7+' win well at High Wycombe

PCC ‘AC 7+' 2 - 0 High Wycombe

Paul Franklin reports:

Phyllis Court's team size is three this year and for this match, we had lined up Raghu Iyer, Kevin Ward and Roger Goldring.

High Wycombe could not raise a full team today, so Goldring's game was held over for the time being and Iyer & Ward had a great day.

Iyer beat Paul Gunn a very close game 24-23 and Ward won handsomely against Matt Miles Griffiths 23-9.

PCC 'AC 7+' : Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Roger Goldring (AC 11), Kevin Ward (AC 12)

- This result puts Phyllis Court 'AC 7+' in contention for second in the SCF (AC) C-Level League - We would only win if Hamptworth have a bad time in their remaining games.

27 August 2025 – PCC 'C' secure Divisional runners-up spot for a Phyllis Court 'One-Two'

PCC ‘C' 9 - 7 Eynsham

Phyllis Court ‘C’ secured the runners-up position in Southern Croquet Federation (SCF) Advantage League today, with a close 9 - 7 away win over rivals Eynsham.

With the divisional title already in the hands of clubmates PCC 'D' (see 20 August report below), this head to head with Eynsham had the second place spot at stake for both teams, and a duly close contest unfolded.

Honours were shared in the first round with wins for Phyllis Court by Jeff Smith and captain Rob Eagle and loss for Patricia Mulcahy and Kevin Ward, the latter playing his first match of the season for the 'C'.

In the second round, wins by Smith, Eagle and Mulcahy established a slim lead that the visitors were never to relinquish and they stretched that to a four win cushion as Ward broke his duck and Smith and Mulcahy continued their successes.

PCC 'C' went in to the last round 8-4 up with the draw secured and one game victory need for the team match win needed and, although Eynsham rallied with three game wins, fittingly captain Eagle saw his side home in his rubber.

Well done PCC 'C'

PCC'C': Patricia Mulcahy (4), Kevin Ward (4), Rob Eagle (5, captain), Jeff Smith (6).

Also having played for PCC 'C' this Campaign have been, Helen Essa (5), Pete Falle (5), Liz Smith (7) & Hugh Crook (7)

23-25 August 2025 – Lilley and Jones are National Selectors' choices for the prestigious GC Eights

Over the long bank holiday weekend, Rick Lilley and Andy Jones took part in the prestigious GC 'Eights'.

These are an intense set of annual tournaments, and just getting selected for these is excellent recognition in itself!

The Croquet England Selection Committee gave a 3rd Eight debut to Jones (who also agreed to Manage the event at Nottingham - well done Andy).

And Lilley's steady improvement was recognised by a promotion to the 2nd Eight at Colchester.

There is digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/eights

Lilley & Jones are congratulated on their selections, the recording of some good wins and for representing Phyllis Court at these top tournaments.

23 August 2025 – PCC '4+' lose to Nottingham in Inter-Club Championship (tier 3) semi 'Cliff-hanger' ending

PCC '4+' 3 - 4 Nottingham

Phyllis Court is out of the National Inter-Club Championship (tier 3) following a cliff-hanger ending to their match with Nottingham today.

The Henley Club's doubles pair Kevin Ward and Helen Essa fought back valiantly in the deciding game of the deciding rubber from 'near dead' at 1-6 down.

And so it came to a return to the incomplete doubles rubber, the drama of the fightback and the heartbreak of getting so close.

PCC '4+' - Kevin Ward (4), Helen Essa (5), Rob Eagle (5), Jeff Smith (6)

PCC 4+ line-up behind visitors Nottingham before the deciding game today (photo by Frances Colman)

20 August 2025 – PCC 'D' win the SCF Advantage League Northern Division in some style!

PCC ‘D' 12 - 4 Blewbury 'C'

Phyllis Court ‘D’ bounced back to score a great win at Blewbury today, with a convincing 12 - 4 win that was more than enough to win the Southern Croquet Federation Advantage League Northern Division

Having now completed their programme of matches, they now have an unassailable lead at the top of the table and can't be caught by rivals Phyllis Court C and Eynsham, who play next week to decided second place.

Captain Ruth Raunkiaer and Julia Green undefeated in their four games today and both Dee McKibbin and the returning Bob Clapp, chipped in with two wins apiece.

PCC 'D' - Dee McKibbin (5), Ruth Raunkiaer (6), Julia Green (7), Bob Clapp (8)

- Absent today, but contributing well to this success through out the campaign has been Carol Huntington, Philip Rowley and the unfortunate Ramsay Adams who couldn't play after the first fixture due to injury.

SCF Advantage League Final

PCC 'D' will now play (probably away) the winners of the Southern Division to decide the overall Advantage league title. The Southern winner will be one of Ryde, Bransgore or East Dorset.

Congratulations to PCC 'D'
Clinching the victory today were (from the left):
Julia Green, Dee McKibbin, Bob Clapp & captain Ruth Raunkiaer.
Also playing in this campaign have been Carol Huntington, Philip Rowley and Ramsay Adams.

16 & 17 August 2025 – PCC 'Old Boys' join current members at the GC Inter-Counties Championship

The GC Inter-Counties Championship was as enjoyable as ever this weekend, with Division 1 at Southwick (near Brighton) and Division 2 at Cheltenham.

Former Phyllis Court members Raouf Allim (PCC 2019-23) and Stephen Wright (PCC 1980's) again formed the backbone of Oxfordshire's team along with Andy Jones who had helped to county win promotion to the top flight from Division 2 last season, and Chris Roberts returned after a two year absence.

Oxfordshire's survival in Division 1 wasn't absolutely assured until the last of the 11 rounds of the 'all play all' tournament, but they were all but safe, before making sure with victory over Yorkshire in that last round.

Oxfordshire ended with 5 team match wins and in a comfortable mid-table position.

Phyllis Court member Rick Lilley won all four of his singles games represented Northamptonshire who finished as the top County in Division 2.

This good form, included a real 'feather in his cap' win over highly ranked Joel Taylor and his weekend's endeavours elevated Lilley to above long time Phyllis Court number 3 Ian Norris in the UK/World Rankings.

Northamptonshire won promotion to Division 1 for next season and so there will be 'locking of hornes' with Oxfordshire to look forward to!

OXFORDSHIRE: finished mid-table in Division 1:
Raouf Allim (PCC 2019-23)
Stephen Wright (PCC 1980's)
Andy Jones (PCC current)
Chris Roberts (PCC current)

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.: Topped Division 2 & earned promotion up to Division 1 for next season - PCC's Rick Lilley (right) and his captain Lionel Tibble pose with the Division 2 Shield.

15 August 2025 –

PCC 'A' lose to Bowdon in Inter-Club Championship (tier 1) semi

PCC 'A' 1 - 5 Bowdon

Phyllis Court is out of the National Inter-Club Championship (tier 1) following a solid home semi-final loss to classy Bowdon from Cheshire.

The Henley club were competitive in most of the seven individual matches, but Bowdon were repeatedly clinical in closing out victories in the later stages of games and won the team match 1-5.

The opening doubles was an exciting affair with four international players on show.

Phyllis Court’s Chris Roberts (Wales) and Charlie von Schmieder (Ireland) were unlucky to lose the opening doubles game 6-7 to Bowdon’s Angharrad Walters (Wales) and 18-year-old Jack Good (England) and showed good character to comeback and win the second game 7-5 before that match was suspended for the lunch interval.

In the morning singles, Rick Lilley, the current Phyllis Court champion, continued his run of good form, to beat Bowdon captain Nigel Matthews 7-5, 7-5, but the hosts’ Ian Norris was beaten in quick time by the fast-improving Alison Jones.

Phyllis Court had hope over lunch, with the team match held at 1-1 in completed rubbers, but that was quickly demolished when both Lilley and Norris were brushed a side in their opening games.

Their second games were only slightly improved, but those matches were over very quickly 0-7, 5-7 and 3-7, 3-7 respectively.

Von Schmieder went down to Walters’ repeated accuracy with her ball placements and paid a heavy price for two missed hop shots, and with that match loss, went the team contest, before Good staged the most unlikely of comebacks in his second game with Roberts.

The Phyllis Court player had recovered well from a lame 4-7 loss in game one, to lead 6-2 in game two, largely down to a jump shot score at hoop 3 which went on to lodge in the jaws of hoop 4.

Good tried an audacious monster jump shot from fully 25 yards, which need one more high bounce for a miracle score, but instead he pushed Roberts' hooped ball through for the hoop 4 score.

Roberts hung on with hope of a win over the UK number 2 and World number 7, but Good was quite brilliant to claw his was back into the game and, when Roberts was short with his first approach to hoop 13, Good’s come back was complete and he won 7-6.

Marking VJ Day 80th Anniversary

National Inter-Club Championship (tier 1) semi-final - Photo by Kevin Ward

Evening Social
on eve of
the
Big Cup Match
was very
well attended

12 & 13 August 2025 – Smith leads the AC Summer tournament as the final result is in the balance

After two days of play, the final finishing order of the Phyllis Court internal AC Summer Handicap tournament is still to be resolved.

Jeff Smith is out in front on 4 wins from his 5 games, he same score as Roger Goldring, but crucially Smith won the game between them.

The only 'fly in the ointment' is Rob Eagle who has one win less, bet has played one game fewer.

Eagle and Frances Colman missed playing their first round match due to late commitments, and this missed game now holds the key to the tournament,

Eagle needs to win to tie with Smith and Goldring, which will then trigger another game with Smith, with the prospect of victory for Smith or a 3-way tie being the end result.

If Eagle loses to Colman in the delayed game, Smith will win the title without needing to play again.

Standings so far: Jeff Smith 4/5, Roger Goldring 4/5, Rob Eagle 3/4, Kevin Ward 3/5, Frances Colman 1/3, Patricia Mulcahy 2/5, Raghu Iyer 1/5, Chris Roberts 0/4.

11 August 2025 – PCC 'D' unexpectedly stumble at Harwell

PCC ‘D' 8 -8 Harwell

Phyllis Court ‘D’ suffered a surprising upset in its push for the Southern Croquet Federation (SCF) Advantage League title, when they were held to an 8-8 draw away draw Harwell today.

Phyllis Court ‘C’ had dispatched Harwell 15-1 only two weeks previously, and it would seem that home advantage, made all the difference in their fortunes this week.

Fortunately, title rivals Eynsham lost last week and so the Northern Division title is still in their own hands for Phyllis Court ‘D’, who have one game to play at Blewbury ‘C’ on 20 August.

Victory will bring the Divisional title back to Phyllis Court, whilst any other result could bring Phyllis Court ‘C’ and Eynsham back into contention.

PCC 'D' - Dee McKibbin (5), Carol Huntington (5), Ruth Raunkiaer (6), Julia Green (7)

10 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 6 (last)

Chris Roberts had two big wins over Latvia’s Silvija Freimane in the third-place match today to help Wales to a 2-0 victory and bronze medals.

But yesterday's loss to Canada is still stinging.

Sweden beat Canada in the final to win Tier 2 and the coveted promotion to Tier 1 in four years time.

Frances Colman, the Tournament Referee, was warmly thanked by World Croquet Federation Representative Roberts Stafakis at the prize giving ceremony this afternoon, and countless players and country representatives sought Frances out to personally thank, before all made their respective exits.

This was a highly enjoyable tournament, played in a super friendly spirit and atmosphere, but boy, what long days . . .

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

9 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 5

Chris Roberts and Wales unexpectedly lost to Canada today in a semi-final disappointment today.

Playing a best of 7 matches format (with round 1 being one doubles and two singles, and round 2 being 4 head-to-head singles).

Roberts beat Amr Hamdy 7-5, 7-4 and Wales captain Angharrad Walters also beat her Canadian opponent Adam Barr, but Wales doubles pair Ian Burridge and Sarah Melvin lots their match.

In the second round Roberts should have won his first game verses Barr but lost to a boundary score at hoop 13 and that reverse came home to roost as Barr grew in belief and could do nothing wrong in the third game - Roberts lost 6-7, 7-5, 3-7.

Walters won again, Burridge lost to Hamdy and Melvin got overhauled in her third and deciding game, and Wales are out.

Frances Colman, the Tournament Referee, has always been one of the first to arrive each morning and has then been the last to leave each evening, and twice this week we have departed after 1930. Today was the latest of them all, and she (and driver Roberts) left at 2110 (and yes, it was dark!).

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

Referees Andy Jones and Ruth Raunkiaer, Tournament Referee Frances Colman and Wales player Chris Roberts. (photo by Peter Payne)

8 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman (and now Jones and Raunkiaer too)

at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 4

Phyllis Court's presence at the Championships was increased to four today!

Ruth Raunkiaer and Andy Jones joined the refereeing team of Tournament Referee Frances Colman today and both did an excellent job, moving swiftly and frequently to judge stokes as they covered five courts between them.

Chris Roberts won all his games today as his Wales team put debutants Hong Kong to the sword and won 6-0.

Roberts and Angharad Walters beat Hong Kong's George Gladstone & Milo Ruoff 7-2, 7-3 in the doubles, and in the singles, Roberts beat Gladstone 7-3, 7-2.

This ensured that Wales won their block and avoided co-favourites Sweden in the semi-finals tomorrow - the line-up is: Wales v Canada and Sweden v Latvia

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

7 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 3

Chris Roberts dropped his first team points today but Wales still beat Germany 4-2, and a left over last game was also won to earn Wales a 3-3 draw with Latvia.

Roberts and Angharad Walters beat Germany's Wolfgang Usbeck & Joern Vinnen 7-5, 7-5, but Rober6s lost his singles match at the last hoop to Alexander Kirsten 4-7, 7-5, 6-7.

Tournament Referee Frances Colman, is looking forward to welcoming Phyllis Court clubmates Ruth Raunkiaer and Andy Jones to her refereeing team tomorrow

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

6 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 2

Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts had another good day, winning 5 of his eight games as Wales best Norway 5-1 but had a team hiccup versus Latvia, and they need to win one outstanding game to salvage draw.

Partnering Angharad Walters again, Roberts' pair beat Norway's Glenn Fauske & Viggo Olsen 7-3, 7-3 in a doubles rubber, and then Roberts dispatched Steiner Olsen 7-2, 7-5.

Versus Latvia, Roberts & Walters faltered in a doubles rubber but came back well to win 2-7, 7-3, 7-2, and Roberts then went on to best Janiis Steins 7-2, 7-3.

Tournament Referee Frances Colman was kept busy all day and had to issue a formal warning to Mexico Captain Brian Lozano for throwing his mallet iafter a loss.

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

5 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - Day 1

Tournament Referee, Frances Colman with her Day 1 team of referees, Ian Cobbold, Ian Shore and Bob Clarke

(photos by Chris Roberts)

Players and officials line-up with national flags.
Tournament Referee Frances Colman is far left (in her refereeing pink) & Chris Roberts is kneeling in the centre (in red of Wales)

Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts had an excellent first day, winning all six of his games and Wales cruised to a 5-1 win over Switzerland and are 2-0 up overnight versus Norway

Roberts partnered Wales captain Angharad Walters and they beat a Swiss pair 7-3, 7-3 and the solo, Roberts beatt Daniel Daniel Studerus 7-4, 7-4.

After a wait of over 2 hours, Wales second match got underway versus Norway and the same doubles pairing worked well again and they won 7-3, 7-3.

Phyllis Court President Frances Colman, the Tournament Referee, headed team of four officials who were kept busy covering 11 courts between them.

Colman's referee team today, included the familiar face of High Wycombe's Ian Shore.

Follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

4 August 2025 – Roberts & Colman at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) - starts tomorrow (Tuesday) - PREVIEW

Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts is playing for Wales and Frances Colman is the top Tournament Referee at the WCF World Teams Championship (Tiers 2 & 3) at Southwick, near Brighton.

Colman delivered a Refereeing briefing to over 80 international players before a weather disrupted opening ceremony this afternoon.

The action starts tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at 0930 but Colman will be busy from 0800 checking the 1/32 hoop settings before play on all 11 courts (that is 66 hoops to be checked!)

Roberts and Wales are in Block A and open against Switzerland (who include most of the Zurich team that played at Phyllis Court in May).

Wales start as Block A favourites against Germany, Hong Kong, Latvia, Norway & Switzerland.

Sweden start as Block B favourites against, Canada, Czech Rep., Mexico, Portugal & Scotland.

Sadly there is no live-streaming of this tournament but I will post daily reports on this page.

Additionally, you can follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/wcf-world-team-championship-tiers-2-3/competition/block-a

4 August 2025 – England v USA, 2-day Test Match - starts tomorrow (Tuesday) - Watch it streamed LIVE (links)

England play the USA in a short notice two days test match today (Tuesday) ad tomorrow (Wednesday) at Budleigh Saltertion.

There is live streaming coverage from 0930 for you to enjoy - Here are the links:

Tuesday 5th morning - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOduWe1FTsw

Tuesday 5th afternoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aw4UG1WD14

Wednesday 6th morning - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHkKkWnfxLc

Wednesday 6th afternoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTjmIJMkC4g

Additionally, you can follow the results in real time on CroquetScores with this link -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-v-usa-test

4 August 2025 – PCC 'B' end their season with a win but with League title in the balance

PCC ‘B' 5 -3 Eynsham

Phyllis Court B completed its programme of SCF 3+ League matches, with a hard fought home win against Eynsham today.

They sit atop of the League table but too many dropped points during the season, leave their fate out of their own hands.

Phyllis Court will win the league only if Blewbury lose to Eynsham, and the latter do not also beat High Wycombe by a convincing score.

- - -

Today's match was a very close one with all four of the morning's singles rubbers going to third games and honours shared.

Wins for Phyllis Court's Alastair Broom and Patricia Mulcahy, off-set losses by top two Michael Marcel and Raghu Iyer.

In the afternoon session, Marcel's dismal day continued and he fell to second Eynsham captain Neil Stewart's second victory of the match, and again Phyllis Court's numbers three and rour Broom and Mulcahy rescued their team, this time with straight games wins.

At 4-3 with one result to come, the team match draw was secured and brining home the victory was down to Iyer, in his deciding game against Hugh Manson.

And a cliff hanger it was, with Iyer eventually closing out his win 7-6 and the team match 5-3 to Phyllis Court.

PCC B - Michael Marcel (3), Raghu Iyer (3), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Alastair Broom (3)

SCF 3+ League table

P W D L Games Points

1 Phyllis Court B 6 3 2 1 27 6

2 Blewbury B 4 2 1 1 19 5

3 High Wycombe B 4 0 3 1 14 3

4 Eynsham 4 0 2 2 12 2

3 August 2025 – Huntington wins for second time in C-Level Series at Guildford

Carol Hunington had already qualified for the National Final of the C-Level (7+) Seeies, before she attended and WON a tournament at Guildford today.

Huntington won two of her three morning games and was only 6-7 away from a clean sweep.

In the afternoon she sailed through the three round knockout which also included Phyllis Court club mates Steve Morton and Ruth Raunkiaer.

In the first round (quarter finals) of the knock-out, Raunkiaer went out 2-7 to Dominic Webb (Guildford) and eventually finished 7th (in a filed of 16).

Morton beat the experienced Andrew Jackson (Guildford) in his quarter 7-4 ,but then lost agonisingly 6-7 to Andrew Maclay (High Wycombe) in the semis, and he finished a creditable 4th over all.

Huntington, meanwhile, had no such woe and, in the quarters, dispatched 7-2 the fancied Ian Prince (High Wycombe), who had won the Phyllis Court C-Level tournament earlier this season.

She then got mast Webb 7-6 and, in the final, won 7-5 versus Maclay.

- Huntungton is already in the National Final of the C-level Series at Compton, Eastbourne 27-28 September.

3 August 2025 – Mike Percival Mallets visits Phyllis Court and 20 members and guests place orders

Assisted by Chris Roberts all day, 20 plus members and some guests from neighbouring clubs, tried-out and made orders for new mallets from Mike Percival who made the latest of several visits to Phyllis Court today.

Mike delivered 6 new much longer shafted mallets (as pictured, left), that we have bought to improve our Club stock which previously had insufficient mallets suitable for taller new members.

Our stock now has two new mallets at each of 40", 42" and two monster 44" in length!

- Mike did so well with his orders today, that he will be sending us two new FREE mallets as commission on his sales :o)

30-31 July 2025 – Eagle soars to our B-Level (4+) Series 'Smokey's Cup title and ticket to the National Final

Left: Winner Rob Eagle received 'Smokey's Cup' from President Frances Colman

Above: On a good day for Phyllis Court, Michael Marcel won the Plate event

Rob Eagle was the surprise winner of our B-Level (4+) Series tournament when he came through the field from 15th seed to become the first Phyllis Court winner since Ian Norris back in 2012.

Eagle only came into the starting line-up from the reserves list ten days before the tournament and surpassed expectations in making the half way stage cut for the phase to main event knock-out.

Along with four other Phyllis Court players, he was drawn to play his block games at joint hosts Blewbury's ground and he set out his intentions in his first game with a win over more fancied clubmate Raghu Iyer, but only two more victories followed.

The closeness of that block ensured that the wins were very evenly distributed between the eight players and qualification rested on the drama of the last round results.

Eagle lost but his partner Helen Essa scored a great win over over top seed Michael Marcel in a Phyllis Court head to head and that result moved Essa up to three wins, held Marcel on the same tally, and both tied with Eagle, with the latter grabbing the crucial fourth place in the block on net hoops.

On a good day for the Henley Club, Kevin Ward also qualified from the Blewbury block with one more win that Eagle, along with the hosts Brian Jamieson and Brian McCausland (Nailsea).

In the Phyllis Court based block, the home Club's Alastair Broom blazed a trail and was unbeaten until round six of seven when he lost by a single point to his Chairman Patricia Mulcahy.

Jane Powell (Ealing) finished on five wins to also qualify cleanly and four players, Mulcahy, Steve Baldwin (Compton, Eastbourne) and 17-year-old Edward Patel (Surbiton) all tied on four wins, for two qualification places.

Patel had the better net hoops score by one from Mulcahy and they both made it to the Day 2 main event knock-out at Phyllis Court, and Baldwin fell into the Plate event at Blewbury, along with Phyllis Court's Marcel, Essa and Raghu Iyer.

Day 2 enjoyed a swift start to the 'best of three games' knock-out matches with Phyllis Court represented in three of the four quarter final matches with most home interest on the derby between the previous day's dominator Broom and clubmate Eagle, who set his stall out early with an unexpected quick 7-3 win.

Perhaps ricked by this, Broom lost the second game as well 7-6 and out went the days' favourite, along with Phyllis Court's Ward who and Powell close but lost 5-7, 6-7.

In the all visitors match, young Patel put McCausland to the sword comfortably 7-3, 7-4, and only Mulcahy's match with Jamison when to a deciding third game before she came through 7-3, 6-7, 7-6 thanks in no small part to bold but unwise tactical choice by the Blewbury player at the last hoop.

Both semis when to three games, and Powell's steady conservative play was enough to counter Mulcahy's more aggressive line and now excellent jumping skills, and the latter went down 7-3, 5-7, 4-7.

The other semi, was the match of the tournament, and only decided at the last hoop of the deciding game.

Eagle got away from Patel 7-3 in the first but Patel's 7-5 that followed should have given him momentum for the third, but Eagle race into a 4-1 lead and it is to the young man's credit that his composure allowed him to claw back into contention.

Eagle came through the back of the deciding hoop with no choice but to offer Patel a routine jump shot to win, but he seems to take that too quickly and with that went his opportunity and Eagle won 7-6.

By contrast the final was fairly one way traffic, and although Powel was well in both games she trailed Eagle throughout and the Phyllis Court man won 7-5, 7-5, and was presented with 'Smokey's Cup' by Club President Frances Colman.

At Blewbury Phyllis Courts' Marcel won the Plate event from clubmate Iyer by a single point as both recovered somewhat from the previous day's disappointments.

Finishing order: 1 Rob Eagle (PC), 2 Jane Powell (Ealing) 3 Edward Patel (Surbiton), 4 Patricia Mulcahy (PC), 5 Alastair Broom (PC), 6 Brian Jamieson (Blewbury), 7 Brian McCausland (Nailsea), 8 Kevin Ward (PC), 9 Michael Marcel (PC), 10, Raghu Iyer (PC), 11 Steve Baldwin (Compton), 12 Andy Evason (Blewbury), 13 Steve Fisher (Blewbury), 14 Peter Adams (Guildford), 15 Robert Mumford (Ripon Spa), 16 Helen Essa (PC).

There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-b-level-4-series-at-phyllis-court-blewbury/competition/main-knock-out

28 July 2025 – PCC 'A' thumped at East Dorset

PCC ‘A' 1 -7 East Dorset A

Phyllis Court A were thumped by a hosting East Dorset who now look 'odds on' to retain their SCF Open League title.

PCC A - Chris Roberts (-1), Ian Norris (1), Rick Lilley (1), Andy Jones (2)

28 July 2025 – PCC 'D' take a step closer to Divisional title

PCC ‘D' 11 - 5 Caversham

PCC 'D' - Dee McKibbin (5), Ruth Raunkiaer (6), Carol Huntington (6) Philip Rowley (7)

26-27 July 2025 – Moderate showing for two Phyllis Court pairs at the English National Doubles Championship

Frances Colman and Chris Roberts achieved their pre-tournament aim to out play their seeding and qualify for the Day 2 main event knock-out but they did so at he expense of clubmates Rick Lilley & Roger Goldring.

Colman & Roberts started well with a win against third seeds Tim Jolliffe (Taunton) and 'Swing Doctor' Raouf Allim (High Wycombe) and later beat higher seeded Louise Smith (Budleigh) and Diana Wilson (Roehampton), and these two good wins more than off-set their loss to Lilley and Goldring when that came.

Lilley and Goldring played to their seeding and got a bonus win in the Phyllis Court derby match, but they ended on three wins, and one behind Colman & Roberts who secured qualification.

Colman and Roberts were competitive in defeat in the quarter Finals of the main knock-out but found eventual tournament winners Tim Russell (Roehampton) and Dom Aarvold (Bristol) too strong and the went down 3-7, 4-7 to end their main evet interest.

They played on in consolation matches to eventual finish 7th (from seed 9) whilst Lilley and Goldring did likewise in the Plate event and finished 10th overall (from seed 12).

26 July 2025 – PCC 'AC' bow out of their first run in the National Longman Cup (handicap)

PCC ‘AC' 3 - 4 East Dorset

Phylis Court first run in the national handicap Longman Cup came to an end last week in a close match with visitors East Dorset.

Raghu Iyer got the host off to a good start with a comprehensive 26-3 win over Christina Rice but

Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin fell by the same score in the doubles rubber to Andy Dochniak and Steve Hogan.

Making her debut at this level, Phyllis Court’s Helen Essa was pipped by a single point 19-20 in a timed-out game with Andy Meikle, which gave east Dorset a 2-1 half time lead in the team match.

Iyer couldn’t live with Meikle in the afternoon singles and lost 6-26 but, buoyed her morning close match, Essa beat Dochniak well 26-9 but the writing was on the wall for Phyllis Court with East Dorset well needing only one win the remaining two matches.

Phyllis Court’s fate was sealed when captain Franklin couldn’t hold the visitors Hogan and went down 13-16 before Mulcahy gave the host some comfort with a 19-17 on time win over Rice.

PCC ‘AC' – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Paul Franklin (AC 10), Helen Essa (AC 18)

25 July 2025 – PCC 'C' set new record against out classed Harwell

PCC ‘C' 15 - 1 Harwell

Phyllis Court C set an Advantage league record in beating Harwell 15-1 with four wins each for captain Rob Eagle, Helen Essa and Pete Falle, and three victories for Patricia Mulcahy.

The team will need to win their one remaining match versus Eynsham in at the end of this month and have results from others go their way, most notably those of clubmates Phyllis Court D who are only two league points behind, have three matches to play and look like title favourites.

PCC ‘AC' – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Paul Franklin (AC 10), Helen Essa (AC 18)

24 July 2025 – Kompanik and Tooher shine brightest at the Evening Series no.1 tournament

Eva Kompanik and Sally Tooher were undefeated and finished joint top of today's first tournament in the 10+ Evening Series.

A keen filed of 12 contested a shortened Swiss' format tournament on an evening with threatening sky that never materialised into anything wetter.

Cathie McEntee impressed too and only lost once, 6-7 to Tooher, and Dilys Gordon and Sue Rumford also scored two wins each

Evening Series tournament no.2 is scheduled for next week, on Tuesday 29 july, with 12 different players registered.

24 July 2025 – Lilley & Jones at the National Veterans (Over 60s) Championship (Day 3 of 3)

Rick Lilley ended on 4 wins from his 5 Plate games today, only one win behind Ian Shore (High Wycombe) who won the Plate prize.

Andy Jones had a tougher day but was close with two 6-7 scores in a run of defeats.

There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cqe-veterans-60-championship/competition/red-block

23 July 2025 – Eagle & Broom qualify for NATIONAL FINAL

of the All England (Advantage) competition

Rob Eagle and Alastair Broom (left) finished as winner and runner-up at the Area Final South of the All England (Advantage) competition, at Phyllis Court today, and in doing so, both qualified for the National Final in September.

Eagle and Broom only lost one game of there scheduled seven and finished one and two wins ahead respectively of Nick Boxall (Wrest Park) and Brian Jamieson (Blewbury).

Phyllis Court's other entrants Liz Smith and Dee Mckibbin had a tougher time but both recovered in the afternoon to with wins under their belts.

Our quartet all qualified for todays tournament by their results in our own Advantage tournament back in April.

Maureen & Kevin Ward were among a number of members operating the scoreboards today (right).

There is a digest of today's results on Croquet Scores here -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-all-england-handicap-advantage-area-final-south-at-phyllis-court/competition/block

23 July 2025 – PCC 'AC' score good win at Blewbury

PCC ‘AC' 3-1 Blewbury

Paul Franklin reports:

Patricia Mulcahy won an early lead in her match but her opponent, Andrew Petit, managed an 11 hoop break and got back to 15-16.

Mulcahy responded by adding a few more hoops to take the score to 18-15 in the tussle, before Pettit got back to 18-17, and then took the lead with 18-19 after making 2-back. Making more progress was depending on a cut rush to 3-back which he duly did and reached 18-20.

Mulcahy hit in from 14 yards and the game was back on. She reached 4-back and made the hoop for 19-20. but then over-ran her approadch to the next hoop, so was close but not close enough) and she lost 19-20.

Robin Coates made a very strong start in his game, continued to make progress and pegged out to win 26-4 - with a very competent display of 4 ball breaking with good hit ins when needed.

Roger Goldring also made a good start hitting and held on to his lead throughout - final score 23-15

Helen Essa played Minty Clinch and had an initially low scoring game despite considerable effort from both players. Minty hit that last hour having reached reach hoop 4 and Helen had responded to reach 15 - final score was 19-4

PCC ‘AC' – Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Robin Coates (AC 12), Roger Goldring (AC 14), Helen Essa (AC 18)

PCC ‘AC 7+' 0 -2 Hamptworth

The courts at Hamptworth were (politely) challenging, and would have been improved considerably by a recent mow!

Raghu Iver lost -8 and Kevin Ward lost -2.

PCC ‘AC' – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Kevin Ward (AC 12)

23 July 2025 – Lilley & Jones miss the cut at the National Veterans (Over 60s) Championship (Day 2 of 3)

Rick Lilley and Andy Jones both missed the cut to qualify for the Championship knock-out today

Lilley got close with 6 wins from his 11 block games, but 8 ended up being the requirement from his block.

Jones doubles his overnight tally to 4 wins, but was also short of the qualification mark.

The Plate event got under way with two rounds of play in the late afternoon; Lilley got one win but Jones is still looking for his first.

You can follow the results in real tom on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cqe-veterans-60-championship/competition/red-block

22 July 2025 – Lilley & Jones fly the Phyllis Court flag at the National Veterans (Over 60s) Championship (Day 1 of 3)

Rick Lilley has destiny in his own hands after finishing with 4 wins from 7 games on the opening day of this season's GC Veterans Championship.

Realistically, he will need to win at least three of his remaining block games to be in with a chance of qualification for the Championship knock-out.

He is joined at this year's Championship (at Southwick, near Brighton) by Andy Jones, who a tough debut, winning only twice during a difficult day.

There are two 12-player blocks, from which only the top 4 players from each will qualify, with the remainder set to contest the Plate.

You can follow the results in real tom on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cqe-veterans-60-championship/competition/red-block

22 July 2025 – PCC 'B' hold out for a draw at High Wycombe

PCC ‘B' 4 - 4 High Wycombe B

PCC 'B' were held to a 4-4 draw at High Wycombe, the same result as April’s home match.

Raghu Iyer and Michael Marcel won both their matches, but Patricia Mulcahy and Mike Fensome’s matches were lost.

This dropped point could prove costly as Phyllis Court B now head the SCF 3+ League by only point with one match to play against Eynsham next week and need to win that and hope for a slip from rivals Blewbury B in their remaining two matches.

PCC ‘B' – Michael Marcel (3), Raghu Iyer (3), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Mike Fensome (3)

19 - 20 July 2025 – Von Schmieder captains Ireland at the GC Home Internationals in Edinburgh

Phyllis Court's Charlie von Schmieder captained Ireland once again this weekend.

Ireland beat Scotland 4-1, drew with Wales 2-2 but lost to dominant England 0-5 and finshed the Championships in second place.

Here is a link to Croquet Scores - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/home-internationals-at-balgreen-scotland/summary

19 July 2025 – PCC 'Federations Shield B' reach the NATIONAL FINAL

PCC ‘Fed. Shield B' 6 - 1 Bromley

Phyllis Court’s 'Fed. Shield B' team scored an excellent 6-1 victory over visitors Bromley to reach the National Final of the Federations Shield Handicap (Advantage) competition and, in doing so, they avenged the defeat suffered by our 'A' team at the hands of Bromley in the previous round.

Heavy overnight rain returned for the first hour or so of play and in enough abundance to cause concern for the completing of the fixture, but its mid-morning easing settled the nerves on that score.

Phyllis Court got off to a terrific start with captain Raghu Iyer and Dee McKibbin winning their morning singes 5-7, 4-4, 7-6 and 7-1, 7-5 respectively.

Quite a while afterwards, Helen Essa and Rob Eagle won their doubles rubber as well, in a closely fought affair, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 to put Phyllis Court in the commanding position of needing just one of the four afternoon singles matches to clinch the team win.

Bromley were not done so soon though and took all four matches to third and deciding games and kept Phyllis Court honest when they won the first games in two of the rubbers.

Essa had an easy first game win 7-1 but an impressive comeback by Bromley captain Karen Newbould kept her side in the fixture just 7-1, 4-7, 6-7.

However, wins for Iyer, 7-4, 6-7, 7-1, McKibbin 3-7, 7-4, 7-6 and Eagle 6-7, 7-6, 7-1 sealed Phyllis Court's victory with aplomb and a resounding 6-1 score line.

Phyllis Court will contest the National Final versus the winner of the other semi-final between Colchester and Cumbrian club Crake Valley.

PCC ‘AC' – Raghu Iyer (3), Dee McKibbin (5), Helen Essa (5), Rob Eagle (6)

18 July 2025 – PCC 'D' stay on target for Division title

PCC ‘D' 9 - 7 Eynsham

PCC ‘D' - Carol Huntington (6), Ruth Raunkiaer (6), Julia Green (7) Bob Clapp (7)

14 - 18 July 2025 – Mulcahy & Franklin add National Seniors Handicap Doubles title to their Veterans title!

Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin won their second association croquet British handicap title of the season last week and the National Seniors Championship at Budleigh Salterton.

With the Veterans (over 65) trophies already held, the inform pair added the Seniors (over 50) title and had to work had for the achievement with some close results.

They opened with a tight 17-11 win over Joe King (Blewbury) and David Warhurst (Budleigh), before adding a more comfortable 16-6 victory against John Henderson (Penrith) and Jonathan Toye (Downham).

They were pegged back in their third block game with a 15-17 loss to Chris Donovan (Sidmouth) and Jim Field (Nailsea) but still finished top of their group thanks to a superior net hoops tally.

In the final Mulcahy and Franklin had the game all their own way against David Wise (South Australia) and Peter Death (Nottingham) and before the time limit, the pegged-out to win 22-9.

14 July 2025 – PCC '4+' reach of the National Inter-Club Bowl (Tier 3)

PCC ‘4+' 4 - 3 Caversham

Phyllis Court '4+' enjoyed more success on the national stage today in the Inter-Club Championship Bowl (tier 3) and won their quarter-final 4-3 against neighbouring visitors Caversham.

Captain Alastair Broom and Rob Eagle made short work of the morning doubles rubber with a 7-2, 7-4 win over Brian Jamison and Neil George.

Caversham’s Charles Briggs pulled one back for the visitors with a 7-4, 6-7, 5-7 defeat of Essa, but Jeff Smith held his nerve to secure Phyllis Court a 2-1 lunchtime lead with a narrow 5-7, 7-6, 7-6 win over Anne Small.

Broom extended Phyllis Court’s lead, beating Jamison 7-4, 7-3 but the team match was then put on a knife edge when Eagle lost to George 7-5, 5-7, 4-7 and Smith fell 6-7, 3-7 to Small.

Essa held Phyllis Court’s fortunes in her grasp in the last match to finish and she converted a first game lead into a match win 7-4, 7-4.

Phyllis Court will now face Nottingham in the national semi-final, as they bid to be the first winners of this Teir 3 competition which is new for this season.

PCC ‘4+' – Alastair (4), Helen Essa (5), Rob Eagle (5), Jeff Smith (6)

11 July 2025 – PCC 'AC' lose narrowly at High Wycombe

PCC ‘AC' 1 - 2 High Wycombe

PCC ‘AC' – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Rob Eagle (AC 18)

11 July 2025 – 80+ Tournament (part 1) - a field of 11 enjoy

Mike Fensome won all three of his games this morning, but there were surprises elsewhere.

Top seed Roger Goldring was beaten 6-7 by Pete Falle and Christine Searle also upset the odds with a same score victory over Bill Pitkeathley.

In the higher handicappers' event, Cathie McEnette won both her games and holds the lead.

Wins after todays three games:

Class 1 (3 games): Mike Fensome (3 wins), Hugh Crook, Pete Falle, Roger Goldring, Mike Sayer (all 2 wins), Christine Searle (1 win) John Howie, Bill Pitkeathley (0 wins).

Class 2 (2 games): Cathie McEntee (2 wins), Val Cumming (1 win), Heather Jones (0 wins).

Mike Fensome won all three of his games this

morning to lead at the end of Day 1

Val Cumming and Heather Jones (above) and Cathe McEntee had close games against each other, but McEntee won twice and holds the lead in the higher handicappers event

(All photos by Chris Roberts)

Back: Bill Pitkeathley, Mike Fensome, John Howie, Hugh Crook,

Pete Falle and Mike Sayer

Front: Cathie McEntee, Christine Searle, Val Cumming, Heather Jones

and Roger Goldring

10 July 2025 – Goldring beaten to AC tournament win by High Wycombe's Coward

PCC/HW Advanced Level AC croquet, for 7+ players:
Phyllis Court players were well represented at the PCC/HW Advanced Level AC tournament, with Roger Goldring and Raghu Iyer both putting in resilient performances over two gruelling days in extreme heat, and manager Chris Roberts filling in with non-card games.

Iyer, suffering the heat, was unable to play the second day, on which Goldring remained in contention until the final round.

The tournament was ultimately won convincingly by High Wycombe's Richard Coward, whose consistency across the event, earned him the highest percentage wins and the trophy, after a demanding final phase.

9 July 2025 – PCC 'C' held to another draw at Blewbury

PCC ‘C' 8 - 8 Blewbury D

In regional competition, Phyllis Court C were held to another 8-8 draw in the Southern Croquet Federation 3+ League, this time at Blewbury D.

Hugh Crook won three times for the visitors, Pete Falle and Liz Smith won twice each, but captain Rob Eagle was winless.

PCC ‘C – Rob Eagle (5), Pete Falle (6), Hugh Crook (7), Liz Smith (7)

8 July 2025 – Green wins her third D-level Series tournament and now leads the 'National Points Race'

Phyllis Court’s Julia Green can’t stop winning it seems and last week she triumphed for a third time in the National D-Level (10+) Series, this time at Camerton & Peasedown, near Bath.

The reward of another 10 Series points moved Green to 30, well clear for clubmate Philip Rowley on 20 in the competition to be national champion at this level, with the rest of country trailing ten of more points in arears.

Green was undefeated at Camerton with comfortable block round victories over Debra Sandrey (Winterborne Valley) and bath pair Christine Lutman and Lynette Labuschange, before increasingly more challenging games followed in the knock-our phase.

Bradford on Avon’s Carol Gorvett was brushed aside 7-3 before top seed Sue Wagstaff (Camerton) was beaten 7-5 and finally Green beat Clare Barratt (Winterborne Valley) 7-5 in the final.

2 July 2025 – PCC 'B' punish Eynsham 'B' with big away win

PCC ‘B' 7 - 1 Eynsham 'B'

Eynsham failed to field a full team for their home match against PCC 'B' today, which was very disappointing from a Club with a reasonable sized membership.

PCC 'B' were therefore awarded the four rubbers in volving the absent home players, so were 4-0 before the start of the match.

Patricia Mulcahy made a good fist of her match with the hosts Neil Stewart but went down 6-7, 5-7, but Michael Marcel beat his opponent Noel Harris 5-7, 7-3, 7-5, for the fifth 'win' that won the team match.

In their second matches, Mulcahy beat Harris 7-6, 5-7, 7-3 and Marcel beat Stewart 5-7, 7-3, 7-3.

Other team members Mike Fensome and Dianne Browne were not required to travel.

PCC ‘B' – Michael Marcel (3), Patricia Mulcahy (4)

Selected but did not play: Mike Fensome (3), Dianne Browne (5)

1 July 2025 – PCC 'D' win well at High Wycombe 'Kites'

PCC ‘D' 11 - 5 High Wycombe 'Kites'

Phyllis Court ‘D’ enjoyed another convincing win in the SCF Advantage League despite a poor start against High Wycombe Kites today, when the lost three of the opening four games.

Only the fast-improving Philip Rowley registered a first-round win but his teammates recovered well in the second round to tie the team match 4-4 and thereafter, it was all Phyllis Court as they restricted High Wycombe to a single win in the remaining seven games to record and 11-5 victory.

Dee McKibbin captained Phyllis Court in the absence of Ruth Raunkiaer, and won three times, a feat matched by Rowley and Bob Clapp, and Carol Huntington contributed two wins.

PCC ‘D' – Dee McKibbin (5), Carol Huntington (6), Philip Rowley (7), Bob Clapp (8)

30 June & 1 July 2025 – PCC 'AC Handicap' play Blewbury

PCC ‘AC Handicap' 2 - 1 Blewbury

Paul Franklin reports:

The Phyllis Court team of Raghu Iyer, Patricia Mulcahy and Kevin Ward went to Blewbury to play our first fixture in the SCF AC Advanced (7+) league on 30th June.

This was our first fixture in this league in this year’s competition where we have expanded our team size from 2 to 3 because of our stronger bench of experienced players.

Mulcahy and Ward played their matches on the 30th with the former prevailing against Andrew Petit of Blewbury by 1 hoop, while Ward lost by 2 hoops to Brian Jamieson.

Iyer's match against Diedre Cochrane was scheduled for the 2nd July [to avoid the heat of 30/6 and 1/7] so there was all to play for in that match.

Iyer came through strongly with a 21-15 win, so Phyllis Court achieved a solid 2-1 win the this first of the Advanced League matches.

The next Advanced League fixture is on 23rd July against Hamptworth.

PCC ‘AC Handicap’ – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Kevin Ward (AC 12)

Our President and referee Frances Colman at the British Open Final coin toss, with Reg Bamford & Jamie Burch.
(photo by Brian Carroll)
- See the news (right) for the Phyllis Court coin story -

29 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Singles Championship - Day 4 (of 4)

Chris Roberts bowed out of this year's Championship with a disappointing loss at the the 13th hoop of the deciding game of his Plate semi-final against Dom Aarvold (Bristol) this morning.

He won the first game fairly comfortably 7-5 having taken a two hoop lead at hoop 7, but was the soundly beaten 1-7 in the second game.

The deciding third game saw Roberts win the first two hoops and hold that lead for a commanding 6-4 advantage, only to lose it at hoop 12 where an ill-advised attempt to come through the back of the hoop failed, leaving him hampered for a first shot at hoop 13 when Aarvold executed an excellent jump.

On the back foot at 13, Roberts wrestled back control but he mishit a routine clearance and handed Aarvold the match on a plate.

Frances Colman, the Referee of the Tournament, was kept busy again today right up until the final which oddly passed with out a single call to action.

In an interesting 'first' for the Open Championship, Colman called for assistance from a second referee (Tim Jolliffe) in the semi-final match between two former World Champions Reg Bamford and Stephen Mulliner

The second referee was needed to make a slow-motion video recording a very close quarter clearance stroke played by Mulliner, and examination of the footage assisted Colman in confirming her real time "clean stroke" judgement.

Double Phyllis Court angle to the British Open Final

Not only was Frances Colman the overseeing referee for this match between reigning Champions Jamie Burch and 13 times Champion Reg Bamford, Colman also used a special coin to throw for the pre-match toss.

Colman produced a solid silver Austrian Marie Teresse 'taller' coin dating from 1780, which had been given to her by former Phyllis Court President R.S. 'Smokey' Eades when he retired from playing in his mid-90's.

Smokey died just before Covid, aged 102 and is the longest lived croquet player on record.

A digest of all the results in on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/british-open-doubles-championship/competition/championship

And this is a link to the (now recorded) live-stream - Croquet England YouTube Channel

Frances Colman refereeing a stroke by ex-World Champion Stephen Mulliner in his semi-final at the British Open this morning. (photo by Chris Roberts)

'Three wise judges'
Mike Bilton, Chris Roberts and Referee of the Tournament Frances Colman
(photo by Stephen Custance-Baker)

28 June 2025 – PCC 'C' held to a draw at High Wycombe

PCC ‘C' 8 - 8 High Wycombe 'Kestrels'

PCC 'C' got off to a good start at High Wycombe today, winning three of the four first round matches.

Captain Rob Eagle, Helen Essa and Liz Smith all won and only one hoop denied Pete Falle completing the clean sweep.

However, the second round say a reverse of fortunes when on Falle could deliver a win as High Wycombe 'Kestrel's tied the team match 4-4.

Falle and Smith won again in the third round and, after swapping opponents, both won again the the last round as High Wycombe kept pace in this even fixture that ended in an 8-8 draw.

PCC 'C' - Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (5), Pete Falle (6), Liz Smith (7)

28 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Singles Championship - Day 3 (of 4)

Chris Roberts won his last block round 'best of three games' match by the skin of his teeth today when he beat Tim Jolliffe (Taunton) 5-7, 7-3, 7-6.

This put him into a three player play-off but he lost to Mateo Palzon (Spain) 3-7, meaning that he failed in his primary objective and qualification to the main knock-out phase.

The consolation Plate event then followed as a straight knock-out.

Roberts received a bye in the Plate first round and then had another close win of the day when he beat Louise Smith 10-9 in the quarter--finals.

The Plate semi-finals beckon for Roberts tomorrow, when he will play Dom Aarvold (Bristol) - and it's back to 'best of three games' .

- See the news item (three) below for links to Croquet Scores and the live-streaming (which is also recorded).

27 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Singles Championship - Day 2 (of 4)

Chris Roberts had a second tough first match of he day against Stephen Mulliner, the former World Champion, and for most of his first game he carried hopes of repeating the 2-1 defeat that he had inflicted on his opponent in last season's event.

Roberts lead 4-2 and the 5-3 before a short approach at hoop let Mulliner back in to win two hoops in a row and, after much jousting at hoop 11, he won that too, and with the upper-hand thereafter didn't need the fortune of accidentally running hoop 13 backwards to land in prime scoring position.
Mulliner established an early lead in the second game in which Roberts hung on but the match was lost 6-7, 3-7.

This left Roberts needing at least three wins from his remaining four matches and when he went down 7-5, 2-7, 5-7 to Gary Phipps (Australia) that task got even harder.

However, Roberts kept his hopes alive with an evening victory over frequent adversary Steve Leonard (East Dorset) with his best shot being a jump at hoop 12 in the first game when 6-5 down ensuring Leonard had no first stroke to 13.

Roberts' 7-6, 7-6 victories means that he needs to win his last block match v Tim Jolliffe (Taunton) tomorrow morning and hope that other results go his way, to get into the play-offs for qualification to the main knock-out phase.

- See the news item (two) below for links to Croquet Scores and the live-streaming (which is also recorded).

26 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Singles Championship - Day 1 (of 4)

Chris Roberts won one match of his three on Day 1 the most prestigious National Tournament of the year.

He opened against his block top seed, UK number 6 and current England international, 18-year-old Jack Good an, with a poor start losing 2-7 but was more competitive in the second game 5-7.

Roberts didn't play well against the block's surprize package Mateo Palzon (Spain) and lost 4-7, 3-7; a defeat mitigated to an extent went on to be undefeated on the day.

Roberts won his last match today relatively comfortably against Alfonson Ayuso (Spain) 7-4, 7-5.

Referee of the Tournament Frances Colman has been kept busy for a third day in a row and today was called to adjudicate an unusual rules question in a game involving multiple-World Champion Reg Bamford, which necessitated very precise adherence to the rules wording.

- See the news item below for links to Croquet Scores and the live-streaming (which is also recorded)

26 - 29 June 2025 – Golf Croquet Open Singles Championship - Live-steaming for you to enjoy! - Singles coverage starts today (Thursday)

Chris Roberts is 13th seed the Singles event (Thursday - Sunday) - Roberts aim is to qualify for the last 16 knockout.

Frances Colman is the top Referee of the Tournament throughout.

The format is 'best of three' 13-point games throughout.

Four 8-player blocks, with the top 4 from each to qualify for the main knock-out, and bottom 4 going into the consolation plate event.

Live-streaming of the Singles will start on Thursday morning

(Chris Roberts will be on the commentary team between his own matches).

HERE IS THE LINK - Croquet England YouTube Channel

And follow the tournament on Croquet Scores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/british-open-doubles-championship/competition/championship

25 June 2025 – PCC 'AC Handicap' win debut match in the National Longman Cup

PCC ‘AC Handicap' 5 -2 Kington Langley

Phyllis Court's AC Handicap enjoyed an exciting and successful debut in the National Longman Cup competition today against visitors Kington Langley from Wiltshire.

Captain Paul Franklin reports:

The morning was tough with a narrow win in the doubles rubber for Phyllis Court's Patricia Mulcahy and Paul Franklin but singles losses for Raghu Iyer and Helen Essa.

This left the hosts needing a 3-1 or better result in the afternoon head to head singles games.

All four of those contests got off to slow scoring starts and it took an hour or so for someone to get an upper hand and fortunately it was Phyllis Court players in each case.

Mulcahy and Franklin delivered on their singles as well as doubles and both Iyer and Essa reversed their morning results to give Phyllis Court an afternoon clean sweep, and the team match victory 5-2.

Congratulations to Phyllis Court 'Ac Handicap' will play the winner of Guildford v East Dorset in the next round.

PCC ‘AC Handicap’ – Raghu Iyer (AC 8), Patricia Mulcahy (AC 9), Paul Franklin (AC 10), Helen Essa (AC 18)

25 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Doubles Championship - Doubles Day 2 (of 2)

Rick Lilley & Roger Goldring had a poor day in the Doubles Plate event.

There is digest of results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/british-open-doubles-championship/competition/championship

Chris Roberts made an early start to his commentary contribution on the live-stream of a superb quality final of the Doubles main event.

The consistency of long range hits and scoring of the very challenging hoops (set to 1/32nd inch clearence) was someting to behold and is reccommended viewing here -

HERE IS THE LINK - Croquet England YouTube Channel

24 June 2025 – Latest evening social gathering is a big hit with 37 attending

37 members gathered for our latest social gathering this evening, following on from a second 'special evening mix-in'.

Well done to Membership Secretary Hilary Cowley and Chairman Patricia Mulcahy for galvanising everyone.

24 June 2025 – The Golf Croquet Open Championship - Doubles Day 1 (of 2)

See below for the Live-streaming link (starts on Thursday)

Today, Rick Lilley & Roger Goldring just missed out on qualification for tomorrow's main knockout, ending with three wins from their seven games, when they needed one more.

Most satisfying will have been their last game of a long day, when they beat former two-time Would Champion Chris Clarke and his Welsh international partner Ian Burridge 7-6, and in so doing denied that fancied pair qualification too.

The Plate event now beckons for Lilley & Goldring tomorrow.

You can follow their progress on Croquet Scores here -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/british-open-doubles-championship/competition/championship

Roger Goldring and Rick Lilley in action at

Budleigh Salterton today (Photos by Chris Roberts)

24 - 29 June 2025 – Golf Croquet Open Championship - Live-steaming for you to enjoy! - preview

Today and this week we wish good luck to Phyllis Court members, playing and officiating in this, the most prestigious National Tournament of the year, alongside international players from Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Wales and the USA.

Rick Lilley & Roger Goldring are in the Doubles event today and tomorrow (Tuesday and Wednesday) - photo added above.

Chris Roberts is playing in the Singles event (Thursday - Sunday).

Frances Colman is the top Referee of the Tournament throughout.

Live-streaming of the Singles will start on Thursday morning (Chris will be on the commentary team between his own matches).

HERE IS THE LINK - Croquet England YouTube Channel

It is possible, if set-up in time, that the Doubles final on Wednesday late afternoon, might be covered too.

You can follow their progress on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/british-open-doubles-championship/competition/championship

There will be daily updates on this news page too!

Enjoy!

25 June 2025 – Broom wins the B-Level Series tournament at Cheltenham, to qualify for National Final

Phyllis Court's players continue to excel in individual tournaments this season and Alastair Broom became the latest member to qualify for an end of season National Final.

Broom’s success came with victory in the 32-player B-Level (4+) Series tournament at Cheltenham

He did it the hard way however, when he dropped one of his three block games and had to rely on his good net hoops score to win the block and qualify for the next phase.

Broom turned the same trick in the winners’ block round to reach the final where be beat the undefeated Niel Pinker of Bath 7-4 and will now play in the B-Level Series National Final at Budleigh Salterton on Devon on 20-21 September.

20 June 2025 – B team crash to big defeat

PCC ‘B’ 2 -6 Blewbury B

PCC ‘C’ – Mike Fensome (3), Raghu Iyer (3), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Kevin Ward (5)

Franklin & Mulcahy
win the
National AC Veterans
handicap doubles
title
- See News -

. . . and Mulcahy was presented her
AC Bronze Award too (see right)

17 & 18 June 2025
Franklin & Mulcahy win
The AC National Veterans handicap doubles title

Congratulations to Paul Franklin and our Chairman Patricia Mulcahy on their big National Title win at Cheltenham today.
They won two of their three block games yesterday and crucially had the 'head to head' win over Oldale & Brooksbank who had the same number of wins.
This was enough to qualify for this morning's final where the beat the very experienced former Cheltenham membership pair David and Eileen Magee (essentially on their own turf!) 24 -7.
Franklin & Mulcahy were awarded the Longman Trophy, and really well done to them!

There is a full digest of all this tournament results on Croquet Scores here:
https://croquetscores.com/2025/ac/the-national-veterans-65-championship/competition/handicap-doubles-blue-block

Patricia Mulcahy has a new hat badge too!
She was presented with her AC Bronze award for milestone achievement at her previous Croquet England Tournament where she scored 10 hoops with bisques, in a wining game (against Chris Roberts!)

16 June 2025 – PCC '1+' lose in the National Inter-Club Shield (tier 2) at the 'golden hoop'

PCC ‘1+’ 3 - 4 Guildford

Phyllis Court '1+' got agonisingly close to victory today but were beaten at the last hoop in the deciding game in the closest of all matches.

On a scorching day, Andy Jones got Phyllis Court off to a good start with his first of two match wins 7-4, 7-5 against Guildford's John Gosden, to match the visitors' captain Andrea Huxley, who had wasted no time in recording her straight games win over Mike Fensome 7-6, 7-2.

The morning doubles rubber was a very close run affair with the first game going to Guildford's Douglas Shand and Julie Tremble 7-6, and the second 5-7 to Phyllis Court's Roger Goldring and Helena Fensome, after which, that match was suspended for lunch, to be returned to later, if the team match result depended on it.

Helena Fensome was first to finish her singles match in the afternoon when she made easier work of Tremble that had looked likely from the morning's play, but some missed routine clearances let the visitor down and Fensome's steadier play saw her home 7-6, 7-4.

Gosden pulled the team match back to 2-2 for Guildford with a comfortable victory over Mike Fensome 2-7, 6-7 and, after some wait, Shand gave them the lead when Goldring let 4-2 leads in both his games, slip to 6-7, 4-7 losses.

Eyes then fell on the last singles rubber where Jones had lost the first game to Huxley 6-7, but won the second at a canter 7-2 and was closing in the match win, which he duly completed, again 7-2, to tie the team match at 3-3.

This meant a re-visit to the suspended doubles rubber, with its third game to decide the whole team match.

Goldring and Helena Fensome took an early lead only to be pegged back to 3-3, and a poor tactical choice to attempt a clearance at hoop seven with Fensome's first ball, rather than positioning and then clearing with Goldring's second ball in, put them on the back foot at a hoop that was theirs to win.

When Shand scored that hoop well and landed well down the court, Guildford's wrestling of the initiative was complete and Phyllis Court had the chasing task for the rest of the game.

They drew level at 4-4, 5-5 and, after much jousting for position, eventually 6-6, but having to concede the first approach stroke to the deciding 13th and last hoop.

Tremble failed to convert the the first scoring attempt and left Goldring with the dilemma of shooting for the hoop from further away or defend with a safer clearance, and he chose the latter with Fensome poised to run through the back of the hoop in a second defensive move.

Unfortunately, as so often happens with such small strokes, Fensome failed to complete the backward hoop run and Shand jumped on the no jeopardy hoop attempt and he scored with a non-trivial stroke and some aplomb.

So, this is the end of Phyllis Court's road in the Inter-Club (tier 2) competition, but we still have teams in tiers 1 and 2, the Federations Shield (Advantage) and the AC Longman Cup, on the National stage.

PCC ‘C’ – Roger Goldring (1), Helena Fensome (2), Andy Jones (2), Mike Fensome (3)

14 June 2025 - Roberts wins our Open Singles ('Blue Ball') tournament for the 7th time
Chris Roberts retained the Blue Ball trophy with his seventh Open Singles tournament win on a day of close results from start to finish.
A strong and full field at the start of the week was steadily depleted with unfortunate withdrawals in the three days prior, leaving an awkward to format five strong players to contest this season's premier single day tournament.
Each player had a sit out in the 'all play all' block phase in which Roberts won all four of his games but only squeaking three of them 7-6.
Rick Lilley, Robin Coates and Roger Goldring also qualified for the semi-finals in that order, and the unlucky Patricia Mulcahy, who had played well but with out success, dropped-out.
Roberts defeated Goldring 7-2 in their semi, and then had to wait for the conclusion of a really good tussle between Lilley and Coates, which turned in the latter's favour only right at the end 7-5.
Coates had looked very assured and, of all the players, probably had the best measure of line and length, and that kept him in the final game until Roberts pulled two scores clear at hoop 10.
Coates was not done though and controlled hoop 11 well for the score but with a hampered backswing having scored, he was out numbered at 12 where Roberts wrapped up the match.
Finishing Order: (1) Chris Roberts, (2) Robin Coates, (3=) Roger Goldring & rick Lilley, (5) Patricia Mulcahy.

12 June 2025 -
Green wins her second D-level (10+) Series title on great day for Phyllis Court at Ealing
Congratulations to Julia Green, who's win today capped a marvellous day, not only for her but Phyllis Court too, as our players dominated the Ealing D-Level (10+) Series tournament both in number (five) and getting ti the later stages.
Green came through her block in second place on the net hoops tie-breaker and was joined in the semi-finals by Phyllis Court team mates Philip Rowley and Daphne Spiers from the other block where the former had come through undefeated and the latter on one loss.
Green got the better of Rowley 7-3 in the all-Phyllis Court semi but Spiers couldn't live with local man Tim Vernon and lost 1-7.
Vernon might have hoped for home advantage to help his cause but Green won the final 7-5.
Rowley beat Spiers 7-3 in the third/fourth place match and fellow Phyllis Court Players Hilary Cowley and Dilys Gordon filled minor places.
There is a full digest of all this tournament results on Croquet Scores here:
https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/cqe-d-level-national-series-10-ealing
Green's win also earned her 10 points in the Series 'points race' that will decide the National Champion at D-Level.
Green sits tied with Rowley on 20 points at the top of the National D-Level table, with preference given to her two tournament victories over Rowley's one - but what a coup for Phyllis Court!

Phyllis 'fab five' at Ealing: Hilary Cowley, Julia Green,
Daphne Spiers, Dilys Gordon & Phllip Rowley

11 June 2025 - McKibbin wins the Woking C-Level (7+) Series tournament to qualify for the National Final
Congratulations to Dee McKibbin who won the Woking Open Series tournament today, losing only one game in the process.
She won all but one of her block games, with High Wycombe's Ian Prince (already a winner of two C-Level titles this season) her only loss, and some big winning margins in other games, saw McKibbin top her block on net hoops from the fancied Prince.
She beat the experienced Hilary Bird (Guildford) 7-5 in the semi-finals and would have expected a showdown with Prince in the final, but he lost to local Woking player Nick Temple, and Mckibbin dispatched him instead 7-4.
This win qualifies McKibbin to join our own Carol Huntington (who won at Roehampton) in a splendid double presence for our Club in the C-Level National Final at Compton, Eastbourne on 27-28 September.
There is a full digest of all this tournament results on Croquet Scores here:
https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/woking-c-level-series-tournament/competition/block-a

11 June 2025 – C team enjoy a big Advantage League win

PCC ‘C’ 11 -5 Blewbury C

This was a match that was closer than the score line suggests with victory only secured in the last round again.

Phyllis Court C are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the last rounds of Advantage League contests, and for the second match running they won all four games.

Pete Falle and Hugh Crook came into the PCC 'C' team for this one, in place of the unavailable Jeff Smith and Liz Smith, and both won their opening games in a tied first round.

Rob Eagle, Helen Essa and Fall again all won in the second round to give the C a 5-3 half-time lead and the first pair won again in the third round to maintain their team's two hoop advantage going in to the last round.

With four results to come, Blewbury C could still win and they got mighty close, as Essa won by two hoops and Eagle, Falle and Crook by just one each.

The winning spirit in the C team squad is now quite clear to see and with two match victories in quick succession their tails are up for the rest of the league campaign.

PCC ‘C’ – Helen Essa (5), Rob Eagle (5), Pete Falle (6), Hugh Crook (7)

9 - 10 June 2025 -
13 out of 14 Roberts wins Open Series tournament at Woking - and reaches UK no. 19 with best ranking ever
Congratulations to Chris Roberts who won 13 out of 14 games to win the Woking Open Series tournament today.
His only games loss was in winning the final 2-1 against England AC International Jeff Dawson rounding off two days of perhaps his best and most consistent croquet so far.
Together with a solid 2-0 win over our own Ian Norris in the quarter-finals and another straight games win against England hopeful Tim Russell in the semis, it was a performance that earned Roberts his best ever ranking grade and highest ranking position of 19th in the UK (77th in the World).
There is a full digest of all this tournament results on Croquet Scores here:
https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/woking-open-series-tournament/competition/knockout

Ian Norris recovered well and finished 5th overall.

7 - 8 June 2025 -

Phyllis Court 'Euro A' qualify for European Teams Final

& Phyllis Court 'Euro C' well surpass expectations

Phyllis Court heat of the European Teams League

- the winners qualify for the European Final in October -

Phyllis Court 'Euro A' 9 - 1 Real Club Pineda de Seville (Spain)

Phyllis Court 'Euro A' 9 - 1 Phyllis Court 'Euro C'

Phyllis Court 'Euro A' 8 - 2 Croquet Club Zurich (Switzerland)

Phyllis Court 'Euro C' 4 - 6 Croquet Club Zurich (Switzerland)

Phyllis Court 'Euro C' 1 - 9 Phyllis Court 'Euro A'

Phyllis Court 'Euro C' 5 - 5 Real Club Pineda de Seville (Spain)

Croquet Club Zurich (Switzerland) 6 - 4 Real Club Pineda de Seville (Spain)

Phyllis Court qualified for the Finals of the European Club Teams Competition for the first time last weekend, with the Club’s Euro A team coming through our home hosted heat undefeated with relative ease.

They beat Real Club Pineda de Sevilla (Spain) 9-1 and repeated that score line against club mates Phyllis Court Euro C before getting over an early stumble against Croquet Club Zurich (Switzerland) to pull away 8-2.

The format of the event built in some jeopardy for the home favourites with single games deciding match-ups throughout, rather than ‘best of three’ contests that are more frequently encountered at this level.

There was an early hiccup for the hosts’ rusty Charlie von Schmieder who lost to Spaniard Elena Adarve and a later similar reverse for Chris Roberts who went down equally narrowly to Swiss Danny Studerus.

Phyllis Court A also dropped doubles game in an otherwise good performance, in which Ian Norris won all six of his singles games.

However, the result of the tournament, that was scored by Phylis Court C’s Rob Eagle who dented the top teams record in the Henley club’s derby match, with a surprise 7-2 win over the A team’s Rick Lilley.

Whilst Phyllis Court A cruised to their expected victory over all, it was Phyllis Court C that provided the added interest of interest for home supporters, when they took Zurich to 4-6 and then came from behind to secure a draw 5-5 with Club Pineda, which was a terrific achievement from a team ranked as outsiders who had come in to the tournament very late on.

Jeff Smith had a number of very close results without success which was a tough reflection on his fine play, whist Eagle, Helen Essa and Michael Marcel scored three very creditable wins apiece and all against higher ranked opponents.

The Phylis Court heat is one of eleven around Europe which will each provide their winner for the European Final along with hosts Sussex County CC from Southwick near Brighton in October.

Phyllis Court Chairman Patricia Mulcahy, who had competed with Phyllis Court Euro B team in the Latvian heat four weeks ago, and Club President and Championship Referee, presented the overseas visitors with commemorative pennants at the end of a successful and enjoyable tournament, and club volunteers under Alastair Broom were thanked for their contributions.

All four teams shared good bon ami throughout the tournament
(Photos by Patricia Mulcahy)

Lots more photos to up-load . . .

6 June 2025 -

The stage is set for hosting our first European Teams League heat

We have another excellent spectator opportunity tomorrow and Sunday with our history-making hosting of two European teams this coming weekend.

Please come along to support our two teams and make the weekend special for our Swiss and Spanish visitors🙂

Saturday and Sunday from 0930

European Teams League - Phyllis Court heat

- Croquet Club Zurich (Switzerland) -

- Real Club Pineda de Seville (Spain) -

- Phyllis Court 'Euro A -

- Phyllis Court 'Euro C' -

This is the exciting one we have all been waiting for and the weekend ahead should be great fun.

We have the catch fence in place.

England, Spain and Switzerland flags will fly from our gazebo.

And we have fabulous new scoreboards to add the spectator experience (thanks to Kevin Ward for sourcing, and Jill & Jeff Smith for painting & fixing).

5 June 2025 - PCC 'A' beat Nottingham for the first time ever!

PCC ‘A’ 4 -3 Nottingham

PCC 'A' beat Nottingham in the National Inter-Club Championship (Tier 1) for the first time in five attempts today.
On a wet, cold and lousy day weatherwise, Phyllis Court 'A' shone brightly!
Rick Lilley was the star performer for the home team, winning both his singles matches 2-0 and with Ian Norris and Andy Jones winning once each, Phyllis Court secured an historic victory.

Nottingham had come to Phyllis Court three times before, including for two national finals, and ever present Ian and Euan Burridge have previously been joined by other international players, ensuring little joy for for the host club.

This time the visitors promoted Paul Pinnock from their tier 2 Inter-Club Shield team and also looked to the reliable former Ireland player Ian Vincent, whilst Phyllis Court had to do without Ireland international Charlie von Schmieder who ad work commitments, but were otherwise at full strength.

Nottingham's Vincent did well to contain the improving Andy Jones to win their morning match 2-0, and the host's Lilley dispatched Pinnock in straight games too, for one singles match to each side.

Although the Burridge's were made to work for their win in the doubles match by Chris Roberts and Ian Norris, that too was over in two games and Nottingham took a familiar 2-1 team match lead into lunch.

Euan Burridge smashed Roberts to all points of the compass once 4-3 ahead in their first afternoon game and Roberts scored only one hoop point there after, going down 3-7, 1-7, to leave his team needing to win all of the reaming three afternoon matches.

Phyllis Court's Lilley romped to easy and the a very close win over Vincent 7-1, 7-6, before team mate Norris scored the 'result of the day', in scalping Ian Burridge 7-4, 4-7, 7-6 and all eyes fell on the slow encounter between the home side's Jones and visitor Pinnock, which still had some way to go in their second game.

Jones had won the first 7-5 and interest focussed on that second game at 4-4 with the team match in the balance.

Eventually Jones scored the next three hoops and the unlikely comeback victory was secured for Phyllis Court who won the team match 4-3 to progress to the national semi-final for the first time in years.

Phyllis Court now await the winners of the Bowdon v Hurlingham quarter-final.
PCC 'A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Ian Norris (0), Rick Lilley (0), Andy Jones (2).

Nottingham - Euan Burridge (-3), Ian Burridge (-2), Ian Vincent (0), Paul Pinnock (3)

5 June 2025 -
Undefeated Huntington wins C-Level (7+) Series tournament at Roehampton - and Qualifies for a National Final!
Congratulations to Carol Huntington who won all six of her games at Roehampton for a Series tournament victory today.
This win qualifies her for a place in the C-Level National Final at Compton (Eastbourne) on 27-28 September.
Here is a link to the results on Croquet Scores -
https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/roehampton-golf-croquet-c-level-7-series-tournament/competition/block-b

4 June 2025 – C team stage late comeback to sneak victory

PCC ‘C’ 9 - 7 High Wycombe 'Kites'

Phyllis Court C trailed visitors High Wycombe Kites for this entire match before staging a last round comeback to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

They got off to a disastrous start, losing all four of their opening round games but cut the deficit to 3 - 5 at the halfway point in the team match.

Round three was shared two games each leaving Phyllis Court at 5-7 down with it all to do in the last round.

Liz Smith scored a decisive win in her match but all of the other games were nail biters, all going to a last 'winner takes all' hoop.

Hopes of salvaging a draw turned to winning ambitions as each game came to a close, with Helen Essa last to finish and unaware that her winning hoop also secured the team match.

PCC ‘C’ – Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (5), jeff Smith (6), Liz Smith (7)

2 June 2025 - Broom wins our 3+ Singles 'Red Ball' tournament

Congratulations to Alastair Broom on his first 'Red Ball' win today.

Broom won four of his five games today in an all play all block of just six players.

Broom's only loss was to Mike Fensome, who finished one win behind in second place.

Finishing order: Alastair Broom (4 wins), Mike Fensome (3 wins), Patricia Mulcahy, Pete Falle, John Rumford & Rob Eagle (all 2 wins and ordered by net hoops)

1 June 2025 - Zaitlik & Roberts 3rd Place is Phyllis Court best at the SCF Solstice Double

Alex Zaitlik (left) enjoyed his first tournament away from Phyllis Court, partnering Chris Roberts to third place in the annual SCF 'Solstice level-play tournament for doubles pairs with a combined handicap of 6+.

Ian and Delia Norris alos qualified for the main knock-out but lost in the firrst round and eventual finished 6th.

Rob Eagle & Helen Essa came 13th and Frances Colman & Liz Smith 15th.

31 May 2025 - Roberts misses SCF Championship title by two hoops as High Wycombe's Ian Shore lifts the cup
Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts got agonisingly close to a first Southern Croquet Federation Championship title on home turf today, but in the end lost out to High Wycombe's Ian Shore by the slim margin of two hoops.

There was some genuinely excellent play today at this tournament that brought together the eight best ranked players in the Southern Federation area (Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire) and a good field that already included other Phyllis Court players, Charlie von Schmieder and Ian Norris, was further enhanced by Helena Fensome Shore was the only undefeated player at lunch and soon after he got to four wins out of four, before being stopped in his tracks by Roberts, who had started poorly losing his first two games (both 6-7) but then bounced back to win five in a row, including against all the other Phyllis Court players and leader Shore.

The tournament hung on the last game to finish with Roberts hoping for a slip from Shore to create a tie on five wins each, causing the title to rest on 'net hoops'.

Jonathan Smith (Ryde) played his part and won that last game but the net hoops count favoured Shore over Roberts (+17 to +15).

Manager, referee and Phyllis Court President Frances Colman, presented the SCF Champions Cup to worthy winner Ian Shore.

SCF Championship finishing order:

5 wins - Ian Shore (High Wycombe) & Chris Roberts (Phyllis Court)

4 wins - Raouf Allim (High Wycombe), Steve Leonard (East Dorset) & Jonathan Smith (Ryde)

2 wins - Helena Fensome (Phyllis Court), Charlie von Schmieder (Phyllis Court) & Ian Norris (Phyllis Court)

30 May 2025 – Another decisive victory for PCC ‘D’ Team

PCC ‘D’ 14 -2 Blewbury

Ruth Raunkiaer reports:

Blewbury sent a strong team to Phyllis Court today and after the first round of games the team match was even, with two wins for each side.

However, those were the only wins Blewbury managed to get for the rest of the match, as PCC ‘D’ players settled in to winning each game, sometimes closely fought, and at other times with a large margin.

Manager and Referee Andy Jones was called on many times by both sides to adjudicate potential faults, in the spirit of a proper competitive match.

Philip Rowley won three gams on second appearance for PCC 'D' and debutant Bob Clapp won all four of his games.

Dee McKibbin showed her usual excellent play and also won four games, while captain Ruth Raunkiaer won three - snatching victory at the deciding hoop from Blewbury team captain David Dibben in her last game.

PCC ‘D’ – Ruth Raunkiaer (C) (7), Dee McKibbin (6), Philip Rowley (8), Bob Clapp (9)

29 May 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield A' come-up short
PCC 'Federations Shied A' 3 - 4 Bromley

At the end of a difficult day today, our 'A' team were one match win short and with that went hope of retaining the National Federations Shield for third season in a row.

PCC 'Federations Shield A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Andy Jones (2), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Paul Franklin (4)

27-28 May 2025 - Swindon's Mayer beats PC's Robinson into second place at our joint hosted AC 7+ tournament
Finishing Order:
Tony Mayer (Swindon, 5 wins), Russell Robinson (Phyllis Court, 4 wins), Raghu Iyer (Phyllis Court, 3 wins), Mark Lansdale (Nottingham, 3 wins), Roger Bowman (St Albans), Kevin Ward (Phyllis Court, 1 win), Andrew Petit (Belwbury, 1 win), Steve Fisher (0 wins)

Phyllis Court 'Euro B' team (from left): Kevin Ward, Patricia Mulcahy, Raghu Iyer and Alastair Broom.

24 -25 May 2025 - PCC 'Euro B' make history in Latvia - The first Phyllis Court team to play on Foreign soil

Latvian heat of the European Teams League

- the winners qualify for the European Final in October -

Phyllis Court 'Euro B' 3 - 7 Tolkis (Finland)

Phyllis Court 'Euro B' 3 - 7 'IKK' Ikskile (Latvia)

Phyllis Court 'Euro B' 10 - 0 Woodall Spa (England)

A fuller report may appear when our travellers return . . .

The playing headlines are that our team did well on Day 1, albeit in defeat to

Tolkis (Finland) and hosts 'IKK' Ikskile (Latvia), with a number of 6-7 game reverses, giving the lie to their

two unflattering 3-7 team match score lines.

On Day 2, Woodall Spa felt the backlash, as Phyllis Court 'Euro B' swept them aside with a 10-0 whitewash in the match determining third/fourth place, as IKK beat Tolkis to win the tournament.

The results were uploaded in 'real time' on Croquet Scores ato view with this link -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/european-clubs-league-ikskile/summary

Click on the match buttons at the top for detailed game scores

Left:
Phyllis Court Croquet Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy, presented Club pennants to captains Roberts Stefeckis (IKK, Latvia), Larrs Bowman (Tolkis, Finland) and John Palframan (Woodall Spa, England).

Row below:
Phyllis Court 'Euro B' team and supporters (Joanna Iyer & Maureen Ward) upon arrival at Riga airport in Latvia.
And later, at the IKK Ikskile croquet courts with its new modern pavilion.

23 May 2025 - Australian visitors and hosts enjoy a fabulous day of croquet friendship

A fabulous day was enjoyed by all today when our 'mixed skills levels' team entertained the touring Hyde Park CC, Adelaide, Australia.

Our visitors were 'knocked-out' that we were flying their national flag (on our newly erected poles) upon their arrival.

Tea, coffee and much 'bon ami' in the Regatta Bar started the day well and the mixture of singles and doubles croquet that followed were played in the same friendly, yet competitive, fashion.

Hyde Park took a small lead into lunch and, although Phyllis Court pulled level in the mid-afternoon, the visitors re-established their lead to win 15 -20 at the close.

A large ensemble photo was taken and gifts were exchanged between Hyde Park captain Barry Haydon and our Club President Frances Colman to mark the occasion.

The Australians were thrilled to be seated on the Orangery Terrace for a one course meal on a lovely balmy evening with Phyllis Court hosting players near by, and they made their 1915 coach pick-up back to their London hotel.

This was one of the most enjoyable Phyllis Court Croquet days staged in a long time and will be long remembered by visitors and hosts alike.

PCC team: Frances Colman (President & referee), Chris Roberts (-2), Rick Lilley (0), Andy Jones (2), Helen Fensome (2), Mike Fensome (3), rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (5), Ruth Raunkiaer (7), Julia Green (10), Hilary Cowley (11), Jane Probitts (11), Eva Kompanik (14), Des Walsh (14), Dilys Gordon (14), Sally Tooher (14), Alison Smith (18).

20-21 May 2025 - Lilley wins our AC Spring 'Barneses Cups' in the closest of finishes

Rick Lilley won our Spring Ac tournament which went to the last round of six to decide.

He and Patricia Mulcahy went into that last round of 4 wins from five gams but with the latter holding the 'head to head' win advantage.

Lilley beat Jeff Smith convincingly +14 but Mulcahy fell to Chris Roberts by a single hoop, sealing her fate.

15 to 18 May 2025 - Colman (Referee of the Tournament) & Roberts (representing Wales)

are at the LIVE-STREAMED GC European Championships
Here are the links:
Saturday - https://youtube.com/live/qqEk2QfXUPo?feature=share

Sunday - https://youtube.com/live/fn-3H3DPHXg?feature=share

Chris Roberts qualified from his block via a play-off for the main event 16-player knock-out (on day 3 of 4 at Budleigh Salterton).

He was then beaten 4-7, 5-7 in the first round by England International Richard Bilton and fell into the 'Bowl' knock-out for places 9-16 where he beat Anton Karme (Sweden) 7-6, 7-4.

On day 4, he came up against old adversary Lionel Tibble of Northampton who he bate 6-7, 7-5, 7-4 before losing in the Bowl final to Czech Champion Otakar Stankus 5-7, 5-7.

Roberts finished the Championship in 10th place.

16 May 2025 - PCC 'D' fight back for solid League win
PCC 'D' 10 - 6 High Wycombe 'Kestrels'

Ruth Raunkiaer reports:

A spirited performance from Phyllis Court 'D', saw a strong fight back in the home SCF Advantage League match against near neighbours High Wycombe Kestrels today.

High Wycombe established a 4-0 lead after the first round and then extended it further to 5-0 in the game between PCC 'D' captain Ruth Raunkiaer and her counterpart Nigel Clogg.

Although Raunkiaer had battled to lead 6-5, Clogg levelled the score at hoop 12.

Raunkiaer played first to the deciding hoop 13 and was in a good but long position to run the hoop, when Clogg had a fortunate run in through the back of the hoop 13, stopping just in front, leaving Raunkiaer no options and Clogg an easy stroke to claim the game.

Nonet at 6-6 going in to the final round of four games.

PCC'D' built the pressure on their opponents with some excellent and consistent play that denied the visitors the opportunity to establish any kind of control and they won all four of the final round games, for a final team match winning score of 10-6.

Two players made their debut for Phyllis Court in this fixture - Julia Green and Phillip Rowley both had successful days, each contributing three wins alongside established team members Carol Huntington and captain Ruth Raunkiaer who recorded two wins each.

PCC 'D' - Ruth Raunkiaer (7), Carol Huntington (8), Philip Rowley (9), Julia Green (10)

15 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' lose to Caversham
PCC 'AC Handicap'' 1 - 3 Caversham
PCC 'AC Handicap' - Russel Robinson (6), Patricia Mulcahy (11), Kevin Ward (11), Paul Franklin (11)

14 May 2025 - Undefeated Rowley wins D-Level (10+) Series at Guildford

Congratulations to Philip Rowley who won all six of his games at Guildford for a debut Series tournament victory today

14 May 2025 - PCC 'B' beat Blewbury to keep the SCF 3+ League campaign on target
PCC 'B' 5 - 3 Blewbury
For the second day running, a Phyllis Court team game good in the afternoon to win again.
Patricia Mulcahy and Mike Fensome both won in the first session but Raghu Iyer and Kevin Ward were beaten.
The afternoon session was very close indeed with only Ward managing a straight game victory, as the other matches went deep in deciding games.
Mulcahy eventually got past the game David Dibben 7-3 in the third but Fensome and Iyer's deciders went right to their 13th hoops.
Fensome missed out to David Grinstead in the number one match and thankfully Iyer brought home the win for Phyllis Court B against David Vincent.
PCC 'B' - Mike Fensome (3), Raghu Iyer (4), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Kevin Ward (5)

13 May 2025 - PCC 'A' score second win of their League season
PCC 'A' 5 - 3 Winchester
This match was a tale of the proverbial two halves with Phyllis Court suffering in the morning session, only to romp to victory in the afternoon at Winchester today.
Only Chris Roberts record a first session win for the visitors who trailed 1-3 at lunch, although both Rick Lilley and Helen Fensome's matches went to deciding games, and the later only lost hers 6-7.
Roberts won again in quick-time after the break and straight game victories for Lilley and Andy Jones gave Phyllis Court a 4-3 lead before Fensome came back from a first game loss to win twice to bring home the team match result.
There is a digest of the results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-scf-open-league/competition/winchester-a-vs-phyllis-court-a
PCC 'A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Rick Lilley (1), Andy Jones (2), Helena Fensome (2)

12 May 2025 - Searle rolls back the years to win our 10+ tournament for a second time
Christine Searle won our 10+ Sinles tournament and lifter the Green Ball trophy for the second time in three years.
Today she beat Hilary Cowley in a close final 7-6, while Philip Rowley beat Daphne Spiers to third place 7-3.
Finishing order: (1) Christine Searle, (2) Hilary Cowley, (3) Philip Rowley, (4) Daphne Spiers, (5) Ian Forster, (6) Maureen Ward, (7) David Channon, (8) Dilys Gordon, (9) Des Walsh, (10) Penny Godfrey, (11) Barbara Gibbs, (12) Sally Batty, (13) Mireille O'Brien, (14) George Mowatt, (15) Cathie McEntee, (16) Veronica Lawson-Smith.

6 May 2025 - Colman & Roberts win the Budleigh Saltation Spring Week, Handicap Doubles cups
This is becoming quite a season for the Frances Colman and Chris Roberts combination who today, won their their third doubles tournament of the year.

On the back of a pair of successes in South Africa, the duo were undefeated in the AC handicap doubles event at Budleigh Salterton in Devon.

Also doing very well was the Patricia Mulcahy / Paul Franklin partnership who reached the final only to run into their clubmates, so it ended as a first and second place for Phylis Court.

Chris Roberts wins
The Welsh Championship
- report to come -

4 May 2025 - Roberts is the GC Champion of Wales - with remarkable run of six 7-6 wins in a row!

Phyllis Court’s Chris Roberts won the Golf Croquet Championship of Wales last weekend for the first time with a remarkable run of last hoop victories.

Henley based Roberts, who used to live in Penarth overlooking Cardiff Bay, made his first visit to the recently re-located Glamorgan Croquet Club at Merthyr Mawr, south of Brigend, as the top seed for his third appearance in the national championships.

However, he had to settle for second place behind Sarah Melvin in the ‘all play all’ block phase of games that straddled Saturday and Sunday when he won six of his eight games, the last two, by the closest 7-6 margin.

In the semi-finals, Roberts came up against Dave Evans whom he had lost to in the block phase, and was mightily relived to win by that 7-6 margin in two games, staving off and energy sapping decider.

In the final, Roberts romped away to big lead in his first game against Gary McElwan, who’s father Jock had been a founder member of Phyllis Court Croquet Club, only for his opponent to peg him back to 6-6 for a last hoop decider.

A long battle ensued at hoop 13 before Roberts’ patience was rewarded for another slimmest of victories and an almost exact repeat performance was acted out in the second game as Roberts wrapped up the Championship with his sixth 7-6 win in a row.

Roberts is representing Wales this week in the European individual Championships at Budleigh Salterton in Devon and will pull on his red international shirt for a second time this season at the World Team Championships second tier at Southwick near Brighton in July.

3 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' hold off the students of Oxford
PCC 'AC Handicap'' 2 - 2 Oxford University

Phyllis Court’s Association Croquet handicap team was in action this morning with captain Paul Franklin, Russell Robinson, Patricia Mulcahy and Kevin Ward securing 2 - 2 draw with Oxford University.

PCC 'AC Handicap' - Russel Robinson (6), Patricia Mulcahy (11), Kevin Ward (11), Paul Franklin (11)

2 May 2025 - Clapp narrowly misses out on victory in his maiden tournament - ( C-Level Series )
Russell Robinson reports:

Three of our members, Liz Smith, Carol Huntington and Bob Clapp, joined 13 others from around the country on a gloriously sunny day for our ‘C’-level GC level-play tournament, for those of 7 handicap and above, part of the Croquet England National Series.

Smith had the best return of the morning session, winning all three of her block games, two of which were tense tussles won at the 13th hoop.

Clapp, playing in his first tournament, having learnt to play only last year, also qualified for the main afternoon knock-out by winning two of his three morning games against lower handicap players.

Huntington followed her disappointment at the 13th hoop in her opening game with another loss in the second, but recovered to win her third. This put her into the Plate competition where she fared better, finishing 11th overall, and her three wins against supposedly stronger opponents left her in positive “points” territory for the day.

In the afternoon, Smith was a comfortable 7-4 winner in her quarter-final, and Clapp the more so, completing a 7-1 trouncing of his unfortunate foe by hooping from 21 yards.

This pitched Smith and Clapp against each other in the semi, where they traded hoops in a close battle up to 4-4 before Clapp eased into another gear to wrap it up at the 11th. Smith therefore played off against Andrew Jackson for third place, which was another very close affair, leading to a long battle at the 13th which Smith ultimately won.

Her five wins and one loss on the day were more than enough to reduce her handicap to a career best of 7.

The final matched Clapp up against Ian Prince of High Wycombe for the second time in the day, Prince having been the only player to have got the better of the debutant when they met at the group stage.

Clapp played the better of the two in the early exchanges, and only a 20-year clearance by Prince stopped him from almost certainly going 2-5 down.

After the game then levelled at 4-4, Clapp appeared to again establish dominance with a 6-5 lead and “first-up” advantage at the 12th.

However he was unable to convert his chances at that hoop and the game went to another nail-biting finish at the “golden” hoop.

Prince rather fortuitously hit a long approach shot through the back of the hoop leaving the ball six inches in front, blocking Clapp’s would-be winning hoop attempt.

Although Clapp managed a difficult partial clearance, he was always second favourite from that point and after he failed with an angled hoop shot for glory, Prince tapped in to take the game and lift the trophy.

Despite the valiant efforts by Clapp and Smith to keep the trophy at Phyllis Court (it having been won by Kevin Ward in 2023 and Pete Falle in 2024), it must be said that Prince, undefeated throughout the day was a worthy winner, certainly belying his ranking as the second-highest handicap in the field.

There is a digest of results on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-c-level-7-series-at-phyllis-court/competition/main-k-o

30 April 2025 - PCC 'A' win first league match of the season
PCC 'A' 6 - 2 Blewbury A
Phyllis Court A enjoyed a 5-3 victory over Blewbury today, in their first Southern Federation Open League match of the season.

Chris Roberts won his two matches and teammates Rick Lilley, Andy Jones and Robin Coates, all won one and lost one.

PCC 'A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Rick Lilley (1), Andy Jones (2), Robin Coates (1)

28 April 2025 - Broom wins our Advantage day-tournament

- qualifying himself and three others for the All England (Advantage) Area Final

Phyllis Court, the Henley’ Club has been awash with competition in the past week, with team action, and an internal tournament which qualified players for a national final.

Today, our Advantage tournament was won by Alastair Broom who won his morning block despite dropping a game to Ruth Raunkiaer, only to meet her again in the final as the pair vied for the club’s White Ball Trophy.

Broom beat Croquet Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy 7-3 in his semi, Raunkiaer got past late call-up Gillian Symons 7-5 in hers, and the final was another close one as Broom hauled back his opponent’s single hoop handicap starting advantage to win 7-5.

Those top four finishers had first refusal on advancement to the area final of the All England Handicap competition which will be held at Phyllis Court on 23 July, but availability ruled out both Raunkiaer and Symons.

Phyllis Court’s qualifiers will be Broom, Mulcahy and losing quarter-finalists Rob Eagle and Jeff Smith.

26 April 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield' B Team (Advantage) beat James Death's Cheltenham
PCC 'FS' B 5 - 1 Cheltenham
Phyllis Court scored a marked achievement today with a 5-1 victory over visitors Cheltenham in the national Federations Shield competition.

The striking aspect of this win was that Cheltenham were lead England international player James Death who’s flamboyant and spectacular hard-hitting style has seen him become something of a spectator’s favourite from his previous appearance playing for Nottingham.

Phyllis Court’s new protective catch fencing was erected for Death’s visit for this handicap match, but it was Phyllis Court’s Rob Eagle and Helen Essa who were cock-a-hoop at lunch following their doubles victory over Death and partner Baz Cuthbert.

Jeff Smith and Raghu Iyer joined Eagle and Essa, as all four home players each went on to win a singles match, for an even contribution to the convincing victory that sees this Phyllis Court team through in the competition to a potential national semi-final clash with the Club’s other entered team, who face Bromley at the neutral venue of Surbiton CC on Thursday 29 May.

PCC 'FS' B - Raghu Iyer (4), Rob Eagle (5), Jeff Smith (5), Helen Essa (6)

25 April 2025 - PCC 'C' suffer narrow loss to Caversham
PCC 'C' 7 - 9 Caversham

Phyllis Court ‘C ‘suffered and unexpected 7-9 loss to a resurgent Caversham team who won at the Heney club for the first time in the Southern Croquet Federation Advantage (handicap) league on Friday.

The ‘C’ got off to a tidy start, with Patricia Mulcahy, Hugh Crook and captain Rob Eagle all winning their first-round games for a 3-1 lead but then suffered a complete reverse of fortunes in the second round when only Helen Essa was victorious, as Caversham levelled the team match score at 4-4.

Caversham too that momentum into, what tuned out to be, the deciding third round in which only Eagle won for Phyllis Court, and when only Essa and Crook won in the last round, the damage had been done, and Caversham were rightly cock-a-hoop at their deserved 7-9 victory.

Despondent in the movement, Phyllis Court ‘C’ have a long season ahead with plenty of matches remaining to mount a league title challenge, but they do have a long lay off until their next match on 6 June against High Wycombe Kites.

Before then Phyllis Court ‘D’ have two matches in the same league, versus High Wycombe Kestrels and Blewbury ‘D’ on 16th and 30th May respectively.

PCC 'C' - Patricia Mulcahy (4), Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (6), Hugh Crook (7)

Julia Green with the spoils of victory and also pictured in action today.
(Photos by Jonathan Pendennis & Chris Roberts)

23 April 2025 - Green wins our National D-Level (10+) Series tournament - ahead of 13 other PCC players

Julia Green won a Phyllis Court dominated National D-Level (10+) Series tournament held at the Henley Club last week and now sits atop of the national points table for that competition.

She made a stuttering start in losing to the much-improved Eva Kompanik 2-7 in her first game, as her club mate went on to win twice mor to win their morning block of four players.

After that Green did not put a foot wrong and qualified for the afternoon knock-out behind Kompanik, with victors over George Mowatt and Cathie McEntee, 7-4 and 7-3 respectively.

Phyllis Court players dominated that eight knock-out, with only Woking’s Stella Dutton, who looked to be the strongest player in the field, denying the host club a whitewash.

Dutton was swept aside easily 7-1 in the quarter-finals by Green in her best performance of the day and she was joined in the all-Phyllis Court semis by Maureen Ward, Philip Rowley and Des Walsh, who respectively beat Jonathan Pendennis 7-6, Lainey Summers 7-2 and Eva Kompanink 7-6.

On an increasing windy and cold afternoon, Green beat Ward 7-5 and Rowley got last Walsh 7-4 to set up a final which, by then, was too close to call.

Green seemed to have the momentum on her side and established a strong 5-3 lead before conceding hoop 9 to Rowley in favour of maintaining her lead with a first approach to hoop 10, but the Rowley came right back into it with an unexpected score from long range for 5-5.

Green converted her first approach to hoop 11 but then missed a crucial tournament winning clearance at hoop 12 allowing Rowley to tie again at 6-6.

Going to the last and deciding hoop, as befitted an excellently contested final, Green sent her first ball very long, Rowley didn’t manage to capitalise and the Green courted disaster by hitting Rowley’s ball in to an improved position from distance.

A few stokes later, Green took position instead of clearing, calculating that Rowley wouldn’t score from six yards and that paid off when he hit a hoop leg and, a clearance later, Green scored the winner from three yards.

The finalists and third and fourth places finishers, Ward and Walsh, all scored points towards the national D-Level Series competition, and together with other Phyllis Court players will hope to add to their tallies at linked tournaments around the country.

There is a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores here -

https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-d-level-10-series-tournament-at-phyllis-court/competition/main-knock-out

21 April 2025 - PCC '4+'score comfortable win in new National Inter-Club Bowl (Tier 3)
PCC '4+' 5 - 2 Swindon B
Phyllis Court '4+' successfully negotiated the unknown hurdle posed by Swindon B today on that club's first visit to Henley-on-Thames.
The hosts' Patricia Mulcahy and Kevin Ward were pushed in the morning doubles match by Tony Mayer and Martin Briggs before wining 7-5, 7-6, and won both morning singles matches with rather more comfort.
Michael Marcel beat Terry Clememts, 7-3, 7-5 and Pete Falle beat Bev Briggs 7-3, 7-2.
Marcel settled the match soon after lunch with the the deciding fourth match win in a quickfire defeat of Bev Briggs 7-1, 7-1, before Clements pulled one score back for the visitors beating Falle 7-0, 5-7, 6-7.
The numbers one and two head to heads were halved at one game each for Mulcahy v Mayer (7-4, 6-7) and Ward v Martin Briggs (7-5, 5-7).
PCC '4+' - Patricia Mulcahy (4), Kevin Ward (5), Michael Marcel (5), Pete Falle (6)

Review a digest of all the results on Croquet Scores with this link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-inter-club-bowl-tier-3-phyllis-court-v-swindon

19 April 2025 - 'Double Giant Killer' Falle beats Welsh national team captain on a remarkable day at Blewbury

Pete Falle surprised all with an outstandingly impressive game win over Wales Nation team Captain Ian Burridge at the Blewbury Open (single day) tournament today.
Bravo Pete!

16 April 2025 - PCC 'B' let strong lead slip and have to settle for a draw
PCC 'B' 4 - 4 High Wycombe B

A draw isn't a loss, but it sure was a disappointing result for PCC 'B' at home today, when they surrendered a 3-1 half-time lead to High Wycombe's higher handicappers who they had on the ropes.

Wycombe actually started the better, winning all four first games of the morning best-of-three singles matches, only to see Phyllis Court tie-up each match with second game victories.

Raghu Iyer was all over Wycombe captain Michael Bowker in their decider and won his match decisively 5-7, 7-2, 7-1, whilst Dianne Browne and Alastair Broom were made to work harder for their respective 4-7, 7-5, 7-5 and 6-7, 7-3, 7-6 victories.

Only Mike Fensome failed to deliver Phyllis Court a win, and he went down to Wycombe's Martin Dock 6-7, 7-3, 3-7, which gave the visitors some hope for the four afternoon singles matches.

Browne was the first to faulter for Phyllis Court when she went down 6-7, 5-7 in a typically fast paced match, but home confidence soon returned when Fensome made amends for his morning loss with a straight games 7-2, 7-6 win over Bowker to secure the draw and leave his side needing a win in e either of the remaining two matches, which were both balanced at one game all.

Both Broom and Iyer got ahead in those crucial games but the former was overhauled at the crucial hoop 9 and went down 7-5, 4-7, 4-7, and the latter got to withing half a ball of success when he stuck in hoop 12, was beautifully jumped by Dock and was hampered with his first approach stroke to the final hoop 13..

Iyer's woe was felt through the whole team for this was a match they they should have won and it remains to be seen just how important this missed opportunity will be come the end of this league season.
PCC 'B' - Mike Fensome (3), Raghu Iyer (4), Dianne Browne (4), Alastair Broom (5)

14 April 2025 - PCC '1+' make hard work of defeating game opponents in National Inter-Club Shield (Tier 2).
PCC '1+' 5.5 - 1.5 Camerton & Peasedown

On paper visitors Camerton & Peasedown from near Bath, should have been no match for a strong Phyllis Court line-up today, but on grass it was a very different story.

Only captain Andy Jones for the home side looked in good form, and even he was troubled more than expected by Camerton's higher handicappers who played to well above their grades.

Jones won his morning singes in straight games but both Mike Fensome and doubles pair Roger Goldring & Helena Fensome were held at 1-1 in their morning matches.

Goldring lost the number 1 players' head-to-head' match to fellow handicap 1 player David Richards, before Jones restored Phyllis Court's lead with another straight games win the the number 3 match.

Helena Fensome let the middle game go on her way to eventually winning her match 2-1, to take Phyllis Court to needing one more win for the team match victory.

Eyes then fell on Mike Fensome's deciding game in the number 4 match which he looked to be in control of at 5-4 up, until an ill-advised hoop attempt at hoop 10 with his opponent in the jaws, failed disastrously when he peeled the Camerton player for her score, and the advantage of first approach to hoop 11.

Fensome recovered that with an excellent centre-ball clearance at 11 that he had to make, but the game still went to hoop 13 when more close quarter hoop drama finally went Fensome's and Phyllis Court's way.

Having won the team match the hard way, the resumed doubles match was close to it's end, so was played out and also won by Phyllis Court at the 13th hoop, making the score-line a very flattering 5.5 - 1.5.

Phyllis Court will play Guildford and Godalming in the next round on a May date to be arranged.

PCC '1+' - Roger Goldring (1), Andy Jones (2), Helena Fensome (2), Mike Fensome (3)

13 April 2025 - Late call-up Raunkiaer gets 4th, and Falle is 10th at SCF Champion of Champions' (GC)
Ruth Raunkiaer added 'late replacement player' to her duty as Tournament Referee, and finished a very creditable fourth, at the Southern Croquet Federation (SCF) 'Champion of Champions' GC tournament, played to Advantage rules, at Hamptworth today.
Phyllis Court's nominated representative was Pete Falle (a semi-finalist in our own Advantage competition last season) and he ended off the pace rather in tenth place.
The tournament was superbly managed throughout by our Andy Jones, who is the Secretary of the SCF.

12 April 2025 - Undefeated Robinson is the SCF 'Champion of Champions' (AC) - retaining the Cup for Phyllis Court

Russell Robinson won the Southern Federation Champion of Champions association croquet (AC) tournament on Saturday for Phyllis Court, retaining the trophy won last season by Patricia Mulcahy.

Robinson (AC handicap 7) was undefeated in his five games to top the field of ten, who were all their respective club handicap competition champions of 2024, so his achievement marked him as the best of the best.

Played at Hamptworth CC, near Salisbury, this was Robinson’s first AC tournament away from the manicured playing surface at Phylis Court and he did well to adjust to the bumpier conditions at the Hampshire club.

He started against Mike Roberts (Basingstoke, HC 9), conceding one bisque (extra turn) in this tournament of half-length 14-point games, and controlled a dour game well to win 8-0 on time, mostly scoring one hoop at a time and leaving his opponent long hit-ins which he consistently missed.

Robinson’s second game was against Andy Miekle (East Dorset, 4.5) and was another low scoring affair in which he was able to pull away when Miekle failed to run hoop 2 twice, allowing Robinson to keep back his 1.5 bisques until very late in the game to defend his lead, to win 7-3.

Joe King (Blewbury, -1) was the second lowest handicapper in the event, and when encountered by Robinson in the third round, it was a meeting of the only two undefeated players, and even with two rounds to follow, defeat would be terminal for the loser.

Robinson had the luxury of 4.5 bisques for this game and was lucky enough to win the toss and wisely put King in to play first, a ploy that worked when King missed on the third turn, and Robinson pounced, using 1.5 bisques to set up a four-ball break, which he took round to peg, with an all-round break of 12 hoops.

He added the deft touch of cross-wiring (hiding the opponent’s balls behind a hoop) leaving King only a very long shot to get back into the game, and when he missed, Robinson had an easy hit-in and felt very confident of repeating his previous all-round break with his second ball, using his 3 remaining bisques.

But croquet is a fickle game and having used one bisque to set up another 4-ball break, Robinson stuck in hoop 1 and then immediately missed a short shot and so took his final bisque but then broke down at the final hoop.

A very good defensive game was then called for, to limit King’s opportunities and King only managed one hoop on his final turn before missing an 8-foot roquet, and Robinson won convincingly 11-1.

Richard Coward (High Wycombe, 7) was next in Robinson’s firing line, and he was pleased to play a level game, which he controlled well to capitalise on Coward’s poor form to win 11-3.

Going into the last round, Robinson was ahead of the field on four wins, one ahead of King and Tim O’Donnell (Hamptworth -1.5) on three, so Robinson’s game with the latter became the de-facto tournament final, because victory for O’Donnell would bring him level on game wins, and the title on the ‘who beat whom’ tie-break.

As in his third-round game, Robinson was fortunate to win the toss again and he made O’Donnell play first, hoping to repeat the same line of play used to see off the other low handicapper, King.

O’Donnell duly narrowly missed his third turn hit-in on the east boundary and left a double target which Robinson hit, giving him control of the game cheaply, and he set-up a break with 1 bisque (of his 4.5 entitlement).

Robinson used another bisque on his way to the peg, and following a missed long hit-in by O’Donnell, Robinson took a half bisque, to set up a 4-ball break and then a full bisque to begin, what turned out to be, a splendid winning turn to peg-out without needing his final bisque.

This was the only time Robinson had pegged out in the day, and he had saved his best until last, limiting the star player to just three strokes, and O’Donnell extremely gracious, recounting how he had won the same tournament as an improving seven handicapper in similar circumstances in 2017.

Southern Croquet Federation Chairman and tournament manager Peter Allan also remarked that he too had done the same, as he presented the cup to Robinson, who is clearly moving upwards in the sport.

11 April 2025 - Undefeated Eagle leads PCC 'C' to victory in traditional SCF Advantage League Opener
PCC 'C' 11 - 5 PCC 'D'
Rob Eagle won all four of his games this afternoon as he captained PCC 'C' to a comfortable victory over PCC 'D' lead by Ruth Raunkiaer.
Helen Essa was only one hoop away from achieving the same feat but was beaten by that single point by Carol Huntington.
There was some good play on show in this encounter and both teams can expect successful seasons ahead on this evidence.
And is not long before the next match in this Advantage League - PCC 'C' will entertain Caversham at Phyllis Court on 25 April.
PCC 'C' - Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (6), Pete Falle (6), Liz Smith (8)
PCC 'D' - Ruth Raunkiaer (7), Carol Huntington (9), Ramsay Adams (9), Daphne Spiers (11)

9 April 2025 - Our Charity One Ball heat raises over £ 300 for the Alzheimer's Society

6 April 2025 - Mike Fensome beats the favourite and just misses the final by a single hoop, on Day 2 of our National A-level (0+) Series tournament
- Roger Goldring wins the Plate event

Mike Bilton (Gainsborough) won the Main event (Photo by Patricia Mulcahy)

Phyllis Court’s Mike Fensome rolled back the years to produce the surprise performance of the weekend to get to withing one hoop of the final at the national A-Level (0+) Series tournament jointly hosted at High Wycombe.

He and club mate Patricia Mulcahy started at the two bottom seeds in the 16-player event, with national ranking numbers well below the rest of the field, having won converted places from the reserves list due to withdrawals, so it looked like being a hard weekend for the pair.

However, both had presented very different credentials by lunchtime on Saturday with two wins each in their first three games, to surprise playing rivals and home supporters on the sidelines and following the results on-line.

Playing at Phyllis Court, Fensome was the model of consistency and used home knowledge of the run of the courts to take scoring positions time and again; a precision that brought the reward of four wins from seven and fourth place in his block, to qualify for the main knock-out on the second day.

Also qualifying from Phylis Court, though rather more predictably, was Frieth’s Rick Lilley who won his first four before surprisingly falling away later in the day.

At High Wycombe, Mulcahy was on excellent form, and she picked up the same qualifying four wins, that included crowing rights over of Phyllis Court clubmates Andy Jones, who also qualified and Roger Goldring who didn’t.

Coming back from injury, Helena Fensome did well to last the long day, but her two wins consigned her to the day two consolation plate event alongside Goldring.

Sweeping the board at High Wycombe, was the top seed Ian Shore and he looked a hot favourite going into the second day on his home courts, which took their bi-annual turn to host the main event knock-out.

Fensome’s fourth place qualification, saw him pitted against the undefeated Shore, which looked to be a tall order for the Phyllis Court man, but he made short work of the job, and defeated Shoe 7-4, 7-3.

Mulcahy went out in the first round 1-7, 6-7, to the eventual winner, Mike Bilton from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, Jones lost to Wrest Park’s Leas Heard 6-7, 7-5, 4-7, and Lilley never got going in a 2-7, 1-7 loss to last years winner Paul Gun from Wingrave.

Fensome’s dispatch of Shore had really put the cat amongst the pigeons, and when he won the first of his best-of-three game semi-final 7-4 against Heard, his outsider tag had been well and truly discarded.

Heard won the second game 5-7 and the third went all the way to the deciding thirteenth hoop, where an accidental touch of his ball in linin-up by Fensome, was cruel way to seal his fate, when it gave Heard a simple tap in for the win 6-7.

Fensome and Gunn agreed to not to play-off third place at the end of an exhausting two days, and Lilley, Jones and Mulcahy finished sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.

In the consolation Plate event at Phyllis Court on Sunday, Goldring recovered well from his previous day’s woe and his five wins were one better than the rest and enough for victory in that event and Helena Fensome again lasted the day to finished in thirteenth overall.

All the results detail is on - here is a link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-a-level-0-series-at-phyllis-court-high-wycombe

(Note: Helena Fensome, competes under her Finnish name Helena Jansson)

Roger Goldring won the Plate event
(Photo by Chris Roberts)

5 April 2025 - Underdogs Patricia Mulcahy & Mike Fensome enjoy great Day 1 at our A-level (0+) Series tournament

Mulcahy and Fensome both enjoyed fabulous days and scored four wins to qualify unexpectedly for the main knock-out tomorrow (to be held at High Wycombe CC).

And both did it from bottom seed position in their respective blocks - which was quite a feat!

Also qualifying were Andy Jones and Rick Lilley, giving Phyllis Court half of the main qualifying field eight.

Roger Goldring and Helena Fensome had poor days and their two wins apiece, which sees them heading to the Phyllis Court for the consolation Plate event tomorrow (Sunday)

The results from both venues will be posted on 'Croquet Scores' in as close to real time as I can manage.

Here is a link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-a-level-0-series-at-phyllis-court-high-wycombe

(Note: Helena Fensome, competes under her Finnish name Helena Jansson)

4 April 2025 - There is good croquet for spectators to enjoy on Saturday & Sunday at Phyllis Court

The Croquet England National A-Level (0+) Series Tournament

Saturday 0930 - 1730 (approx.)

Sunday 0900 - 1700 (approx.)

Come to watch, support and learn as accomplished players with handicaps ranging from 4 to 0 compete at Phyllis Court and joint hosts High Wycombe on both days.

At Phyllis Court tomorrow, the top seed is Switzerland International player Peter Payne (0), and the 7 players trying to clip his wings include Phyllis Court's Rick Lilley (1) and Mike Fensome (3), and good lock to them.

At High Wycombe tomorrow, we also wish good luck to Phyllis Court players, Roger Goldring (1), Andy Jones (2), Helena Fensome (2) and Patricia Mulcahy (4).

Who plays at which venue on Sunday, will depend on Saturday's results, and it is very likely that some of our clubmates will looking for your support at Phyllis Court.

The results from both venues will be posted on 'Croquet Scores' in as close to real time as I can manage.

Here is a link - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/england-a-level-0-series-at-phyllis-court-high-wycombe

(Note: Helena Fensome, competes under her Finnish name Helena Jansson)

The weather forecast is good, so I look forward to seeing keen spectators this weekend!

30 March 2025 - Mulcahy & Lilley pass course exams as Provisional Club Coaches
Congratulations to Patricia Mulcahy and Rick Lilley who today passed their 'Becoming a Coach' course and exams at The Chiltern Academy at High Wycombe CC.
They are are now have Provisional Club Coach status and will achieve the full qualification once they have completed five coaching sessions observed by an existing qualified coach.
Mulcahy and Lilly will be a great asset to our already strong coaching set-up at Phyllis Court.

30 March 2025 - Please support our Charity One Ball - on Wednesday 9 April
Our heat of Croquet England's annual charity fund raising competition is our first tournament of the season.
The chosen charity this year is the Alzheimer's Society and we will be collecting donations from players AND NON-PLAYERS on the day - all support will be very welcome.

30 March 2025 - 'Summer' season starts on 1 April - remember to WEAR WHITES! - please come along to our celebration gathering in the evening.
60 plus members have already expressed interest in attending a Season Launch social get-together at 1900 in the Regatta Bar.
Please do join us if you can.

30 March 2025 - Angus McKibbin R.I.P.

It is with sadness that I have to tell you that our long-standing member Angus McKibbin passed away on the 19th March, following a long illness.

He had been supported wonderfully over very many months by his wife and fellow member Dee, together with their family, to whom we extend our sympathy at this difficult time.

A memorial gathering has been arranged for invited friends and will take place shortly.

Angus was a lovely fellow with a dry wit that would often cause a smile and was always good company, in croquet circles and beyond.

He was a long serving Captain with British Airways, a career that he shared alongside several other croquet members and partners.

Angus and Dee lived in Northern Ireland, and they maintained a home there for many years after moving to Henley in his retirement.

They both joined Phyllis Court, quickly joined the Croquet Club, and before long-established good skills and decreasing handicaps, as well as a keen rivalry between them.

This came to a crescendo at the end of the 2023 season when they met in the 'McKibbin Final' of the Advantage Singles season-long competition.

With absolutely no regard to how long he was going to have to do the washing-up for, Angus beat Dee to list his name in our 'roll of honour' history.

Farewell Angus, you are missed and fondly remembered.

Chris Roberts

28 March 2025 - Last Call for entries for our Season-Long Competitions
The entry deadline is 31 March.

21 March 2025 - Circulation of Team Fixtures & Internal Tournaments dates today
See our Calendar (button in main menu above)

19 March 2025 - Phyllis Court’s Colman & Roberts win GC Handicap Doubles - and - Roberts wins Western Province Championship, in South Africa

Frances Colman & Chris Roberts with the Western Province Championships
GC Handicap Doubles trophy & Roberts with his Open Singles
Championship salver (Photo by Neil Mchardy)

Phyllis Court Croquet President Frances Colman and Chris Roberts enjoyed a terrific finale to their five week South Africa trip with further success last week at the Western Province Golf Croquet (GC) Championships.
The pair matched their earlier achievements in the Association Croquet (AC) Championship with victory in Handicap Doubles event and Roberts also won the Open Singles event.

Colman & Roberts played exceptionally well in the doubles, with calm precision play, where the lightest of touches was most often required on the glass-like fast courts of the Somerset West Club, about an hour east of Cape Town.
Centre-ball clearances and maintaining control of the striker’s ball was all important for the Henley pair who picked-off all four of their block opponents in turn, ending undefeated in that first phase of the event.

The reached the semi-finals at the end of an exhausting day on Sunday where local pair Andrew Lewin and Trevor Burton were dismissed 10-6.
The final was delayed until the last day of the tournament, when Colman and Roberts were more troubled by the 40 degrees heat than their out-of-sorts opponents, Peter Johnson and Mike Moore whom they demolished 10-3 in revenge for their earlier elimination in the Open Doubles event.

In the Open Singles, Roberts had a disastrous start, losing to Jim Field (handicap -1, Nailsea) and then really unexpectedly to higher handicapper player Jeanie Cotton from the False Bay / Fishhook club.
Roberts recovered to win his remaining four games easily, including racking-up two 7-0 results has he built up his net points tally, which was important in order to finish 3rd rather that 4th in the block, thereby avoiding favourite Neil McHardy (-3. Kelvin Grove, S.A.) until the final.
Roberts nearly allowed Fishhook’s Wayne Cotton an unlikely victory in the quarter-final when the South African came back from 9-4 down before Roberts got over the line 10-9.
Roberts had his tail up on the finals day, and following the morning's handicap doubles victory, he roared away from Field in the semi taking a 6-1 lead on the way to winning 10-7.
Roberts expected a real test in the final against South African International McHardy, whom he'd never beaten in a best of three match, but come that test the Henley man could do no wrong.

He established a strong lead in the first game to win 7-2 and expected a back-lash from McHardy in the second, but some untypical short clearance misses gifted Roberts a crucial two hoop lead and a strong run through hoop 7 allowed that lead to extend at hoop 8.

McHardy put up a good fight at hoop 9, at which Roberts eventually took the tactical decision to concede the score, in order to prevent McHardy engineering a double-score chance, and living on his lead, Roberts won the next for a 10-3 victory to win the Western Province GC Championships salver for the first time.

16 March 2025 - Phyllis Court Team to travel to Latvia for the European Club Teams Competition

Phyllis Court Croquet Club will break new ground this season with a first ever club match on foreign soil, with the welcome news this week, that they have secured a second team in the European Club Teams Competition.

Whilst their first selection has known for some time that they will be hosting a European heat on 7-8 June, a withdrawal has led to the opportunity to field a Phyllis Court B team at the heat in Latvia, at the Ikskile Club, on 24-25 May.

Phyllis Court B will face the unexpected challenge of hosts, Tolkis (Finland), Vila Padlema (Spain) and Woodall Spa (England).

And preparations at home are underway for Phyllis Court A to welcome Zurich CC (Switzerland), Real Club Pineda de Sevilla (Spain) and Real Aeroclub de Vigo (Spain).

Both Henley teams will compete to win their heats for the right to play in the European Final at Sussex County CC, at Southwick near Brighton, on 10-12 October.

09 March 2025 - Franklin & Mulcahy make a mark at High Wycombe
Our Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy and committee member Paul Franklin were very competitive at a tough AC level play 14-point tournament at High Wycombe today

They both got off to cracking starts with opening round wins over Geoff Johnson (Watford) and Paul Gunn (Wingrave) respectively.

Franklin scored a very impressive win over the experienced Richard Peperell (High Wycombe & Phyllis Court) in the next round and Mulcahy also had later success in completing a Phyllis Court double over Gunn.

08 March 2025 - Jones beats the favourite O'Donnell on way to 3rd place at Hamptworth
Andy Jones did particularly well at the 'Low Handicappers' day-tournament at Hamptworth today.

He began with a 7-6 win over hot favourite Tim O'Donnell (-2) which was a huge 'scalp' and raised Jones' ranking greatly.

He went on to record three more victories but was undone by High Wycombe's Ian Shore in the semi-final and finished third over-all.

06 - 07 March 2025 - Roberts reaches end of the road semi-finals of the GC Rainbow International, South Africa

Thursday - Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts won his quarter-final match with Australian David Wise today.
Friday - . . But he was beaten by old adversary Lionel Tibble (-2, Northampton) in a great battling semi-final.

Roberts (-1) - Kock-out phase:
Beat David Wise (0) (Australia) 7-5, 7-4
Lost to Lionel Tibble (-2) (Northampton) 6-7, 7-5, 4-7

Tibble (Northampton) went on to meet hot favourite Tom Balding (USA), fresh from the World Team Championships in Tasmania.
In the final, Balding won easily 7-2, 7-3.
The full results are on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/rainbow-international/competition/2025-rainbow-international-block-b

Chris Roberts plays a 'sore arm' stoke through a hoop, watched by Championship Referee Frances Colman.
(Photo by Mike Town)

03 - 04 -05 March 2025
Roberts is undefeated (so far) at the GC Rainbow International, South Africa

Monday & Tuesday - Phyllis Court's Chris Roberts won both his matches today on the opening day of the Singles event, and followed that up the a traffic second day, winning three more matches
He played particularly well to best the excellent challenge from the barnstorming Jim Field on day 1, but bettered that to defeat the second seed in his block, Mike Town.
Meanwhile, Frances Colman has donned her pink referees outfit and was kept busy with calls to judge strokes regularly.
Roberts has recorded 10 straight wins and has qualified for the quarter-finals knock-out with two matches to spare

Wednesday - Roberts was disappointed to lose his first game in 11 to South African number 2 Neil McHardy (handicap -3) from being 5-2 ahead.
He lost 6-7 and then was always chasing the game to lose 6-7 in the second game as well.
Roberts then rounded off with and easy 7-0, 7-1 win over newcomer Roger Davies (Northampton), ensuing that he won his bock on a net hoop count.
Winning the block was important, so as to avoid playing Tom Balding (handicap -5, USA) until that last possible match.
Roberts (-1)
Beat Peter Johnson (2) (S. Africa) 7-4, 7-3
Beat Jim Field (-1) (England) 7-6, 7-6
Beat Mike Town (-2) (England) 7-3, 7-5
Beat Raymond Morel (4) (Switzerland) 7-3, 7-4
Beat Silva Short (0) (S. Africa) 7-5, 7-4
Lost to Neil McHardy (-3) (S. Africa) 6-7, 6-7
Beat Roger Davies (9) (England) 7-0, 7-1

Tomorrow, Roberts plays in the quarter-finails (probably) against David Wise (Australia)
The resulst are being posed (near) live on Croquet Scores here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/rainbow-international/competition/2025-rainbow-international-block-b

02 March 2025 - Colman & Roberts score 50% Doubles wins at GC Rainbow International, South Africa

Phyllis Court's Frances Colman & Chris Roberts, held their own but were out-gunned by the GC Doubles event's best pairs, at the GC Rainbow International at Somerset West, near Cape Town, South Africa.
Yesterday (Saturday) they had a cruel schedule playing all three of the top seeded pairs in the punishing heat of the South African summer.
A long 3-hour highly combative first match left Colman & Roberts completely drained for their second in which they were comprehensively thumped, before a sit-out round allowed some recovery and a return to form for a close third match.
Three match losses on the opening day were turned around to an undefeated second day, and a mid-table finish at least, is assured (with one match left to play, on Thursday).
Roberts (-1) & Colman (2)
Lost to Tom Balding (-5) & Silvia Short (0) (USA / S.A.) 2-7, 5-7
Lost to Mike Town (-2) & Lionel Tibble (-2) (Eng / Eng) 1-7, 0-7
Lost to Neil McHardy (-3) & Judith Hanekom (-2) (S.A. / S.A.) 5-7, 6-7
Beat David Wise (0) & Roger Davies (10) (Australia / Eng) 7-4, 7-3
Beat Mike Moore (2) & Peter Johnson (2) (S.A. / S.A.) 7-2, 7-4
Beat Raymond Morel (4) & Marina Clark (9) (Swiss / Swiss) 7-6, 7-5

22 February 2025 - Colman & Roberts win the Handicap Doubles title AND Colman wins her Class at the Western Cape AC Championships, South Africa

Photo by Jon Diamond

Photo by Chris Roberts

Phyllis Court pair Frances Colman and Chris Roberts won the Handicap Doubles event at the Western Cape Association Croquet Championships in South Africa this week, and Colman also won her classed event.

From a strong position of three wins in their opening four games, Colman and Roberts had the two strongest opponent pairs remaining in doubles but unlike in other events, they had their fortunes in their own hands.

Top seed Mike Town (handicap -1.5 from Woking) had teamed-up with the much-improved local player Silvia Short (1-5, Kelvin Grove, Cape Town) and they arrived to face Colman (11) and Roberts (-0.5) as undefeated favourites.

However, the Phylis Court duo got off to a great, if rather risky start, peeling their partner balls through both hoops one and two for a double score each-time and thereafter played more conservatively in deference to their accomplished opponents.

This low-risk strategy saw Colman and Roberts able to control the innings and build a safe and steady lead whilst keeping Town and Short at bay with only long shooting attempts offered as a way into the game.

Colman & Roberts wrapped that game up +10 and, with that head-to-head result in the bag, the title would be theirs with victory by any margin in their final game against David Wise (0, South Australia) and Jon Diamond (2, Tunbridge Wells).

The same patient low-risk tactics were employed by Colman and Roberts again, and this time to even better effect with a bigger lead established in the first hour and their opponents kept off the scoreboard entirely until the last 40 minutes of the three-hour times game.

Colman & Roberts were able to enjoy the last innings of the game with an unassailable lead and satisfyingly pegged-out to win by +21 and they were presented with the Rondebosch Cup for the first time at their tenth attempt in the event.

Colman had already secured the C Class level play event with one game left to play in her trilogy against Paul Swaffield from Edgbaston.

Swaffield was on top form and controlled their game throughout to win +18 to win the B Class level play event.

Colman (AC handicap 11) needed to beat Jon Diamond (2, Tunbridge Wells) in her last block game in the Veterans Handicap and hope for a loss from Tony Whateley (5, Edgbaston) to win the block and qualify for the final.

She played exceptionally well to hold off the lower handicapped Diamond to win +2 but then had the agony of watching Whateley flirt with defeat against South African Peter Dreyer, before making two late hoops for victory.

That tied Whateley with Colman on the same number of wins at the top of the block, and he progressed at Colman’s expense thanks to his ‘head-to-head’ win in their match.

Meanwhile, fellow Phyllis Court member, Chris Roberts was in a similar position in the A Class level play event, where he needs a slip-up from others to progress from his block.

Roberts (AC handicap -0.5) played a very controlled game against an out of sorts Lionel Tibble (-1, Northampton), so often Roberts’ nemeses. and the Henely player recorded a creditable +23 win.

The victory gave Roberts three wins from his four block games and was clear in second place behind top seed Mike Town (-1.5, Woking), and in any other year he would have progressed to semi-finals, however, scheduling difficulties meant that only the block winners would progress, and Town went on to win a straight final easily.

This week is the turn of Golf Croquet and the keenly contested Rainbow International event at the same Somerset West Club venue, near Cape Town.

Players from England, USA, Spain and Switzerland will pose a strong challenge for South African players from local clubs and as far afield as Port Alfred and Johannesburg.

Colman and Roberts will hope to improve on last year’s semi-final exit in the doubles event and perhaps on the previous season’s runner-up spot, and Roberts will also compete in the Open Singles where would number four Tom Balding starts the hottest of favourites.

20 February 2025 - Colman & Roberts doing well in South Africa - interim report

Phyllis Court pair Frances Colman and Chris Roberts are in the running for four event titles as the Western Cape Association Croquet Championships reaches its climax in South Africa this week.

Colman has rediscovered her pre-injury form of three years ago and has already secured the C Class level play event with one game to play in an evenly poised best of three match against rival Paul Swaffield from Edgbaston.

Swaffield won the first game narrowly +3 and Colman replied with the same margin of victory in the second two days later, which will assure her of the C Class title, and their decider will determine the B Class winner, at the Somerset West Club, near Cape Town.

Colman (AC handicap 11) is also one game away from winning her block in the Veterans handicap event having bounced back from an opening -2 defeat to another Edgbaston member Tony Whateley (5), to record her best win yet with a +5 victory over Peter Dreyer, a scratch player from Cape Town’s Kelvin Grove Club.

Colman needs a win against Jon Diamond (2, Tunbirdge Wells) and for Whateley to lose to Dreyer, to win the block and qualify for the final.

Meanwhile, fellow Phyllis Court member, Chris Roberts finds himself in a similar position of in the A Class level play event, where he needs a slip-up from others to progress from his block.

Roberts (Handicap -0.5) started shakily in the opening day’s handicap singles event, with unforced errors leading to only a narrow +2 first round win over Sue Longcroft (handicap 11, York), then a more comfortable +18 victory against Mike Town (-1.5, Woking), before falling on time to the slow Neil McHardy (2, Kelving Grove, Cape Town) in the semi-finals.

He was tested further in his first A Class game when he missed an easy roquet when on a finishing turn with a large lead to give a lifeline to Silvia Short (1-5, Kelvin Grove), who embarked on a very tidy long break that she really should have seen home.

However, she gave herself a hampered backswing on her approach to the last hoop and faulted with a double hit, from which Roberts gratefully wrapped-up a +3 win.

Roberts was then well beaten -18 by top seed Town and then ground out gruelling +16 victory over McHardy.

To progress Roberts needs a third win against Lione Tibble (-1, Northampton) and hope for two unlikely slip-ups from Town, as second place in the block will not be enough as semi-finals will not be played due to scheduling difficulties.

Colman and Roberts (doubles handicap 10.5) are also very much in the hunt for Handicap Doubles event having recorded three wins in their opening four games, in a seven pairs block event.

They sat-out the first round and came through a tough second round game with a +8 win over Tibble & McHardy (0.5) and followed that with a narrow -2 defeat to Swaffield and Jim Filed (4) from Nailsea.

They then had lots of bisques (extra turns) to defend against Surbiton pair Chris Osmond and Val Hitchins (25) and Chichester duo Jonathan Edwards and Kitty Carruthers (20), but saw them off +3 and +7 respectively.

They now have the top two pairs, Town and Short (0) and Diamond with Australian David Wise (4), left to play as they eye a first ever doubles event victory in eight years of competing at this tournament.

18 February 2025 - PCC 'A' 1 - 9 Roehampton (Floodlit away match)

A first Golf Croquet team match of the season, gave the Phyllis Court A team selection a rare opportunity to play under the (unique for croquet) floodlights at the Roehampton Club, but the team of Roger Goldring, Rick Lilley, Andy Jones and Patricia Mulcahy were outgunned by the hosts 1-9.

Mulcahy scored the only Phyllis Court victory, an excellent 7-5 winagainst Lynn Pearcy who is graded 230 points higher that the Phyllis Court Chairman.

PCC 'A' - Roger Goldring (1), Rick Lilley (1), Andy Jones (2), Patricia Mulcahy (4, captain)

2 February 2025 - Picturesque: but ground frozen, so still no play a.m. - Court 3 ONLY playable at 1200

0800 on 2 Feb - Frozen (by Paul Franklin)

25 January 2025 - International Croquet at Phyllis Court - a history making occaision

For the first time ever!

International Croquet

at Phyllis Court

ENGLAND

WALES

Sat. 25 January 2025

The Wales and England teams line-up at Phyllis Court (photo by Paul Franklin)

Wales - Chris Roberts (Phyllis Court), Ian Burridge, David Evans, Angharrad Walters

England - Aston Wade, Euan Burridge, James Death, Jack Good

Over 60 members came to the courts today, to see at least some part of the first ever International Teams match to be played at Phyllis Court.
Wales provided the opposition for an England team as a warm-up for the latter before they fly to the World Team Championships in, Tasmania, Australia (which will be live-streamed) - 17-23 February.
Phyllis Court's own Chris Roberts played for Wales and our President, Frances Colman, was the match referee who was pressed into service several times.
The main draw was the young England team, three of whom were under 23 years old, and together with the experienced James Death, their hard hitting and long-range hop running and clearances were something to behold.
After an hour's delay weighting for and unexpected frost to thaw, England wasted no time in establishing a 2-0 lead in the match by winning both opening rubbers in straight games, and were well on top by lunchtime with further victories in the second round doubles and one of the two singles rubbers to lead 4-0 at lunch.
The remaining second round singes was eventually drawn at one game apiece, but after lunch, Wales launched a spirited comeback.
Wales' Ian Burridge scored an impressive 2-0 win over UK number 1 Jack Good, Angharraad Walter drew her singles for the second time in the team match, and Chris Roberts won his first game against England Captain Aston Wade on his way to drawing his match with the England Captain.
At 1600, a halt to proceedings was called as the temperature fell away and the light began to fade - yet still there were 25+ spectators on the side of the courts - and the high numbers attending throughout was remarked upon in glowing terms by the visiting players!
- For the record, the final score was ENGLAND 6.5 - 2.5 WALES.

All the games results are on Croquet Scores - Click here - https://croquetscores.com/2025/gc/the-winter-international/wales-vs-england-os-squad

Here is the report that will appear in this week's Henley Standard

History was made at the Phyllis Court on Saturday when it hosted a full International Croquet Test Match for the first time, and a record spectator gallery for the one-off England versus Wales encounter, turned out to share the occasion.

The Henley Club have a reputation for supporting the sport in this way and this was not lost on the young England team in particular and added value to the purpose of the match, which was a warm-up before their departure next week for the World Team Championships in Tasmania, Australia (17-23 February).

The Phyllis Court Club basked not only in the spotlight of hosting the-is prestigious match, but also in the one gloriously sunny day in the otherwise grim and wet start to the year, and the sterling efforts of Club staff and members to remove standing water build protective fencing in the days before the match were truly rewarded.

The match itself ended in a 6.6 - 2.5 victory for the much higher ranked England team, but the Wales team played to above their comparative rankings, with most local interest cantering on Phyllis Court member Chris Roberts who was making his third appearance for the Wales and its Club President and Championship Referee Frances Colman who was called to officiate throughout.

Roberts was delighted to get a game off England captain Aston Wade in their best of three singles match, despite having thrown away a lead change at hoop 11 when he hit a super 17-yard clearance, only to immediately realise that he had targeted the wrong ball!

Wade capitalised with that score and the lead, Roberts drew level with advantage at the next, but his error had handed Wade the crucial first approach stroke to last hoop, which at this top level, delivers an 80 per cent success rate.

Wade’s first positioning stroke was excellent, but Roberts matched it with his ‘shot of the match’ to clear the danger from 20-yards and a few exchanges later, the local player jumped on an uncharacteristically missed scoring stroke by the England skipper, to pinch the game 7-6.

Wade controlled their second game to win easily 3-7 and, with arrival of dusk and suddenly reduced temperatures, their match ended in an agreed 1-1 tie, the purpose of the team match, the warm-up for England, having been achieved.

Throughout the match, the young England team, three of whom are under 23-years-old, entertained spectators with spectacular long-range hoop scores and clearance stokes, leaving no ball safe anywhere on court, and making full use of the protective catch fencing that Phyllis Court committee members Kevin Ward, Alastair Broom and Paul Franklin had erected the day before.

England won the opening three doubles matches and one of the morning singles to lead 4-0 at lunch, with the other singels game suspended at 1-1.

Wales’ Ian Burridge got the surprise result of the day when he beat England number one and worlds number Jack Good 2-0, and Angaharrad Walters also did well for Wales to tie both her singles matches to check England’s dominance.

This was quite a day for the Phyllis Court Club and its Croquet Club in particular, and one that will live long in the memory.

PHOTO 1 – Wales and England line-up at Phyllis Court (photo by Paul Franklin).

Wales – Chris Roberts (Phyllis Court), Ian Burridge, David Evans, Angharrad Walters.

England – Aston Wade, Euan Burridge, James Death, Jack Good.

19 January 2025 - Peter Honey R.I.P.

It is with sadness that we report the death our long-time member Peter Honey, who passed away on 7 January following a long illness.

Peter was a lovely and humorous man, and an active member and valued member of our Croquet Club, where he played play mainly AC.
His Phyllis Court membership dates back several decades and he was also a member of Roehampton CC.

Peter served on our committee for two years and assisted Keith Noble in running our AC in 2008, before taking sole charge in 2009. Our records show that, at that time, AC numbers were falling, with only 12 active players in 2009, but Peter and others recorded match win over Hurlingham and High Wycombe, and lost to Roehampton and Watford, while the result of the end of season game against Wimbledon is not recorded.

Individually, Peter won the Club AC Championship (the Boucher Trophy) in 2008 and 2011 and the Handicap Block competition (Poulton Cup) in 2012.
Peter also enjoyed success and was a popular member at the Roehampton Club in the last decade, and he rejointed Phyllis Court in 2024.

Peter’s funeral and a celebration of his life is being held on Monday February 10 at 1300 at GreenAcres, Chiltern Park.
Afterwards there will be a lunch at the Bull Hotel, Gerrards Cross.

Chris Roberts - (with historical reseach by Russell Robinson)

16 January 2025 - At last, some limited play on our courts
Today saw the return of some play on our courts at last.
Following the big freeze since the start of the year and a few days recent thawing, play was possible again of courts 3 and 4 only.
our large courts remain too wet for play at the moment, but ought to return to action in a few day's time.
Please keep a good eye on the booking sheets for the latest news on the playability of the courts.

14 January 2025 - European Clubs League - we will be hosting teams from Switzerland and Spain

We learnt today which visiting clubs we will be hosting on the weekend of 7 & 8 June, at our heat of the European Clubs League.
PCC'A' will face:
Zurich (Switzerland)
Real Club Pineda de Sevilla (Spain)
Real Aeroclub de Vigo (Spain)
This will be a splendid occasion, an excellent opportunity for spectators and the chance to welcome these visiting fellow croquet players.
Our heat is one of 11 around Europe and all the heat winners will qualify for the European Clubs League Final at Sussex County CC (near Brighton)
on 10-12 October.

Julia Green has been awarded the CROQUET ENGLAND Most Improved GC Female player Award and will receive The Colman Trophy

ulia Green WINNER

Julia Green WINS Croquet England D-Level Series NATIONAL TITLE

Fabulous Phyllis Court 1 & 2 Julia Green WINNER & Philip Rowley runner-up!

Phyllis Court 'A' at the European Teams League Finals 45 clubs entered in total. 12 clubs from England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Latvia qualified for the Finals at Southwick (near Brighton) - Reports from all three days below -

We finish 3rd in Europe!

Dee McKibbin WINS Croquet England C-Level Series NATIONAL FINAL

Fabulous Phyllis Court 1 & 2 Dee McKibbin & Carol Huntington - WINNER & Runner-up!

Congratulations to PCC 'D' Clinching the victory today were (from the left): Julia Green, Dee McKibbin, Bob Clapp & captain Ruth Raunkiaer. Also playing in this campaign have been Carol Huntington, Philip Rowley and Ramsay Adams.

OXFORDSHIRE: finished mid-table in Division 1: Raouf Allim (PCC 2019-23) Stephen Wright (PCC 1980's) Andy Jones (PCC current) Chris Roberts (PCC current)

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.: Topped Division 2 & earned promotion up to Division 1 for next season - PCC's Rick Lilley (right) and his captain Lionel Tibble pose with the Division 2 Shield.

Marking VJ Day 80th Anniversary

National Inter-Club Championship (tier 1) semi-final - Photo by Kevin Ward

Evening Social on eve of the Big Cup Match was very well attended

Our President and referee Frances Colman at the British Open Final coin toss, with Reg Bamford & Jamie Burch. (photo by Brian Carroll) - See the news (right) for the Phyllis Court coin story -

Frances Colman refereeing a stroke by ex-World Champion Stephen Mulliner in his semi-final at the British Open this morning. (photo by Chris Roberts)

'Three wise judges' Mike Bilton, Chris Roberts and Referee of the Tournament Frances Colman (photo by Stephen Custance-Baker)

Franklin & Mulcahy win the National AC Veterans handicap doubles title - See News -

. . . and Mulcahy was presented her AC Bronze Award too (see right)

17 & 18 June 2025 Franklin & Mulcahy win The AC National Veterans handicap doubles title

Phyllis 'fab five' at Ealing: Hilary Cowley, Julia Green, Daphne Spiers, Dilys Gordon & Phllip Rowley

Ian Norris recovered well and finished 5th overall.

7 - 8 June 2025 -

Phyllis Court 'Euro A' qualify for European Teams Final

Phyllis Court heat of the European Teams League

- the winners qualify for the European Final in October -

​

All four teams shared good bon ami throughout the tournament (Photos by Patricia Mulcahy) Lots more photos to up-load . . .

6 June 2025 -

The stage is set for hosting our first European Teams League heat

5 June 2025 - PCC 'A' beat Nottingham for the first time ever!

Nottingham - Euan Burridge (-3), Ian Burridge (-2), Ian Vincent (0), Paul Pinnock (3)

2 June 2025 - Broom wins our 3+ Singles 'Red Ball' tournament

1 June 2025 - Zaitlik & Roberts 3rd Place is Phyllis Court best at the SCF Solstice Double

29 May 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield A' come-up short PCC 'Federations Shied A' 3 - 4 Bromley

PCC 'Federations Shield A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Andy Jones (2), Patricia Mulcahy (4), Paul Franklin (4)

Phyllis Court 'Euro B' team (from left): Kevin Ward, Patricia Mulcahy, Raghu Iyer and Alastair Broom.

24 -25 May 2025 - PCC 'Euro B' make history in Latvia - The first Phyllis Court team to play on Foreign soil

Latvian heat of the European Teams League

- the winners qualify for the European Final in October -

Left: Phyllis Court Croquet Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy, presented Club pennants to captains Roberts Stefeckis (IKK, Latvia), Larrs Bowman (Tolkis, Finland) and John Palframan (Woodall Spa, England).

Row below: Phyllis Court 'Euro B' team and supporters (Joanna Iyer & Maureen Ward) upon arrival at Riga airport in Latvia. And later, at the IKK Ikskile croquet courts with its new modern pavilion.

23 May 2025 - Australian visitors and hosts enjoy a fabulous day of croquet friendship

A fabulous day was enjoyed by all today when our 'mixed skills levels' team entertained the touring Hyde Park CC, Adelaide, Australia.

20-21 May 2025 - Lilley wins our AC Spring 'Barneses Cups' in the closest of finishes

15 to 18 May 2025 - Colman (Referee of the Tournament) & Roberts (representing Wales)

are at the LIVE-STREAMED GC European Championships Here are the links: Saturday - https://youtube.com/live/qqEk2QfXUPo?feature=share

16 May 2025 - PCC 'D' fight back for solid League win PCC 'D' 10 - 6 High Wycombe 'Kestrels'

PCC 'D' - Ruth Raunkiaer (7), Carol Huntington (8), Philip Rowley (9), Julia Green (10)

15 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' lose to Caversham PCC 'AC Handicap'' 1 - 3 Caversham PCC 'AC Handicap' - Russel Robinson (6), Patricia Mulcahy (11), Kevin Ward (11), Paul Franklin (11)

14 May 2025 - Undefeated Rowley wins D-Level (10+) Series at Guildford

Congratulations to Philip Rowley who won all six of his games at Guildford for a debut Series tournament victory today

​

6 May 2025 - Colman & Roberts win the Budleigh Saltation Spring Week, Handicap Doubles cups This is becoming quite a season for the Frances Colman and Chris Roberts combination who today, won their their third doubles tournament of the year.

Chris Roberts wins The Welsh Championship - report to come -

4 May 2025 - Roberts is the GC Champion of Wales - with remarkable run of six 7-6 wins in a row!

3 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' hold off the students of Oxford PCC 'AC Handicap'' 2 - 2 Oxford University

PCC 'AC Handicap' - Russel Robinson (6), Patricia Mulcahy (11), Kevin Ward (11), Paul Franklin (11)

2 May 2025 - Clapp narrowly misses out on victory in his maiden tournament - ( C-Level Series ) Russell Robinson reports:

Three of our members, Liz Smith, Carol Huntington and Bob Clapp, joined 13 others from around the country on a gloriously sunny day for our ‘C’-level GC level-play tournament, for those of 7 handicap and above, part of the Croquet England National Series.

Smith had the best return of the morning session, winning all three of her block games, two of which were tense tussles won at the 13th hoop.

Clapp, playing in his first tournament, having learnt to play only last year, also qualified for the main afternoon knock-out by winning two of his three morning games against lower handicap players.

30 April 2025 - PCC 'A' win first league match of the season PCC 'A' 6 - 2 Blewbury A Phyllis Court A enjoyed a 5-3 victory over Blewbury today, in their first Southern Federation Open League match of the season.

PCC 'A' - Chris Roberts (-2), Rick Lilley (1), Andy Jones (2), Robin Coates (1)

28 April 2025 - Broom wins our Advantage day-tournament

- qualifying himself and three others for the All England (Advantage) Area Final

26 April 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield' B Team (Advantage) beat James Death's Cheltenham PCC 'FS' B 5 - 1 Cheltenham Phyllis Court scored a marked achievement today with a 5-1 victory over visitors Cheltenham in the national Federations Shield competition.

PCC 'FS' B - Raghu Iyer (4), Rob Eagle (5), Jeff Smith (5), Helen Essa (6)

25 April 2025 - PCC 'C' suffer narrow loss to Caversham PCC 'C' 7 - 9 Caversham

PCC 'C' - Patricia Mulcahy (4), Rob Eagle (5), Helen Essa (6), Hugh Crook (7)

Julia Green with the spoils of victory and also pictured in action today. (Photos by Jonathan Pendennis & Chris Roberts)

23 April 2025 - Green wins our National D-Level (10+) Series tournament - ahead of 13 other PCC players

19 April 2025 - 'Double Giant Killer' Falle beats Welsh national team captain on a remarkable day at Blewbury Pete Falle surprised all with an outstandingly impressive game win over Wales Nation team Captain Ian Burridge at the Blewbury Open (single day) tournament today. Bravo Pete!

16 April 2025 - PCC 'B' let strong lead slip and have to settle for a draw PCC 'B' 4 - 4 High Wycombe B A draw isn't a loss, but it sure was a disappointing result for PCC 'B' at home today, when they surrendered a 3-1 half-time lead to High Wycombe's higher handicappers who they had on the ropes.

Wycombe actually started the better, winning all four first games of the morning best-of-three singles matches, only to see Phyllis Court tie-up each match with second game victories.

Raghu Iyer was all over Wycombe captain Michael Bowker in their decider and won his match decisively 5-7, 7-2, 7-1, whilst Dianne Browne and Alastair Broom were made to work harder for their respective 4-7, 7-5, 7-5 and 6-7, 7-3, 7-6 victories.

Only Mike Fensome failed to deliver Phyllis Court a win, and he went down to Wycombe's Martin Dock 6-7, 7-3, 3-7, which gave the visitors some hope for the four afternoon singles matches.

Iyer's woe was felt through the whole team for this was a match they they should have won and it remains to be seen just how important this missed opportunity will be come the end of this league season. PCC 'B' - Mike Fensome (3), Raghu Iyer (4), Dianne Browne (4), Alastair Broom (5)

Only captain Andy Jones for the home side looked in good form, and even he was troubled more than expected by Camerton's higher handicappers who played to well above their grades.

Jones won his morning singes in straight games but both Mike Fensome and doubles pair Roger Goldring & Helena Fensome were held at 1-1 in their morning matches.

Julia Green
has been
awarded the
CROQUET ENGLAND
Most Improved
GC Female player
Award
and
will receive
The Colman Trophy

ulia Green
WINNER

Julia Green
WINS
Croquet England D-Level Series NATIONAL TITLE

Fabulous
Phyllis Court
1 & 2

Julia Green
WINNER
&
Philip Rowley
runner-up!

Phyllis Court 'A'
at the
European Teams League Finals

45 clubs entered in total.
12 clubs from England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain and Latvia
qualified for the Finals at Southwick (near Brighton)

- Reports from all three days below -

Dee McKibbin
WINS
Croquet England C-Level Series NATIONAL FINAL

Fabulous Phyllis Court 1 & 2
Dee McKibbin & Carol Huntington - WINNER & Runner-up!

Congratulations to PCC 'D'
Clinching the victory today were (from the left):
Julia Green, Dee McKibbin, Bob Clapp & captain Ruth Raunkiaer.
Also playing in this campaign have been Carol Huntington, Philip Rowley and Ramsay Adams.

OXFORDSHIRE: finished mid-table in Division 1:
Raouf Allim (PCC 2019-23)
Stephen Wright (PCC 1980's)
Andy Jones (PCC current)
Chris Roberts (PCC current)

Evening Social
on eve of
the
Big Cup Match
was very
well attended

Our President and referee Frances Colman at the British Open Final coin toss, with Reg Bamford & Jamie Burch.
(photo by Brian Carroll)
- See the news (right) for the Phyllis Court coin story -

'Three wise judges'
Mike Bilton, Chris Roberts and Referee of the Tournament Frances Colman
(photo by Stephen Custance-Baker)

Franklin & Mulcahy
win the
National AC Veterans
handicap doubles
title
- See News -

. . . and Mulcahy was presented her
AC Bronze Award too (see right)

17 & 18 June 2025
Franklin & Mulcahy win
The AC National Veterans handicap doubles title

Phyllis 'fab five' at Ealing: Hilary Cowley, Julia Green,
Daphne Spiers, Dilys Gordon & Phllip Rowley

All four teams shared good bon ami throughout the tournament
(Photos by Patricia Mulcahy)

Lots more photos to up-load . . .

29 May 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield A' come-up short
PCC 'Federations Shied A' 3 - 4 Bromley

Left:
Phyllis Court Croquet Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy, presented Club pennants to captains Roberts Stefeckis (IKK, Latvia), Larrs Bowman (Tolkis, Finland) and John Palframan (Woodall Spa, England).

Row below:
Phyllis Court 'Euro B' team and supporters (Joanna Iyer & Maureen Ward) upon arrival at Riga airport in Latvia.
And later, at the IKK Ikskile croquet courts with its new modern pavilion.

are at the LIVE-STREAMED GC European Championships
Here are the links:
Saturday - https://youtube.com/live/qqEk2QfXUPo?feature=share

16 May 2025 - PCC 'D' fight back for solid League win
PCC 'D' 10 - 6 High Wycombe 'Kestrels'

15 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' lose to Caversham
PCC 'AC Handicap'' 1 - 3 Caversham
PCC 'AC Handicap' - Russel Robinson (6), Patricia Mulcahy (11), Kevin Ward (11), Paul Franklin (11)

6 May 2025 - Colman & Roberts win the Budleigh Saltation Spring Week, Handicap Doubles cups
This is becoming quite a season for the Frances Colman and Chris Roberts combination who today, won their their third doubles tournament of the year.

Chris Roberts wins
The Welsh Championship
- report to come -

3 May 2025 - PCC 'AC Handicap' hold off the students of Oxford
PCC 'AC Handicap'' 2 - 2 Oxford University

2 May 2025 - Clapp narrowly misses out on victory in his maiden tournament - ( C-Level Series )
Russell Robinson reports:

30 April 2025 - PCC 'A' win first league match of the season
PCC 'A' 6 - 2 Blewbury A
Phyllis Court A enjoyed a 5-3 victory over Blewbury today, in their first Southern Federation Open League match of the season.

26 April 2025 - PCC 'Federations Shield' B Team (Advantage) beat James Death's Cheltenham
PCC 'FS' B 5 - 1 Cheltenham
Phyllis Court scored a marked achievement today with a 5-1 victory over visitors Cheltenham in the national Federations Shield competition.

25 April 2025 - PCC 'C' suffer narrow loss to Caversham
PCC 'C' 7 - 9 Caversham

Julia Green with the spoils of victory and also pictured in action today.
(Photos by Jonathan Pendennis & Chris Roberts)

19 April 2025 - 'Double Giant Killer' Falle beats Welsh national team captain on a remarkable day at Blewbury

Pete Falle surprised all with an outstandingly impressive game win over Wales Nation team Captain Ian Burridge at the Blewbury Open (single day) tournament today.
Bravo Pete!

16 April 2025 - PCC 'B' let strong lead slip and have to settle for a draw
PCC 'B' 4 - 4 High Wycombe B

A draw isn't a loss, but it sure was a disappointing result for PCC 'B' at home today, when they surrendered a 3-1 half-time lead to High Wycombe's higher handicappers who they had on the ropes.

Iyer's woe was felt through the whole team for this was a match they they should have won and it remains to be seen just how important this missed opportunity will be come the end of this league season.
PCC 'B' - Mike Fensome (3), Raghu Iyer (4), Dianne Browne (4), Alastair Broom (5)

6 April 2025 - Mike Fensome beats the favourite and just misses the final by a single hoop, on Day 2 of our National A-level (0+) Series tournament
- Roger Goldring wins the Plate event

Roger Goldring won the Plate event
(Photo by Chris Roberts)

30 March 2025 - 'Summer' season starts on 1 April - remember to WEAR WHITES! - please come along to our celebration gathering in the evening.
60 plus members have already expressed interest in attending a Season Launch social get-together at 1900 in the Regatta Bar.
Please do join us if you can.

30 March 2025 - Angus McKibbin R.I.P.

28 March 2025 - Last Call for entries for our Season-Long Competitions
The entry deadline is 31 March.

21 March 2025 - Circulation of Team Fixtures & Internal Tournaments dates today
See our Calendar (button in main menu above)

Frances Colman & Chris Roberts with the Western Province Championships
GC Handicap Doubles trophy & Roberts with his Open Singles
Championship salver (Photo by Neil Mchardy)

09 March 2025 - Franklin & Mulcahy make a mark at High Wycombe
Our Club Chairman Patricia Mulcahy and committee member Paul Franklin were very competitive at a tough AC level play 14-point tournament at High Wycombe today

08 March 2025 - Jones beats the favourite O'Donnell on way to 3rd place at Hamptworth
Andy Jones did particularly well at the 'Low Handicappers' day-tournament at Hamptworth today.

Chris Roberts plays a 'sore arm' stoke through a hoop, watched by Championship Referee Frances Colman.
(Photo by Mike Town)

22 February 2025 - Colman & Roberts win the Handicap Doubles title AND Colman wins her Class at the Western Cape AC Championships, South Africa

2 February 2025 - Picturesque: but ground frozen, so still no play a.m. - Court 3 ONLY playable at 1200