The Croquet Day
Moira and Stan Paul, and Alan and Valerie Nicholson, invited the St Christophers church families to come along to Pollard Park, on the 27 January, to take part in the game of Croquet.
Croquet according to Google began in France, back in the 11th Century, spread to England and Scotland and eventually Ireland in the 13th century, and was the fore-runner of today’s modern game. It takes various forms, has various rules and timing the games is crucial to the outcome.
There were 31 starters for the challenge, much to the organisers delight, but some were unable to attend at the ‘eleventh hour’. It was a day of 30 degrees, with the wind on their side, and people assembled initially in the well appointed club-rooms to be briefed. As a few had played before, but couldn’t remember much about the process, they were appointed the captains. The others were then distributed into teams of four, and six teams stepped cautiously on to the green. Alan bravely gave them all the information they needed, emptied the 4 coloured balls out of containers for each team - and the players - very quick on the up-take, - with mallets ready, began their rounds.
The rest, as observers initially, were very mystified with proceedings as they sat on the seats outside, and tried to make sense of what was unfolding. In the end they had to resort to Mr Google, because their hosts, the Pauls and the Nicholsons were busy with the teams.
It was noted that two young boys, Kyle and Ethan, along with their dad Amos, showed a lot of form, and quickly mastered the mallet and ball co-ordination ahead of the other novices.
The young boys were naturals.
After an hour and a half or so, time was up, and the hot, sticky, triumphant Croquets came back inside with a new appreciation of the game and how challenging it could be, according to the form played. This was social Croquet, and loads of fun, and an ideal way to bring people together in a new sport - where all players had varying degrees of success.
Time in the club rooms while the BBQ was fired up, enabled a talk fest and a
getting - to know -you -better, time. A delicious meal, as we sat around the tables, finished off a very happy day, and everyone was most appreciative of the organisation and encouragement their hosts had provided.
Another time would be great to see even more people join the fun.
Jackie Hall
Just an Observer