2025 GC HCP – League B
Team P W L D Games W-L-D Points
Southport Falcons640273-3510
Llanfairfechan642065-438
Chester Senators632163-457
Ellesmere623140-585
Fylde Coasters624048-604
Bury South624049-594
Craggy Dons613244-544

Coasters 10 Craggy Dons 8

L-R: John, Alan, Rob, Linda, Barbara, Lynn, Joanne, Beth.

Fylde Coasters travelled to Llandudno to play Craggy Dons (Craig-y-Don Croquet Club, or CYD) in their last fixture of the season, and the away win was a pleasant finale to a somewhat quiet season for us this year with only one other win. The two lawns at CYD are on a crowned bowling green, and for space reasons are slightly smaller than standard and overlap by about a quarter in length and breadth. However, such home advantage was no match for the mighty Coasters!

After sharing the doubles and the first 2 singles sessions it was 5-5 at lunch; all to play for. 3-1 to Coasters in the third session and a shared fourth gave us the 10-8 win. Star of the show was Rob with 4 singles wins (and a reputation for giving his opponents plenty of exercise after some powerful hitting away). In doing so Rob also reduced his handicap to 8, well done that man! Solid performances from all the team though: stand-in captain John with 3 wins (yes, yes, so I hit the wrong ball twice, whatever), Joanne 2 wins including a 7-1 plus the doubles victory, and in her first outing for the team Barbara just missing out with a couple of hard-fought 5-7 defeats which could have easily gone her way.

L-R: Cake

CYD were the perfects hosts, even arranging for nice weather despite the apocalyptic forecast. Non-playing captain Nick looked after us all and kept the games moving, and Nick's wife Lorna baked us a most impressive cake. Other club members spectated on and off throughout the day and kept the hot drinks coming. Thanks to all at Craggy Dons for a lovely day.

... as for our final league placing, well there's always next season.

Posted by John, 31st August

bury north 12 FYLDE FALCONS 6

BURY NORTH: Duncan Meachin 5, Dawn Meachin 11, Ian Saunders 5, Bernard Lord 5.
FYLDE FALCONS: Barry Broughton 8, Colin Galbraith 9, Ted Walker 10, Barbara Walker 12

The weather lived up to the forecast with a dull dry day, and an ideal temperature for croquet. These conditions suited the Bury team better than us as we fell to a defeat, 12 – 6 to the home team.

Refreshing drinks served with a lovely Lemon Polenta cake, made by Dawn, rounded off the day. Many thanks to the hosts.

Posted by Barbara, 23rd August

Southport FALCONS 12 Coasters 6

Oh Well, there is always next year.

Fylde Coasters got off to a good start winning both the double matches. The matches on paper looked as though we might have the upper hand with handicaps of 7 (Sue), 8 (Jude) , and two 12's (Joanne and Ursula) but it was not so. Once we started the single matches Southport starting winning all their games and we were struglling to match them. Maybe they get more sun in Southport so they were not put off by the heat of the day.

Posted by Ursula, 12th August

FYLDE FALCONS 7 Pendle 11

Despite the rain and wind caused by storm floris the lawns were still running quite quick. The falcons made a good start winning both doubles and the first 2 singles and had a 6 – 4 lead at half time. The pendle team came strong against the gusty wind in the afternoon winning all but one of the 8 singles.

A rare defeat for the Falcons.

Posted by Barbara, 5th August

Coasters 8 Llanfairfechan 10

The doubles matches could not have been different with one team crushing the opponents with a 7-1 win and the other hotly contested and only lost on the Golden Hoop. Ursula did an amazing shot to get her ball in the hoop somehow managing to creep in behind a ball that was not quite in the jaws.

By lunch time Coasters were in the lead – 5-3 but it seems that after lunch we lost our mojo and Llanfairfechan found theirs and came back strongly to win the match over all. Robert has to be the man of the match winning 3 of his single games.

Maybe Coasters were put off and distracted by what happened by the Fire Alarm going off in the Main Building. Having used the facilities all morning with no problem Liz went to use the toilet and the fire alarm went off. Luckily it was lunch time so we did not have to interrupt play to find out what was happening. Apparently someone had gone in the building for some reason and turned the alarm back on! We turned it off again and there were no further incidents.

It all adds to the excitement of a few days away in Blackpool and Llanfairfechan played well and enjoyed their visit to sunny Blackpool which included a trip down the Golden Mile.

Posted by Ursula, 17th July

WESTMORLAND 7 FYLDE FALCONS 11

WESTMORLAND : JOHN ARMER 5, DAVID SNAITH 5, FIONA ARMER 11, SUE FARRELL 12.
FALCONS: BARRY BROUGHTON 8, COLIN GALBRAITH 9, BARBARA WALKER 11, TED WALKER 11.

While the south of the country sweltered in 30 degrees plus, we had a grey overcast day at Levens Hall with an ideal temperature for croquet. The forecast showers held of until the match had been completed. We won the first 2 doubles but by lunch time the score was level at 5 each with half of the singles going to 7-6. Everything to play for. The lunch break seemed to suit us better as we went on to win 6 of the remaining 8 games.

We thank Fiona and her team for the hospitality and the delicious cake from the local bakery.

Posted by Barbara, 30th June

FYLDE FALCONS 9 BOWDON BOUNDERS 9

After a night and early morning of torrential rain, the lawns were surprisingly playable. A shower in the morning was followed by sunshine but a very brisk wind in the afternoon.

Barry kindly arrived early set out lawns 1 & 3 ready for our team of Alison 9, Barbara 11, Ted 10, & Jean 12 to do battle against Margaret Moss 12, David Beddy 5, Carol Steinberg 10, & Mike Dale 10.

We made a good start winning both doubles and 5 of the first 8 singles to lead 7 – 3 at lunch. The break suited Bowdon better than Fylde as we lost all but one of the afternoon games finishing with a 9 all draw.

The day finished with us all enjoying tea and coffee with carrot cake in the afternoon sun.

Our star player was Alison who won all of her games to earn the award for PLAYER OF THE DAY.

Posted by Barbara, 14th June

Ellesmere 11 Coasters 7

The match was played on Ellesmere’s relocated lawns on the outfield of Worsley Cricket Club. They’d recently had to move owing to new Padel Tennis courts being built on their old lawns – sound familiar? No time was wasted getting started since the forecast was for a rainy afternoon which proved correct with showers, some heavy, for the last group of matches.

The doubles were shared, with Claire and John getting the edge after John hooped with a jump shot followed by a long hoop from an acute angle by Claire to seal it. Singles matches were typically tight affairs. However Ellesmere took full advantage of local knowledge (some would say local terrain!) and came out the winners despite some gritty Coasters play against strong opponents.

Thanks to the Ellesmere team and helpers for their hospitality and friendliness all day.

Posted by John, 3rd June

Falcons Crake

A hot sunny day with a warm breeze.

FYLDE FALCONS: Derek Matthews 9, Barry Broughton 9, Colin Galbraith 10 Barbara Walker 11.
CRAKE VALLEY: Paul Galley 2, Brenda Knight 10, Rob Tooze 10, Helen Allcock 12.

The score at lunch Falcons 4 Crake 6. A challenge ahead for the home side. Maybe the fruity ice creams helped and we manage to achieve a 9 each draw.

The doubles were both won by the Falcons 7 – 4 & 7 – 5. The singles were hard fought with 10 going to hoop 13 .

Posted by Barbara, 13th May

Bury South 12 Coasters 6

Fylde got off to a great start winning both the doubles and I found out later they were a bit for the worried about the rest of the day! Joanne and Clare easily beating their opponents whereas over an hour of playing Stewart and Ursula eventually saw off their challengers.

The singles matches got under way whilst the doubles between Ursula/Stewart and Barbara/Duncan was still being fought out. It turned out that they needn’t have been that worried as the singles game progressed and they started to win game after game. We put up a good fight but the results do not show really how hard we tried.

Stewart has to be the man of the match (he was the only man on our team!) by winning 2 of his single matches. Joanne and Stewart managed to hoop from the previous hoop much to their surprise and delight. I hooped from a distance but I had to admit I was aiming for the blue ball which was near the hoop – but who cares, a hoop is a hoop.

We all had enjoyed the day playing croquet on a lovely sunny day and Bury were very hospitable.

Posted by Ursula, 10th May

Southport 5 Falcons 13

1st match of the season on a sunny day but with a cold breeze at the Southport lawns.

Ready for the off at 10am prompt, all except Colin who had to return to his car for his mallet!! However, he put it to good effect winning in the doubles with Derek and all his singles. Derek won 3 out of 4 and reduced his handicap to 9. Barry only lost 1 but it was close 6 - 7. A 13 - 5 win - a great start to the 2025 campaign.

Posted by Barbara, 22nd April

Coasters 11 Chester 7

Chester arrived nice at early – 9.00 am expecting lots of traffic with it being a Bank Holiday only to find that the roads were very quiet.

After a warming cup of tea we started the doubles matches fully attired with hats, gloves and coats as it was drizzling and cold. Not the weather you expect in April! Fylde must be more used to the cold weather as we won both double matches fairly easily 7-4/7-2.

The singles matches were all much more tightly contested with a lot of the games going to 6-7, with every hoop being fought for. I won one hoop with a longish jump shot that even my admitted it was a good shot. I must confess I was a little surprised myself! Everyone played well and most of us only lost one game – well done everyone.

The Chester team enjoyed their trip to Blackpool and it was a very enjoyable day. Thank you to those who came down to support us. I must give a special thank you to Barbara (Walker) for helping me navigate the job of team captain for the first time. Her help before was much appreciated.

Posted by Ursula, 19th April