Author: Barb Freda

It was a bright sunny day and 16 players gathered to contest the Bath heat of the national Charity One Ball competition. The event started with groups of 4 players of similar handicap playing each other. The top 2 players in each group progressed to play for the One Ball cup, the next two games being played by everyone on a ‘winners play winners, losers play losers’ basis.

After playing five games each, most players then opted to watch the final, contested between the two Mikes (Henebury and Gorvett) on Lawn 1. The spectators settled down with tea and cake, whilst the players gave us an excellent display of croquet, with some very long roquets and hoop runs. The last two hoops of the game were dramatic, Mike H ran both twice but Mike G did not challenge his faults and, as the audience could not intervene, the game progressed, with Mike H being the eventual winner. It was a closely fought contest throughout, the final score being 13-11.

It was a successful day, £170 was raised for Save the Children and everyone was wearing red, the charity’s colour.

Email Hester to sign up!

CHARITY ONE BALL TOURNAMENT

SUNDAY 26th APRIL 2026

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS RELAXED AND ENJOYABLE DAY

FOR BOTH GC AND AC PLAYERS

The Charity One Ball event is a friendly, relaxed tournament suitable for all members of Bath Croquet Club, whether you are a GC or AC player. Our event is on Sunday 26th April with a 10.30am start and a finish ame around 4pm.

The game is straighborward to play – each player has one ball and the first person to run 12 hoops and hit the peg is the winner. The game operates on a handicap system, so high handicap players will have extra turns against low handicap players. It is basically GC with a bit of AC thrown in and it is quick to learn. If you have never played before, one session will give you all the information you need. I will be arranging a session for anyone who would like to learn or have a reminder.

The current plan is for players of similar ability to contest the group ‘heats’. Further rounds will then determine the overall winner and runner up. Everyone will play the same number of games – probably about 6 during the day.

The winner may also go to the naaonal finals at Surbiton or Bowdon in May, but there is no pressure to attend. There is a One Ball Cup for the Bath winner.

This year’s charity is Save the Children, whose house colour is red – it is the perfect opportunity to wear any items of red clothing lurking in your wardrobes….we want to turn our lawns red for our charity day! It has always been an enjoyable and relaxed day, everyone brings their own lunch, there is croquet and socialising, what more can anyone want!

How do you enter this really worthwhile event? It is simple:

**Let Hester know (by 15th April latest) that you wish to enter . Either email Hester  or sign up on the sheet in the clubhouse.

**Bring £10 on the day as an entry fee to support the charity.

**Bring a packed lunch.

**Wear as much ‘red clothing’ as you can find in your wardrobe!

A great Saturday afternoon of croquet