These are the ‘core’ members who have remained faithful to the group for three years. Their play has improved significantly spurring four of them to take up playing croquet more regularly. By becoming members of the croquet club, they have received many hours of free coaching from our Croquet England Coach, Derek Blow. This year Derek has offered to give a one-hour free coaching session to any member who might be interested in playing croquet for the first time with two daytime sessions in April.
At our monthly meeting on Tuesday, 3rd February at the Southwell Leisure Centre, I shall be giving a short talk about Croquet. Derek and I will be at our group table with two of our regular u3a croquet players, to answer any questions and to take names and contact details. The group now has eight to ten extra places to offer to members who might like to try playing this fun sport. Not only is croquet a low impact sport using leg and arm
muscles and walking at least 1,000 steps each game, it is also good for the brain, planning before taking each shot. Always challenging, it can be very competitive. Most of all always fun and our group has bonded so well together. Our What’s App group keeps us all in touch which is useful if the weather changes and croquet play is unadvisable.
All equipment is provided and our u3a group has full use of the three lawns and facilities of Southwell Croquet Club. Requirements are flat shoes, your own mug, suitable clothing for outdoors and your lawn fee of £10 (payable each session). There is parking at the Arthur Radford Sports Ground, Cookes Lane, Fiskerton-cum-
Morton. Across the sports field you will see the Southwell Croquet Club facilities and lawns.
Our 2026 season for our Croquet Group is on the second Monday of each summer month. Monday 13th April (1.30 - 4 pm) is our first group meeting with five more: 11th May, 8th June, 13th July, 10th August, 14th September.
Elaine Maiden