Short croquet comes to High Wycombe

Short croquet (SC) is a variant of Association Croquet played on half-sized lawns. The shorter distances make it ideal for relative newcomers to the game, and the quick games make it ideal for a one-day tournament. All the games are handicap play, and the strongest players have the additional challenge of having to complete one or more peels on their partner ball, putting (for example) red through its hoops while playing yellow.

Few if any of Wycombe’s members had played SC, so there was a distinct buzz of anticipation at our inaugural SC tournament on a pleasant autumn day in late November. Joining the seven locals was a guest from Winchester, Roger Barnacle.

The short distances and generous hoops made for some ambitious play. In his first game, Richard Peperell scored two hoops on his first turn in beating Richard Coward, while Mike Porter successfully negotiated his two mandatory peels to beat Heather Hanshaw. 

Games came thick and fast, and by the end of the day most of the players had played six games; David Cotton went one better and fitted in games against all seven opponents.  Even better, he won six of those seven games and was rightly crowned our inaugural SC champion.

All agreed that our first foray into SC had been a great success, and we’ve already arranged another tournament for Saturday 17th January.  There are still places available if anyone wants to give it a go!

​Mike Porter

The players: (L to R) Mike Porter, Roger Barnacle, Gabriel Furse, Heather Hanshaw, David Cotton, Richard Peperell, Richard Coward and Geoff Johnson