Competitive action has returned to the Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club.

Their first tournament of the summer was recently held and a full house of 12 players took part from six different clubs.

Visiting player Phil Dunk, from Reigate Priory, won their inaugural association croquet 14-pointer after overcoming some tough competition and a tricky surface.

The club’s lawns were damaged in the winter by a person riding a segway, which has meant the surface in places is bumpy and slow as the grass can’t be cut very short until the bumps have gone.

“The players overcame these problems successfully,” said club chairman Jon Diamond.

He added: “Covid-19 has taken a terrible toll of sports activities, as well of people, so it was gratifying that we were able to run a competitive tournament.

“Given the late start to the season there was a lot of pent up demand, so we were able to have a full house of 12 players, ranging widely in handicap from six different clubs, including Southwick, Surbiton and Watford.”

Mr Diamond said extraordinary efforts have been taken to get the club prepared for action, taking the Croquet Association’s Covid-19 guidance into account.

In addition to not using the clubhouse and special cleaning regimes, the clips and balls had to be disinfected between games. Separate playing bubbles had to be organised for the morning and the afternoon to avoid groups exceeding six in size.

There first event post-lockdown was a short form Association Croquet event with 80 minute time-limits, so six games could be fitted in.

Sam Murray, from Surbiton, was the lowest handicapped player and showed good form, making some really good leaves and the only player winning all three games in the morning, allowing his three opponents a total of just five hoops out of a possible 42.

He couldn’t quite keep his success rate up after lunch, however, losing narrowly to Dunk by two hoops. Despite losing one of his games the Reigate player was declared the winner on tie-break from Murray and received his socially distanced and disinfected prize of a bottle of wine.

The next event takes place on September 3.

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