High Wycombe Croquet Club Summer Solstice Weekend Marathon raises over £3,500

High Wycombe Croquet Club (HWCC) recently staged a 24-hour Midsummer Madness Croquet Marathon in aid of a local charity.

Starting at noon on Saturday 19th June 2021, players kept the balls rolling and mallets swinging until noon on Sunday. With minimal light and glow necklaces strapped to each hoop, they played through the night. The black ball player had a very challenging time keeping track of their ball!

‘The bad news was that no one else had a clue where black ball was, so we couldn’t hit it away‘ explained a red ball player at 2.00am!

There was also a serious side though, as Richard Peperell, HWCC Chairman, explained: ‘We asked each player to seek sponsorship to raise funds. By the time it is counted, we will have exceeded £3,500.

Half the money will go to club funds, which lost out during last year. The other half is being donated to a Buckinghamshire charity for homeless people, the Wycombe Homeless Connection. In that way, we have been able to support that charity’s great work, celebrate a great sport that is accessible to young and old, and have some really good fun.‘

It was a particular pleasure to welcome the President of the UK Croquet Association, Quiller Barrett, to the ground to start the event and play the first session in traditional whites. It was left to members to battle away in less formal attire, including one fairylight-covered jacket for a midnight player!

Anyone interested in taking up croquet can come along to one of HWCC’s open days, the next being on Saturday 10th July 2021 between 10.30am and 4.00pm or by contacting the High Wycombe Croquet Club for a one to one introduction. Further details can be found n the High Wycombe Croquet Club website at https://www.hwcroquetclub.com.

*Source of article : Press release from High Wycombe Croquet Club.