TOWARDS the end of every summer season Camerton and Peasedown Croquet Club host a day of Golf Croquet Doubles competition.

The event attracts pairs from all over the country, especially the South West, and the allocated number of places are quickly over-subscribed.

Two thousand and 26, which was the eleventh year of this Open Doubles tournament, was no exception; sixteen pairs entered including the Balchin brothers from South Wales who were defending their title from 2025. Individual player handicaps ranged from -3 to 10 with the greater majority holding handicaps of 5 and below.

Despite the lack of summer rain, the Camerton and Peasedown lawns were looking very good and the host club received many complements about them. Some of the hoop settings for the competition had proved difficult due to the rock-hard ground; in places the hoops had to be packed with laurel leaves to ensure that they were firm and at the correct height.

It was a moving sight to see all 32 players, in their competition white clothing, setting out at the beginning of the day onto the four CPCC lawns. Chaos briefly reigning while all the players did their pre-match warm-ups.

It promised to be an interesting and competitive day and, needless to say, it was. Play started promptly with 4 blocks, all play all, during the morning when over half the games went to 7-5 or 7-6. In the afternoon the knock-out rounds were played with the top eight pairs from the groups going for the trophy and the lower half going for the plate.

The top seeds, Stuart and Louise Smith, from Budleigh Salterton CC, won all their games and the Trophy Shield; Kristian Chambers and Steve Durston from Nailsea CC, who were seeded 2, were the runners up.

In the plate, all the games were very close with 10 of the 16 games being won by 1 or 2 hoops. Christine Churchill and Frank Pearce from Dowlish Wake CC were the lucky winners of the Jelly Babies.

The prizes were presented and the event organiser, Mo Boys, then thanked all the competitors for making it a memorable day.

When a lot of croquet players get together there is always a friendly and lively atmosphere and, in the 2026 Open Doubles, this was no exception. However; the day could not have been such a success without the help of the Camerton and Peasedown CC club members who set up the lawns and managed the catering.

Special thanks also to Brian Wilson for refereeing the day’s play. Thank you to all.”