SWANAGE Croquet Club has gone from strength to strength this year with both the High Handicap Second Team and the All Handicap First Team reaching their South West regional semi-finals.

The High Handicap Second Team won all of its first three matches, beating Winterborne Valley at home 13; 7, local rivals East Dorset (Poole) 12; 8 at home and Winterborne away 11; 9.

Most recently was a narrow loss to East Dorset 8; 12, but the league had already been won. The semi-final South West regional match is against the winners of the match between St Agnes, Cornwall and Dowlish Wake, Somerset.

A club spokesperson said: “What a great season so far and excellent for this team to reach the semi-final stage for two years running!

“Last season they made it to the final, only to be beaten by Llandaff, Cardiff, and so we were 2023 runners up.”

The All Handicap First Team have also had a season to remember so far and have made it to the semi-final of their league where they will play Bude, Cornwall at home on September 12.

The team made the semi-final with two matches to spare having beaten Budleigh Salterton, Devon at home 19; 1 and 11; 9 away, Exeter away 11; 9 and 14; 2 at home and Taunton Deane at home 16; 4. In their most recent match away against a very good Taunton team the match was lost by the narrowest of margins 9.5; 10.5, but again the league had already been won.

A club spokesperson said: “Why not go along and watch the semi-final afternoon play at Swanage Primary School field at the top of Bon Accord Road.

“Good luck to both teams in their semi-final matches, flying the flag for Swanage.”

This year, the club welcomed new members who have picked up the skills and rules of the game very well and are now playing croquet at the club regularly on a social basis.

The club is now almost a full capacity.

Lawn preparation and maintenance have been carried out superbly by a group of club members who have worked tirelessly to convert the playing field, formerly a football pitch, in the grounds of Swanage Primary School, into what are now two competition standard courts.

A club spokesperson said: “Last season, when work on the lawns was at an early stage, all the club league competition matches had to be played on away grounds.

“This year the playing surface has been greatly improved and home league matches have resumed. Swanage plays in the South West Federation League and has two competitive teams. Results have been fantastic!”

Each match consists of 20 games played during a full day of play and is a mix of both doubles and singles games. A game is comprised of playing 12 hoops and the winning team needs to score 7 of the 12 hoops to win. In the event of the score being 6; 6 after 12 hoops there is a final 13th ‘golden hoop’ for one team to win the game.

Within the club social play happens throughout the week, as do internal club competitions, which give all players the chance to play competitive croquet if they want to. Social events also happen throughout the season.

Anyone interested in joining the club should visit the club website and then contact the club via the website for an introductory session.