BRSS#10: A Nasty Game for Nice People!
The 10th cache of the series, a small screw-capped camo-taped plastic pot is hidden on the edge of a grassy recreation area alongside Wheatley Road. You will need to enter the area to access the hide location.
Croquet is a social yet highly competitive game, enjoyed in gardens and as a professional sport in clubs worldwide. It is a lawn game where players use mallets (long-handled wooden hammers) to hit coloured balls through a series of hoops (called wickets) embedded in the grass. The objective is to navigate the course in the correct sequence and order, scoring points by passing through the hoops and finally hitting a central peg.
The winner is the first to complete the course or score the most points. Players take turns, aiming to strike their ball through hoops or make tactical plays to block or hinder opponents.
There are several versions of the game, including garden croquet for casual play and association croquet or golf croquet for competitive formats. Success relies on precision in striking the balls, planning ahead, and understanding the playing surface.
Croquet in the UK has a long history and remains a popular pastime and competitive sport. Its origins date back to the mid-C19, where it evolved from older lawn games. It gained popularity among the upper classes during the Victorian era and is now played by people of all ages. Croquet was an event at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
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The Croquet Association (CA), founded in 1897, governs croquet in England and supports clubs across the UK.
The 3 main types of croquet are: Association Croquet: The traditional, strategic version with complex rules (see here). Golf Croquet: A faster, simpler version where players compete hoop by hoop (see here). Garden Croquet: A casual variant often played for leisure (see here). There are also several other versions including Backyard (or 9-wicket) Croquet.
There are numerous croquet clubs across the UK, offering facilities for recreational and competitive play. The annual British Open Croquet Championship is a prestigious event in the sport.
It is often associated with English gardens, summer gatherings, and the idyllic countryside, making it a quintessentially British pastime. While rooted in tradition, modern croquet is accessible to players of all skill levels and physical abilities, fostering inclusivity and enjoyment. It remains a blend of strategy, skill, and sociability, with a dedicated community ensuring its enduring appeal.
Unfortunately a 2017 study on the status of croquet revealed that: a) only 5% of Brits had heard of the game b) only 2% play it c) numbers of players <50 had declined 26% in the previous 5 years d) 74% have no interest in the game. So extrapolating the decline shows that the game will become virtually extinct by 2037. This is all a bit sad as it is a wonderful historic and quintessentially British family game for all ages.
See here for more info on the game.
