Kenilworth Croquet Club received the Silver ClubMark accreditation

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Junior Coaching at Kenilworth

A defining milestone of 2025 was Kenilworth becoming the first club in England to receive Croquet England's Silver Clubmark Accreditation, reflecting excellence in governance, coaching, safeguarding, and community engagement. Alongside this, the club received the Chris and Gail Barley Award, further highlighting its model approach to growth, development, and community involvement.

Coaching and development have been central to the club's success. Thursday morning Association Croquet sessions, led by Adrian Morris and supported by Mervyn Harvey, have been particularly popular, combining competitive play with group and one-to-one coaching. These sessions have significantly improved members' understanding of tactics, strategy and shot execution. Newer players now regularly challenge established players, adding excitement to the club's competitive atmosphere. Coaching for younger players has also been successful, with Judith and Elizabeth Thomson guiding children through their first experiences on the lawns.

Competition results this year reflected the club's growing strength across both codes of the game. Golf Croquet and Association Croquet tournaments, organised by Philip Wood, Pauline Harvey, Jon Hodge, and Adrian Morris, produced thrilling matches and new names on trophies. Highlights included the Kenilworth Festival, run by Philip Wood and Phil Blake, where Kenilworth's team won the competition, and the WMF 6+ League team, captained by Tony Watmore, claiming the Eastern Section title. The Association Croquet league team finished an impressive second overall after a season of strong performances.

One of the standout achievements in competitive play was Kenilworth B winning the Robertshaw Cup at their first attempt, narrowly defeating last year's winners, Kenilworth A. Despite having a higher combined handicap, Kenilworth B impressed early with victories over Broadwas and Himley, including an impressive win by Ian Robertson over a minus-1 opponent, setting up a dramatic final between the two unbeaten Kenilworth teams. Strong singles performances-most notably from Pauline Harvey, the only unbeaten player and Nick Hegan-secured a 4-2 victory for Kenilworth B. The final showcased the club's depth and highlighted the benefits of wider participation in competitive play.

Community engagement has remained a cornerstone of the club's ethos. Demonstrations and coaching events, organised by Mervyn Harvey and team, have introduced croquet to the local community, including U3A groups and families. Open days, friendly matches and festival activities have made the sport accessible and appealing, encouraging participation across all ages. Croquet at Kenilworth is truly a game for everyone, offering mental stimulation, strategic challenge, and social interaction.

As 2025 draws to a close, Kenilworth Croquet Club reflects on a year of achievement and growth with pride. With excellent facilities, skilled coaching and a welcoming community, the club looks forward to 2026 with confidence, ensuring Kenilworth will continue to flourish on and off the lawns for many years to come.

If you should be interested in trying this sport or finding out more about it email us: croquet#ktscc.co.uk or visit our website: https://ktscc.co.uk/croquet/