England regained the Glasgow Quaich

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The CqE and SCA teams (Photo: Gary Pollitt)

England regained the Glasgow Quaich with a convincing 17-7 victory over Scotland at Chester Croquet Club on 5-6 September 2026, ending a run of three consecutive Scottish successes and recording England's first win since the Croquet Association became Croquet England. Captained by Matt Cook, England made a dominant start by winning all three doubles matches on Saturday morning and built an 11-4 overnight lead after taking four of the six afternoon singles. The challenging Chester lawns, with their variable pace and noticeable slope, produced many closely fought tactical games in which defence and positioning often proved more important than long breaks.

England sealed victory on Sunday morning with another clean sweep of the doubles, completing a remarkable record of six doubles wins from six matches over the weekend. Although the remaining singles were more evenly contested, England maintained their advantage to secure a well-earned success. One of the most entertaining matches saw Scotland's David Houston defeat Matt Cook in a dramatic golden hoop decider after Cook had levelled the game with a superb nine-hoop break after time. Off the lawn, the traditional friendly atmosphere of the fixture continued, with both teams enjoying a Saturday evening meal together. Chester Croquet Club's excellent organisation, lawn preparation and hospitality were widely praised and contributed significantly to a memorable weekend of competition.

Teams

England

Matt Cook (Captain), Roger Brooks, David Cornes, Richard Platt, Stuart M Smith and Robin Tasker

Scotland

David Magee (Captain), Roger Binks, Stefan Colling, Brian Durward, David Houston and Fiona McCoig