Townsend, Apps-Heley and Millennium Club Awards 2017

[<<] [>>] by Roger Staples
7th March 2017 (CqE Official News)

The CA is delighted to announce the winners of this years Club awards. All the nominations were of a very high quality and are to be congratulated on their strong development and the Club members who have worked so hard to achieve it. The winners will receive their trophies at the CA AGM in October.

Townsend Award - a shortlist of The Bears, Bishop Monkton and Cheam from the many excellent nominations received. The Bears impressed because of its sheer determination to continue in existence after losing its ground over two years including fielding league teams during this period. Bishop Monkton impressed because of its vigorous, far-sighted and energetic leadership and its commitment to continuous development. Cheam was seen as a remarkable success story for a one-lawn Club, with 75 members and a significant amount of self-help on lawn and Clubhouse improvement.

Apps-Heley Award - Bath impressed by its increasing strength as a Club, its work on lawn improvement, and its innovative approach to tournament hosting. Guildford and Godalming impressed by its transformation from a Club without facilities and three lawns of modest quality to a Club with pavilion, toilets and fencing and four lawns of good quality, all achieved with an extraordinary amount of self-help. Plymouth, situated on the grass roof of a reservoir, has successfully pulled itself back from the brink and is recruiting vigorously. Wrest Park has transformed a forced move onto rough ground with a poor and ancient hut into a high quality Club with four flat, true lawns and good facilities for players.

Millennium Award - Sussex has made a high investment in lawn improvement and weathered the considerable disruption of all its lawns being relaid in sequence. It makes an huge contribution to the National Croquet scene and has also significantly increased its membership.

Winners - the Townsend Award, and £250, goes to Cheam CC. The Apps-Heley Award is to be shared between Bath CC and Wrest Park CC, each holding the trophy for one year, and each receiving £250. The Millennium Award, and £250, goes to Sussex CC.

Roger Staples

Chairman

CA Development Committee