Trevor Houghton-Berry retains the Winter Challenge trophy 

This was the third edition of the Winter Challenge Golf Croquet competition, for our members keen to play in the winter months, when conditions allow.

The first stage allowed competitors to play as many games as they liked, with up to three matches against each opponent counting for the competition. All matches were “first to 7 points”, with the starting scores adjusted using the Advantage handicap system to reflect players’ abilities. At the end of March, the 4 players with the highest percentage score (wins/games) progressed to the semi-finals.

Despite the wet weather causing the lawns to be closed in the early months of 2026, 100 games were played in this stage of the competition.

The 4 players to emerge from the group stage were David Pratt (winning an impressive 91% of his games), Robert Hassell (73%),  Trevor Houghton-Berry (64%) and Michael Knighton (62%). Trevor staged a late surge to reach the semi-finals, by winning 3 games on the last day of qualifying, pushing Mike Mackenzie out of the top 4.

The semi-finals and the final were played as the best of 3 games but under new rules introduced by Croquet England whereby the players are given different Target Scores, dependent on players’ handicaps.

In the semi-finals David (needing 11 hoops per game) beat Michael (needing 7 hoops) 11-3, 8-7 and 11-6 whilst Trevor (needing 9 hoops) beat Robert 9-2, 9-5.

Belying the name of the competition, the final was again played on a beautiful April morning and saw Trevor (needing 8 hoops) beat David (needing 7 hoops)  7-7, 8-6, 8-4.

The photo shows Trevor (right) receiving the trophy from the 2023-24 winner, Robert Hassell