Trevor Houghton-Berry wins the 2024-25 Winter Challenge

This was the second 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. At the end of March, the 4 players with the highest percentage score (wins/games) progressed to the semi-finals. All matches were “first to 7 points”, with the starting scores adjusted using the Advantage handicap system to reflect players’ abilities.

The 4 players to emerge from the group stage were Trevor Houghton-Berry (winning 70% of his games), Robert Hassell (64%), Dave Grimshaw (61%) and Barney Lewis (60%). The semi-finals and the final were due to be the best of 3 games but, in the event, all were settled in two games. Both semi-finals finished with identical scorelines: Dave beating Robert and Trevor beating Barney 7-5, 7-6.

Belying the name of the competition, the final was played in an April heatwave and saw Trevor beat Dave 7-2, 7-5.

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