Dulwich were beaten 4-2 plus one tied match in the quarter-final of the National Golf Croquet Team Competition on 22 July at Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Club historians please refute, but this was probably the first Dulwich team to compete off the mainland. This is a level play competition and the Dulwich team were Captain Simon Carter (0), Pierre Beaudry (0), Ken Watson (3) and Gloria Watson (8).
Dawn was barely breaking across South London rooftops when the intrepid foursome made their way to Portsmouth and Southsea for the crossing, mallets jostling bemused commuters.
Ryde Lawn Tennis and Croquet club is pleasantly situated on the outskirts of town with four full-size lawns - a bit on the sluggish side we found. This inhibited the star pairing of Simon and Pierre who lost their doubles 4-7, 7-5, 5-7 to David Willett (2) and Alan Truckle (2) who controlled their balls with local knowledge. Ken failed to build from winning the second game against Richard Harris (3) and lost 4-7, 7-6, 1-7. Gloria contested hoops well but the accuracy of her lower handicapped opponent Robin Thornton (3) was too much for her, losing 3-7, 3-7.
So, Team Dulwich were 3-0 down at lunch - if lunch had existed! (ask Simon). Tummies rumbling Pierre and Simon stormed back to win their singles against their doubles opponents 7-4, 6-7, 7-1, 7-6, 7-3 respectively. Gloria again competed well but lost to Richard Harris 7-3, 7-3. Ken was tied with Robin Thornton 7-6, 4-7, when the result of the match was beyond doubt.
Back to the hover, back to the train, back to dinner!