The Worshipful Company of Glovers again held its annual inter livery croquet event on a warm sunny June day at Sussex County Croquet Club who provide refreshments throughout the day and the usual splendid buffet lunch. The Master Glover welcomed 21 different livery companies entering a record 38 teams. New entries included the Parish Clerks, the Innholders and the Nurses.
There are two competitions taking place simultaneously. The first is the Glovers’ Cup where we were allowed to enter two teams. The A team consisted of last year’s winner of the Horners’ Trophy, the Master, and the Deputy Master with the B team consisting of Dr Nigel Young and Alan Price. The second competition was for the Inter-Livery Challenge Cup for those who do not play on a regular basis where the Horners were represented by Steve and Maggie Bradbury.
The tournament features 5 rounds of croquet, followed by matches where winners play winners, second place plays second place, and so on.
The Horners certainly improved on last year’s performance in the Glovers’ Cup with Nigel and Alan winning all their morning games which with a win and a draw in the afternoon saw them through to the final where they were well and truly trounced by the Accountants’ A team. There was no prize for coming second!
The Horners’ A team acquitted themselves well coming 7th by beating Coachmakers’ A in their play off.
It was not Steve and Maggie’s day. After their performance last year there were high hopes of seeing them in the final but it was not to be but they finished well beating the Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers B in their play off.
The Glovers’ Croquet Day has quickly become a very popular event amongst livery companies resulting in the number of entries from any one company having to be limited. The event was certainly up to capacity with lunch having to be taken in two shifts. There is always a friendly sociable atmosphere with all the games played in a good spirit despite some of the stories one hears about croquet!
Alan Price
03/07/25