BUDE Croquet Club joined the annual National Croquet Day initiative managed by the Croquet Association on?Sunday, June 4.

Played on the first two ‘lawns’ ready for play on the old tennis courts on the Downs, near Sainsbury’s, most of the club’s members were in attendance, not only to play amongst one another, but also to show others how it’s done.

Croquet is a game for all, irrespective of age, fitness, gender and affluence and many non-members came to ‘give croquet a try’.

Everybody who did try the game, none of whom had played before, enjoyed themselves and some have expressed their intention to join in the regular club sessions on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings. These sessions currently take place at ‘the Rec’ on Leven Terrace, but will relocate to the Downs in July.

Several of the councillors from Bude-Stratton Town Council also came along, some giving the game a try, as Bude Croquet Club occupies the old tennis courts under a licence from the council and they were, probably, keen to see how the club was finding the facility.

Club member, Tony Trump, said: “Suffice it to say that if the club is allowed to extend their occupancy of the old tennis courts into the future, with the potential of creating six full-sized croquet lawns, Bude could become the premier croquet facility in Cornwall and second only in the South West to Budleigh Salterton, who have eleven lawns.

“It is intended that local, county and regional competition matches will be hosted at Bude and also lessons and training courses available for players of all standards. National and international tournaments are hosted by the Croquet Association in the UK and it would be likely that Bude Croquet Club would offer its potentially outstanding facilities to some of the events involved at that level.

“The town would thereby become a venue for many national and overseas croquet players who would not otherwise have headed for the town, benefiting many facets of the local economy.”

Bude Croquet Club holds its doors open for all who would like to ‘give croquet a try’ — so anyone is welcome to join them at their regular club sessions or give Tony a ring on 01840 230091 or Brian on 01566 774892 or Frances in Bude on 01288 355927 to find out more.