The St. John’s College croquet team came to Hartfield over the weekend to play a challenge match with the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club. In all, 32 players competed in this challenge match.

The St. John’s team has won several collegiate championships and is famous for playing an annual high-profile match against the U.S. Naval Academy called the Annapolis Cup.

The trip to Hartfield was part of the team’s preparation for the 38th meeting of the Annapolis Cup on April 18, 2020. The Johnnies have a 30-7 record against the Midshipmen and are looking to extend their winning streak to six.

In the challenge match with Chesapeake Bay, both teams played well and finished in an almost dead-even tie. The teams played the more complicated and strategic American 6-Wicket version of croquet on Saturday with the best players of each squad playing in Championship Flight and the less experienced members playing in 1st Flight.

At the end of the day, rising star Tom Balding (Johnnies) won Championship Flight and Rick Darnell (Chesapeake Bay) came in second. 1st Flight (in American 6-Wicket) was dominated by Chesapeake Bay with Steve Thurston, Doug Murphy and Jill Murphy getting the top three spots.

On Sunday, the more relaxed and less complicated Golf Croquet version was played. Again, St. John’s star Tom Balding came out the winner of Championship Flight with CBCC’s John Priest in second. In 1st Flight, CBCC’s Leo Viens was the winner with Johnnies, Sam Cooper and Nicholas Thorp tying for second. Overall the Johnnies won 52 percent of their Golf Croquet games and Chesapeake Bay won 48 percent.

According to tournament director Macey White, “The Johnnies promise to come back again next year for a rematch.”

The Chesapeake Bay Croquet club welcomes guests on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday afternoons to come and learn to play. No cost, no special attire required and CBCC has all the equipment.

Chesapeake Bay will host several tournaments this year that the public is invited to attend at no charge. On May 1-3, the first ever Professional Croquet tour event will be held at CBCC where the top players in the U.S. will compete for cash prizes. CBCC will also host an American 6-Wicket Regional tournament on May 8-11, and the USCA “Association Croquet” Nationals on May 17-23. A United States Croquet Association school for beginners will be held on May 25-27 and a training tournament for beginner players on May 28-31.

This fall, CBCC will host the 2020 Women’s International Friendship Cup on Oct. 22-25. The best female players from all over the world will be coming to Middlesex County to teach American women the game of Golf Croquet and to play in a tournament.

For more information on how to get involved with croquet, contact Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club at maceywhite@gmail.com.