Never mind golf, tennis and basketball - Sussex croquet players are back in action too

The peculiarly British sport of croquet is taking baby steps to return from the coronavirus lockdown, away from the glare of publicity.
Uckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - HillphotographyUckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - Hillphotography
Uckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - Hillphotography

Now with the government's easing of restrictions put in place to slow the spread of Covid-19 paved the way for croquet to resume.

The Croquet Association welcomed the chance to start up again, marketing itself as an ideal sport in unusual times.

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Media reports on lockdown easing have focused on sports like golf, tennis and basketball, with the glaring omission of croquet, which is the perfect 'social-distancing' sport.

Uckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - HillphotographyUckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - Hillphotography
Uckfield U3A croquet group in action / Picture: Ron Hill - Hillphotography

A croquet lawn is twice the size of a tennis court, so playing against a member of your household, or one other person from outside your household, is no problem at all.

Croquet is mainly played in a season lasting between spring and autumn and so on a very windy and chilly day in mid-summer at the Victoria Pleasure Ground, Uckfield U3A Croquet Group took to the lawn to get in some much needed playing time.

Croquet in the U3A takes many forms. Some U3As have a croquet group that uses the equipment and facilities at their local croquet club and they have a slot there each week or every two weeks during the season..

Other U3As develop their own croquet club, usually with help from the national Croquet Association’s development officer.

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