Sirmoor Croquet 8th July 2025

A suitably sartorial band of Sirmoorees gathered at a sun-soaked Hurlingham on 8th July. John Swanston was the ‘early bird, Jon Aslett and Sophie, arrived fresh from a night at ‘The Great Gadsby, Bruce from Bristol, the Lavenders from Woking and Mark, David and Jo from rather closer to home.

Lunch was so bubbling with Sirmoor socialising that we almost decided to forego the croquet –but the lure of the immaculately manicured courts could not be resisted.

In Gladiatorial style Mark and Christopher chose their teams – with as usual, Golf Croquet being the chosen form of play.

In Round 1 Mark and Jon vanquished John and David while Christopher and Sophie accounted for Jackers and Griselda.

Round 2 saw Christopher and Sophie triumph over Mark and Jon with Sophie incredibly, running two hoops from 25 yards! Meanwhile John and David ran out winners over Jackers and Griselda.

Thus, a narrow victory for Christopher’s team went into the records.

With the main event decided the finale was a ‘friendly’ game with Christopher and Sophie easing past David and John – with Sophie adding yet another 25 yard running of a hoop – a hugely impressive hat-trick! Meanwhile the ‘Bhuro Toli’ of Mark and Jon narrowly overcame the elegant pairing of Jackers and Griselda.
There followed our traditional cream tea and scones, after which we disbursed with happy memories of hoops run well and not so well – and much Sirmoor good humour and ‘gaph saph’.

The undoubted stars of the day were Sophie and Jon. Sophie for her peerless running of three hoops from 25 yards and Jon- defying the years as usual – for his delicate and clinical play around the hoops.

Jai Sirmoor !