MULTI-SPORTS


Lawn number three at the Compton Club is


”


always ‘centre court’ for big matches, bang in


front of the pavilion and the one that runs the truest


The standard size of a croquet lawn is 35 yards long and 28 yards wide, a perfect 5:4 ratio. Hoops are set seven yards apart. This April, as every year, John topdressed the lawns by spreading and dragmatting a rootzone mixture of 60% sand and 40% soil. He says 14 tonnes were used to cover all five of the club’s lawns.


John is very much a fine turf professional and proud that he has raised the level of the playing surfaces to meet international standards. He’s grown to like the game too and is now in his fourth season as a player. The Compton Club last had the privilege of hosting World Tournament matches back in 2004. The Southwick Club to the west of Brighton is the main venue for this year’s. Other matches are being played in Tunbridge Wells.


Croquet has always been part of


Significant event that it is, this summer’s World Cup will not catch public attention. It is not a sport with a non-playing fan base. The Saffrons is not expecting crowd control issues


” Snooker on grass! 96 PC June/July 2019 The Compton Club is one of three hosting the World Cup


Eastbourne, since the 1880s, and part of Saffrons since it moved here from Devonshire Park in 1906. Today’s lawns are the same ones that were created then. The club continues to flourish with currently about 70 full-time members. Lawn number three at the Compton Club is always ‘centre court’ for big matches, bang in front of the pavilion. John says it is the one that runs the truest and, as much as possible, he tries to keep players off it for practising. It looks immaculate, but then so do the other four lawns, thanks to John’s hard work and dedication.


Croquet has an image as a game for seniors. This is quite wrong. It attracts people of all ages, many in their twenties, especially at international level. Significant event that it is, this summer’s


World Cup will not catch public attention. It is not a sport with a non-playing fan base. The Saffrons is not expecting crowd control issues. There will, however, be players from all around the globe competing fiercely here come late July. Hushed but intense, that’s the way John likes it, and so does the world of croquet. It signifies the perpetual quality of this south coast sports haven. As I leave, to my right is the serenity of


John’s croquet lawns awaiting serious international battle: to my left, Eastbourne Cricket Club’s historic ground transformed into a 4,000-seat arena. Sport is the spice of life here at the Saffrons.


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