Instead of the normal report on the games results, a description of how two of the five variances of the game of croquet are played is provided for our readers.

Croquet is a game of skills and tactics, playing coloured balls through six hoops, one hoop at each corner and two hoops along the centre line of a lawn croquet court, plus a centre peg. A wooden mallet is used to strike the ball. The game is started by each ball being played one metre from the sidelines (association croquet) or from a corner flag (golf croquet).

Association Croquet

The association version of croquet is played as either singles or doubles using four balls. One team plays with blue and black balls versus the other team playing with red and yellow balls. Two games can be played on the one court concurrently whereby additional balls of green and brown versus pink and white are used in the second game. Coloured clips are clipped onto the top of the hoops to indicate which hoop is next being played for that colour ball. The object of the game is for each team (singles or doubles) to play both balls in any sequence through all six hoops in two rounds and then hit the centre peg. Each ball through a hoop scores a point. Hence the two balls for a team can score a maximum total of 26 points, whereby that team is the winner and the game is over. A time limit of two to three hours is usually placed on each game, at which time the team with the most points is declared the winner.

Each time a player hits a ball (a ball only of that player's team), that ball may:-

(i) score its next hoop; or

(ii) hit another ball (any of the other three colours), which is called a 'roquet', whereby the player has two extra shots, the first shot starting with the two balls touching (called a 'croquet' stroke) and the second shot played to the player's advantage in attempting to score a hoop; or

(iii) Achieve neither, when that player's turn ends.

Each time a player scores a hoop that player has a further shot, called a continuation. When in playing a team's ball and that ball goes over the sideline, except with a 'roquet' shot, that player's turn ends. All balls going over the sideline are replaced again one metre in from the sideline.

In croquet there are also 'foul shots' and 'offside' rules. There are 20 rules on faults or fouls for association croquet There is no offside in association croquet. Handicaps and bisques (free shots) are applied for nominated events.

Golf Croquet

The golf version of croquet is also played as either singles or doubles using the same four coloured balls and the same set of six hoops. There are no 'roquet' or 'croquet' shots for golf croquet and each player plays that player's designated ball in turn. Each time a player plays a ball (a ball only of that player's team), that ball may:-

(i) score its next hoop; or

(ii) hit another ball (any of the other three colours), either to force an opponent's ball away from the vicinity of the hoop and/or place the played ball to best advantage to score a hoop; or

(iii) gain some other advantage in ball placement, e.g., block an opponent's ball, to enable an attempt to be made to score a hoop on the next turn.

Coloured clips of the colour of each teams' main ball (blue, yellow, green, pink) are clipped onto the top of the hoops to indicate a scored hoop. The object of the game is for each team (singles or doubles) to play both balls in sequence until a hoop is scored. Each ball through a hoop scores a point.

When a team has accumulated seven points that team is declared the winner and the game is over. A time limit of two to three hours can be placed on each game, at which time the team with the most points is declared the winner.