Croquet North (CN) is a regional federation of croquet clubs in the North-East of England. The objective of the Federation is to promote the game of croquet in the North of England by providing a forum and focus for its member clubs.
Whether an experienced player, a beginner or just curious about Croquet, you will find a friendly welcome at any club in Croquet North.[Note: In 2023 the Croquet Association was reconstituted as Croquet England (CqE)]
The croquet season typically runs from April to September, although some clubs may have some play during the winter months when weather allows. Member clubs are: Alnmouth, Auckland, Backworth, Bamburgh, Belsay Hall, Croquet Durham, Jarrow, Middlesbrough, and Tyneside. Our Clubs Page provides brief information on each club and, for several of them, a link to the club’s own website.
Clubs organise competitive play to suit all levels, excellent coaching and many opportunities to play for relaxation, friendship and fitness. New members are always welcome and most clubs provide excellent introductory and corporate sessions with all equipment provided. Beginners courses are a regular feature at most clubs, as are “Come and Try” events and many social activities.
Croquet North organises tournaments and leagues for individuals and club teams. There is a level play Golf Croquet league and a handicap play Association Croquet league for our member clubs. Some of our clubs are also involved in the East Pennines League along with some clubs from the North West Federation.
There are several Croquet North championships each season for individual members of CN clubs, as well as some doubles tournaments. Entry forms for these are generally available around April each year. Our Fixtures page lists CN events for the current/forthcoming season and gets updated with results and links to further information.
Whilst many members play Croquet for relaxation and meeting friends, others play competitively in the many league teams and regional tournaments. This website aims to provide an up to date news service of croquet activities within the North East as well as developing an historical archive of the game in the region.
The Federation provides the essential link between the region and the national governing body of the game – Croquet England.
Croquet is one of the finest outdoor sports. It is a friendly game combining ball skills as well as tactics, it’s relatively easy to understand, and it’s fun to play.
We are always pleased to receive new members, of any age or level of experience from beginner to advanced. If you are an experienced club or match player, please click on our club section to learn more about the club and how to get in touch.
If you are thinking of taking up croquet from scratch, please keep reading this section for a brief introduction to the game and its benefits.
Why play croquet?
Croquet is an enjoyable, sociable game that can be played by people of any age and of either sex.
There are two principal forms of the game – Association and Golf.
Association Croquet is a game of complex strategy and high levels of skill, and is similar in many ways to games like snooker or pool.
Golf Croquet is quick to learn, but requires accuracy and tactics to master.
Both forms of the game may be played as singles or doubles and many people enjoy playing both, as skills learned in one form of the game may be applied to the other.
Croquet’s effective handicap system recognises smart thinking as much as physical skill, so everyone has a good chance of winning.
As with any game, the best players probably start young, but many take it up after retiring from more energetic pursuits. It can be as skilful as you want it to be – advanced players can take it very seriously, but most club members probably see it as a relaxing and friendly way of passing an afternoon.
Interested in playing?
Look at the available clubs and see what is on offer near you.