BUDE Croquet Club enjoyed its most successful year in 2025, a mere eight years since its formation and in only its second season of competing in the regional leagues of the South West Federation of Croquet Clubs.

The Handicap League team repeated its 2024 achievement of winning the South West section unbeaten, but narrowly lost in the quarter-final against eventual regional winners Swanage.

The Higher Handicap League team, having finished as runners up in 2024, topped the league this year, winning all their matches. In the quarter-final, Swanage were overcome at Sidmouth, and Taunton were beaten in the semi-final on their own ground. The final against Broadwas from Worcestershire also took place at Taunton, and saw the Cornish outfit win their first ever major trophy.

On the national circuit, Bobbo Peers and Martin French won tournaments at Broadwas and Budleigh. French beat current England player Aston Wade while representing Devon and Andy Middleton and Peers represented Bude in the team challenge at Sidmouth.

Within the club, Peers won the Benefactor’s Tournament and Most Improved Player, and French the clubman award for his outstanding contribution. Summer and Winter Series trophies were won by Tim Benson and Steve Thie, while Pete Cash crowned an excellent debut year by winning The Haig Cup (singles), with the Nelson Cup (doubles) going to Frances Hornblow and Val Langdown.

The supreme accolade came in November when Croquet England announced Bude as national winners of the biennial Millennium Award, their most prestigious trophy for achievement on and off the field of play.

This year, after major refurbishment of the lawns, Bude will be competing in four leagues as well as hosting two national tournaments, another indication of our ambitious, forward-looking plans to cement the club’s growing reputation on the croquet circuit.