NAILSEA and District Croquet Club started its new season with soup and rolls, followed by an afternoon's golf croquet, with some 40 members taking part.

NAILSEA and District Croquet Club started its new season with soup and rolls, followed by an afternoon's golf croquet, with some 40 members taking part.

The following day, 12 members took part in a charity one-ball competition, which was won by Brian Roynon with five wins out of six, followed by Brian McCausland with four wins.

Roynon is not available for the final at Winchester on May 8, so McCausland is taking his place. This year the event is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Last Wednesday Nailsea held its first Wild Wednesday of the season. The winner was Brian McCausland with 90 points, followed by Geoff Hughes on 84, Jim Gregory, 78, and Kathy Wallace, 76.

On Sunday the club hosted the South West Federation Short Croquet Team Event. Three Nailsea teams took part and there were visiting teams from Bath, Dyffryn, Fowey, Barnstaple, Broadwas and two teams from Kington Langley.

The competition is divided into two divisions. After three rounds the Trendlewood team had a commanding lead with 10 wins, with Nailsea in second place with five.

In round four, Trendlewood had a bye and Nailsea gained two more wins. The two Nailsea teams played each other in the final round. It was just possible for Nailsea to beat Trendlewood if they won all their games in the final round. Nailsea won three of the four games, but the Trendlewood captain, Kathy Wallace, won the one game needed to secure victory for her team.

Final result: Trendlewood 11 wins, Nailsea 10, Bath 9, Dyffryn 6, Fowey 4.

The second division was close all the way through and going into the final round Kington Langley's first and second teams both had eight wins, followed by Avening on seven. In the final round Avening drew 2-2 against Kington Langley's second team, while Barnstaple had a surprising 3-1 victory over Kington Langley's first team.

Final result: Kington Langley 2nd 10 wins, Avening 9, Kington Langley 1st 9, Barnstaple 6, Broadwas 6.

Kington Langley 2nd team will be promoted to the first division next year and will take the place of Fowey.

Carl Jones, who joined the Nailsea club two years ago, had a particularly good day, winning all four of his games for the Avening team.

Nailsea Croquet Club is holding an open day on Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. Visitors are welcome to come and try out the game at the club's lawns behind Avening Close, off Trendlewood Way. All equipment will be provided, but please wear flat-soled shoes.