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*There are several variations of croquet currently played, differing in the
scoring systems, order of shots, and layout (particularly in social games where
play must be adapted to smaller-than-standard playing courts). Two forms of the
game, Association Croquet and Golf Croquet, have rules that are agreed
internationally and are played in many countries around the world. More unusual
variations of the game include Mondo Croquet, eXtreme Croquet, and Bicycle
Croquet. Gateball, played mainly in the Far East, can also be regarded as a
croquet variant.
As well as club-level games, there are regular world championships and
international matches between croquet-playing countries. The sport has
particularly strong followings in the UK, USA, New Zealand and Australia; every
four years, these countries play the MacRobertson Shield tournament. Many other
countries also play.
Croquet is popularly believed to be viciously competitive. This may derive from
the fact that (unlike golf) players will often attempt to move their opponents'
balls to unfavourable positions. However, purely negative play is rarely a
winning strategy: successful players (in all versions other than Golf Croquet)
will use all four balls to set up a break for themselves, rather than simply
making life as difficult as possible for their opponents. At championship
standard Association Croquet, players can often make all 26 points (13 for each
ball) in two turns.
Unlike most sports, men and women compete and are ranked together. Three women
have won the British Open Championship: Lily Gower in 1905, Dorothy Steel in
1925, 1933, 1935 and 1936, and Hope Rotherham in 1960. While male players are in
the majority at club level in England, the opposite is the case in Australia and
New Zealand. The highest-ranked female player in the world is currently (August
2008) Jenny Clarke of New Zealand.
*information from wikipedia
Visit Brodsworth Hall Enchanted Garden Friday 19th - Sunday 28th October 2007
6.30pm - 8.30pm
Visit these fabulous and enchanted gardens, find the fairies, enjoy the formal
garden and the fernery. Music wafts around the gardens as you enjoy the sights
and sounds.
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Brodsworth Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brodsworth Hall, situated 5 miles to the North West of Doncaster, in South
Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, is one of the most complete surviving examples
of a Victorian Country House in England, and remains virtually unchanged since
the 1860s. It was designed by an Italian architect Chevalier Casentini.
There are over 30 rooms, ranging from grand reception rooms with their original
furnishings, right through to the servants quarters. The house sits within
Victorian period gardens which are used for special events throughout the
summer.
Brodsworth was originally a grand residence for its owner Charles Sabine
Augustus Thellusson, who inherited the estate in 1859.
After the First World War spiralling costs meant that parts of the House were
gradually closed down, and started to fall into decay, until English Heritage
took over the Hall.
The last actual resident of the house was Sylvia Grant-Dalton (descendant of
Charles Sabine Augustus Thellusson), who fought a losing battle against
subsidence and leaking roofs for 56 years. Costs began to mount. Following her
death in 1988, English Heritage then made the bold but highly successful
decision to conserve the interiors 'as found' rather than replacing or restoring
them, recounting the tale of how a once opulent Victorian house grew comfortably
old and inviting to all. They took the decision to conserve rather than restore
the house.
The family and their descendants still live within the grounds in another house
that was built later.
The superb model village of Woodlands is nearby. Woodlands was originally built
for the miners at Brodsworth Colliery.
>> visit
Brodsworth Hall website
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