Volunteers rescue pre-war ball game from oblivion
‘2nd Wester-Amstel Croquet Tournament’
already scheduled for next year
POLITE APPLAUSE CAN BE HEARD for every successful, as well as less successful, shot. The“1st Wester-Amstel Croquet Tournament”has begun. Together with a few other country estates, an affinity for this traditional ball game has quickly taken root. A fanatical group of volunteers, led by British-born Ben Silburn, has annexed the Taxus Lawn and designated it a no-go area for us laypeople. How all this could have happened in such a short time is anyone's guess..
But here we are. Ben has been meticulously trimming the grass with nail scissors right up until the last minute, while we have been extensively taste-testing his homemade cucumber sandwiches and the curious drink known as Pimm’s. Personally, I’m mostly here for the latter, and I’ve forgotten my almost-mandatory hat, but since I’m representing The Press, I sit, like everyone else, on the edge of my folding chair and clap along merrily.
Croquet seems to me as if it were specially designed for the owners of those English country houses with far too many poorly drafting chimneys. They often have an expat background in the Dominions, hence the tropical white of their outfits. For the gentlemen, this consists of – in my opinion – overly warm tweed and linen, and frilly things in booties for the ladies. And all of them wear hats... Let's not forget the hats!
And here come the pleasantly swishing, mostly crustless sandwiches! They have a kind of dazzling whiteness that I find particularly appealing from time to time. But that Pimm’s… is the white wine already chilled?
The clapping is getting louder now. I didn't read the rules beforehand so that I could experience the atmosphere unfiltered. It now appears that we are already in the second (or third) half. Insofar as the participants arrived in pairs and were then mixed, a division between the higher echelon and the benchwarmers is now becoming apparent. The “losers” in particular are starting to interfere with the leadership, but Master Ben is correct and unyielding.
Whereas the course was laid out quietly by a group of insiders, the scoring is a bit more heated; it turns out that everyone has kept track of the scores. For me, it remains a mystery. Fortunately, everyone ultimately agrees and the winner goes home with the challenge cup….or rather, a silver sugar sprinkler.
Because the“2nd Wester-Amstel Croquet Tournament”for next year is already in the planning stages. Croquet is here to stay!
… De hoofdrolspelers vlnr: winnaar Wim Dröge van Huis Landfort, Master of Croquet Ben Silburn, prijsuitreiker Caroline Greve van buitenplaats Berg en Vaart, land- en gastheer Søren Ludvig Movig, finalisten Frits Roest en Arjen Valstar, alledrie van Wester-Amstel …
Text by: Ruud Vrielink
Photos by: Rinke van Zanden