Bury Croquet Club member making his mark on the game

Gediminas Smolskas, 37, originally from Lithuania, has only been playing the sport for four years and has lived in England for seven years.

Mr Smolskas, known as Ged, became interested in croquet during a walk in Coronation Park, Radcliffe, during the pandemic.

He and his wife Gabi watched two club members practicing and decided to find out more about the sport.

After the lockdown, the couple joined the club and started attending coaching sessions with club coach Chris Alvey.

It soon became clear that Mr Smolskas had a talent for the game, particularly association croquet.

He took part in club sessions and internal leagues and also played in the club’s Longman Cup and Mary Rose teams, two of the sport’s "prestigious" tournaments.

He received ongoing coaching from Mr Alvey and Paul Rigge of the North West Federation of Croquet Clubs.

He then started to become involved in national tournaments, and this season has been travelling the country with his wife Gabi, winning nine tournaments and achieving a zero handicap.

He has an "attacking" style of play and said he was "pleased to end the 2024 season beating a more experienced lower handicap opponent".

When asked how he found the time to take part in so many tournaments around the country, Mr Smolskas said: "By sacrificing anything else – just working and playing then croquet, and my wife comes with me otherwise I wouldn’t spend any time with her."

Mrs Smolskas also acts as a driver after a "long day of croquet, advising, and encouraging".

Mr Smolskas, who now lives in Hindley, believes that his job as a land surveyor, which involves measuring, angles, and distance judgment, helps with his croquet as they are an "important aspect" of the game.

Croquet is not a sport played in his home country, except at garden parties.

Mr Smolskas played American pool for 10 years, and also snooker, both of which have "elements based on croquet".

His croquet ambition is to one day play in America, which has many "excellent" venues for the sport, with the ultimate ambition of wearing an England team shirt.

In the meantime, his plans for the 2025 season are to play ‘A’ class tournaments and win more trophies.

Bury Croquet Club chairman Roy Spencer said: "The club was very pleased to welcome Ged and Gabi to the club and have been both impressed and proud of Ged’s achievements.

"It just proves that contrary to widely held misconceptions Croquet is a sport for everyone."

Further details of the club, which has venues in Radcliffe and Elton, can be found on the club's website.