Cherry Creek’s Inclusive, Socializing Anniversary Tournament Offers Unadulterated Joy To Play Or Watch
by Glen Richardson
Lure Of The Mallet: Players can’t resist joining in the croquet battles. Friends and liquidcourage make smacking the balls around all the more fun.
Mallets rise, mallets fall. Moreover, it’s fun, offbeat and downright zany! The weird, wonderful and absolutely entertaining-exciting annual summer Wicket & Stick It games are returning to Cherry Creek North this month.
If you live in the Cherry Creek Valley and enjoy playing or watching competitive croquet, chances are you’ve marked your calendar for the annual Cherry Creek competition, Colorado’s largest croquet tournament. Widely considered one of the top croquet tournaments in the Rocky Mountain West, it’s being played for the 10th year Aug. 3, 2:30-7 p.m.
The Outdoor Plaza behind The Container Store at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center is again where the games will be played. The inclusive and unique fundraiser for the Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce gives attendees the chance to win amazing prizes while enjoying fabulous food and refreshing beverages. Players and spectators receive drink tickets to enjoy a variety of premium beverages including Stella Artois and wine as well as tantalizing morsels from Cherry Creek area restaurants including the California Pizza Kitchen, Sol Mexican Cocina, Brightmarten and others. Moreover, a variety of ticket packages are available.
Round Robin Format
Silver Cup Winners: Celebrating winning last year’s tournament are Karrie Fletcher and Charlie Kercheval with Alpine Bank.
A new Round Robin format for the 10th Anniversary edition guarantees players three games. A total of 64 teams, each with two people, will vie for the Wicket & Stick It Silver Cup. Prizes are also awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place croquet teams. In addition there are a variety of individual player honors including Best Wicket Shot. Start times for players are 3 p.m. or 4:15 p.m.
Sports fans that only want to watch the action have a choice of being either a general admission spectator or live it up as VIP spectator. General admission spectators receive unlimited food and one drink ticket. Or for an extremely enjoyable day where you can participate in Wicket & Stick It’s exciting social life, choose to be a VIP spectator. As a VIP you receive unlimited food and drinks plus a goody bag. Moreover you also get exclusive seating.
General Admission players also receive unlimited food; two drink tickets and the opportunity to play in three guaranteed games. Players choosing the VIP option receive unlimited drinks with personal beverage service plus unlimited food and a goody bag. In addition they receive exclusive seating.
Instructions Offered
VIP Mallet Mavens: For a fun, enjoyable day at the Wicket & Stick It games join in the exciting social life by becoming a VIP spectator or player.
Not sure that you have the skill to become a croquet legend? Not to worry, the Cherry Creek Chamber will have croquet referees on hand to provide instruction for the game’s newbies.
To get ready for the infamous Wicket & Stick It competition, many who take croquet seriously and are planning to play, seized the opportunity to take free lessons along with Chamber members. The Cherry Creek Chamber provided lessons and treats on Monday nights last month (July) at the Denver Croquet Club in Wash Park to prepare for the big tournament.
Each of the game’s 64 teams will have two players. Don’t have a team, but still want to chase croquet glory? Don’t worry, the Wicket & Stick It staff will find you a partner. Collaboration, capitulation and conflict are all dynamics of playing croquet with another person, and sound communication can lay the path to victory and the treasured Silver Cup.
Fun Set And Match
For many the game of croquet may conjure up visions of a well-mannered and civilized sport — stoic players in prim and proper dress. Not these days and certainly not at the Wicket & Stick It games. Instead it’s a fun, festive, offbeat, social event that’s just a lot of enjoyment.
Remember Lewis Carroll featured a surreal version of the game in Alice in Wonderland. A hedgehog was used as the ball and a flamingo as the mallet, while soldiers doubled over to make the hoops.
Whether you’re a spectator or a player that doesn’t rack up wicket points (the scoring moniker) you can still be a winner. Thus whether you join a team or attend as a spectator plan to dress for the occasion. Reason: Awards are also being given out for the Best Dressed attendee and the one with the Best Hat.
Unique, Historic Game
Racking Up Wicket Points: The joy of making a crazy, complicated shot is thrilling and joyous.3
The sport can best be described as a combination of golf (putting skills), chess (strategy) and billiards (angle play). While croquet requires a great amount of skill, few games provide more unadulterated joy to play or watch. Moreover, croquet was the first outdoor sport to embrace equality, allowing both sexes to play the game on an equal footing.
Croquet is believed to have started in Ireland in the 1830s. The game was introduced to England from Ireland in 1852. In the late 1970s, croquet began to be played as a competitive sport in the U.S. and Canada.
The front lawn of Donald Trump’s “winter white house” accommodates several reduced-size courses. Members of the National Croquet Center once played there as “limited reciprocal members.”
In 1985, croquet came to Denver with the vision of Sparky O’Dea who formed the Park Hill Croquet Club. Playing first in Denver’s City Park the club later moved to the big flower garden in Washington Park. They soon discovered the fenced Lawn Bowling Green and today share the space with the Lawn Bowling Club. Information: 303-388-6022.
No Rest For The Wicket: Using a mallet to hit a ball through a hoop may not sound exciting, but once players pick up a mallet it’s hard to put down.
Croquet Attire: Prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat help but it’s your craziest friends that bring out the laughter and smiles and make the games enjoyable.