Maggie Cowman was an amazing sportsperson having represented England at cricket and had received a double lung transplant at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. In spite of this, she was an accomplished croquet player representing both Ripon Spa Hotel Croquet Club in matches and England at the Women’s World Championships.
The hotel croquet club was disbanded during the pandemic and Maggie was a founder member of Ripon Spa Croquet Club, which replaced it. She passed away in 2022 and it was thought fitting to host an annual event in her honour and also to raise funds for the Freeman’s sports teams. After four years of hosting The Maggie Cowman Festival of croquet and raising £1,920 for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association in Maggie’s name we are making a change.
This year, the recipient of monies raised at this event will be MacMillan Cancer Support.
As a club we sadly have had members who have needed help from this charity in many ways. Not only does MacMillan Cancer Support provide nurses at critical times, it also provides invaluable support for patients and their families with counselling, advice, care and much, much more.
We feel, as a club, that it is right to acknowledge the superb work of this organisation and how it has benefited past loved members and continues to support some of our current members and their families.
The fifth Maggie Cowman Festival of Croquet is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday 7th and 8th September 2026 at Studley Royal Cricket Club the home of Ripon Spa Croquet Club. Dates for your croquet diary.
Reports for earlier years can be accessed by clicking on the relevant year below.