YORK Croquet Club has been chosen as the site for the new 'Northern Croquet Academy'.

Only two other venues boast Academies which are endorsed by the game’s national governing body, the Croquet Association, and both are on the south coast.

The new academy at Scarcroft Green will aim to become the primary centre for croquet coaching and development in the north of England.

Cliff Jones, the number one croquet coach in England, inaugurated the new academy with a course on the 'psychology of winning'.

Participants included players from East Anglia and the Midlands as well across the North.

John Harris, the chairman of York Croquet Club, will also double as co-ordinator for the Northern Croquet Academy.

"Croquet is an increasing popular game, one of the few which can be played on equal terms by people regardless of gender or age," he said. "The new croquet season is just beginning so this is an excellent time for anyone thinking of taking up the game to do so."

Both York Croquet Club and the Northern Academy are running introductory courses in 2017. The first starts on Tuesday April 18. For more details visit www.yorkcroquet.org or ring John Harris on 01904 620211.