Croquet Match

Every year the Naval Academy (Midshipmen) and the students at St. Johns (Johnnies) have a Croquet Match.  It started back in 1982.

Here's the story:

"In the fall of my freshman year at St. John's, I went over to the academy to watch a pep rally the Mids were having before the Army-Navy football game," he said. "On the way home, as I was walking near the commandant of midshipmen, Adm. Leon "Bud" Edney; a stirring conversation ensued about the Mids' athletic prowess and how they could beat the Johnnies in any sport.
"That evening passed, but my mind remained fixed on coming up with a sport that would create an opportunity for students from both schools to get to know one another via a friendly competition," he said. "Then it came to me: What about croquet? The St. John's student government challenged the Brigade to a match and it was accepted. I guess you could say the rest is history."


We've gone most years since living here. It seems the entire town comes and sets up tables, tents, & picnic blankets.  It's upscale tailgating. :)  One group brings a tent and hangs a real chandelier from the center of it every year. Everyone dresses up in hats & pretty dresses.  The men wear their "Nantucket Reds" or seersucker & make sure they have their bowties. (I, of course, stay true to myself in jeans, tshirts, or sweaters...haha!).  The mids wear their Navy uniforms and the Johnnies pick a different, crazy, themed outfit to contrast the mids stiff, white uniforms.  It's a fun, quirky event that we never want to miss!

This year we went beyond the picnic blanket and brought a card table & set up some food.

Here are my pineapple with strawberry icing cupcakes (before the icing started melting in the sun!) and our fruit & cheese platter (before the cheese started melting in the sun!) :)

Susan arrives in style. I LOVE her hat! Think I need one for the beach this summer!

Sweet Laird...

Finlay making "soup" with Susan.

One Cool Dude.

OK. This is inappropriate, but too funny! He found this balloon all by himself.  Oh my!

Again, not so appropriate. Checking out the cooler. He went for the beer instead of the water, soda, etc.

So many people!

Finlay trying to get onto the field.

Look closely to the guy on the right. We're trying to figure out what the Johnnies uniform was this year. We think they went with a 70s basketball uniform?