2023 AC Women’s World Championship Entry Information

The 2023 AC Women's World Championship will be held between 7 - 14 January 2023 at three clubs in Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, head-quartered at the six lawn United Croquet Club. The other two clubs are St James Croquet Club, 2 courts and Cashmere Croquet Club, 3 courts.

Main Event
The event capacity is 40 players. The entry fee for successful entrants will be £96.00.

Format
Block play:    4 blocks of 10 players playing single games over 3 days.  The top 4 in each block will qualify for the Knock-Out Stage.
The blocks will rotate around the venues.

Knock-Out:   The Knock-Out Stage will comprise 16 players.  Seeding will be Grade-Based Seeding in accordance with Appendix 7 Section A of the WCF Sports Regulations.

Round 1 will consist of matches of best-of-three games. The quarter-finals will consist of matches of best-of-three or best-of-five games at the discretion of the Tournament Manager.  The semi-finals and final will consist of matches of best-of-five games if time permits.

Plate:   Entry will be open to those that do not qualify for the Championship Knock-Out Stage.  It will consist of block play and matches will be single games.  It will be followed by a knock-out stage of at least semi-finals and a final which will consist of matches of  best-of-three games.

Bowl:  Entry will be open to the 1st round losers in the Knock-Out Stage.  It will be a knock-out event and matches will be best-of-three games.

Shield:  Entry will be open to the 2nd round losers in the Knock-Out Stage.  It will be a knock-out event and matches will be best-of-three games.

Venues:  All Knock-Out main event matches will be played at the United Croquet Club, Christchurch.

Day 4:   This day will be reserved for block play-offs and if possible, the Plate block games will be started  at the other venues.

Use of double banking: the main event Knock-Out will be single-banked, apart from the first round.  The main event blocks will be double banked and other events will depend on detailed schedules. The Manager will have the right to double bank as necessary in order to ensure the tournament stays on schedule.

Hoops:  Atkins Quadway set at the largest ball per court plus 1/32 inch with an upward tolerance of 1/64 inch.

Qualifying Tournament
The Qualifying Tournament will be held in Wellington, North Island, New Zealand (venue tbc) between 3 - 5 January 2023. Further details to follow.

Entry Method Main Event
Players should submit their availability to their Member Governing Body in accordance with their published entry method. Any applicants from non-Member countries should email their availability, by the response date, to secretary@worldcroquet.org.

Player Information
Successful entrants should note that contact details, a photograph and a short bio for the programme, must be provided to the Secretary-General as per the published timetable.

Main Event Key Dates

Invitation Date

01/06/2022

This is the date that Members will be formally invited to send players to participate in this event.

Response Date

13/07/2022

This is the date by which Member nominations for Ranking and Wild Card places must have been received by the WCF Management Committee. Members must also specify the number of Membership Places they wish to take up and RCO's should advise if they would like to request a Membership Place.

Allocation Date

28/07/2022

The World Ranking List to be used to determine the initial allocation of Ranking Places is that published at the end of the Allocation Date. (Note: 1).

Announcment Date

31/07/2022

Announcement made early to assist with VISAs and planning.

Closing Date

11/09/2022

This is the last date Members can nominate players for their Membership Places. Within 1 to 2 days the MC will announce recipients of Membership Places and Replacement Ranking Places.

Player Contact Details & Bios

10/10/2022

This is the date by which players are asked to provide their contact details, bio's and a headshot photo

Entry Fee Due Date

12/10/2022

Per Sports Regn Appendix 2 6.1. Any players awarded a place on the Announcement Date will lose their place if they have not paid by this date.

Main Event Cut-off Date

22/11/2022

This is the date after which returned places are generally filled by creating extra Qualifier Places instead of Replacement Ranking Places.

Qualifer Key Dates

Qualifier Entries open

tbc

Further information on how to enter will follow shortly

Qualifier Allocation Date

03/11/2022

Entries received by this date will be accepted in ranking position order as shown in the Qualifier Ranking List.

Qualifier Closing Date

19/12/2022

Last date any players will be accepted into this event.

Key Personnel

Tournament Director

Owen Evans

Tournament Manager

Chris Clarke

WCF Event Lead

Graeme Roberts

Tournament Referee

Graeme Roberts

Pandemic
There is still some risk that travel or other restrictions arising as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic may cause the cancellation of the Event, although this is not anticipated unless the global situation changes. Players are advised that any expenditure incurred is at their own risk.

Players will be expected to comply with whatever rules the government and/or Croquet New Zealand have in place.

Further information about the event, including the venues, local accommodation and attractions, transport links, the event timetable (including social events) and any other relevant information, will be published nearer the start date.