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1994 AC World Championship – Winner: Robert Fulford (ENG)

The 5th WCF Association Croquet World Championship
Venue: Carden Park, Chesire, England
Dates: 10-17 August 1994

Champion: Robert Fulford (England)

Finalist: Chris Clarke (England)

Full results can be found on the Croquet Records Website: 1994 AC World Championship

Main Event Results

Round 1

RL Bamford beat P Fellows +16, +26tp

B Northey beat PE Day -17, +4, +3

RI Fulford beat RV Jackson +26tp, +20

P Cordingley beat R Carter +15, +7

DB Maugham beat R Thomas +25tp, +25

M Taylor beat ID Bond +16, +17

DA Cornelius beat CN Williams +26tp, +26

AJ Westerby beat PJ Skinley +, +

S Williams beat AS Le Moignan +24tp, opp scr

S Comish beat DK Openshaw +15, +17tp

DJ Goacher beat JS Dyer +4, +1

M Kobelt beat IJ Burridge +20, -17, +2

CJ Irwin beat R Rebuschatis +26, +23

J Stark beat SG Jones +4tp, +8tp

CD Clarke beat G Garlick +26, +26tp

SN Mulliner beat D Grimsley +26tp, +17tp

Round 2

Bamford beat Northey +26tp, +13tpo

Fulford beat Cordingley +26tp, +26tp

Taylor beat Maugham +26, +7tp

Westerby beat Cornelius -24, +17tp, +25tp

Comish beat S Williams +26stp, +9

Kobelt beat Goacher +4, +17

Irwin beat Stark +26tp, +9tpo

Clarke beat Mulliner +17, -25tp, +26tp

Round 3

Fulford beat Bamford -25tp, +26tp, +5tp

Westerby beat Taylor +25tp, +7otp

Comish beat Kobelt -26tp, +26tp, +17

Clarke beat Irwin -25tp, +26tp, +11tpo

Semi Finals

Fulford beat Westerby +17tp, -17tp, +26tp, +20qp

Clarke beat Comish -26tp, +8tpo, +26, -25tp, +13tpo

Final

Fulford beat Clarke -12tpo, +12tp, +18tp, +13

 

 

The Score Board at Carden Park

Robert Fulford with trophy

1992 AC World Championship – Winner: Robert Fulford (ENG)

The 4th WCF Association Croquet World Championship
Venue: Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Dates: 24-31 May 1992

Champion: Robert Fulford (England)

Finalist: John Walters (England)

Full results can be found on the Croquet Records Website: 1992 AC World Championship

Knock-out Results
Round 1

RI Fulford beat CN Williams +8, +25tp

AJ Westerby beat CD Clarke +26, -14, +17

RV Jackson beat G Bury +9, +9

SN Mulliner beat RL Bamford +25tp, +4

DK Openshaw beat D Bidencope +26, +4

C Pickering beat ST Arkley -20, +26tp, +2

B Northey beat G Bryant +2, +13

JO Walters beat B Chambers -8, +26, +25

Quarter Finals

RI Fulford beat AJ Westerby +20, +3

RV Jackson beat SN Mulliner +26, +5

DK Openshaw beat C Pickering -6, +16, +12

JO Walters beat B Northey +15, +14

Semi Finals

RI Fulford beat RV Jackson +26tp, +7

JO Walters beat DK Openshaw +17, +17

Final

RI Fulford beat JO Walters -5tp, +4tp, +12tp

 

2015 Business Plan

Introduction

The purpose of this Business Plan is to highlight major items for attention in the year ahead. We re-state our vision, review our strengths and weaknesses, and identify realistic actions which will enable the WCF and croquet to move forward.

Vision

The WCF’s vision, set out in WCF Statutes 103.1 remains valid:

Vision

To make croquet a well-known, well-understood, well-respected and well-supported sport in countries throughout the world.

Assessment of the WCF’s current situation

 

Strengths

 

 

Weaknesses
  • Vibrant event schedule
  • Strong demand from players
  • Increasing number of players in many Members
  • Growing popularity of GC
  • Good financial reserves
  • Ready commitment from Members to host events
  • Active volunteer workforce

 
  • Static Membership
  • Several Members have small and static playing populations
  • Few young players
  • Very limited representation in some regions (Central and South America, parts of Africa   and Asia)
  • WCF events require a great deal of volunteer input, and this can be difficult to muster for some Members

 

Opportunities

 

 

Threats
  • Continue improving relationship with Members
  • Find ways to ramp up development in smaller Members
  • Take the sport to a wider audience through TV
  • Growing “over 50s” world population may expand pool of potential recruits
  • Promote GC as a way to increase the number of young players
  • Attract new Members in regions where there is some form of croquet played
  • Attaining 40 Members is now feasible: may unlock World Games, etc.

 
  • Will the growth in internet gaming reduce the number of young people interested in a sport like croquet?
  • Impact of GC on other codes
  • Gateball may compete for attention and limit our growth
  • Recovery from the Global Financial Crisis is modest and obtaining significant event sponsorship remains difficult

Activities

The work of the WCF falls into four main categories, namely:

  • World Championships
  • Development
  • Communication with Members
  • Administration and finance

1.       WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Completed goals in 2014

  • Held successful AC WTC, Over-50 and Women’s GCWCs in 2014.
  • Completed Event Agreements for Under-21 GCWC, GCWC and Women’s ACWC in 2015.
  • Introduced a new allocation procedure for World Championships.
  • Conducted a trial of the Block Seniority Method for seeding GCWCs.

Goals for 2015

  • Hold successful Under-21 GCWC, GCWC and Women’s ACWC in 2015.
  • Complete Event Agreements for ACWC and GCWTC in 2016 and ACWTC in 2017.
  • Re-run the annual bid process through to 2019.
  • Make permanent decision on seeding GCWCs.
  • Update ‘best practice’ guidance for Event Hosts in light of recent player surveys
  • Create Team Event Regulations including the promotion and relegation policy from Topic 15.

2.       DEVELOPMENT

The main requirements for this important area are:

  • Members coming forward with viable capital grant projects or other development      concepts requiring assistance.
  • Volunteers willing to undertake development work.
  • The provision of an adequate budget.

Completed goals

  • Coaching trips were organised to Germany, Latvia and Switzerland.
  • A plan for future development was formulated.

Goals for 2015

  • Assist Members with recruitment ideas, with particular focus on World Croquet Day in May 2015.
  • Hold another international coaching training course.
  • Arrange further coaching trips to smaller Members.
  • Develop video material, with particular focus on promotional and refereeing videos.
  • Encourage viable projects to develop smaller Members’ facilities, with WCF capital grant assistance if necessary.
  • Investigate countries where some croquet is played and encourage new Members to join.

The fuller development plan for the future is attached as Appendix 1.

3.       COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS

A healthy organization ensures that its Members are always fully informed about its activities and plans and, in the case of the WCF, of the current state of the future World Championship programme.

Completed goals

  • The WCF web-site has been maintained.
  • The newsletter to Members has been continued.
  • The 25th anniversary of the WCF was marked by issuing commemorative medals to winners of national championships.

Goals for 2015

  • Implement an improved and easily-administered WCF web-site which is capable of marketing the game as well as discharging its core function of providing essential information about World Championships and how the WCF operates.
  • Make details of consultations and decisions available on the WCF web-site.
  • Continue newsletter to Members.

4.       ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

The MC and Council have refreshed how they operate. The trial Council e-mail based decision-making process, which is aimed at empowering WCF Members and to make them feel more engaged, better informed and more in control, has been used extensively in 2014. It is proposed to make it permanent and the sole method of Council decision-making.

Completed goals

  • 2013 Financial Review approved and implemented with consequential amendments to Event Regulations, Finance Regulations and Investment Policy.
  • Investments reviewed and improved.

Goals for 2015 and beyond

  • Review and revise Statutes and Management Committee Administration Regulations.
  • Review and rationalize WCF and MC sub-committees.
  • Work with Australia, England, New Zealand and USA to align the roles of the AC International Laws Committee and the WCF GC Rules Committee.
  • Work with the MacRobertson Shield countries to bring the Shield fully within the AC WTC framework while preserving its current governance.
  • Establish a means of reducing the ‘key person’ risk for maintenance of the rankings.
  • Negotiate a long-term agreement for www.croquetscores.com.
  • Observe and analyse effects of new four-year cycle budgeting.
  • Ensure adequate and reliable support for WCF web-site.

The Management Committee

November 2014

October 2014 Newsletter

WCF October 2014 Newsletter

The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of what the Management Committee has been doing recently and what is on the agenda in the near future.  Your comments are always very welcome.  It is also made available to all on the WCF web-site and via the Nottingham list and other croquet bulletin boards.

Council debates and decisions

Three WCF Topics were published to Members and two have reached their closing dates and received responses.  Topic 33 concerned proposed amendments to current Statutes 301 to 309 intended to re-organise and shorten the text without any significant change in intent.  These Statutes deal with the versions of croquet recognised by the WCF, responsibility for the relevant laws and rules and the regulation of individual’s ability to represent countries in WCF and other international events.  Comments have now been received from several Members and these are now under review.  Topic 34 received Member support for a MC proposal to advertise future WCF Topics on the WCF website and e-mail lists.  The text of the Topic will be published on the WCF website so that individuals with an interest or experience in the subject-matter will be able to pass on their views to their WCF Member and so help to develop that Member’s contribution to the Topic discussion.  This will be trialled throughout 2015.  Topic 35 is open and seeks Members’ views on the appropriate refund policy to adopt when players withdraw from a World Championship having already paid their entry fee.

What has been happening since July?

The main activity was the administration and preparation for the five forthcoming WCF championships and details of these events are given in the following section.  Other MC matters included seeking agreement for the long-term support of CroquetScores and agreeing that the WCF should seek to appoint a Golf Croquet Ranking Officer to complement the role of the existing AC Ranking Officer and to appoint Assistant Ranking Officers for both AC and GC to reduce the “key person” risk that currently exists.  The scope of the forthcoming WCF Statute Review has been under consideration and is expected to include a review of the existing WCF and MC sub-committees as well as the role of the WCF in relation to the MacRobertson Shield and the International Laws Committee.

Recent and forthcoming WCF championships

2014 Over-50 Golf Croquet World Championship

This was held at the Egyptian Croquet Federation lawns and at the Gizera Croquet Club in Zamalek, Cairo from Sunday, 5 October to Saturday, 11 October.  36 competitors from Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Latvia, Scotland, Spain, South Africa and USA took part and enjoyed glorious weather.  16 players progressed to the knock-out stage.  The second Over-50 Golf Croquet World Champion is Salah Hassan of Egypt who defeated Hazem Mahmoud, also of Egypt, in the final.  Salah is a former double Golf Croquet World Champion, in 1997 and 2000.

2014 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held in Cairo from Sunday, 16 November to Friday, 21 November.  The Event Capacity is 40 players and competitors will represent Australia, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland and the USA.

2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the United Croquet Club, Christchurch, New Zealand from Sunday, 1 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 28 and Ranking Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Egypt, England and New Zealand.

2015 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the Mount Maunganui Croquet Club and other clubs in the Bay of Plenty region, North Island, New Zealand from Saturday, 7 February to Sunday, 15 February 2015.  A Qualifying Event will be held from Tuesday, 3 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 80 and Ranking Places, Wild Card Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.  Full details can be found on the WCF web-site under World Championships.

2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held in Nottingham from Saturday, 25 July to Saturday, 1 August 2015.  The Event capacity is 32 players and the Response Date by which Members must inform the WCF if they wish to be awarded Membership Places is Sunday, 23 November 2014.

MC Topics completed or closed

MC 279:           Croquet Federation of India coaching request.

MC 280:           Italian Croquet Association financial assistance request.

MC 286:           Statute 301-306 amendments – sent to Council for comment as Topic 33.

MC 287:           Hosting of 2017 AC WTC Tier 2.1.

MC 289:           Upgrade of Belgium membership status – approved by Council.

MC 290:           Appointment of Andrew Hope to Hall of Fame Committee.

MC 292:           Review of WCF and MC sub-committees – incorporated in Statute Review.

MC 293:           Member consultation practices – resolved through WCF Topic 34.

Topics open, pending or under administration on 31 October 2015

MC 278:           Review of croquet activity among Members.

MC 282:           2015 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 283:           2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship, July 2015.

MC 284:           New WCF web-site.

MC 285:           2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 288:           CroquetScores agreement.

MC 291:           Appointment of GC Ranking Officer and Assistant Ranking Officers.

MC 294:           Governance Working Group.

MC 295:           2016 Association Croquet World Championship – USCA bid expected soon.

MC 296:           Review of methods of making economic foreign payments.

MC 297:           Entry fees refunds policy – submitted to Council as Topic 35.

MC 298:           2010 MacRobertson Shield medals – MC agreed to award these retrospectively.

MC 299:           2015 WCF Annual General Meeting – will be held during 2015 GCWC.

MC 300:           2015 Business Plan to be published in draft to Members in November.

MC 301:           Statutes 301 to 304 – Topic 33 comments to be incorporated in revised draft.

MC 302:           Advertising of consultations and proposals – approved under Topic 34.

MC 303:           2014 Hall of Fame inductees to be announced in 2014Q4.

Outlook for November

The main activities for the month will be continuing to administer the forthcoming World Championships, finalising the revision of Statutes 301 to 307 for submission to Council, beginning the review of the WCF Statutes and preparing the 2015 Business Plan and Budget.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General 2 November 2014

November 2014 Newsletter

WCF November 2014 Newsletter

The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of what the Management Committee has been doing recently and what is on the agenda in the near future.  Your comments are always very welcome.  It is also made available to all on the WCF web-site and via the Nottingham list and other croquet bulletin boards.

Council debates and decisions

Topic 35 sought Members’ views on the appropriate refund policy to adopt when players withdraw from a World Championship having already paid their entry fee and resulted in a decision that refunds net of transaction costs would be made.  The last quarter of the year generates three regular administrative WCF Topics, namely the review of the Business Plan (Topic 36) and Budget (Topic 38) and the election of an Independent Examiner (Topic 37) for the forthcoming year.  All are currently open.  An application from the Uruguay Croquet Federation to become an Observer Member has been received and is currently before Council (Topic 39).  Lastly, the Management Committee has recommended to Council that the trial of reaching Council decisions by e-mail voting should be ended and that this should become an approved method on a permanent basis.  This is also before Council as Topic 40.

What has been happening in November?

The month began with final preparations for the 2014 Women’s GCWC (see below for a brief report) and quickly progressed to the finalisation of the Business Plan, which included a detailed Development Report, and the Budget for 2015 so that they could be submitted to Council.

The Response Date for the 2015 Women’s ACWC passed on 23 November which triggered the process of considering Wild Card Places, Qualifier Places and Ranking Places.  The outcome will be announced on 21 December.

Comments received from Members on the Statute 301 to 309 consultation were incorporated in a fresh draft and have been submitted to the MC.  They should shortly be put forward to Council with the hope that they will be approved before 25 January 2015, the Closing Date for the 2015 Women’s ACWC.  The most significant improvement is that they will bring the provisions regulating the qualification of a player to represent a country into line with the new World Championship allocation process.

A new web-site with a new ISP and more interesting and marketing-focussed home page is under development.  Navigation will also be simplified.  The MC has seen the new design and it is intended to have the new site ready for population with the data on the current site by Christmas.  The plan is to launch the new web-site in the New Year and run two web-sites in parallel for a few weeks before closing the old site.

Recent and forthcoming WCF championships

2014 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

This was held in Cairo from Sunday, 16 November to Friday, 21 November.  40 players took part from Australia, Egypt, England, Finland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Scotland and the USA.  It was expected that the top Egyptian ladies would provide the main challenge to Jenny Clarke of New Zealand, the top seed by ranking and the 2011 runner-up.  Jenny duly reached the final in impressive style but found herself facing Judith Hanekom of South Africa.  Judith had made a poor start and only just qualified for the knock-out.  However, she went from strength to strength and defeated four strong Egyptians to reach the final where she won a thrilling five-game final.

2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the United Croquet Club, Christchurch, New Zealand from Sunday, 1 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 28 and Ranking Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Egypt, England and New Zealand.

2015 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the Mount Maunganui Croquet Club and other clubs in the Bay of Plenty region, North Island, New Zealand from Saturday, 7 February to Sunday, 15 February 2015.  A Qualifying Event will be held from Tuesday, 3 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 80 and Ranking Places, Wild Card Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.  Full details can be found on the WCF web-site under World Championships.

2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held in Nottingham from Saturday, 25 July to Saturday, 1 August 2015.  The Event capacity has been increased to 36 players and the announcement of Wild Card Places and Ranking Places will be made on 21 December.  Members must inform the WCF of the names of those who have been allocated Membership Places by 25 January 2015.

MC Topics completed or closed in November

MC 288:           Croquet Scores agreement signed.

MC 294:           Governance Working Group.  Report made to Members.

MC 296:           Use of PayPal balances to make payments resolved.

MC 297:           Entry fee refunds policy.  Decision referred to Council as Topic 35.

MC 298:           ACWTC Tier 1 (MacRobertson Shield) medals.  Decision to award for 2010.

MC 299:           2015 WCF Annual General Meeting.  Will be held during 2015 GCWC.

MC 300:           2015 Business Plan – sent to Council as Topic 36.

MC 302:           Advertising of consultations etc. on the WCF web-site – sent to Council as Topic 34.

MC 303:           Confirmation of 2014 Hall of Fame inductees.

MC 304:           World Championship medals purchase – order placed with new supplier.

MC 305:           Election of Independent Examiner – sent to Council as Topic 37.

MC 306:           2015 Budget – sent to Council as Topic 38.

MC 307:           Application by Uruguay Croquet Federation – sent to Council as Topic 39.

MC 308:           E-mail voting – MC recommendation to approve sent to Council as Topic 40.

Topics open, pending or under administration on 30 November

MC 278:           Review of croquet activity among Members.

MC 282:           2015 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 283:           2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship, July 2015.

MC 284:           New WCF web-site.

MC 285:           2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 291:           Appointment of GC Ranking Officer and Assistant Ranking Officers.

MC 295:           2016 Association Croquet World Championship.

MC 301:           Statutes 301 to 304 – Topic 33 comments to be incorporated in revised draft.

Outlook for December

The main activities for the month will be continuing to administer the forthcoming World Championships, submitting the amended revision of Statutes 301 to 307 to Council, beginning the review of the WCF Statutes and completing the Management Committee Report to Members for 2014.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General 4 December 2014

December 2014 Newsletter

WCF December 2014 Newsletter

The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of what the Management Committee has been doing recently and what is on the agenda in the near future.  Your comments are always very welcome.  It is made available to all on the WCF web-site and via the Nottingham list and other croquet bulletin boards.

Council debates and decisions

The three regular fourth quarter administrative WCF Topics, namely the review of the Business Plan (Topic 36) and Budget (Topic 38) and the election of an Independent Examiner (Topic 37) for the forthcoming year were all approved.  David Walters had informed us that 2015 would be his last year as our Examiner and we thank him for his years of service.

The application from the Uruguay Croquet Federation to become an Observer Member was Topic 39 and achieved a record vote in favour of 58-0!  We extend a very warm welcome to Uruguay and look forward to other South American members in due course.  In Topic 40, Council approved the MC recommendation that e-mail voting should become an approved method of reaching Council decisions on a permanent basis.

The MC consulted the Council earlier in the year under Topic 33 about possible amendments to Statutes 301 to 309, including changes to Statute 303 to cater for the new world championship allocation process.  The responses have been incorporated in amendments proposed to Council as Topic 41 and the Closing Date is 18 January 2015.

What has been happening in December?

The Announcement Date for the 2015 Women’s ACWC occurred on 21 December.  Twelve Ranking Places and one Wild Card Place were awarded.  19 Membership Places and four Qualifier Places take the total to 36.  The Qualifying Tournament will be held at Nailsea Croquet Club near Bristol from Saturday, 18 to Monday, 20 July 2015.

The new web-site has been delivered with a more interesting and marketing-focussed home page and simpler navigation.  Population with data is under way and the plan is to launch the new web-site later this month and run the two web-sites in parallel for a few weeks before closing the old site.

Recent and forthcoming WCF championships

2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the United Croquet Club, Christchurch, New Zealand from Sunday, 1 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 28 and Ranking Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Egypt, England and New Zealand.

2015 Golf Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the Mount Maunganui Croquet Club and other clubs in the Bay of Plenty region, North Island, New Zealand from Saturday, 7 February to Sunday, 15 February 2015.  A Qualifying Event will be held from Tuesday, 3 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  The Event Capacity is 80 and Ranking Places, Wild Card Places and Membership Places have been awarded to competitors representing Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.  Full details can be found on the WCF web-site under World Championships.

2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held in Nottingham from Saturday, 25 July to Saturday, 1 August 2015.  The Event capacity has been increased to 36 players and the announcement of Wild Card Places and Ranking Places will be made on 21 December.  Members who have requested Membership Places must inform the WCF of the names of their players by 25 January 2015.

2016 Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the National Croquet Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida from Friday, 22 April to Saturday, 30 April 2016.  The Qualifying Tournament will be held from Sunday, 17 April to Wednesday, 20 April 2016.  More details will be available on the WCF website in due course.

MC Topics completed or closed in December

MC 301:           Topic 33 comments to be incorporated in revised draft.

MC 304:           World Championship medals purchase.

MC 305:           Election of Independent Examiner.

MC 306:           2015 Budget.

MC 307:           Uruguay Croquet Federation membership application.

MC 308:           Adoption of e-mail voting on a permanent basis.

Topics open, pending or under administration on 31 December

MC 278:           Review of croquet activity among Members.

MC 282:           2015 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 283:           2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship, July 2015.

MC 284:           New WCF web-site.

MC 285:           2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship, February 2015.

MC 291:           Appointment of GC Ranking Officer and Assistant Ranking Officers.

MC 295:           2016 Association Croquet World Championship.

MC 309:           2014 Management Committee report.

MC 310:           Approval of GC Rulings.

Outlook for January

The main activities for the month will be continuing to administer the forthcoming World Championships and beginning the review of the rest of the WCF Statutes.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General 11 January 2015

February 2015 Newsletter

WCF February 2015 Newsletter

The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of what the Management Committee has been doing recently and what is on the agenda in the near future.  Your comments are always very welcome.  It is also made available to all on the WCF web-site and via the Nottingham list and other croquet bulletin boards.

Council debates and decisions

Council approved the amendments to Statutes 301 to 309, including changes to Statute 303 to cater for the new world championship allocation process on 18 January 2015.  New versions of the Statutes, the Event Regulations and the Sports Regulations are available on the WCF website.

What has been happening this year so far?

New Official Rulings for the 4th (2013) edition of the Golf Croquet Rules were published with effect from 1 January 2015.  The final stages of preparation for the 2015 Under 21 GCWC and the main Golf Croquet World Championship proceeded smoothly and both events were held very successfully in New Zealand.  Many thanks to Croquet New Zealand and to the event management teams led by Gordon Smith and Geoff Young for making it all happen.

Preparations for the next Association Croquet World Championship have begun and will gather pace later in the year.  Discussions are in progress concerning the date and location of the second Golf Croquet World Team Championship following Egypt’s proposal to advance the date from March 2016 to October/November 2015.

The new web-site encountered some minor technical problems which have now been overcome.  It should be fully active before the end of March.  The two web-sites will be run in parallel for a few weeks before closing the old site.

Recent and forthcoming WCF championships

2015 Under-21 Golf Croquet World Championship

This was held at the United Croquet Club, Christchurch, New Zealand from Sunday, 1 February to Thursday, 5 February 2015.  28 competitors from Australia, Egypt, England and New Zealand took part with pre-event expectations focussing on England’s Harry Dodge and the Egyptian squad of four.  However, what transpired was a home victory in very challenging playing conditions of fast courts and very firm Atkins hoops.  In the semi-finals, Egypt’s Marwan El Sabarouti gained revenge for a block defeat by Harry Dodge, winning 4-7, 7-4, 7-4, and New Zealander Josh Freeth defeated fellow-countryman Felix Webby 7-3, 7-5.  The final was extremely close but Josh continued to show admirable control and resolve to edge out Egypt’s Marwan by 5-7, 7-6, 7-6.

2015 Golf Croquet World Championship

This was held at the Mount Maunganui Croquet Club in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand’s North Island from Saturday, 7 February to Sunday, 15 February 2015.  The block stage also made use of clubs at Katikati, Rotorua and Whatekane.  80 competitors arrived from Australia, Belgium, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA.  After two successive non-Egyptian world champions, Egypt sent a large and strong squad to try and recover the title they had held from 1996 to 2008.  Much attention focussed on whether Reg Bamford could defend the title he won so spectacularly in Cairo in 2013.  Or would Ahmed Nasr gain his revenge and a third world title?  Or, perhaps, Hamy Erian, the 25 year old wunderkind of Egyptian croquet, would confirm his class and take his first World Championship.

The reality was fascinating.  Hamy made his way to the semi-finals with his typical efficiency and lack of drama and 12 consecutive match victories.  There he met Chris Clarke, providing a home country representative.  Chris had dropped one block match to another New Zealander, John Christie, but had otherwise looked in excellent form.  He and Hamy had a closely fought semi-final in which the young Egyptian demonstrated his calmness under pressure and won 7-2, 4-7, 7-6, 4-7, 7-3.  In the other half of the draw, Reg had had a tough time against the young New Zealander, Hemi McLaren in the opening round but then made a good start against Ahmed El Mahdi, another top Egyptian who had never made as much impact on a GCWC as the quality of his play would indicate.  Ahmed now caught fire with superb shooting and swept into the semi-final by 4-7, 7-4, 7-1.  There he met England’s Stephen Mulliner who had despatched Ahmed Nasr 7-5, 7-6 in the quarter-final.  However, El Mahdi continued his excellent form and won 7-6, 7-3, 7-6.

The final was dramatic.  Hamy looked invincible as he took the first two games 7-4, 7-5 and Ahmed’s shooting was clearly not operating at the level he had shown in the previous two matches.  However, he clawed back in the third by 7-4 and repeated this in game 4.  Any doubts about Hamy’s confidence were swiftly dispelled as he took a 5-1 lead in the decider.  However, after a prolonged duel at hoop 7, Ahmed began an astonishing run of six consecutive hoops to take the game 7-5 and the title.  Many congratulations to both players for a truly excellent display.

2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held in Nottingham from Saturday, 25 July to Saturday, 1 August 2015.  The Event capacity has been increased to 36 players.  The names of the 32 players with Ranking Places, Wild Card Places and Membership Places are available on the WCF website under World Championships.

2016 Association Croquet World Championship

This will be held at the National Croquet Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida from Friday, 22 April to Saturday, 30 April 2016.  The Qualifying Tournament will be held from Sunday, 17 April to Wednesday, 20 April 2016.  The Invitation Date is expected to be in June 2015.  More details will be available on the WCF website in due course.

MC Topics completed or closed in 2015

MC 309:           2014 MC Report approved and published.

MC 310:           2015 Official Rulings on the 2013 GC Rules approved and published.

MC 312:           GCWC qualifier places.

Topics open, pending or under administration on 28 February 2015

MC 251:           2014 Women’s GCWC (player survey to be completed)

MC 278:           Review of croquet activity among Members.

MC 282:           2015 GCWC, February 2015 (player survey to be completed)

MC 283:           2015 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship, July 2015.

MC 284:           New WCF web-site.

MC 285:           2015 Under 21 GCWC, February 2015 (player survey to be completed)

MC 291:           Appointment of GC Ranking Officer and Assistant Ranking Officers.

MC 295:           2016 Association Croquet World Championship.

MC 311:           Regulation policy.

MC 313:           2016 GC World Team Championship.

MC 314:           Women’s GC World Team Championship.

Outlook for March

The main activities for the month will be analysing the results of the player surveys for the last three WCF events, continuing to administer the forthcoming 2015 Women’s AC World Championships and continuing the review of the WCF Statutes.

 Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General 3 March 2015

2016 AC World Championship – Winner: Stephen Mulliner

The 2016 Association Croquet World Championship
The National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach, Florida Saturday, 16 April to Sunday, 24 April 2016.

Winner: Stephen Mulliner (England)

Finalist: David Maloof (USA)

Stephen Mulliner in play

The new champion is Stephen Mulliner (England) who defeated David Maloof (USA) in the final -4, -17, +5, +7, +26tp.

Full results are available at https://croquetscores.com/2016/ac/wcf-world-championship

Commentary

Stephen Mulliner (ENG) and David Maloof (USA) contested an 11.5 hour five game final in the Association Croquet World Championship at the National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach.  For the first time, live video streaming was available as well as a court-side commentary on CroquetScores.

Mulliner and Maloof ensured that there would be a new name on the Wimbledon Cup and, as both are 62, that the new World Champion would be the oldest ever winner, let alone for the first time.  Maloof is a professional tennis coach who has made rapid progress in US and world croquet in the last few years.  He has one of the best swings in the game and is renowned for his calmness and infrequency of error.  He had accounted for Paddy Chapman (NZE), the 2013 runner-up, and David Maugham (ENG), a stalwart of the England team, in the quarter and semi-final rounds, two major scalps.  He was a deserved winner of the first two games of the final and was tantalisingly close to winning 3-0 after over 7 hours' play in the bright Florida sunshine on a tricky court.

Mulliner discovered croquet at Cambridge University in 1975 and soon rose to the top of the Engish game, winning the President's Cup in 1981, a feat he repeated on four further occasions.  He has also won the British Open Championship three times, the last in 2000 when his opponent was none other than Reg Bamford.  Mulliner had survived close encounters with Stephen Forster (AUS) and Danny Huneycutt (USA) in the last 16 and quarter-final rounds and could easily have lost to either player.  Both matches went to a fifth game and he made it through to meet Reg Bamford (SAF), a four-time AC World Champion, and the firm favourite to make it a fifth in 2016.

Bamford soon established a 2-0 lead including an extraordinary sextuple peel in game 1 in which he overcame several probems and brought the break to a thrilling and successful conclusion.  He offered Mulliner a glimpse of hope in game 2 when a second sextuple was apparently heading for a smooth and much more routine conclusion when he failed to run a short penultimate hoop.  However, Mulliner had his own problem at the same hoop and Bamford soon made the score 2-0 in his favour.  Mulliner responded by hitting a long roquet in turn 3 of game 3 and reaching 4-back with a good leave.  However, Bamford had been in remorseless hitting form and made no mistake with the 19 yard shot down the East boundary. Shortly afterwards, he had laid up for a third sextuple and given Mulliner a 35 yard shot to stay in the match.  Lady Luck now intervened and Mulliner's shot clipped the ball he could barely see behind a hoop.  He seized his chance and completed a triple peel to win +20tp and extend the match.  In game 4, Mulliner hit in turn 4 and decided to lay for his own sextuple so that Bamford would face a 30 yard shot.  Bamford missed and Mulliner brought home a sextuple with almost as many adventures as Bamford's effort in game 1.

The fifth game was short and simple.  Mulliner hit in turn 3 and went to 4-back.  Bamford this time just missed the 19 yard shot down the East boundary and Mulliner made no mistake with a delayed triple peel to take the match and claim his place in the final for the third time in his 40 year playing career, the others being in 1997 (when he lost 3-1 to Robert Fulford (ENG) in Bunbury, Western Australia) and in 2008 (when he also lost 3-1 to Chris Clarke (ENG) in Christchurch, New Zealand).

Against Maloof in game 3, Mulliner was pegged out when for 4-back with his remaining ball.  He had to hit a 26 yard shot across court to get a chance of finishing and made two hoops before failing to approach rover.  Maloof missed a 13 yard roquet and Mulliner took this unexpected second chance by running rover and hitting a 13 yard roquet to gain an easy peg-out and stay alive in the match.  Maloof gained an early advantage in game 4 but missed a return roquet after 1-back and Mulliner was able to reach peg and penultimate against 2-back and 4-back before Maloof regained the innings with an 18 yard roquet.  Both players then hit long shots alternately but Mulliner had the last and was able to finish and level the match 2-2.  

By now it was after 7 p.m. and the light was going to become an issue.  The players agreed to move to a floodlit court and have an extended warm-up on the new surface. After two early errors on which Maloof was unable to capitalise, Mulliner reached 4-back with a good leave.  Maloof missed his 18 yards roquet attempt and Mulliner calmly conducted a delayed triple peel to a successful conclusion to take the game, the match and the title.  He had been obliged to play twenty games of high-intensity croquet in four consecutive days to achieve victory and his reputation for determination, focus and the will to win could not have been more searchingly tested.

The prize-giving was conducted by David Openshaw on behalf of the World Croquet Federation, and Johnny Mitchell, the President of the United States Croquet Association.  The efforts of the officials and the large number of volunteers were publicly recognised and received great appreciation from the players and the audience.  A warm tribute was also paid to the recently late Bernard Neal who had done much to help the development of croquet in both the UK and the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.  As a committee member of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, it was he who arranged for the donation of the magnificent Wimbledon Cup by the AELT&CC to be the trophy for this championship.

The other medallists and prize winners were:

Semi-finalists: Reg Bamford (South Africa) and David Maugham (England)

Championship Shield: Stephen Forster (Australia)

Championship Bowl: James Death (England)

Championship Plate: Ian Lines (England)