Debbie Lines, Author at World Croquet Federation

GC Country Rankings as at 31st March 2024

Position	Country	Average	Players
1	Egypt	2,576	6
2	England	2,472	6
3	New Zealand	2,463	6
4	Australia	2,447	6
5	USA	2,441	6
6	Spain	2,354	6
7	South Africa	2,278	6
8	Canada	2,165	6
9	Ireland	2,150	6
10	Wales	2,133	6
11	Sweden	2,087	6
12	Germany	2,085
13	Switzerland	2,046	6
14	Czech Republic	2,010	6
15	Latvia	1,999	6
16	Scotland	1,965	6
17	Norway	1,908	6
18	Mexico	1,842	6
19	Finland	1,813	6
20	Austria	1,943	5
21	Belgium	1,996	2
22	France	1,833	1
23	Portugal	1,660	1

2024 GCWC – Ranking Places and Wild Card Places

The full list of players, including the Replacement Ranking List can be found on the event webpage: 2024 GC World Championship

Breakdown of Places
After the response date there were 150 entries for this 80-player event. The Management Committee have agreed the following allocation of places:

Ranking Places = 37
Wild cards = 2
Membership Places = 37
Qualifier = 4

Ranking Places
The places were awarded based on the Initial Ranking List dated end of 2^nd April 2024. This is based on their Max DG ranking over 12 months as per Sports Regulations Appendix 2, clause 2.3.

Wild Card Places
The two Wild Cards have been awarded to:
- Addison Matthews from Australia
- Adam Barr from Canada

Member Places - due by 16th May
Members should send the Secretary-General the names of players to be nominated for their Member Places by the Closing Date of 16^th May 2024 at the latest. Some Members have already notified the names of their nominees - please note that these can be changed up to the above deadline.

The request for payment of entry fees and Player Information will follow after 16^th May.

If any of a Members nominated players for their Membership Places are high on the Replacement Ranking List, we recommend that a reserve is nominated. This is in case a player nominated for a Membership Place gets promoted into the Main Event (due to a withdrawal) shortly before the Closing Date. Per the regulations, if a Member does not nominate enough players for their Member Places then the place is either forfeit or if a Member has players on the Replacement Ranking List, the highest ranked player on that list is automatically awarded the place on the Closing Date.

The number of Member Places available for each Country following the requests received by the Response Date is noted below.

Withdrawals
If for any reason a player cannot now take up their place, please notify the Secretary-General as soon as possible so that a replacement can be found. Per the Sports Regulations, the following process is followed in the event of a withdrawal:

Players who have received a Membership Place: when a player withdraws, the Member has 14 days to nominate a replacement, unless the Qualifier Closing date of 29^th September is sooner, in which case they have until that date. If no player is nominated a Replacement Ranking Place is awarded, or if the cut-off date of 2^nd September 2024 has passed, then the place becomes an extra qualifier from the Qualification tournament.

Withdrawal by a player who received a Ranking or Wild Card place: when a player withdraws, if this is before the cut-off date of 2^nd September 2024, then the next most highly ranked player on the Replacement Ranking list at the end of the day the withdrawal is notified will be offered the place. After the cut-off date, the place becomes an extra qualifier from the Qualification tournament.

After the Qualifier Closing date, all withdrawals from the main event become extra qualifiers from the Qualification tournament.

AC Country Rankings as at 31st March 2024

Position	Country	Average Grade	Players
1	England	2,578	6
2	Australia	2,536	6
3	New Zealand	2,490	6
4	USA	2,449	6
5	Scotland	2,114	6
6	Ireland	2,111	6
7	Wales	2,062	6
8	South Africa	1,944	6
9	Canada	1,914	6
10	Sweden	1,613	6
11	Spain	1,592	6
12	Germany	1,442	6
13	Austria	1,656	5
14	Latvia	1,284	5
15	Switzerland	1,705	3
16	Czech Republic	1,619	3
17	Iran	2,201	1
18	Jersey	2,119	1
19	Luxembourg	1,966	1

April 2024 Newsletter

Croquet Expands again…

Not so long ago we welcomed Hong Kong as an RCO and many of you will now be reading their regular Newsletter, recounting tales of their activity, including coaching and national tournaments. See the blog on their website to read all about them: Hong Kong Croquet Club website

Corfu

The WCF are now pleased to report that Corfu has joined the WCF. Corfu is one of the largest of the many Greek Islands. The Corfu Club have been welcoming players to their tournaments, both GC and AC, for many years, and we are really pleased that they’ve now chosen to join us. They too publish regular newsletters, see their website for more: Corfu Croquet Club website

Refereeing Corner

Want to learn the rules?
The WCF launched the Online GC Rules Training Pack in December. We know that many of you are now studying and learning using this online resource. We hope it is going well and that you are using either the WhatsApp group or the Facebook page if you need support.

The associated online test is currently under-going testing and will be launched within the next week or so.

Expertise Sharing
The WCF have also launched GC WhatsApp group “WCF Global GC Referee Queries”. This group is specifically for qualified referees to use when they come across queries that they cannot answer. Each Member has nominated one individual to post into the group from their country. Other referees can join but will have view only access. Stephen Mulliner, chair of the GC Rules committee, is monitoring this group and will respond with answers.
WCF Launch GC Referee WhatsApp group

Upcoming Events

Plans for the next Golf Croquet World Championship are well underway. The response date was 19^th March and we’ve had 150 entries for the 80 places! The MC are reviewing the entries and will announce Ranking Places and Wild Cards by 16^th April at the latest.

Members are reminded that names for their Membership Places must be received by the Secretary-General no later than 16^th May 2024.

The Qualifier will be held from 13^th to 16^th October, also at Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, and has 40 places. To find out more: How to enter the Qualifier

Regulatory Updates

Since our last Newsletter, the following regulatory updates have been approved by WCF Council:

Topic 126 - GC Knock Out seeding Consultation
Members voted to approve Block Separation by Grade as a new method to seed the Knock-Out stage of WCF GC Events. This method will be used at all 2024 championships.

Topic 127 - ERC committee nominations
Roberts Stafeckis was re-elected and remains Chair of the ERC. See below for introductions to the new committee members.

Topic 128 - President and two new Management Committee Members
Jose Alvarez-Sala, Samir Patel and Jeff Soo. See previous newsletter.

Topic 129 - Election of Brian Havill as Independent Examiner.
Elected.

Topic 131 - WCF Statutes and Regulation Update
Revised versions of our Statutes and four of our Regulation documents were approved by Members on 28th March 2024. See post: Revised Statutes & Regulations

Topic 133 - 2024 Budget and approval of 2022 Accounts

The following consultations or votes are in-progress as at the publication of this newsletter:

Topic 130 - Code of Conduct consultation
A draft was previously sent out to Members some months ago. This original consultation received mixed results. Following further discussions and a complete re-draft, a second consultation was sent to Members on 17^th March 2024. Consultation closes 8^th April 2024.

Topic 132 - Ranking Amendments re Returners and Fast Improvers
The consultation closed at the end of January. The Ranking Operations Committee are reviewing the feedback received with the intention of this soon going out for a vote with minor amendments.

Topic 134 - Privacy Policy
A draft is with Members for consultation, which closes 9th April 2024.

Spotlight on….

A new feature of our Newsletter, each issue we will feature one of our useful links or resources.

This month the spotlight is on…. Paddy Chapman’s useful coaching site croquetdev.com. In particular, the section on AC Break Play. Using simple and easy to follow interactive diagrams, this is a MUST read for everyone who wants to understand how the basic patterns of AC work.

Click here> Croquetdev.com/breaks

It’s very easy to follow and it clearly shows how the Roquet > Croquet > Continuation pattern works, and demonstrates 2-ball, 3-ball and 4-ball breaks and various variations.

Share this with your clubs, and get your beginners understanding how to play AC, from their sofas!

NEWS from around the World

Croquet England
Croquet England has now been set up as a charitable organisation and is the new name for the National Governing Body for Croquet in England. The associated changes to administration and operation have been put in place during late 2023 and early 2024. This has involved many changes, including to their policies and procedures and to the website. The new Croquet England website is more outward focussed, whilst the old Croquet Association website remains but will increasingly be for affiliates only.

To see the new website: Croquet England new website

Croquet in Spain – artificial lawns
The A La Par Foundation in Madrid has a full-size artificial grass lawn, the first in Spain. The Spanish Croquet Federation are working with the WCF so that we can jointly learn more about how this type of club can help expand croquet in Spain, or indeed, around the world.

The Foundation's croquet field is located in the Fuencarral-El Pardo district of Madrid. It was opened in June 2023 and the Spanish Croquet Federation have given it approval for use in their local events and tournaments.

EUROPE NEWS

European Club League – the heats

As we start the European summer season, we’re excited that this new Club League continues this year with 28 clubs competing in 7 heats around Europe. Good luck to all the teams competing.

To find out more about the 3 ERC Events being held this year, visit the new look Events page of the ERC website.

Introducing the new ERC committee

The ERC has now been operating for over two years, and some of our original committee have stood down. Our thanks to Kerstin Loretz, John Swabey and Daniel Larsson for their assistance over the past two years.

We welcome some new faces to the European Regional Committee team:

Alan Looney – Ireland

Alan Looney is the Honorary Secretary of the Croquet Association of Ireland (CAI) and is a Past President of Carrickmines Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, the home of the Irish Croquet Championship since 1909.

Alan has represented Ireland at both GC and AC and plays both disciplines both socially and competively. He is a keen supporter of European competitions and has been a local advocate for the European Golf Croquet League with Carrickmines agreeing to be a host in June 2024.

Alan is also on the CAI organising committee for the 2024 European Association Championships which will be hosted by the CAI in Carrickmines CLTC in August 2024, and since joining the ERC in January, he has taken on the ERC Event Lead role.

Duncan Catterall – England

Duncan is keen to help croquet grow in Eruope. He is keen to explore how we can promote croquet to a wider audience via both public engagement and highlighting world class play.

He hopes to utilise his experience as an architect/designer to look into the digital presence of the ERC, specifically a public facing website and social media engagement.

His croquet events business ‘Croquet & Cocktails’ gives him experience with understanding the commercial viability of croquet and its potential sponsorship opportunities. Many of you will have seen the livestream footage from the recent Invitational Event in Mauritius which Duncan managed.

He also serves on the Croquet England marketing team and hopes these two roles will enhance each other.

Michael Boer – Germany

Michael is excited by all the new events and activity in Europe since the ERC was founded. He is keen to actively help to ensure that this continues successfully into the future.

Michael has been playing croquet for 20 years and loves maintaining contacts with players from all over Europe by playing in these international tournaments. He has been a member of the board of the German Croquet Association for several years.

They join Roberts Stafeckis, Chair, who was re-elected and Andrés Álvarez‑Sala, whose original term doesn’t end for another two years.

2024 European GC Championship – Member Places updated 2nd April

There are 32 places in the next GC European Croquet Championship scheduled from 16^th to 19^th May 2024 at Sussex County Croquet Club (England).

12 Ranking Places were announced previously.

The full list of players, including the Replacement List (with DGrades as at 27th March, these may change) can be found in the file below.

2024.04.01. ERC Entry file GC Singles May2024

If any player wishes to withdraw, they should do so via their Member as soon as they become aware that they can no longer play. The DGrades applicable for the Replacement Ranking List are updated at the end of the day that the Secretary-General is notified of the withdrawal.

WCF Statutes and Regulations Update

2024 European Championships – How to pay your entry fees

There are three ERC events coming up that need to be paid for.

European GC Singles Championship – 16 to 19 May 2024 at the Sussex County Croquet Club near Brighton, England. Will be requested on the closing date 28th March. Due by date: 28th April.

European GC Women’s Championship – 1 to 4 August 2024 at Compton Croquet Club in Eastbourne, England. Will be requested on the closing date 11th April. Due by date: 11th May.

European AC Singles Championship – 15-18 August 2024 at the Carrickmines Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club, Dublin, Ireland. Will be requested on the closing date of 16th April. Due date 16th May.

The Entry fee for all these events is £68 per player.

Please do not pay until you have been notified that you have been awarded a place in the event. Those on the Replacement List, do NOT yet have a place. Lists of those with awarded places can be found on the relevant page for each event.

The ERC would prefer that you pay by Bank Transfer. All details on how to do this will be in the email sent to each Member by the ERC Event Lead. This will be sent out shortly after each Closing date and we ask that our Members please forward this information onto their players. Paying in this way incurs lower fees for the ERC and will be very much appreciated.

If you do need to pay by PayPal, please click on the button below:

A message from Macey White at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

The Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club welcome you to the U.S. and to Virginia! We will do everything we can to help make your visit an enjoyable one. Our website is CBCC.FUN. Our site is currently under renovation, which may not be complete until the end of April. Sorry. If you can’t find the information you need in this email or on our website, please contact Macey White, at maceywhite@gmail.com.

DIRECTIONS TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CROQUET CLUB

Our physical address (GPS) is: 1860 Twiggs Ferry Rd, Hartfield, VA 23071

You can fly into Richmond International Airport (RIC) or Newport News International Airport (PHF). RIC is our favorite and is an easy 1 hour drive from the club.

From Richmond International Airport (RIC):

1. Take 64 east for 23 miles.
2. Take exit 220 (West Point) Rt. 33 East for 19 miles.
3. Take 33 East/17 North to Saluda for 2.3 miles
4. Take 33 East towards Deltaville for 11 miles.
5. Take Rt 3 East for 2.3 miles. Turn left into the 1860 Twiggs Ferry Rd., Hartfield VA – Club Entrance

DRIVING

Driving in our area is easy and distances are measured in travel time. There is rarely any traffic to deal with. A place that is 3 miles away will take 4 minutes to get to here, but may take 20 minutes or more in an urban area.

MEALS

Meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are available every day at the club. We also have a large list of restaurants that are 20 minutes or less from the club.

CLOTHING

The Official Clothing Policy set by the WCF and USCA is: Shirts with collars and sleeves are required. Players are invited to wear their WCF-approved national player uniforms. Otherwise, predominantly white clothing is required (except for footwear, hats, and rain clothing).

The Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club would prefer that players wear colors representing their country and not all white. All white attire in our community is perceived negatively. We understand that some teams may not be able to wear colors, but we would appreciate it if those who can wear colored shirts, pants, hats socks etc, do so. If your country does not have a uniform approved by WCF please refer to the WCF Sports Regulations section 5.4.2.b. and arrange for this to be put in place at least 3 months prior to the event start date.

LODGING

Below is a lodging list that lists local hotels and Bed and Breakfasts (B&B’s). Our area is known for its excellent B&B’s. There are many more on Airbnb and VRBO.

SOP - Lodging List 2-11-24

We have a dozen or so families that are willing to host an international visitor during the championships. We would prefer to use these lodging opportunities for players who otherwise can’t afford one of the hotels or B&B’s that are in our area. If you have any such players on your team, please forward their contact information to Macey White.

In order to match players with hosts, we will need to know player’s name, email address, age, gender, and if they have a traveling companion.

BIG OYSTER GC TOURNAMENT

The Big Oyster GC tournament will run concurrently with the World Championship Qualifier, but on different courts. The dates for the Big Oyster tournament are October 14-16, 2024.

This USCA sanctioned Golf Croquet tournament will have results submitted to WCF for DGrades. Any player who has been selected for the 2024 Worlds can participate with a minimal entry fee of $60. (Of course, players playing in the Qualifier will be busy with that one and unable to enter the Big Oyster). All other players can enter for $250. Much of the entry fee will be used to offset the cost of preparing for the World Championship. Please send your completed entry form to maceywhite@gmail.com.

Entry Form - 2024 Big Oyster 3-11-24

Our website is currently being revamped and that should be complete by the end of April. We will continuously update our lodging list and other details as they come in. Please check back on our website (after May 1) for the most current details.

The Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club looks forward to seeing you in October!

ERC Update – March 2024

ERC
Minutes of Meeting 13^th March 2024

Present: Roberts Stafeckis – ERC Chairman, Andrés Alvarez-Sala – ERC, Duncan Catterall - ERC, Alan Looney - ERC, Michael Böer - ERC, José Alvarez-Sala – WCF President, Debbie Lines - WCF Secretary-General, Peter Paynes – WCF Treasurer, Begoña Elzaburu – WCF MC, Samir Patel – WCF MC

European Flags and Trophies

Flags: Will be delivered to all venues by the S-G. Needed - delivery address and contact persons from each hosting club.

Trophies and salvers: All events have perpetual trophies. Medals and salvers will remain similar type and size as last two years. Purchasing of the trophies and salvers shall be done centrally for all three events.

European GC, Sussex County Croquet Club, England - Event Lead Andres Alvarez-Sala

Ranking Places announced to players from 7 countries, no withdrawals so far. Members to submit names for their membership places by closing date.

European GC Women’s, Compton, England - Event Lead Begoña Elzaburu

Ranking Places announced. Members to submit names for their Membership Places.

European AC, Carrickmines, Ireland – Event Lead Alan Looney

Belgium did not claim membership place in due time. Therefore, there will be no membership place awarded to Belgium. Their player is validly added to the Replacement list and may get a space in this way if not all Members take all their requested Membership places.

European Club League - update on the entry fees

Entry fees from six (out of 28) participants are still missing.
Event agreement yet to be agreed and signed with the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Calendar of European Open events (Peter Payne)

The event list shall be uploaded to the website soon.

Initial discussion on the Member Place Limit for the ERC events (currently 15%)

Discussion was conducted on how the quality of ERC events can be improved and still guarantee membership places to all Members and RCOs.

Proposals were to increase the number of available Ranking Places or change the country limit but a full discussion is to be initiated and conclusion must be found in time to set rules for next year.

Invitation Dates
In order to better manage allocation of Ranking List places out of the RRL it was suggested that Invitations for the 2025 events are sent out earlier in the year.

Withdrawals clarification
Membership - It was clarified that in case of a withdrawal of a player with a membership place, the Member has the right to nominate another player within 14 days. If the vacancy is not filled the place will be offered to the highest ranked player from the RRL, subject to the country limit. Players can be nominated for the RRL at any time without time limit.

Ranking Places – it was clarified that when a Ranking Place withdraws, the highest place person from a country who has not reached their maximum limit, is offered the replacement. This may or may not be from the same country.

If not full - Only if the event is not otherwise full will replacements be taken from countries which have reached the maximum numbers. In which case the highest ranked available players are offered the position.

Other Business

It was discussed whether the ERC should have its own Secretary General to administer ERC events. This would attract a small honorarium. Treasurer shall investigate how funds could be raised to cover the cost of this. This issue would have to be discussed and approved by WCF.

Next meeting: April 16, 2024 18:30 London time.

2024 European AC Championship – Accommodation

Sandy Greig has kindly reserved some rooms a nearby hotel to the Carrickmines club. This is due to the shortage of suitable accommodation in the vicinity of Carrickmines.

Reserved are 5 single and 5 double rooms in the (fairly) nearby Clayton Hotel, Leopardstown, for the 4 nights of the Championships. This is about 3km from Carrickmines but has a direct public transport connection (LUAS). Price is €190 per night B&B for single occupation and €200 for double.

Sandy needs to give 30 days’ notice of cancellation, so this offer expires 14th July!

To take advantage of this offer, please email Debbie at secretary@worldcroquet.org , and she'll put you in touch with Sandy.

WORLD CROQUET FEDERATION

Author: Debbie Lines