Author: Debbie Lines

2023 AC World Championship – How to enter the Qualifier

A qualifying event will be held from 10-13 July 2023 at the Sussex County Croquet Club in Sussex.

Currently there are 4 places available. This may increase if there are withdrawals from the main event after the cut-off date of 11th June 2023.

It will be open to 32 players who have not been able to secure a place through their ranking, their national association or via a WCF wildcard.

If the qualifying event is oversubscribed on the allocation date of 8 May 2023 places will be allocated via the WCF Qualifier Ranking list. In all other respects CA tournament conditions rather than WCF sports regulations will apply to this event.

How to enter:
The qualifier can be entered via the English CA's Online Tournament Entry System, which is found on the Compete page of the CA Website. To enter you must first register for (or renew) a Reciprocal Rights Account. If you have any problems, you can contact the CA Office (caoffice.org.uk) for assistance. Once submitted, the office should take approximately one working day to provide the necessary access so that you may enter online.

 

Details for the Sussex County Croquet Club can be found on their website

2023 Under 21 GC World Championship – Winner: Aston Wade (ENG)

The 6th WCF Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship
Venue: Mount Manganui, North Island, New Zealand
Dates: 8-12 January 2023

Champion: Aston Wade (England)

Finalist: Fawzy Helmy (Egypt)

Watch the final (Day 2 of streaming) via the Playlist on the WCF YouTube Channel - Filmed by Maori Active -   U21 GC World Championship Playlist

Full results are available on Croquet Scores 2023 Under 21 World Championship

Aston Wade beat Fawzy Helmy 3:1 in an exciting final to become 2023 Under 21 GC World Champion.

Cyclone Gabrielle ensured dreadful playing conditions throughout the match, with strong gusty winds and sometimes torrential rain.

The first game was almost faultless from both players, with impressive clearing and jump shots from Fawzy, whilst Aston's positioning and backball control was exceptional. The later games saw the weather worsen and some mistakes crept in from both players, but overall play was to an extremely high standard. Aston's style of controlled position taking combined with strong clearing and hoop strokes eventually took the win, but it was extremely close throughout.

The fourth game went to the 13th. Aston immediately took perfect position, but Fawzy cleared with his second shot. Some in and out ensued, with good clearing from Fawzy before he finally missed one and Aston took the hoop.

Congratulations also to Levi Franks who won the Shield, Josh Winter, winner of the Bowl and to Inigo Castanan who took the Plate.

The WCF wish to thank Croquet New Zealand, the Mount Manganui Club and all the many volunteers for hosting the event.

Congratulations to Aston Wade, the new 2023 GC Under 21 Champion

Aston Wade 2023 U21 Champion

Aston Wade beat Fawzy Helmy 3:1 in an exciting final to become 2023 Under 21 GC World Champion.

Cyclone Gabrielle ensured dreadful playing conditions throughout the match, with strong gusty winds and sometimes torrential rain.

The first game was almost faultless from both players, with impressive clearing and jump shots from Fawzy, whilst Aston's positioning and backball control was exceptional. The later games saw the weather worsen and some mistakes crept in from both players, but overall play was to an extremely high standard. Aston's style of controlled position taking combined with strong clearing and hoop strokes eventually took the win, but it was extremely close throughout.

The fourth game went to the 13th. Aston immediately took perfect position, but Fawzy cleared with his second shot. Some in and out ensued, with good clearing from Fawzy before he finally missed one and Aston took the hoop.

Congratulations also to Levi Franks who won the Shield, Josh Winter, winner of the Bowl and to Inigo Castanan who took the Plate.

U21 finalists and semi-finalist. [Left to right: Joel Steele, Te Kiri King, Aston Wade and Fawzy Helmy]
Full results can be found on CroquetScores

LiveStreaming of the Knock-Out stages can be found on the WCF YouTube Channel U21 Playlist

2023 AC World Championship – Entry Fees

Players who have been notified that they have received a place in the upcoming World Championship need to pay their entry fees of £153 by 8th March 2023 at the latest.

Per WCF Sports Regulations Appendix 2, clause 6, players who fail to pay by the due date will lose their place. The relevant sections of the regulation are below for your information:

6.1 Subject to paragraph 6.2, failure to pay the entry fee by the due date will lead to automatic disqualification and the place will be filled in accordance with paragraph 7.

6.2 Before disqualifying a player for failing to pay their entry fee on time, at least two reminders must have been sent to the Member which nominated the player and all reasonable efforts must have been made to contact the player directly.

Successful players from the Qualifier, must pay as soon as possible after qualifying.

All players who can pay by Bank to Bank transfer are encouraged to do so. Instructions are included in each players announcement notification email. This avoids the WCF incurring costly PayPal fees.

If absolutely necessary, please pay by PayPal using the button below:

 

 

2023 Women’s GC Championship Ranking Places & Wild Cards – updated 26.2.23

Note: Replacement Ranking List updated 26.2.23 - see end of post

The 2023 GC Women’s World Championship is due to be held 7-14 August 2023 at the Sussex County Croquet Club in England.

The Allocation date for this Championship was 21st January 2023. The Management Committee have agreed the following allocation of places for this 56 person event:

24 Full Member Places
4 Associate Member Places
4 RCO Places
2 Wild Cards
4 Qualifier Places
18 Ranking Places

For a breakdown of places by country, please see this file: Breakdown of Places by Country

Ranking Places: The 18 Ranking Places have been awarded to the players in the file below, based on the Initial Ranking List dated end of 21st January 2023. This is based on their Max DG ranking over 12 months as per Sports Regulations Appendix 2, clause 2.3.

As at 21.1.23 - Ranking Places List

Wild Cards: The WCF Management Committee have awarded two wildcards to Ellie Ross and Jessica Bullen, both from New Zealand.

Entry Fees: Players are advised that the entry fee of £136 should be paid by 16th April 2023 at the latest. Details of how and when to pay will be emailed out to players via their Members after the Closing date of 14th March, once the Member Places have also been allocated.

Player Information and Bio’s: these will be due on 14th April 2023. Information on how to send this will be provided after the Closing Date.

Member Places notification: Members should send the Secretary-General the names of players to be nominated for their Member Places by 14th March 2023 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.

Withdrawals: The cut-off date for this event is 22nd June 2023. If players with a Member Place drop out before this date, Members have 14 days to nominate a replacement. After this, the place reverts to a Replacement Ranking Place. If players with a Ranking Place drop out before this date, the highest ranked player on the Replacement Ranking list will be awarded the place. After the 22nd June 2023, any places returned will result in additional places awarded through the Qualifying Event.

Replacement Ranking List: updated 26.2.23

The full Replacement Ranking list has been requested. This list is applicable should any player already awarded a place (Ranking or Wild Card) withdraws: WGCWC Replacement Ranking List 26.2.23

 

GC Country Rankings as at 31st December 2022

The latest GC Team Rankings (as at 31 December 2022) are:

Position

Country

Average

Players

1

Egypt

2,565

6

2

England

2,492

6

3

USA

2,403

6

4

New Zealand

2392

6

5

Spain

2,337

6

6

Australia

2,299

6

7

South Africa

2,243

6

8

Wales

2,202

6

9

Ireland

2,182

6

10

Canada

2,131

6

11

Germany

2,090

6

12

Switzerland

2,064

6

13

Sweden

2,056

6

14

Latvia

2,034

6

15

Scotland

1,985

6

16

Czech Republic

1,923

6

17

Norway

1,901

6

18

Mexico

1,707

6

19

Finland

1,755

5

20

Austria

1,940

4

21

Portugal

1,960

2

22

Belgium

2,243

1

23

Uruguay

1,805

1

2023 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship – Champion: Debbie Lines (ENG)

The 3rd WCF Women's Association Croquet World Championship
Venue: Christchurch, New Zealand
Dates: 7-14 January 2023

Champion: Debbie Lines (England)

Finalist: Gabrielle Higgins (England)

Debbie Lines from England beat Gabrielle Higgins, also from England, in the final of the 2023 Women’s World Croquet Championship.

The championship was held at 3 clubs in Christchurch: Cashmere, St. James and the headquarters club was United. The lawns were immaculately prepared with well set tight Quadway hoops and despite rain on the first day, generally fast lawns running at between 11 and 12.5 seconds. This provided challenging conditions, particularly the hoops.

Debbie’s run to the final included wins against the 2015 Champion Miranda Chapman and the 2012 Champion and top seed Jenny Clarke. Gabrielle, who was second seed, beat third seed Alison Sharpe in the semi-final.

Debbie won the first game of the final fairly easily, but the second game was a close fought match. Both players started to make errors as the tension of playing in a World Championship final showed. Gabrielle completed a high pressure finishing turn to steal the second game, taking it to the third, much to the spectators’ delight. The third game came down to hoop running and shooting, and there wasn’t much in it, but Debbie held her nerve to take some breaks round as time was running out. The final match result was +23, -3t, +11t.

The Shield was an all New Zealand match, with Miranda Chapman beating Alison Robinson 2-0.

The Bowl was won by Cindy Clarke from New Zealand, beating Kerri-Ann Organ from Australia in the final.

The Plate was an all Australian match, with Jacky Lynch coming through to win against Lois Kirk.

Thank you to Croquet New Zealand, the Christchurch organising committee and to the host clubs and their busy team of volunteers.

Full results can be found on Croquet Scores: https://croquetscores.com/2023/ac/3rd-wcf-womens-world-championship

Live-streaming was provided by Maori Active, led by Greg Bryant and his excellent camera and technical team. A link to this can be found on the WCF YouTube playlist: Association Croquet Women’s World Championships. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgah3IfifX61arq7wKWJl6Z21GI7Nk9Fd