Author: Debbie Lines

2016 GC World Team Championship Tier 1 – Champion: New Zealand

The 2nd WCF Golf Croquet Team Championship - Tier 1
Venue: Surbiton Croquet Club, England
Dates: 15 May - 21 May 2016

Champion: New Zealand (Duncan Dixon, Chris Clarke, Jenny Clarke, Phillip Drew)

Finalist: Egypt (Ahmed Nasr, Mohamed Karem, Mohamed Nasr, Hamy Erian, Amr Baher)
3rd: England (Stephen Mulliner, Lionel Tibble, William Gee, Rachel Rowe, Tobi Savage)
4th: Ireland (Jack Clingan, Simon Williams, Charlie von Schmieder, Patsy Fitzgerald, Evan Newell)
5th: United States of America (Ben Rothman, Danny Huneycutt, Sherif Abdelwahab, David Bent, Rich Lamm)
6th: Sweden (Anton Varnas, Lewis Palmer, Simon Carlsson, Joi Elebo)
7th: South Africa (Reg Bamford, William Louw, Judith Hanekom, Victor Dladla)
8th: Wales (David Walters, John Evans, Ian Burridge, Chris Williams, Peter Balchin)

Full results are available at https://croquetscores.com/2016/gc/golf-croquet-world-team-tier-1-at-surbiton

Commentary

New Zealand held a 4-2 lead overnight but saw the match tighten to 5-4 after the morning doubles and two singles.  A crowed of well over 100 watched the final four singles.

Ahmed Nasr kept Egyptian hopes alive by defeating Duncan Dixon 7-4, 7-6 but, in the bottom singles, where Egyptian hopes were probably highest, it was the turn of Jenny Clarke and Phillip Drew to rise to the occasion.

Jenny defeated Mohamed Nasr 7-4, 5-7, 7-3 and Phillip beat Hamy Erian 7-6, 7-6.  This gave New Zealand an unassailable 7-5 lead and the match between Chris Clarke and Mohamed Karem was abandoned at 6-6 in the second game, the first having gone to Chris 7-5.

The New Zealand team was presented with their winner's medals by Amir Ramsis, the WCF President and the Openshaw Shield by David Openshaw himself.  Quiller Barrett, the President of the Croquet Association, paid a warm tribute to the great efforts made by the teams of vounteers at the host clubs of Surbiton, Bath, Camerton & Peasdown and Guildford & Godalming.

2020-2024 Business Plan

WCF Business Plan 2020-2023

Overview
This plan is intended to cover the next four years. An annual report will be provided towards the end of each
year which will consider both performance to date, any changes required and priorities for the forthcoming year.
Introduction

The WCF is a soundly financed organisation with total funds of £130,000 but it lacks significant volunteer
resource. It is mainly reliant on the nine members of the WCF Management Committee with the assistance of
a few individuals such as the Ranking Officers.

The recent Membership Survey provided overwhelming feedback from Members supporting the re-establishing
of a Development Committee and work is already under way to get this committee up and running. Given that
it will include non-MC members, it will allow additional volunteers to be added at the heart of the WCF and also
encourage further individuals to undertake projects which support the WCF and the sport in general.

The Development Committee will be responsible for driving many of the activities identified within this Plan.
Further interested individuals are sought to join it or to participate in specific projects that it launches. Anyone
who believes that they have something to offer are encouraged to contact the WCF MC.

Even with a Development Committee in place, it is foreseeable that significant matters may arise in the future
that are beyond even the expanded volunteer resources of the WCF. Some such matters may be best addressed
by the larger WCF Members and, in such cases, the WCF will consider making financial resources available where
this is appropriate. Other matters may have to remain unaddressed although, if individuals are interested in
pursuing a particular project of clear benefit to the WCF and croquet in general, the WCF will support such efforts
and also consider making financial resources available.

In general, there would seem to be a movement towards global co-operation and support for the idea that
matters best addressed at a worldwide level should be dealt with in this way to avoid the need for each Member
to have to invent the same wheel. It should be the role of the WCF to encourage and facilitate such co-operation,
although there may be a need for the much of the volunteer effort to be provided by the Members themselves.

Key Objectives
Beginning work in these areas are the priority tasks for 2020

Organisation – (Responsibility of WCF Management Committee)
To provide an effective infrastructure to manage the sport globally.
– To improve communication with Members by the MC and between Members in the WCF Council.
– To increase the number of areas co-ordinated on a global basis and effectively manage and facilitate them.
– To increase the number of individuals directly assisting with the meeting of WCF objectives

World Championships – (Responsibility of WCF Management Committee)
– To continue to organise successful World Championships which are well supported by the top players.
– To monitor the World Championship portfolio of singles and team events ensure it continues to meet the needs
of its various stakeholders (players, Members and host clubs).
– To improve the support given to Event Hosts by the WCF

Members – (Responsibility of WCF Development Committee)
– To increase the number of RCOs
– To facilitate the upward progression of RCOs to Associate Membership and Associate Members to Full
Membership.
– To increase the membership strength of the WCF on all continents
– To specifically encourage the further development and growth of croquet in continental Europe.
Publicity/Image/Promotion/Social Media
– To establish a new group (very probably a new sub-committee in due course) to directly address this area
including matters such as:-
– The Image of croquet and its marketing
– Live-streaming of events
– Getting croquet on TV
– Social Media Presence
– WCF website content
– Attracting Sponsorship/Advertising
– World Croquet Day

The Sport (Various Responsibilities)
– To increase the number of referees and coaches, particularly amongst smaller Members (DC).
– To provide video resources for referee and coach training (DC with ACLC/GCRC).
– To facilitate and standardise the use of video refereeing (MC with ACLC/GCRC).
– To administer and improve the AC Laws and GC Rules (ACLC/GCRC).
– To consider AC super-advanced laws in a global context (MC).
– To continue to maintain World Ranking Systems (MC).
– To consider global handicapping systems for both AC and/or GC (MC).
– To assist Members to increase the number of young people playing the sport (DC).
– To assist Members to increase the number of players playing the sport and particularly AC at this time, given
its current decline (DC).
– To ensure that essential equipment remains available and affordable (MC).

Longer Term Objectives
Multi-Sport Events
The inclusion of croquet as part of larger multi-sport events such as the World Games, Commonwealth Games
or Olympic games was a popular response to our survey question of what the WCF can best do for the sport
globally. However, the MC do not regard these areas as within our reach in the short or medium term. In order
to be able to achieve a place in such events we need to increase our Membership base and the profile of the
sport significantly from current levels. These ambitions are included in the key objectives and it is here that the
focus must lie in the first instance if long-term progress is to be made in this area.

2020 GC WTC Tier 1 seeding announcement

GC WTC Tier 1 TEAM SEEDING

The average grades of the top four players in each team at midnight on Sunday, 8 December 2019 were as follows:

   1 Egypt 2,596.00
   2 New Zealand 2,470.50
   3 USA 2,454.00
   4 England 2,450.25
   5 Australia 2,414.50
   6 South Africa 2,300.75
   7 Ireland 2,208.50
   8 Sweden 2,087.50

Accordingly, the teams have been seeded as follows:

 Seed Block A  Seed Block B
   1 Egypt    2 New Zealand
   3 USA    4 England
   6 South Africa    5 Australia
   8 Sweden    7 Ireland

Results of the 2019 WCF elections

The results of the 2019 WCF elections are as follows:

WCF President

Ian Burridge (Wales) 42 votes

Mike Cohn (Australia) 18 votes.

Ian Burridge is hereby elected to serve as WCF President from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023.

WCF Management Committee

Harold Denton (USA) 41 votes

Begona Elzaburu (Spain) 36 votes

Samir Patel (England) 44 votes

Amir Ramsis (Egypt) 37 votes

Harold Denton, Samir Patel and Amir Ramsis are hereby elected to serve on the WCF Management Committee from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023.

Voting data

President: 60 votes were cast out of 62 votes possible.

MC: 158 votes were cast out of 186 votes possible.  22 votes were withheld and 6 were not cast.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship survey

2019 GCWC survey results

Responses: 36/80 = 45% (included one respondent who did not play)

Q1: Did you attend the player briefing? If so, was the information well-presented and useful? Was the scheduling of the briefing convenient?

Generally positive but there were comments about smallness of marquee where it was held, how inside a building would have been better to make hearing easier and the absence of the Egyptians (because of the prohibition on hard hoop running in practice which they did not obey). Transport issues and the spread of venues attracted some negativity.

Q2: Was the format of the event appropriate?

Yes: 78%, No: 3%, Other 19%

Q3: Was your number of games each day too many, not enough or about right?

Too many: 0%, About right: 92%, Not enough: 8%

Q4: Was the overall duration of the event too long, too short or about right?

About right: 83%, Too long: 17%

Q5: Was the event well-managed?

Yes: 89%, No: 3%, Other: 8%

Q6: Was the event well-refereed?

Yes: 78%, No: 8%; Other: 14%

Q7: Were the courts of suitable quality?

Yes: 69%, No: 3%, Other: 28%

Southwick universally praised, West Worthing seen as too slow.

Q8: Were the balls of adequate quality?

Yes: 97%, No: 0%, Other: 3%

Q9: Were the hoops well set?

Yes: 81%, No: 5%, Other: 14%

Southwick setting was good, other venues less so.

Q10: How did you rate the event overall?

Very good: 56%, Good: 39%, Satisfactory: 5%

2019 U21 Golf Croquet World Championship survey

2019 Under 21 GCWC survey results

Responses: 15/24 = 62.5%

Q1: Did you attend the player briefing? If so, was the information well-presented and useful? Was the scheduling of the briefing convenient?

All positive

Q2: Was the format of the event appropriate?

Yes: 93%, No: 0%, Other 7%

Q3: Was your number of games each day too many, not enough or about right?

Too many: 0%, About right: 80%, Not enough: 20%

Q4: Was the overall duration of the event too long, too short or about right?

About right: 100%

Q5: Was the event well-managed?

Yes: 93%, No: 0%, Other: 7%

The ‘Other’ referred to bad behaviour by one player which was not dealt with.

Q6: Was the event well-refereed?

Yes: 67%, No: 20%; Other: 13%

Q7: Were the courts of suitable quality?

Yes: 93%, No: 0%, Other: 7%

Q8: Were the balls of adequate quality?

Yes: 100%

Q9: Were the hoops well set?

Yes: 93%, No: 0%, Other: 7%

Q10: How did you rate the event overall?

Very good: 60%, Good: 40%

September 2019 Newsletter

WCF September 2019 Newsletter

The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of what the Management Committee (MC) has been doing recently and what is on the agenda in the near future. 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

There were none.

 

What has happened since June?

2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship was held at the Nottingham Croquet Club from Saturday, 20 July to Wednesday, 24 July 2019. 24 players representing Australia, Egypt, England, Germany, Latvia, New Zealand, Spain and the USA took part in an excellent event which culminated in a thrilling final between Edmund Fordyce (NZL) and James Galpin (ENG). James started strongly and took the first two games but Edmund justified his status as the pre-event favourite by mounting a determined recovery to triumph 4-7, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Golf Croquet World Championship was held from Saturday, 27 July to Sunday, 4 August 2019 at the Sussex County Croquet Club with support from Compton Croquet Club, Royal Tunbridge Wells Croquet Club and West Worthing Croquet Club. The organisation of the event and the public relations efforts were excellent with HRH The Duke of Gloucester and Susan Pyper, the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, as the Guests of Honour at the opening ceremony.

The Southwick courts were in superb condition and the large number of knowledgeable visitors were treated to a feast of excellent croquet. Extraordinarily, all four past champions from 2004 were eliminated on Thursday morning and it became clear that a new generation had arrived. In the semi-finals, two of Egypt’s young stars gave a brilliant performance with Mohamed Karem beating Hamy Erian 7-5, 7-4, 6-7, 7-3, despite Erian jumping hoop 13 from the boundary in game 3 to stay alive. In the other semi-final, Josh Freeth of New Zealand surged to a 7-2, 7-3 lead against USA’s Ben Rothman. However, Rothman refused to be dismayed and fought back to take the last three games 7-3, 7-5, 7-5.

The final was a compelling encounter in which Rothman took the first game 7-5 but then was swept aside 7-2, 7-3 by an increasingly confident Karem as the match progressed. When Karem ran a very angled hoop 9 in game 4 to take a 6-3 lead, he was within touching distance of the title. But, as in the semi-final, Rothman dug deep and produced a key 25 yard clearance at hoop 13 to square the match 7-6 and then played with great resolve to take the final game 7-5 and become the first American WCF champion. The prize-giving ended with the establishment of a new tradition – the formal handing over of the WCF flag from a representative of the Event Host to a representative of the next Event Host.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 1

Tier 1 of the 2020 GCWTC will be held at the Nelson-Hinemoa Croquet Club on the north coast of New Zealand’s South Island from 6 to 12 January 2020. The eight competing teams represent Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the USA.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship

The 2020 ACWC will be held at the Victorian Croquet Centre near Melbourne from 15 to 23 February 2020. 76 places have been awarded and four more will be available to the top placed players in the Qualifying Tournament.

Membership and RCO enquiries

Croquet Mexico was awarded Recognised Croquet Organisation status in July. The WCF is currently in contact with croquet bodies from Greece, Iran and Pakistan.

Management Committee topics

Topics recently completed or closed

MC 404:       Balls and ball-testing

MC 409:       WCF GC Rules Committee remit

MC Topics currently open

MC 352:       10-year World Championship schedule

MC 386:       Commonwealth Games

MC 392:       2020 GCWTC Tier 2 (ESP)

MC 393:       2020 WACWC (was MC 382)

MC 394:       2021 U21 GCWC

MC 395:       2021 GCWC

MC 396:       2021 ACWTC Tier 1 (MacRob)(AUS) (was MC 384)

MC 397:       2021 ACWTC Tier 2 (ENG)

MC 405:       S-G succession

MC 406:       Croquet Mexico

MC 407:       Portugal

MC 408:       Iran

MC 411:       Banking arrangements

MC 412:       2022 ACWC (ENG)

MC Topics currently under administration

MC 362:       2019 U21 GCWC and Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 365:       Hall of Fame relaunch

MC 377:       GC Rankings development

MC 390:       2020 GCWTC Tier 1 (Openshaw Shield) (NZL)

MC 391:       2020 Association Croquet World Championship (was MC 381)

Outlook for October and beyond

Amir Ramsis completes his second and final term as WCF President on 31 December 2019. In his eight years in office, Amir has assiduously attended most of the WCF Events in that time to welcome the players, assist with presenting the trophies and to express the appreciation of the WCF to all the Event Hosts. His enthusiasm and support for both codes of the game will be warmly remembered by all who have met him.

The main events in the next three months are the elections for the office of WCF President and for three places on the WCF Management Committee. The results of these elections will be published in early December. The MC will be engaged in the preparation of the annual reports from the Treasurer and from itself which are due to be completed and also sent to Members in December. The other key topics are the final preparations for the three tiers of the 2020 GC World Team Championship and for the 2020 ACWC.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

15 October 2019