Category: Newsletters

November 2020 newsletter

Coronavirus and the WCF 10 year Championship Schedule

The re-building of the schedule following the one year postponement of events is taking shape and there are now confirmed dates for all the events in 2021 and 2022 – which we hope will stand the test of time!

GC World Team Championship Tier 3

Dates:   Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 July 2021

Venue:  Guildford & Godalming Croquet Club, England

GC World Team Championship Tier 2

Dates:   Monday 11 to Saturday 16 October 2021

Venue:  Real Club de Golf Vista Hermosa, Sherry Club and Real Novo Sancti Petri Golf Club, all of which are near Cadiz in southern Spain.

Women’s Association Croquet World Championship

Dates:   Wednesday 5 to Wednesday 12 January 2022

Venue:  Christchurch, New Zealand

Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

Dates:   Sunday 6 to Thursday 10 February 2022

Venue:  Claudelands, Hamilton East and Morrinsville Croquet Clubs, New Zealand

Golf Croquet World Championship

Dates:   Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 February 2022

Venue:  Croquet Mount Maunganui, Matamata, Tauranga and Whatakane Croquet Clubs, New Zealand

Association Croquet World Team Championships, Tiers 2 and 3

Dates:   Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 August 2022

Venue:  Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, England

All these arrangements are necessarily subject to the state of the pandemic and any restrictions placed on travel or overseas entry to the relevant countries.  The MC is keeping the situation under review and will make an announcement about each event approximately six months before it is due to be held.

Looking further ahead, the plans for events in 2023 and 2024 are available on our Upcoming Events page at http://worldcroquet.org/world-croquet-federation/upcoming-events/

Members will be consulted shortly with a revised plan for 2025-2030 accommodating a MacRobertson Shield in 2025.

Hall of Fame

The WCF Hall of Fame was relaunched in 2019 after a five year hiatus and the WCF MC exercised its right to elect one member per annum by inducting Bryan Dawson (AUS), the inventor and developer of the Dawson 2000 croquet ball.  Bryan was formally inducted during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Association Croquet World Championship which provided the players present with an opportunity to express their loud appreciation of his great contribution to the sport.

The WCF Hall of Fame Committee elected five new members in November 2020, all of whom have made a notable contribution to the game either as players, administrators or supporters.

Bob Alman (USA), a noted croquet organiser and populariser and the publisher of Croquet Online

Jose Alvarez-Sala (ESP), the founder and President of the Federación Española de Croquet

Jenny Clarke (NZL), one of the foremost women players of her generation

Salah Hassan (EGY), winner of the Golf Croquet World Championship in 1998 and 2000

Chris Hudson (ENG), the first Secretary-General of the WCF

Their citations can be found on our Hall of Fame pages here

Latvian Club project

This year, the WCF awarded its largest ever grant to the Latvian Croquet Federation to assist it in developing a new three-court club at Ikskile.  Work began in May with major groundworks including the installation of an underground automatic watering system with 10 high power sprinklers.  The courts were seeded by mid-July with a mixture of six different species of red fescue and has been growing well so far.  The first of the two clubhouses has just been finished.  The other clubhouse, which will have a large terrace for spectators, will be commissioned in January to be ready by April.

Regular play is expected to begin in May 2021.  The first international tournament will be the 10th holding of the traditional Baltic Open GC tournament.  This will take place as usual on the first weekend of September.

YouTube channel

The WCF MC is delighted to announce the launch of the WCF YouTube channel.  It provides a great collection of croquet video footage and is available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeyP1BjtSwyDF3A5n142ffw/

Several playlists have been created that showcase some of the best croquet footage from recent World Championships.  These include both Association Croquet and Golf Croquet and women’s and U21 events as well.  There are also some other top class videos from European or national events.

When you click on the videos in the playlists, you will be taken into the original contributors’ YouTube channel.  We hope you enjoy the collections and the WCF MC thanks the many excellent videographers who have taken the time to film these events over the years.

If you are aware of any footage that is missing and that you think should be included, please let us know.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

22 December 2020

August 2020 Newsletter

WCF Newsletter – August/September 2020

Deputy Secretary-General

Debbie Lines (ENG) has been appointed as the WCF Deputy-Secretary General with effect from 1 September 2020.  This is a succession planning position and it is intended that Debbie will take over from Stephen Mulliner as Secretary-General when his term of office ends on 31 August 2021.

Debbie was introduced to croquet in childhood and soon became a first-class player, culminating in representing Great Britain in the 1996 MacRobertson Shield.  She has excellent qualifications for the WCF role after a career in industry in senior finance and change management positions.

Sweden elected as a Full Member

Sweden have successfully applied to change their WCF membership status from Associate Member to Full Member.  They become the WCF’s 11th Full Member.

 

Development Committee

This committee has been established, with an initial membership of Ian Burridge (Wales & WCF MC), Roberts Stafeckis (Latvia & WCF MC), Begoña Elzaburu (Spain), Sally Harper (Australia), Brian Lozano (USA), Logan McCorkindale (New Zealand), David Openshaw (England), John Swabey (Germany) and Rick Zazueta (Mexico).  In the first instance the Committee will be looking at the following areas:-

The recruitment of RCOs and development of existing Members

Development and growth of croquet in Continental Europe

Increasing the numbers of referees and coaches

Increasing the number of young players

Increasing participation in croquet generally and particularly in Association Croquet

The sharing of useful resources amongst all Members (Global Resources)

Working Groups

The WCF MC has created four specialist working groups to investigate the following areas, with initial reports expected from each by the end of the year:

Establishing a Global Handicap System

Establishing a Global Game and Player Database

An alternative to the current game of handicap Golf Croquet

Developing on-line referee training and certification.

New Latvian Club Progress Report

Roberts Stafeckis reports from Ikskile, Latvia:

“The groundworks are finished and the grass is growing.  The grass is a mixture of 60% Chewing’s Fescue and 40% Creeping Red Fescue.  Two and half months after seeding, it shows good results.  A 20-foot sea container has been purchased for use a storage facility.  A second-hand Toro Flex 2100 mower has been purchased and is being used for the courts as well as a household Hecht 5564 SXE mower for the green areas around the courts.  Next on the agenda is the selection of a company to build the first of the two small buildings that will together serve as a clubhouse.  The other one will be built next year as soon as the number of members increases.”

May 2020 Newsletter

WCF May 2020 Newsletter

Largest Ever Development Grant Awarded

A 30% grant of up to 15,000 EUR has been awarded to the Latvian Croquet Federation to part-fund the building of their first multi-lawn venue. The planned three lawn club is to be built in the town of Ikskile, 30 miles east of Riga, and it is hoped that the main part of the work, including the creation for the courts, will be completed later this year.

Coronavirus and the WCF 10 year Championship Schedule

As previously announced, the coronavirus pandemic has already caused us to postpone the GC World Team Championship Tiers 2 & 3 events due to be held in Spain and England this year.

After consultation with all the affected Event Hosts, namely the Members due to host events from 2020 to 2023, it has been decided that the best approach is to move the entire WCF forward calendar back by 12 months, beginning with the 2020 Women’s AC World Championship. This will hopefully provide a degree of certainty. The existing Event Hosts have agreed to work on that basis and, whilst the exact dates need to be finalised in the coming months, the revised Schedule is:

WCF Event Host Original Revised
date date
2020 GC World Team Championship Tier 2 Spain May-20 May-21
2020 GC World Team Championship Tier 3 England Jul-20 Jul-21
2020 Women's AC World Championship New Zealand Nov-20 Nov-21
2021 Under 21 GC World Championship New Zealand Jan-21 Jan-22
2021 GC World Championship New Zealand Feb-21 Feb-22
2021 AC World Team Championship Tiers 2/3 England Aug-21 Aug-22
2021 AC World Team Championship Tier 1 (MacRobertson Shield) Australia Nov-21 Nov-22
2022 AC World Championship England Jul-22 Jul-23
2022 Over 50 GC World Championship Australia Oct-22 Oct-23
2023 Under 21 GC World Championship USA Mar-23 Mar-24
2023 GC World Championship USA Mar-23 Mar-24

In the original Schedule, the MacRobertson Shield was scheduled for 2025, its centenary year. The

plan is still to achieve this, if possible, with slight revisions to the Schedule around that time if necessary.

Development Committee/Business Plan

The WCF has published its Business Plan for 2020-2023 which can be found at Business Plan 2020-2023


An important part of delivering this plan will fall to the recently re-established Development Committee. Anyone interested in joining this committee should contact either of its MC members, Ian Burridge (Burridge.Ian@gmail.com) or Roberts Stafeckis (Roberts.Stafeckis@gmail.com).

Global Resources

The WCF has recently launched an initiative to try to share more resources on a global basis. The initial offerings, croquetscores.com, Court Booking Systems, Swiss Management Software, information relating to developing a club and an index of YouTube videos can be found at New Croquet Resources page

Anyone with similar resources which they are prepared to share with the global community should contact Ian or Roberts (as above).

Handicap Advice Sheet

A WCF advice sheet has been agreed which provides information on how Members that do not operate a national handicapping system can facilitate handicap play amongst their players, it can be found at WCF Advice Sheets

Player Surveys

The results of the player surveys from the recent GC World Team Championship (Tier 1) and AC World Championships can be found at World Championship surveys

Hall of Fame

Nominations are sought for potential inductees in 2020, these should be sent to the Secretary-General before September 30th for consideration by the Hall of Fame Committee. Nominations should be in accordance with the following:-

“A nomination by an individual is to take the form of a written citation which should demonstrate how the candidate has made an outstanding contribution to any of the Games of Croquet as a player, administrator or supporter or any combination thereof. A citation should be in English and not less than 500 words and should be accompanied by a photograph or portrait of the candidate.”

Croquet Hall of Fame

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

6 June 2020

February 2020 Newsletter

WCF February 2020 Newsletter
The newsletter provides a summary for WCF Members of the result of recent WCF Events, what the Management Committee (MC) has been doing 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 have been none since the last Newsletter was published. However, a Member Survey was launched in January with a view to formulating a new Business Plan for the WCF.

What has happened since December?
The WCF Hall of Fame is to be relaunched in 2020 and the Management Committee decided that the process should be initiated by nominating Bryan Dawson (AUS) to be inducted as the first new member since 2014. in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport as the manufacturer of the Dawson Ball, the premier competition ball for over 20 years. It was very fitting that it was possible to present Bryan with his certificate of induction in person as part of the Opening Ceremony of the 2020 Association Croquet World Championship.

The Australian Croquet Association has bid to hold the next Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship in Bunbury, Western Australia from 15 to 22 October 2022. The bid has been accepted in principle. This will be the first time this popular event has been held outside Egypt.

The Croquet Association followed this by bidding to hold the next Association Croquet World Championship in London from 16 to 24 July 2022. The Hurlingham Club will be the headquarters with other London clubs providing additional courts. This bid has been accepted.

Recent WCF championships
Openshaw Shield – 2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship Tier 1

This was held at the Nelson-Hinemoa Club in South Island, New Zealand from 6 to 12 January. The event was won by New Zealand, the hosts and defending champions who were represented by Duncan Dixon, Edmund Fordyce, Josh Freeth and Felix Webby. The full finishing order was:

1 New Zealand

2 Egypt

3 England

4 USA

5 Australia

6 South Africa

7 Ireland

8 Sweden

Sweden are relegated to Tier 2 for the 2024 event and will be replaced by the winners of the GC WTC Tier 2 event.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship
This was hosted by the Australian Croquet Association at the Victorian Croquet Centre in Melbourne with assistance from the Ballarat Alexandra, Belmont, Essendon and Williamstown Croquet Clubs. After 9 days of competition, Reg Bamford (South Africa) was victorious by beating Matthew Essick (USA) +14TP, -12, +17TP, +26TP in the final.

It was pleasing and noteworthy that three of the semi-finalists and five of the quarter-finalists were under 30.

The winners of the four consolation events were:

Salver – James Death (England)

Shield – Stephen Mulliner (England)

Bowl – Samir Patel (England)

Plate – Alain Giraud (England)

Forthcoming WCF championships
The coronavirus pandemic may affect the holding of the three remaining WCF events in 2020.

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 2
Tier 2 is planned to be held in southern Spain from 11 to 16 May 2020. Real Club de Golf Vista Hermosa is located in Puerto de Santa Maria near Cadiz and will be the headquarters with additional courts provided by Sherry Golf Jerez and Real Club de Golf Novi Sancti Petri. The eight teams will represent the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Wales.

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 3
Tier 3 is planned to be held in England at the Guildford & Godalming Croquet Club in Surrey from 15 to 18 July 2020. The competing teams are expected to represent Iran, Mexico and Portugal.

2020 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship
The WACWC is planned to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand from 29 November to 6 December 2020.

Membership and RCO enquiries

The Portuguese Croquet Association has been formed and has been awarded the status of a Recognised Croquet Organisation by the MC.

Outlook for March and beyond
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the holding of WCF events in 2020 has become and will remain a key topic for the MC. The results of the Member Survey will be analysed to assist in drawing up a new Business Plan for publication in April.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

15 March 2020

December 2019 Newsletter

WCF December 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
Amir Ramsis (EGY) retired as WCF President on 31 December 2019 on completing his second four-year term of office and Luis de Gortazar (ESP), Mike Orgill (USA) and Samir Patel (ENG) all retired by rotation.  Luis and Mike decided not to stand for re-election.

Ian Burridge (WAL) and Mike Cohn (AUS) were nominated as candidates for the post of WCF President and Ian was elected by 42 votes to 18.

Harold (Hal) Denton (USA), Begoña Elzaburu (ESP), Samir Patel (ENG) and Amir Ramsis (EGY) were nominated for three places on the WCF Management Committee.  Samir, Hal and Amir were elected to serve until 31 December 2023 with 44, 41 and 37 votes respectively with Begoña only just behind with 36 votes.

The WCF also voted on three subjects in December.  Statute changes were approved as Topic 80, including the limitation of the Secretary-General’s tenure to two four-year terms and creation of the post of Deputy Secretary-General to be appointed for the last year of a Secretary-General’s term to facilitate a smooth handover.  Topics 81 and 82 dealt with the approval of the 2020 Budget and the re-election of Brian Havill as the WCF’s Independent Examiner.

 

What has happened since September?

The Secretary-General visited the newly-formed Algarve Croquet Club in Portugal to provide coaching and to discuss the formation of a new Portuguese croquet governing body.  It is hoped that a Portuguese Croquet Association will be formed and that Portugal will be represented in the Tier 3 of the 2020 Golf Croquet Golf Croquet World Team Championship.

 

The WCF Hall of Fame is to be relaunched in 2020 and the Management Committee decided that the process should be initiated by nominating Bryan Dawson (AUS) to be inducted as the first new member since 2014.  in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the sport as the manufacturer of the Dawson Ball, the premier competition ball for over 20 years.

The Australian Croquet Association has bid to hold the next Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship in Bunbury, Western Australia from 15 to 23 October 2022.  The bid has been accepted in principle and, all being well, will lead to the first time this popular event has been held outside Egypt.

The Croquet Association followed this by bidding to hold the next but one Association Croquet World Championship in London from 16 to 24 July 2022.  The Hurlingham Club will be the headquarters with other London clubs providing additional courts.  This bid has also been accepted in principle.

As noted above, Amir Ramsis completed his 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.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 1

Tier 1 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 teams will represent Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand (the holders), South Africa, Sweden and the USA.

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 2

Tier 2 will be held in southern Spain from 11 to 16 May 2020.  Real Club de Golf Vista Hermosa is located in Puerto de Santa Maria, near Cadiz, and will be the headquarters with additional courts provided by Sherry Golf Jerez and Real Club de Golf Novi Sancti Petri.  The eight teams will represent the Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Wales.

2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship – Tier 3

Tier 3 will be held in England at the Guildford & Godalming Croquet Club in Surrey from 15 to 18 July 2020.  The competing teams are expected to represent Iran, Mexico and Portugal.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship

The 2020 ACWC will be held 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

The Iran Croquet Association was awarded Recognised Croquet Organisation status in November.

Management Committee topics

Topics recently completed or closed

MC 386:       Commonwealth Games

MC 406:       Croquet Mexico

MC 408:       Iran Croquet Association

MC 414:       2019 elections

MC 417:       Purchase of trophies 2020-2022

MC 418:       Statute changes

MC 420:       Artificial surfaces

MC Topics currently open

MC 352:       10-year World Championship schedule

MC 392:       2020 GCWTC Tier 2 (ESP), Tier 3 (ENG)

MC 393:       2020 WACWC

MC 394:       2021 U21 GCWC (NZL)

MC 395:       2021 GCWC (NZL)

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

MC 397:       2021 ACWTC Tier 2 (ENG)

MC 405:       S-G succession

MC 407:       Portugal

MC 411:       Banking arrangements

MC 412:       2022 ACWC (ENG)

MC 421:       Future strategy and Business Plan

MC 422:       Development Working Group

MC 423:       Handicapping

MC 424:       MC conference calls

MC Topics currently under administration

MC 365:       Hall of Fame relaunch

MC 377:       GC Rankings Regulations

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

MC 391:       2020 Association Croquet World Championship

MC 424:       Golf Croquet Country Rankings

Outlook for January and beyond

A membership survey will be carried out to assist in drawing up a new Business Plan for publication in April.  The new President, Ian Burridge, is keen to make development a more active part of the WCF’s overall function.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

20 January 2020

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

June 2019 Newsletter

WCF June 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 March?

The issues dealt with by the MC are set out in the list of MC topics that have required attention and resolution and can be found at the end of this Newsletter.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship will be 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 will take part.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Sussex County Croquet Club from Saturday, 27 July to Sunday, 4 August 2019. 69 players representing 19 countries have places and a further seven places will be awarded to the highest finishers in the Qualifying Tournament.

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. Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the USA have all confirmed their intention to send a team.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship

The 2020 ACWC will be held at the Victorian Croquet Centre near Melbourne from 15 to 23 February 2020. Formal invitations to participate were sent to Members in April 2019.

Membership and RCO enquiries

There are no current Membership enquiries but several croquet bodies which are potential candidates for RCO status are in contact with the WCF, hailing from China, Greece, India, Iran, Mexico, Montenegro and Pakistan.

Management Committee topics

Topics recently completed or closed

None

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 404:       Balls and ball-testing

MC 405:       S-G succession

MC 406:       Croquet Mexico

MC 407:       Portugal

MC 408:       Iran

MC 409:       WCF GC Rules Committee remit

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 July and beyond

The MC’s priorities will be on development via the RCO dimension, managing the final approach to the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GCWC and issuing the formal invitations for the 2020 GC WTC Tier 2/3.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

5 July 2019

March 2019 Newsletter

WCF March 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

Topic 78

Following the consultation on WCF membership structure in Topic 74, the WCF Council approved amended proposals to alter the WCF membership structure by 52 votes to 1. There are now Full and Associate Members and Recognised Croquet Organisations (“RCOs”). It is hoped to add several new RCOs to the list in the next few months. It is possible to have more than one RCO in a country which does not have a Member. This is clearly appropriate for very large countries such as China and India. The intention is that the greater flexibility attached to RCO status will enable the WCF to be more active in supporting the development of croquet.

What has happened since December?

World Championship administration activities covered the final stages of preparation for the 2019 Women’s GCWC in February and the management of the timetable for the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GC World Championship.

The other issues dealt with by the MC are set out in the list of MC topics that have required attention and resolution and can be found at the end of this Newsletter.

2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

The sixth Women’s GC World Championship was held from 2 to 9 February 2019 in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand at the Heretaunga and Marewa Croquet Clubs. 56 competitors took part representing eight countries - Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and USA.

The semi-finals provided two titanic struggles. Soha Mostafa (EGY) took the first two games from Jenny Clarke (NZL) by 7-3, 7-4 but was then hauled back by 7-6, 7-4. The final game went to the 13th hoop and Soha emerged the winner 7-6. In the other match, Iman El Faransawy (EGY), the 2007 women’s world champion, also took the first two games 7-3, 7-6. But her opponent, Manal Khodeir (EGY), then staged a dramatic recovery and swept to victory 7-2, 7-6, 7-3.

In the final, Soha started as the favourite to take the title but had to play at her best to beat Manal 7-1, 5-7, 7-6, 7-3 and so become the first Egyptian to hold the women’s world title since Iman in 2007.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Nottingham Croquet Club from Saturday, 20 July to Wednesday, 24 July 2019.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Sussex County Croquet Club from Saturday, 27 July to Sunday, 4 August 2019.  Four places are reserved for the highest finishers in a Qualifying Tournament at Guildford & Godalming Croquet Club from 22 to 25 July 2019. 

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. Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden and the USA have all confirmed their intention to send a team.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship

The 2020 ACWC will be held at the Victorian Croquet Centre near Melbourne from 15 to 23 February 2020. Formal invitations to participate will be sent to Members in April 2019.

Membership and RCO enquiries

There are no current Membership enquiries but several croquet bodies which are potential candidates for RCO status are in contact with the WCF, hailing from China, Greece, India, Iran, Mexico, Montenegro and Pakistan.

Management Committee topics

MC Topics recently completed or closed

MC 369:     2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 371:     Format of World Team Championships

MC 389:     WCF membership structure

MC Topics currently open

MC 352:     10-year World Championship schedule

MC 386:     Commonwealth Games

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

MC 392:     2020 GCWTC Tier 2/3 (ESP)

MC 393:     2020 WACWC (was MC 382)

MC 394:     2021 U21 GCWC

MC 395:     2021 GCWC

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

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

MC 397:     2021 ACWTC Tier 2 (ENG)

Outlook for April and beyond

The MC’s priorities will be on development via the RCO dimension, managing the approach to the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GCWC and issuing the formal invitations for the 2020 ACWC and 2020 GC WTC Tier 2/3.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

16 April 2019

December 2018 Newsletter

WCF December 2018 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

Topic 73:      Election of WCF Treasurer

An election for the post of WCF Treasurer made necessary by the decision of Martin French to retire at the end of 2018. The WCF was fortunate to have two very well-qualified candidates in Lorraine Smith (AUS) and Yousry Ghamry (EGY). Yousry was the successful candidate with 31 votes to Lorraine’s 22 votes.

Topic 74:      Consultation on the WCF membership structure

The MC sought and received Members’ views on a change of structure to reclassify Observer Members as Recognised Croquet Organisations (“RCOs”) and permit more than one RCO to be recognised in a country without a Full or Associate Member.

Topic 75:      2019 Budget

The 2019 Budget was approved by 36 votes to nil.

Topic 76:      Election of Independent Examiner

Brian Havill [ENG] was elected Independent Examiner for 2019 by 27 votes to nil.

Topic 77:       Amendment of WCF Refereeing Regulations

Two amendments have been recommended to align the regulations with the 5th Edition of the WCF Rules of Golf Croquet.

What has happened since September?

World Championship administration activities covered the final stages of preparation for the 2018 Over 50 GCWC, the management of entries for the 2019 Women’s GCWC and the start of the timetable for the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GC World Championship. Ranking Places were announced for both the latter events on 30 December 2018.

The final quarter routine included preparing and publishing the previous year’s accounts, the following year’s budget and the MC Report to Members on the year’s activities. A picture of the range of other issues dealt with by the MC is given by the list of MC topics that have required attention and resolution and can be found at the end of this Newsletter.

2018 Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship

This event is held every four years and this was its third holding, again generously hosted by the Egyptian Croquet Federation in Cairo using its own courts and with the support of the Gizera Club which provided another three courts. The 2018 event attracted 48 competitors from ten countries - Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and USA.

The championship was won by Hanan Rashad of Egypt who thereby became the first woman to win a WCF world title in an event open to both sexes.

32 players progressed to the knock-out stage. Nine countries were represented in the last 32 but this fell to only three (EGY, ENG and USA) by the quarter-finals with the hosts, Egypt, claiming six of the eight places.

Stephen Mulliner (ENG) beat Wael Shahine (EGY), Hanan Rashad (EGY) beat Ayman Amin (EGY), Yasser Fathy (EGY) beat Sherif Abdelwahab (USA) and Hazem Mahmoud (EGY) beat Salib Erian (EGY). In the semi-finals, Hanan Rashad beat Mulliner 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 and Yasser Fathy overcame Hazem Mahmoud by 7-2, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6.

It was felt by the numerous spectators that Hanan Rashad needed a good start to have a real chance of victory. Although she started brightly by taking the opening game, Yasser Fathy took the next two and seemed well set. However, to Hanan’s great credit, she maintained her resolve and won the last two games 7-4, 7-5 to seal a famous victory.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Women’s GCWC will be held at the Heretaunga Club in Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand from Saturday, 2 February to Saturday, 9 February 2019. A Qualifying Tournament will be held at the Rangatira Club, Dannevirke, North Island , New Zealand from Wednesday, 30 to Thursday, 31 January 2019.

2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Nottingham Croquet Club from Saturday, 20 July to Wednesday, 24 July 2019. 10 Ranking Places have been awarded and Members have until 27 January to nominate a total of 14 players for Membership Places.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Sussex County Croquet Club from Saturday, 27 July to Sunday, 4 August 2019. 37 Ranking Places and two Wild Card Places have been awarded and Members have until 27 January to nominate a total of 37 players for Membership Places. Four places are reserved for the highest finishers in a Qualifying Tournament.

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 Monday, 6 to Sunday,12 January 2020. Formal invitations to participate will be sent to Members in March 2019.

2020 Association Croquet World Championship

The 2020 ACWC will be held at the Victorian Croquet Centre near Melbourne from  Saturday,15 to Sunday, 23 February 2020. Formal invitations to participate will be sent to Members in April 2019.

Membership enquiries

There are none active at present.

Management Committee topics

Topics recently completed or closed

MC 325:       Enquiry from Corfu Croquet Club

MC 354:       2018 Association Croquet World Championship

MC 367:       Portugal

MC 368:       2018 Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 376:       Statute and Regulation amendments

MC 387:       WCF Treasurer vacancy

MC 388:       Eligibility issue

MC 398:       Child protection policy

MC 399:       2019 Budget

MC 400:       Reserve Funds investment

MC 401:       Refereeing Regulations amendments

MC 402:       Management Committee report

MC Topics currently open

MC 352:       10-year World Championship schedule

MC 384:       2021 MacRobertson Shield

MC 386:      Commonwealth Games

MC 389:       WCF membership structure

MC 390:       2020 GCWTC Tier 1 (NZL)

MC 392:       2020 GCWTC Tier 2/3 (ENG)

MC 393:       2020 WACWC (was MC 382)

MC 394:       2021 U21 GCWC

MC 395:       2021 GCWC

MC Topics currently under administration or pending

MC 362:       2019 U21 GCWC and Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 365:       Hall of Fame relaunch

MC 369:       2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 371:       Format of World Team Championships

MC 377:       GC Rankings development

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

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

MC 397:       2021 ACWTC Tier 2 (ENG)

Outlook for January and beyond

The MC’s main focus will be on following-up the response to Topic 74 (WCF membership structure), managing or overseeing the final arrangements for the 2019 Women’s GCWC including pre-event communication with the players. Other tasks will include progressing the administration of the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GCWC and issuing the formal invitations for the 2020 GC WTC and 2020 ACWC.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

16 January 2019

September 2018 Newsletter

WCF September 2018 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.  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 70: New WCF Hall of Fame Regulations were approved by 34 votes to nil in June 2018 in preparation for a re-launch of the Hall of Fame. It is hoped that luminaries from the world of Golf Croquet will be among those proposed for future nomination.

Topic 71: The 5th Edition of the WCF Rules of Golf Croquet were approved by 49 votes to 5 in July 2018. WCF Members are free to decide when the new Rules will come into effect in their domains but it is expected that the new Rules will be in general use by March 2019. They are already in use in New Zealand. Official Rulings

Topic 72: Minor amendments to the Event and Sports Regulations were approved by 43 votes to 8 on 30 September 2018. These came into effect on 1 October 2018.

What has happened since May?

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham, England. Croquet may be able to feature as a “demonstration” sport and the WCF has discussed with the Commonwealth Games Foundation how croquet might apply to become a “recognised” sport. More developments are expected at the end of 2018.

The WCF Treasurer, Martin French, has announced his intention of retiring at the end of 2018. Martin has made a great contribution to croquet both as a player and as an administrator at national and international level. He was the WCF Secretary-General from 2010 to 2013 and the Treasurer from 2016. He will be missed and he goes with the gratitude of the croquet world.

Forthcoming WCF championships

2018 Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship

The O50 GCWC will be held from Saturdat, 6 October to Saturday, 13 October 2018. There are 48 competitors from ten countries – Australia, Egypt, England, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden and USA.

2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Women’s GCWC will be held at the Heretaunga Club in Hawkes Bay, North Island, New Zealand from Saturday, 2 February to Saturday, 9 February 2019. A Qualifying Tournament will be held at the Rangatira Club, Dannevirke, North Island , New Zealand from Wednesday, 30 to Thursday, 31 January 2019.

2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Nottingham Croquet Club from Saturday, 20 July to Wednesday, 24 July 2019. The formal invitation to participate has been sent to WCF Members and the Response Date is Sunday, 2 December 2018.

2019 Golf Croquet World Championship

The 2019 Golf Croquet World Championship will be held at the Sussex County Croquet Club from Saturday, 27 July to Sunday, 4 August 2019. The formal invitation to participate has been sent to WCF Members and the Response Date is Sunday, 2 December 2018.

Membership enquiries

There are none active at present.

MC Topics recently completed or closed

MC 372:         WCF Facebook presence

MC 385:         New WCF Rules of Golf Croquet

MC Topics currently open

MC 352:         10-year World Championship schedule

MC 376:         Statute and Regulation amendments

MC 384:         2021 MacRobertson Shield

MC 386:         Commonwealth Games

MC 387:         WCF Treasurer vacancy

MC Topics currently under administration or pending

MC 325:         Enquiry from Corfu Croquet Club

MC 354:         2018 Association Croquet World Championship

MC 362:         2019 U21 GCWC and Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 365:         Hall of Fame relaunch

MC 367:         Portugal

MC 368:         2018 Over 50 Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 369:         2019 Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship

MC 371:         Format of World Team Championships

MC 377:         GC Rankings development

MC 381:         2020 Association Croquet World Championship

Outlook for October and beyond

The MC’s main focus will be completing Statute changes in preparation for a Members’ consultation and and managing or overseeing the final arrangements for the 2019 Women’s GCWC including pre-event communication with the players. Other tasks will include beginning the administration of the 2019 Under 21 GCWC and the 2019 GCWC, both in England.

Stephen Mulliner

Secretary-General

7 October 2018