Category: Latest News

Hong Kong Croquet Association joins WCF as RCO

The Management Committee are pleased to announce that the newly formed Hong Kong Croquet Association (HKCA) meets the requirements to join the WCF as a Recognised Croquet Organisation (RCO).

Our contact there, Tom Ingram, has been working with the Hong Kong authorities for some time now to get the HKCA formalised and approved. They have two clubs, the Hong Kong Cricket Club with 27 members and the Hong Kong Club with 15 playing members. Their website is in production and a link to that on the Members page will be shared soon.

In 2022 the HKCC hosted 4 tournaments and ran a league from Sept to April. These tournaments were singles and doubles Association and singles and doubles Golf. They have plans to hold National Championships next April.

Please offer them a warm welcome, and if you are in Hong Kong, why not get in touch and pay them a visit.

GC Ranking Changes – to be implemented 18th December

On 13th December WCF Members approved some technical changes to the GC Ranking System.

The changes have been made to reduce artificially low grades in some of our developing Member countries. This is caused by two main issues: i) low grades set when players first start, and ii) insufficient exposure to players from other countries, causing a ‘closed system’, which keeps grades deflated.

Many players will notice a minor change to their GC grade when this is implemented on 18th December 2022. The changes are likely to be higher for those from our developing countries, in particular Spain and Latvia, but the impact of the changes will extend out to all players.

For those interested in the details, Appendix 5: GC Algorithm of the Ranking Regulations will be re-published within the next few days on this website.

Please share this information with your clubs and federations by whatever media you have available, this will ensure as few players as possible are surprised by the change.

2022 AC World Team Championship Tier 1: Champion England

England Win the MacRobertson Shield

The England team put up a fantastic performance in Australia to triumph in the MacRobertson Shield winning all three tests against the other nations.

The Croquet World Team Championships are a gruelling three-week test of stamina and skill and this series has been extremely challenging. The teams were all very evenly matched and the lawn conditions difficult with tight hoops and high winds effecting play. This led to fewer peeling turns than we might have expected, but some interesting and interactive matches.

Going into the final day the English team were in a commanding position, leading Australia 10 to 5 and needing just one match win to take home the trophy. However, it’s never easy to cross the line, and memories from 2010 will have kept tension high, it took the then British team to the final game to win. However, Mark Avery the most experienced of the English players, and playing in his fifth test series, didn’t hang around. A quick player, he beat Australia’s Edward Wilson in 2 straight games, the first match to finish of the day.

Mark and Jamie were the stars of the English team with just one match loss between them across the whole series. Jamie is only the second player in history known to have won all his matches throughout the series, both doubles and singles.

Congratulations and well played to all the England Team. Great to have a World Cup win for England.

Final score: England win 3 out of 3 tests, beating USA 16:5, New Zealand 11:10 and the final score against Australia was 13:7. New Zealand beat the USA 8:5 to come third.

The event was filmed every day by 'MySportLive' and the videos can be watched in full on their site. To see highlights go to the WCF YouTube Channel and select the 2022 MacRobertson Shield Playlist.

For background and articles, visit the The MacRobertson Shield Facebook page
For a blog, schedules and team details, visit the The MacRobertson Shield Website

And Full Results can be found on CroquetScores

Thank you to all the hard-working volunteers who helped to make this event such a success. Your efforts are very much appreciated by the whole croquet community.

The 2022 England Team with the MacRobertson Shield
The England Team celebrate their win [Left to right: Harry Fisher, James Death, Jamie Burch, Samir Patel, Christian Carter and Mark Avery)

Mark Avery on his way to rover as he seals the 11th win

Mark and Jamie celebrate their 9 out 9 Doubles Match wins.

November 2022 Newsletter

Congratulations Matthew Essick - 2022 Golf Croquet World Champion
Congratulations to Scotland - winners of Tier 2.1
Congratulations to Canada - winners of Tier 2.2 and promoted into 2.1 for next time!
Congratulations to the South African team, winner of Tier 3
Well done Mexico - 2020 Tier 3 Golf Croquet World Team Champions

Congratulations to our Champions!

2022 GC World Champion: Matthew Essick

2020 GC Tier 3 World Team Champions: Mexico

2022 AC WTC Champions Tier 2.1: Scotland

2022 AC WTC Champions Tier 2.2: Canada

2022 AC WTC Champions Tier 3: South Africa

The Player Surveys for these events can now be found on the WCF Website:  Championship Player Surveys

Thank you
The WCF wish to thank all the clubs that hosted events for the WCF in England earlier this year. To everyone at the clubs for releasing their lawns, and to all the volunteers where ever you are, your hard work ensures these events are a success, and we thank you.

    • The Guildford & Godalming Club for the GC Tier 3
    • The Sussex County Croquet Club for the GC World Championship
    • Budleigh Salterton for the AC World Teams Tiers 2.1, 2.2 and 3.

 

Coming up soon!

The 2022 AC World Team Championship Tier 1 (The MacRobertson Shield) is to be held at Cairnlea, Victoria, Australia, from 12-29th November 2022.

Teams of six elite croquet players will compete over 2 weeks in a series of test matches. Australia are defending champions - can they retain the title or will England, New Zealand or the USA claim the shield?

A busy live-streaming schedule is planned, providing croquet enthusiasts around the world to watch some top class croquet. To find out more go to the event website and Facebook page by clicking on the images.

We wish all the players success. Let the best team win!

Click the image to go to the dedicated event FACEBOOK page
Click the image to go to the MacRobertson Shield website

2023 Women’s AC World Championship
This will take place between 7-14 January in Canterbury, New Zealand. To find out more visit WCF Event Page: 2023 AC Women's Championship and also the Event Website Croquet New Zealand Event website

Players can still enter the Qualifier, to be held in Waikanae (North of Wellington) from 3-5 January 2023, with four places in the World Championship available. If you are eligible and interested in entering please go to the CNZ tournament page to enter. AC Women's Qualifier  The allocation date is 3rd November 2022, but if not full on that date entries will remain open until 19th December 2022.

Who will be the new AC Women's Champion?
Can Jenny Clarke, champion in 2012, retake the trophy?

2023 Under 21 World Championship
This will be held between 8 - 12 February 2023 at two clubs in Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand.  The host clubs are Croquet Mount Maunganui, 45 Kawaka Street Mount Maunganui (head-quarters), and Tauranga Croquet Club, The Domain, Cameron Road Tauranga.

Blake Fields, playing at the 2022 GC World Championship (credit: Sarah Patton)

 

Aston Wade: 2022 European Open Champion. Can he follow this with success at the U21 Championship?

Other 2023 Events (click the event name to learn more).

The 2023 AC World Championship will take place in London, England between 15-23 July.

The 2023 GC Women’s World Championship will take place in Sussex, England between 7 -14 August.

The 2023 GC Over 50’s World Championship will take place in Bunbury, Western Australia, between 14-21 October. This will be the last Over 50’s event following a recent decision that in future the minimum age will change to 60.

Hosts wanted for future events
The forward calendar for the next 12 years was published a couple of months ago. Clubs interested in hosting any of our events should make their interest known via their Governing Body.

Regulations
On 30th September 2022, the WCF Council voted to adopt new Event and Sports Regulations.These can now be viewed on the WCF Website page: WCF Statutes & Regulations

European Regional Committee (ERC) - update
The ERC Forward Calendar can now be found on the WCF European Regional Committee page of the website. Hosts are sought for some of these events. Please contact Roberts Stafeckis, chair of the ERC, if interested.

Want to watch some Croquet from home?
If so, you could take a look at the WCF YouTube Channel. It showcases some of the very best videos of top class, international croquet from around the world, as well as a few How To videos explaining the game. Use our Playlists to be taken straight to videos created by WCF Members and International croquet players. See World Championship footage, as well as National Championships from around the globe.

 

2023 GC Under 21 Championship Player List

Following some withdrawals, the updated list of players for this event is:

Under 21 Player List 26Oct22

Ranking Places = 15
Membership Places = 12
Replacement Ranking Places = 5

As at 26th October 2022, there is now only one player on the Replacement Ranking list. This is Fran Wright from Australia.

Withdrawals:
Any players who needs to withdraw should notify Debbie Lines, the WCF Secretary-General immediately, either directly or via their Member assocation.

2023 GC Under 21 Championship Player List

The Closing Date for the 2023 Under 21 GC Championship was 22nd October 2022.

Twelve Membership Places have been allocated. Egypt has released one Membership Place unused and has also notified a withdrawal by a player previously given a Ranking Place. England had two Membership Places but has not nominated anyone for these, so these are also both released. This means the current breakdown of spaces is:

Ranking Places = 16
Membership Places = 12
Replacement Ranking Places = 4

The top four players on the Replacement Ranking list at the closing date, who have been offered a place, are below.
As at 23rd October 2022, we wait confirmation of their acceptance.

    • Curtis Mead – Australia
    • Ethan Gumbrell – Australia
    • Ethan McDonald – New Zealand
    • Ashton Sharp – New Zealand

The current list of players is: Under 21 Player List 23rd Octoboer 22

Withdrawals:
Any players who needs to withdraw should notify Debbie Lines, the WCF Secretary-General immediately, either directly or via their Member assocation.

There are 3 people left on the wait list (Replacement Ranking List). In current ranking order these are Jamie Fleming (Australia), Fran Wright (Australia) and Robbie Spooner (New Zealand, note: no games played in the qualifying period). This order may change if games are played altering the rankings before a withdrawal occurs.