World Championships Archives - Page 2 of 12

2025 GC World Championship Tier 1- Champions USA

Congratulations Team USA

The USA team played superbly throughout and had a well deserved win in the recent World Team Championships. Their squad of five players included the last 3 Singles GC World Championships, Ben Rothman (captain), Matthew Essick and Blake Fields. They were ably supported by Tom Balding and Stephen Morgan.

The Egyptian team had a great run through to the final. They also sent a squad of five players, featuring Mohamed Nasr, the 2026 Singles Champion as their captain, and top ranked and experienced players: Khaled Kamel, Mohamed Taha, Mohamed Walid and Yasser Sayed. In Cairo, Egypt play with different equipment and hoops, and normally later in the day, so it was great to see them playing closer to their best when dealing with overseas conditions.

Bronze medal went to the home nation, Australia. The three Fletcher brothers were supported by Ed Wilson. They all played superbly but were outclassed by Egypt in the semi-final. New Zealand fought hard in the 3rd/4th place play-off but narrowly lost, Australia taking home the medal with a 5 to 4 win.

The relegation match was between Ireland and Spain. Spain had been unable to send their top players and were keen not to go back into Division 2 which they won in 2021. Unfortunately unable to send their top players, due to work and family responsibities, the spaniards had to work hard.

Nicolas Denizot (Captain), was supported by his mother, Begoña Elzaburu (is this the first time a mother and son have played in the World Teams?), Juan Ojeda and Julian Gutierrez.

It came down to the final hoop, of the final game, in the final match. Begoña vs Rob O’Donoghue were 1 game all, 4 matches all, and it went to a thrilling 13th hoop. Well done Begoña for holding her nerve, playing some good positional shots, and winning for the spaniards.

The event was filmed every day by 'You Tube Live Sports' and the videos can be watched in full on their site. Links to all the footage can be found in the WCF YouTube channel - go to Playlist GC World Teams Championships.

Full Results can be found on CroquetScores

A huge thank you to PFC Mallets for sponsoring the championship, and also to the many other companies that supported the event.

We couldn't hold these events without the many hard-working volunteers. Your efforts help make WCF Championships successful. Thank you so much.

The WCF PFC Mallets GC World Teams Championship, competing for the Openshaw Shield is the fourth occurrence of this contest. It will be held between Monday, 17th to Sunday 23rd February 2025 at the Northern Tasmanian Croquet Centre, St Leonards, Tasmania.

The team entry fee for this event is £588 per team (based on 7 days, teams of 4, @ £21 per player per day).

8 full-sized courts will be available, to host the 8 teams of 4 players who will compete. The competing teams, all of whom have confirmed their attendance, are:

New Zealand (Holders)

Australia

Egypt

England

Ireland

South Africa

Spain

USA

Event Conditions and Information:

Rules: the latest editions of the Rules at the time of the event (currently Edition 6, 2022) and any Official Rulings on the Rules of Golf Croquet that may be issued prior to the commencement of the event, will be used.

Lawns: these are anticipated to be 11-12 Plummers in speed. The courts do not have lighting, however, at this time of year there is thirteen (13) hours of daylight.

Balls: WCF approved balls – type to be confirmed at least six months
prior to the event start date.

Hoops: Quadway, set to WCF Tournament standards

Key Personnel

Event Lead: Graeme Roberts
Tournament Director: Elaine Hazell
Tournament Manager: Peter Freer
DTM/Plate Manager: Sylvia Wing
Tournament Referee: Liz Fleming
Secretary: Ruth McKean
Treasurer: Graham Keating

Transport and Accommodation
Travel: Players, or their Member countries, will be responsible for the costs of and arranging travel to and from Launceston and within Launceston to the Northern Tasmania Croquet Centre at St Leonards.

Accommodation: There is a variety of accommodation available in Launceston, ranging from the very basic to the higher end of the market. Options will be listed on the event specific website.

Meals: Snacks and lunches will be available for purchase at the venue.

Publicity
Scores: will be reported online via Croquet Scores. A team will be put in
place to ensure Croquet Scores is updated regularly.

Website: There will be a dedicated website for the championship. Until this is created, please keep an eye on this webpage for further updates and news items.

Livestreaming: It is anticipated that live streaming will be provided for the
event. This will be confirmed closer to the event.

Social Media: Facebook and Twitter accounts will be established in the lead-up to the championship.

Functions
Opening Reception with the Mayor: Friday 14th February 2025. This will be held at Launceston City Council between 5-6pm.

Welcome Ceremony and BBQ: Sunday 16th February 2025, between 12 and 2pm at the Club.

Tournament Dinner and Award Ceremony: Sunday 23rd, February 2025 from 19:00. Players to purchase tickets

Main Event Dates
Invitation Date	18 May 2024	This is the date that Members will be formally invited to send a team to participate in this event.
Response Date	18 July 2024	This is the date by which Members must formally accept the invitation.
Team Announcement Date	17 December 2024	Players to be announced. Team Entry Fees are due by this date.
Team Seeding Date	10 February 2025	The teams will be seeded based on average grade of the top four players in the squad who are expected to play. Note revised date.
Opening Ceremony	16 February	Practice and Opening Ceremony, before it starts on 17th.

2025 GC World Team Championships – Team Seeding and Match Draw

2025 GC World Team Championships – Tiers 2 and 3 – How to pay your entry fees

The Entry fee for this event is £504 per team. Your payment must be received by the WCF on or before 5th June 2025. Failure to pay on time may lead to the loss of your place in the event.

The WCF would prefer that you pay by Bank Transfer. All details on how to do this are sent separately by email.

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

2025 AC World Championship – Winner: Reg Bamford (ZAF)

South Africa’s Reg Bamford beat England’s Mark Avery in style, winning all his games with a Triple Peel, and not dropping a single game throughout the whole championship.

In the first game, Mark Avery looked to be set to stop his run, but unfortunately stuck in 3b after having done all the peels. Reg stepped in, methodically completing turn after turn with no errors.

This win puts Bamford’s back alongside Robert Fulford as a six-time AC World Champion. He has also won the GC World Championship twice.

A welcome return for Mark Avery to the final who in recent years has returned to top form. Thirty-six years after reaching the final of the inaugural AC World Championship in 1989, he was again silver medallist, and had to come back twice from two games down to win earlier rounds of the knock-out.

Congratulations also go to the following:

Bronze medalists: Logan McCorkindale from New Zealand and Robert Fletcher from Australia.

Shield Winner: Zack Watson - USA

Bowl Winner: Stephen Mulliner - England

Plate Winner: Duncan Reeve - Scotland

Manager's Invitational Winner: Nick Parish - England

Ramekin Winner: Greg Hill - Australia

A full report can be found on Croquet Network: Croquet Network - AC World Championship Report

Full results can be found on Croquet Scores: Croquet Scores - 2025 AC World Championship

To watch all the livestream footage, go to the WCF YouTube Channel, select Playlists, and then select the AC World Championship playlist

Thank you to all many people who worked hard to deliver this fantastic event. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers and players.

THE WCF WISHES ALL THE COMPETITORS IN THE UPCOMING AC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THE VERY BEST OF LUCK

Livestreaming

The event will be streamed live from 3pm on Friday 17th October until it finishes on Sunday 26th October.

Friday 17th October 3pm: Damon Bidencope Celebration of Life
Friday 17th October 4pm: Opening Ceremony
Saturday 18th October: Block play starts
Wednesday 22nd October: Knock-out starts

Subscribe to the USCA YouTube channel to follow all the action: https://www.youtube.com/@uscroquetassociation

The Event capacity is 72 players.

The entry fee for this event is £189 per player. This is based on a rate of £21 per player per day for 9 days.

Qualifying Competition
The qualifier will be held at the same venue between the three days of 14th- 16th October. Entry has now closed.

Clothing
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). Shoes which will not damage the playing surface must be worn.

Welcome Ceremony, registration and Practice
The welcome ceremony will be on Friday 17th October 2025. Players should plan to arrive soon after lunch for registration. Practice will be available on this day.

Social
There wil be a dinner and other socials arranged for during the event. These will be published in due course.

Balls and Hoops
Invictus balls.
Quadway hoops.

Accommodation and Travel

The USCA has arranged an offer at the West Palm Beach Hilton Hotel - see post for details https://worldcroquet.org/2025-ac-world-championship-hotel-offer/

Flights into Miami are recommended.
There are many hotels and motels in the area. Holiday lets are also plentiful using such online sites as VRBO or AirBnB.
A WhatsApp group will be set up for players and officials towards the end of May 2025. This can be used for players to liaise with respect to accommodation transport.

Key Dates

Main Event Dates
Invitation Date	20 December 2024	This is the date that Members will be formally invited to send players to participate in this event.
Response Date	28 February 2025	This is the date by which Member nominations for Ranking and Wild Card places must have been received by the WCF Management Committee. Members must also specify the number of Membership Places they wish to take up and RCO's should advise if they would like to request a Membership Place.
Allocation Date	14 March 2025	The World Ranking List to be used to determine the initial allocation of Ranking Places is that published at the end of the Allocation Date.
Announcement Date	28 March 2025	By this date the breakdown of places will be advised and players awarded an Initial Ranking Place or Wild Card will be announced.
Closing Date	28 April 2025	This is the last date Members can nominate players for their Membership Places. Within 1 to 2 days the MC will announce recipients of Membership Places and Replacement Ranking Places and request payment.
Player Contact Details & Bios	28 May 2025	This is the date by which players are asked to provide their contact details, bio's and a headshot photo.
Entry Fee Due Date	30 May 2025	Per Sports Regn Appendix 2 6.1. Any players awarded a place on the Announcement Date will lose their place if they have not paid by this date.
Main Event Cut-off Date	2 September 2025	This is the date after which returned places are generally filled by creating extra Qualifier Places instead of Replacement Ranking Places.

Important Safety Tips for International Travel

Research Your Destination: Familiarise yourself with local customs, laws, and safety guidelines. Be aware of any travel advisories issued for your destination.

Ensure Visa Requirements Are Met: Confirm whether your destination requires a visa and ensure it's obtained before travel. Keep it with your travel documents and make digital copies for backup.

Secure Important Documents: Keep your passport, visa, and other travel documents in a safe place. Make digital copies in case of loss or theft.

Stay Connected: Inform friends or family of your travel itinerary and stay in touch regularly. Keep local emergency contact numbers handy.

Health Precautions: Stay up to date on vaccinations and carry any necessary medications. Pack a basic first aid kit for minor emergencies.

Be Vigilant with Valuables: Avoid displaying expensive items, and use lockable bags or hotel safes when possible.

Local Awareness: Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in crowded areas, and avoid isolated places at night.

Preparation is key to ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

2025 GC World Team Championships – Teams Announced

Preparations continue in Tasmania for the upcoming WCF PFC Mallets GC World Team Championship. The organising team is getting the venue ready. The event Facebook page is full of articles showing their hard working volunteers getting the site ready and undergoing training.

The 8 teams competing have now been announced. Download the file to see who will be representing their countries: 2025 Openshaw Shield Teams Announcement

And more exciting news, David Openshaw, who presented the Shield, will again be travelling out to support the event and present the trophy.

Why not follow the event Facebook page? Click on the image to visit the page.

2025 GC World Team Championships – Appeals Panel

2025 GC World Team Championships – Event Website and Facebook Pages

2025 GC World Team Championship Tiers 2 Champions Sweden and Tier 3 Champions Scotland

Congratulations to Tier 2 Champions Sweden.

The 2025 GC World Team Championship Tiers 2 and 3 were held between Tuesday 5 to Sunday 10 August 2025.

The Swedish team won the Tier 2 Championship and took home the Amir Ramsis Naguib Salver. This win provides them with a well-deserved return to Tier 1 in 2029.

Scotland won the Tier 3 Jose Alvarez-Sala Salver . They then went on to beat Switzerland in the Relegation match, and so are promoted into Tier 2 for next time.

For the full results please see: Croquet Scores 2025 WCF World Team Championship Tiers 2 & 3

The WCF would like to thank Croquet Network for commissioning a tournament report and to John Miles, from Canada, for writing it. Croquet Network - full tournament report

The format will be dependent on the number of teams entering. The split of teams into Tiers 2 and 3 which will be determined during the event, dependant on performance over the first few days.

Rules and Regulations:
Play will be in accordance with the 6th Edition of the WCF Rules of Golf Croquet, the Official Rulings and the WCF Event Regulations (version 5.2), the WCF Sports Regulations (version 9.5) and the WCF Refereeing Regulations (version 1.6), or whichever are the latest versions on the Invitation Date. If later versions are subsequently published, application of any relevant amendments will need to be approved by both Members and the host.

Prior Day Practice:
Players wishing to practise before the Event starts will be welcome at SCCC between 2pm and 5pm on Monday, 4^th August, though some lawns may be unavailable at times for maintenance and hoops may not be set to tournament standards.

Hours of play:
Players should be available to start play at 9.30 am each day. There are no floodlights at the club but at this time of year the light will be good enough to play until at least 8.00 pm and can continue until dusk. Daily practice will be available to players from 9.15 am each day on their allocated court and for 5 minutes before the first game of each match.

Balls: Dawson balls.

Hoops: Quadway, set to WCF Tournament standards

Catering:
SCCC has a long-established tradition of providing good quality home cooked lunches with kitchen facilities in the club house and a team of volunteers who cater throughout the season.

Morning coffee, lunch and afternoon tea would be available for sale to all players at all venues.

SCCC also has a bar that will be staffed throughout the Event.

Social Events:
It is expected that a social event will be arranged for the players one evening during the Event

Flags:
The relevant country flags will be flown at the club for the duration of the event.

Players, or their Member countries, will be responsible for the costs of and arranging travel to and from the club.

SCCC is easily accessible by train or car from London or Gatwick Airport. SCCC is close to Brighton and Worthing which are large urban areas with a wide range of hotels, bed and breakfast and rental properties. The area attracts a lot of visitors in the summer. Players should be aware that early booking of accommodation is essential.

We anticipate that most players will stay in accommodation in the Brighton to Worthing area and so will be able to reach SCCC by public transport if they have not hired cars. It is suggested that players find accommodation within 20 miles (32 km) of SCCC.

Player parking will be available in the club car-park but because this gets busy, car sharing is strongly encouraged.