WCF December 2015 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. Your 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
The WCF Council elected the Georgian Croquet Federation to Observer Membership on 6 December 2015 by 58 votes to nil (Topic 46) and, on 31 December 2015, approved the 2016 Business Plan by 37 votes to nil (Topic 47) and elected Christian Carter as Independent Examiner for 2016 by 47 votes to nil (Topic 48).
Christian succeeds David Walters who has served as the WCF’s Independent Examiner for the last five years. The Management Committee would like to record its thanks to David for his work on the WCF’s behalf.
Version 6.3 of the Equipment Regulations came into effect on 26 December 2015.
What has happened in November and December?
The 2016 ACWC Closing Date passed on 25 October with 26 out of 30 requested Membership Places being taken up.
The MC elections voting period closed on 6 December. Amir Ramsis (Egypt)) was re-elected as President after defeating Ian Burridge (Wales) by 38 votes to 19. In consequence, Luis de Gortazar (Spain), Mike Orgill (USA) and Samir Patel (England) were all deemed to be elected to the Management Committee for the four years from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019.
Forthcoming WCF championships
2016 Association Croquet World Championship
This will be held at the National Croquet Centre, West Palm Beach, Florida from Saturday, 16 April to Sunday, 24 April 2016. The Qualifying Tournament will be held from Monday, 11 April to Thursday, 14 April 2016. The entry procedure is described on the 2016 ACWC page of the WCF website (see http://www.worldcroquet.org.uk/index.php/world-championships/2016-ac-world-championship).
The current entry list is also available now on the WCF website.
2016 Golf Croquet World Team Championship
Tier 1 will be held at the Surbiton Croquet Club in south-west London from Sunday, 15 May to Saturday, 21 May 2016. The competing teams are Egypt (holders), England, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Wales and USA.
Tier 2 will be shared between the Bath Croquet Club and the Camerton & Peasdown Croquet Club from Sunday, 15 May to Friday, 20 May 2016 with the intention that players from teams in both tiers can meet for a combined championship celebration on Friday, 20 May 2016. The competing teams are Australia, Belgium, Czech-Moravian Republic, Germany, Latvia, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.
The possibility of holding a Tier 3 event is under active investigation. Teams representing Georgia, Portugal and Russia have all expressed a wish to take part.
2017 Golf Croquet World Championship and Under 21 GC World Championship
Both events will be held at the Victorian Croquet Association headquarters at Cairnlea, in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The Under 21 will run from Saturday 18 to Wednesday 22 February 2017 and the Qualifying Tournament from Monday 20 to Wednesday 22 February 2017. The main event will begin on Saturday 25 February 2017 and end on Sunday 5 March 2017. The Invitation Date is expected to be in April 2016.
2017 Association Croquet World Team Championship
Tier 1, the MacRobertson Shield, will be held at Mission Hills Country Club, Palm Springs, California from 18 April 2017 to 4 May 2017. Tiers 2.1, Tiers 2.2 and 3 will be held at Sussex County Croquet Club in England from 17 to 22 July 2017. The Invitation Date for the lower tiers is expected to be in October 2016.
Membership enquiries
In addition to Georgia, recently elected as noted above, the WCF is dealing with enquiries from Greece and Pakistan.
MC Topics recently completed or closed
MC 320: WCF Equipment Regulations
MC 327: Membership enquiry from Georgia
MC 329: Management Committee elections
MC 332: International Croquet Academy, May 2016
MC 334: Colour Vision Deficiency
MC 335: 2016 Business Plan
MC 337: Election of Independent Examiner
Topics open, pending or under administration on 31 December 15
MC 291: Appointment of GC Ranking Officer and Assistant Ranking Officers
MC 295: 2016 Association Croquet World Championship, April 2016
MC 313: 2016 GC World Team Championship, May 2016
MC 318: 2017 GCWC and Under 21 GCWC, February 2017
MC 324: 2017 AC World Team Championship, April 2017
MC 326: WCF Event Income
MC 328: Membership status of France
MC 330: WCF GC Rules Committee
MC 331: International Laws Committee
MC 333: Format of Qualifying Tournaments
MC 336: 2016 Budget and Treasurer’s Report
MC 338: GC Rulings
MC 339: WCF Event and Sports Regulations
Outlook for January
The main focus will be on stimulating and agreeing Development projects and getting the Statute review underway.
Stephen Mulliner
Secretary-General 4 January 2016