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