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