The first Nordic championships were held at Moss Norway 15th and 16th May 2005. Both Association and Golf croquet championships were played.
Both events were held as doubles with two pairs each from Sweden, Norway and Finland. A Danish team also attended and took part in Jeloey Grand Open, the open part of the tournament in Association, Golf Croquet and a nine hoop event played to Norway Standard Rules.
Most croquet in Scandinavia is of the nine hoop variety. So it was quite a step to play the Nordic championships in association and golf forms. The four young players representing Finland had only played extreme croquet before this event.
In Denmark a nine hoop version is played with short mallets and only one hand is allowed in the swing. They have an extremely active tournament circuit and have over 6000 registered players and very good coaching scheme in place.
Sweden are already members of the WCF, Norway and Finland have applied for membership and we also expect Denmark to apply shortly. Next years event will be held in Sweden when also Denmark and maybe Iceland, will compete.
Here are the results of the competitions:
Nordic Championship 2005
Association Croquet
1. Sweden, Thomas C Ericsson and Mikael Agebjörn
2. Norway, Tom Larsen and Roar Michalsen
Golf Croquet
1. Sweden, Simon Carlsson and Ulf Söderberg
2. Norway, Tom Larsen and Roar Michalsen
Jeloey Grand Open
Association Croquet
1. Timothy King, England
2. Eddy Holmboe, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
Golf Croquet
1.Timothy King, England
2. Birger Stene, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
Nine Hoop Croquet, Norwegian Standard
1. Mikael Agebjørn, Argus Croquet, Sweden
2. Rune Johansen, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
3. Steinar Olsen, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
4. Birger Stene, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
5. Roar Michalsen, Hjulmakerveien Crocket Club, Norway
23rd May 2005