2024 CROQUET NEWS VOLUME 3: GC Worlds Preview

Official Magazine of the United States Croquet Association

LOVE AT FIRST STRIKE

When you see the two immaculately manicured croquet lawns at the heart of Peachtree Hills Place, it’s easy to understand why croquet enthusiasts love this luxury Life Plan community in the heart of Atlanta.

Here you’ll find elegant homes, upscale dining, attentive staff, fitness center with resort-style pool, and an onsite Wellness Center...all in an historic Buckhead neighborhood. Visit us to meet a lively group of friends you can don your whites with every day.

court side GC Worlds Welcome

Greetings USCA Members and croquet enthusiasts across the world. This edition of Croquet News, the Official Magazine of the USCA is dedicated to the 2024 WCF GC World Championship. Included is news from around the croquet world. We hope you enjoy the varied information provided.

Welcome to the championship and qualifier event participants that have traveled from countries across the world and all corners of the United States to enjoy this contest, which will decide the 2024 GC World Champion. We appreciate that elite players have traveled and committed their precious time and resources, to showcase their talents. Thank you for your efforts and good luck to all.

The USCA is proud to host this major event for the benefit and development of the game. We invite visiting participants and spectators (both on site and online) to explore the wide and diverse reach of croquet in the U.S. and our 250 USCA croquet clubs. From the backyard nine-wicket games familiar to all U.S. families to the finest manicured surfaces possible, the USCA embraces all croquet. The USCA actively promotes GC, AC, American Six Wicket and 9-wicket croquet.

The 2024 WCF GC World Championship has been years in the planning. These events require significant financial underwriting. The dedicated efforts of many throughout the USCA croquet community and the financial support provided by members through their continued USCA membership and donations are fundamental to this opportunity being available to the world’s elite talent.

Thank you to our sponsors PFC Hoopmaker, White Tie Croquet and Oakley Woods Croquet and donors.

If you are an existing USCA Member, on behalf of all the participants, thank you! If you are not a USCA Member but enjoy croquet and fun, we invite you to join us! Reach out, and we will connect you.

In advance, I would like to thank the Tournament Directors: Beverley Cardo and Michael Albert; Tournament Manager: Jeff Soo; Tournament Referee: Cheryl Bromley; Marketing Coordinator: Tom Cooper; USCA YouTube Channel/Streaming Producer: Russ Dilley; and the teams of volunteers supporting these event leaders: WCF President Jose AlvarezSala (Spain), WCF Secretary-General Debbie Lines, Venue Contact Macey White, the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club and their members. Even before the event starts, countless hours have been spent in preparation.

The early development of croquet and rise in the game’s popularity was in part due to the social interaction that the game allowed. Now almost 170 years later, this event and croquet wherever it is played, the game provides physical and intellectual exercise and camaraderie. I invite all participants and spectators to embrace the latter, enjoy the event and make new friends and connections.

In the 47 years I have enjoyed the game of croquet, my life is richer because of the friendships formed and the experiences enjoyed playing this wonderful sport.

Damon Bidencope

Proud USCA Member / USCA President President@croquetamerica.com / www.croquetamerica.com

President Damon Bidencope president@uscroquet.com

First Vice President

Michael Albert firstvp@uscroquet.com

Second Vice President Carla Rueck secondvp@uscroquet.com

Treasurer Douglas Moore treasurer@uscroquet.com

Secretary Beverley Cardo secretary@uscroquet.com

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

Florida

Bill Simmons floridarvp@uscroquet.com

Mid-Atlantic

Sally McGrath smcg226@gmail.com

Midwest John Brown midwestrvp@uscroquet.com

Northeast Preston Stuart northeastrvp@uscroquet.com

Southeast Linda Trifone southeastrvp@uscroquet.com

Western Patrick Sweeney westernrvp@uscroquet.com

USCA STAFF

Office Manager

Ursula Peck membership@uscroquet.com

Tournament & Schools

Johnny Mitchell tournament@uscroquet.com

Membership Coordinator Stephanie Lutge croquetoffice@uscroquet.com

United States Croquet Association

700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Tel. (561) 478-0760

Fax (561) 686-5507

SECURE YOUR SLICE OF PARADISE. SILVER CREEK REAL ESTATE GROUP IS COMMITTED TO GUIDING YOU THROUGH EVERY STEP OF YOUR REAL ESTATE JOURNEY, ENSURING AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE.

Whether you’re an avid croquet player or simply drawn to the serene lifestyle, Western North Carolina boasts an abundance of croquet clubs and a welcoming community of enthusiasts.

USCA Merchandise Is

CroquetNews

19 | WCF Golf Croquet Worlds Preview

56 | Profile: Linda Trifone

58 | National Croquet Day 2024

62 | 2024 USCA 9-Wicket Nationals

64 | USCA Regional/District Reports 2024 Volume 3

Departments

03 | Courtside with Damon Bidencope

08 | The Clubhouse

10 | Inbox

68 | Let’s Talk Tactics

70 | GC America

71 | Event Results

75 | Grand Prix Updates

76 | New Members

77 | Events Calendar

On The Cover

GCWC trophy image provided by Chris Roberts. Background image from istockphotos/dra_schwartz

On This Page

2023 American Six Wicket Women's GP Champion Linda Trifone is profiled on page 56. Photo by Michael Barrett.

Publisher Dylan Goodwin | croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Managing Editor Julie Jantzer-Ward | uscacroquetnews@yahoo.com

Submissions

Submit inquiries and articles to uscacroquetnews@yahoo. com. Text should be submitted as a Microsoft Word file and photos should be high resolution (300 dpi). All content may be edited for length and photos will be adjusted appropriately. Croquet News is produced four times per year and is distributed as a benefit to USCA membership. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USCA.

© 2024 United States Croquet Association

theclubhouse

Portugal Achieves

WCF Associate Member Status

WCF member organizations voted to elevate Portugal from a Recognized Croquet Organization (RCO) to an Associate Member starting in June. The upgrade reflects the steady growth of the sport in the country and marks a new chapter in its croquet journey.

Portugal's croquet scene is vibrant, with five clubs primarily located in the southern region. Efforts are also underway to establish a club in the Lisbon area, further expanding the sport's reach. The annual Benamor Open, a key event in the Portuguese croquet calendar, attracts players from outside Portugal. Golf croquet is the predominant version played in the country, but a community of Association Croquet (AC) players is also present.

For those interested in exploring croquet in Portugal or participating in future events, more information is available on the Portuguese Croquet Association's website: www.portuguesecroquetassociation.pt.

Clubs in Portugal

AWL Croquet Club

2 half-size lawns

www.facebook.com/awl.croquet/

Quinta Dos Poetas Croquet Club

1 full-size and 1 half-size lawn www.quintadospoetas.com/en/Activities

Algarve Croquet Club

2 full-size lawns algarvecroquetclub.com/ Casa das Cegonhas

Close to Lisbon with accommodations and a full-size croquet lawn. www.casadascegonhas.com/en/

Volunteers Needed for 2024 GC World Championship

The 2024 Golf Croquet (GC) World Championship is set to take place from October 18-26, 2024, at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartfield, Va., bringing together the world's top players for an unforgettable competition.

Among those representing the U.S. are WCF-ranked players

Matthew Essick, Ben Rothman, Sherif Abdelwahab, Danny Huneycutt, Chris Barley, Stephen Morgan and David Maloof. The USCA GC Selection Committee has also chosen Tom Balding, Blake Fields, Tamer Hatata, Kyle Maloof, Ahab Abdelwahab, Paul Bennett, Mohammed Kamal and Macey White to compete, with Kent Lovvorn, Paul Neubecker, Damon Bidencope and Billy Harper serving as alternates.

With such a strong lineup, the championship promises to be a thrilling showcase of croquet talent on home soil. To ensure the event runs smoothly, the USCA is calling for volunteers to support various aspects of the tournament. Volunteers are needed for roles such as scorekeeping, running errands, assisting with the USCA pop-up shop and managing the daily tasks required to host this prestigious event.

If you’re eager to be a part of this unique and inspiring event, consider volunteering for two or three days — or more. Your participation will be both memorable and impactful. Those interested in volunteering can contact Bev Cardo, USCA Secretary, at bevcardo@gmail.com.

Call for Nominations: 2024 WCF Hall of Fame

The World Croquet Federation (WCF) is now accepting nominations for the 2024 WCF Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport at a global level. If you believe someone deserves to be recognized for their achievements or impact on croquet, now is the time to put their name forward.

Since its inception in 2006, the WCF Hall of Fame has inducted 52 individuals, including some of the greatest players in the history of the game as well as those who have made substantial contributions as administrators, coaches or benefactors. Many of these members have served the sport in multiple capacities, enhancing its development and enjoyment worldwide.

Nominations may be submitted by individuals or through Member countries and should include a citation of at least 500 words detailing the nominee’s croquet achievements, along with at least one high-quality photo. All nominations must be sent to the WCF SecretaryGeneral, Debbie Lines, by September 30, 2024.

For more information on the nomination process, regulations, and to view current Hall of Fame members, please visit the WCF website. This is your opportunity to ensure that those who have shaped the world of croquet receive the recognition they deserve.

USCA Launches Year-Round

“Croquet Shots” Photo Initiative

Following the success of National Croquet Day, the USCA is excited to announce the launch of a new, ongoing photo initiative titled “Croquet Shots.” The initiative invites croquet enthusiasts and photographers to submit their most creative and captivating croquet-related photographs throughout the year.

Each month, selected images will be featured in the Wednesday Croquet Break email, offering photographers the opportunity to showcase their work to the national croquet community. Whether it’s a snapshot of club activities, a portrait of a unique individual

or a stunning venue, the USCA encourages submissions that capture the sport’s charm and character in all its forms.

Participants are asked to submit their photos along with their name and a brief description via email to media@uscroquet.com. This initiative not only celebrates the art of photography but also highlights the diverse and vibrant world of croquet.

Unleash your creativity, capture the essence of croquet and share your vision with the USCA community.

TheInbox

JER and Linda Chilton Foundation and CFA Introduce The New Steuber Classic

Over $18,000 In Cash Prizes — Largest Funding In Croquet History Represents A New Multi-Year Strategic Partnership For The Tournament

In a move to attract new players and increase support for the serious sport of American Six Wicket Croquet, the Croquet Foundation of America, Inc. (CFA) and the JER and Linda Chilton Foundation, have announced a multiyear, strategic partnership to introduce the New Steuber Classic Croquet Tournament.

Kicking off officially in February 2025, the New Steuber Classic Croquet Tournament will also celebrate the CFA’s founding board member and championship croquet player, JER (Bob) Chilton. The JER and Linda Chilton Foundation, in addition to an earlier bequest of $100,000 to the CFA, will annually award $15,000 to the winners and finalists of the new tournament, enhancing the extraordinary support of the Charles P. (Chuck) Steuber family. Steuber conceived, largely funded and built the National Croquet Center (NCC) in West Palm Beach, Fla.

“The CFA is honored to partner with Bob and Linda’s Foundation to take the Steuber Classic to the next level. I had the great privilege of knowing Bob as a croquet player, frequent partner and friend. I know he would be delighted with this concept because we spoke often about finding new ways to popularize American Rules Croquet — his favorite, and the most strategically complex version of the game,” says W. David McCoy, Chairman, Croquet Foundation of America, Inc. “Bob would also love that we are handsomely rewarding those who play the sport at the highest level in each flight.”

“My husband always had a gift for living life to the fullest, seeing the world and wanting to share his enthusiasm with others. This was especially true for the ‘art of the game’ of croquet,” Missy Diack-Chilton, Board President, JER and Linda Chilton Foundation, says. “With the New Steuber Classic in 2025, we are honoring his legacy by encouraging new and existing American Rules croquet players as well as attracting the world’s finest players to compete for the honor and excitement of winning the Chilton Perpetual Trophy in the American Rules Championship Flight.”

The New Steuber Classic Croquet Tournament

The New Steuber Classic, a United States Croquet Association (USCA) sanctioned event, will take place from Wednesday, February 26, to Sunday, March 2, 2025. A total of $15,000 in prize money, granted by the JER and Linda Chilton Foundation,

About the Tournament

will be awarded to the winners and finalists in all flights of American Rules Croquet. This tournament also includes golf croquet (a single-shot version of the game), for those who compete in that category. At least $3,000 in prize money will be awarded to the winners and finalists in their flights in this popular version of the sport. This tournament is hosted by the National Croquet Club to benefit the National Croquet Center. Additional funds are provided by the Steuber family (Charles and Victor) as well as individual sponsors in support of the tournament and the National Croquet Center.

The courts will open for practice on Tuesday, February 25, at 2:00 p.m. Doubles play in American Rules and Golf Croquet will take place all day February 26, followed by an opening reception that night. Singles play takes place February 27 through March 2, 2025.

In addition, a U.S. Croquet Hall of Fame Gala Dinner and Induction Ceremony will be held on February 28 and a Grand Buffet Awards Luncheon will be held midday on March 2. Following the awards later that day, there will be a 50-50 drawing for up to $10,000 and other prizes.

Tournament registration and entry fees will be announced in September 2024. For additional information, please call the National Croquet Center at 561-478-2300, Ext 3.

Bald Head Island Club’s Lauded Instructors

Breathe New Life Into Croquet

No longer a genteel backyard pastime reserved for members of the Victorian leisure class, modern croquet is an accessible, challenging sport that bridges the gap between sexes and generations. Recently, in a desire to take its croquet program to the next level and broaden its appeal, the Bald Head Island Club (BHIC) announced an expanded commitment from world-class Croquet Director/ Instructor Jeff Soo and Croquet Instructor Eileen Soo. At the same time, the club eased its strict dress code of all-white attire, creating a more relaxed environment for novice players.

Located on Bald Head Island, N.C., the Bald Head Island Club has a storied past as a croquet hot spot, playing host to numerous prestigious tournaments over the years, including the North Carolina State Singles Croquet Tournament, the North Carolina Croquet Open and the Solomon Trophy International Rules Tournament. Past club members Dr. and Mrs. Bill and Billie Jean Berne were Croquet Hall of Fame inductees in 2003. The USCA named the BHIC its Croquet Club of the Year in 2012. With such a rich history, the club might simply rest on its laurels. Instead, the Soos are committed to growing the sport by fostering a loose, fun atmosphere for players of all levels.

“This leadership continues with BHIC hosting North Carolina State Championships in each of the past three years and local players winning flights in each one. Five BHIC women competed in the January Women’s Golf Croquet Open in West Palm Beach, Fla., and represented us beautifully,” says Dick Johnston, BHIC Croquet Club President in recent years.

“Croquet is a great way to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors and develop friendships,” says Jeff Soo. “We’re wanting to dispel any notion that it’s a boring or stodgy game. Quite the contrary — it’s a vibrant sport that combines the angles and precision of billiards, while requiring strategy and agility. It appeals to women and men of all ages equally.”

The physical benefits of croquet are numerous. “Croquet is a low-impact sport that is gentle on the joints. At the same time, it improves hand-eye coordination, balance and focus,” Eileen Soo explains. Additionally, croquet provides the opportunity to socialize with friends and family with relatively low barriers to entry. “Complete beginners can enjoy croquet after just a few minutes of instruction, and yet the game offers endless challenges to dedicated players,” she says.

Indeed, the sport has captivated the couple for decades. Jeff took up competitive croquet as a player in 1994, and as a coach, referee and tournament director in 1996. As a player, he has won 21 USCA national championship titles and has been selected to the United States Croquet Team 15 times, three times as team captain. As a tournament director, Jeff has managed events at the club, state, regional, national and world levels. As a coach, he has given clinics and private lessons throughout the Southeast and as part of the USCA Schools program. Jeff is a USCA Class I referee and has taught and certified many referees. A former national champion in her own right, Eileen ranks as one of the top female croquet players in the U.S.

Longtime BHIC Croquet Club member and membership chair Kim Gottshall credits the Soos with helping to create a thriving croquet community of 80 members and counting. “They are passionate about teaching the game to others in a relaxed and encouraging atmosphere,” says Gottshall. “Whether you come to a clinic, a practice or a tournament, you leave with a smile.”

Currently, the BHIC Croquet Club offers instruction for both golf croquet and American Six Wicket styles of play. In addition to singles and doubles tournaments, the club routinely meets for rounds of golf croquet, Women’s Wickets, Sunday Open Play and monthly competitions known as Scramblers. For players wanting to become more competitive or try the sport for the first time, the Soos offer clinics throughout the year, along with individual lessons.

“Anyone interested in discovering the sport is welcome,” says Gottshall. “We’re always looking to add new club members.”

The Bald Head Island Club is a private, member-owned club that offers golf, tennis, aquatics, fitness, fine and casual dining in an exquisite ocean-view setting in addition to croquet. The club’s croquet programs are open to all club members and guest members, including vacationers staying in a home that offers a club membership. To learn more, visit www.bhiclub.net.

Olympic Sprinter at the Westmoor Club

On July 10, 2024, at The Westmoor Club in Nantucket, Mass., four Olympians were hosted by a member who is on the Olympic board from the U.S., prior to traveling to Paris. The Westmoor Club hosted a meet and greet for its members. I saw Tyson Gay leaning on a rail up above the croquet courts and invited him down. He was tentative at first but finally came down. He grabbed the mallet with a Solomon grip and off we went. We played GC for about 45 minutes and he even learned the jump shot, which he found to be very rewarding. It was fun playing croquet with one of the world’s fastest humans ever. (Gay still holds the American record in the 100-meter sprint)

—Rick Landry, Westmoor Club Director of Croquet

Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Inter-club League

During the months of December through April, eight local clubs, Beach Club, Boca Raton Club, Croquet Club of Florida, Croquet Club at PGA, The Little Club, Mariner Sands Country Club, National Croquet Club and the Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club play a series of golf croquet matches in an inter-club league.

On April 24, 2024, the Beach Club hosted the Championship Tournament with Danny Huneycutt as the tournament director. Play began at 8:30 a.m. Each match was hard fought and played to seven points instead of timed games. With no time limit, several matches went for an extended period and the semifinals did not start until around 4:00 p.m.

Going into the semifinals were the Beach Club (Conrad Rugart and Vickie Johnston), Boca Raton Club (Joe and Jacquie Harris), The Little Club (Neill Trimble and Bruce Hindin) and the National Croquet Club (Caryl Firth and Vernon Pierce).

The Little Club and the National Croquet Club advanced to the finals. The Little Club was the defending Champion from 2023 and looking to repeat.Trimble and Hindin set up,cleared balls, jumped wickets and made terrific shots and Firth and Pierce gave back as much as they received. It was as competitive a match as I have ever seen. This was the sixth match of the day, an endurance contest to be certain. In the end, the National Croquet Club with Caryl Firth and Vernon Pierce prevailed, putting the National Croquet Club on the trophy. Congratulations to Firth and Pierce! And well played Trimble and Hindin. —Thomas Tribby, Beach Club Croquet Committee

Local CBCC Players Win Commonwealth Games Championship

The 2024 Commonwealth Games croquet event was held in May at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Hartfield, Va. Both Hartfield residents, Macey White, won the championship, and Nancy Crouch won the gold medal for First Flight. Brian Hovis, from Kentucky, won the silver medal in the championship while Todd Marshall, from Boulder, Colo., won the silver medal in First Flight and John Woods from Whitestone, N.Y., won the First Flight bronze medal.

This was the 35th year of the Virginia Commonwealth Games. The Games run April to December annually, depending on the sport, and are open to all ages and skill levels. From archery to wrestling, the Games offer sports competition venues for 45+ different Olympic and Pan American sports.

The Commonwealth Games are designed to inspire wellness and competition, representing the true spirit of amateur athletics. For some, this celebration of sport is a stepping stone for following the dream of representing the United States in the Olympic Games. For others, the Games are a place to compete in a favorite pastime. Regardless of the age or skill of the athlete, the Virginia Commonwealth Games provide the pure pleasure of competing for the love of sport.

In 2023, the Games hosted nearly 10,000 athletes competing in 35 individual and team sports, used more than 40 sporting venues and worked with more than 1,200 volunteers. This multi-sport festival is supported by a grassroots volunteer network, businesses and governments of Central Virginia. The Games have an estimated economic impact of more than $6 million statewide. More than 275,000 athletes, their families and spectators have participated during the past 34 years.

Inter-club League finalist teams of Vernon Pierce/Caryl Firth and Bruce Hindin/Neil Triple

Macey White – Event Winner, Brian Hovis 2nd Place, Nancy Crouch Gold medalist First Flight, Todd Marshall Silver medalist First Flight and John Woods Bronze medalist First Flight.

The Rejuvenation of Memphis Croquet

From the sandy shores of Bunbury, Western Australia, to the picturesque Cape Cod, Mass., and then onto the vibrant music city of Memphis, Tenn., the journey of croquet enthusiast Henry Smith has been one of unexpected twists and turns. Arriving in Memphis with his wife Erin and a passion for the sport but unsure of its presence in the city, Smith embarked on a quest to revive the game he loved.

Having competed in the USCA National Golf Croquet Championship, he found himself in Memphis, initially disheartened by the lack of croquet clubs and the high costs associated with private club memberships. However, a stroke of luck led him to the University Club of Memphis, where a forgotten croquet court lay dormant, repurposed for children's bouncy castles and events.

With determination and the support of the club's sports director, Amanda Wurzburg, Smith set out to breathe new life into the forgotten court. An introductory class on golf croquet drew unexpected interest, with 12 eager members turning up for the first session. Despite having only one full court, improvisation led to the creation of two half-sized courts, sparking the beginning of regular croquet sessions at the club.

Buoyed by the enthusiasm of participants and the backing of Wurzburg, the croquet program flourished. What began as a modest endeavor evolved into a thriving community, with plans to introduce association and American Six Wicket sessions on the horizon. For Smith, the journey from casual player in Australia to croquet ambassador in Memphis has been nothing short of extraordinary. Memphis croquet is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the passion and dedication of individuals like Smith and Wurzburg and help from club members.

—Gregory Pratt

2024 Canadian National Golf Croquet Championship

The 2024 Canadian Golf Croquet Championships were held in Toronto July 12-14. North Toronto Croquet Club hosted all the Championship Flight games and the First Flight finals. The Lawrence Park Lawn Bowling & Croquet Club hosted the First Flight for block play and all playoff games. North Toronto Croquet is a USCA member club.

The field of 24 competitors had British, American and, of course, Canadian representation. Canadian competitors included Gopala Gowda from Victoria, British Columbia, and Malcolm Cromarty from Dorchester, Ontario, competing in his first Canadian tournament at age 87!

Adam Barr was the organizer and tournament director. This is only Barr’s third year playing croquet. His wife Naomi did an incredible job looking after all the delicious food (the Sunday Middle Eastern feast was a real highlight). Gregg Hannah took the lead for coordinating and refereeing the Lawrence Park games. John Miles coordinated the off-court activities at North Toronto. Many others volunteered and their assistance went a long way in making this tournament a fantastic success.

First Flight block play saw Susan Creasey go undefeated in block A, and Ned Sperry undefeated in block B. In the finals, Ned Sperry faced Bill Simmons, and Sperry won the best-of-three game final, 7-5, 7-5. The Plate was won by Graydon Bell. (Malcom Cromarty came took fifth.)

In Championship Flight, Alain Giraud and Amr Hamdy both went undefeated in their block play but did not make it to the finals (Giraud recently moved from the United Kingdom and is a member of North Toronto). The finals had five-time Canadian Champion John Richardson playing Adam Barr in the best-of-five game final. Barr got off to a very slow start losing the first game 7-0. He then came back winning the next two games 7-3 and 7-6. Richardson was not giving up and took game four, 7-5, setting up the fifth and deciding game. Barr prevailed 7-5 and became the new Canadian Champion. They both had a few shots that they probably wished they could retake, but they both made many magnificent shots; Richardson made a double jump shot from about 25 feet from the hoop.

—Phil Parsons

Martha Ekstrom: 1940-2024

Martha (Martie) Maude Dean Ekstrom, born October 23, 1940, passed away on June 2, 2024, with her beloved husband by her side. She led a full and active life.

She grew up in Ridgewood, N.J., and graduated from Ridgewood High School. She attended MacMurray College and then the University of Bridgeport, graduating in 1961. She met David at the university, and they were married in June 1961. Her career led her into sales, first as a representative for Coppercraft Guild and then to Westport News, part of Brooks Publishing.

The first 18 years of their marriage they lived in Easton, Conn., then moved to Pittsfield, Mass., in 1979. She continued her sales work with the Berkshire Courier, The Women’s Times and eventually with the New York State Public Employees Federation, retiring from PEF in 2005. She became a franchisee for Resort Maps, now Discovery Maps and retired in 2018.

Over her life, she enjoyed many activities. Tent camping in Maine, sailing on Long Island Sound, knitting sweaters for family and friends and beachcombing for seashells at her summer home on Nantucket. A charter member of The Easton (Conn.) Racquet Club and Long-time member of PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization).

In 1995, she and David took up croquet and became active members of the Lenox Croquet Club. They began to travel to tournaments on the east coast from Maine to Florida and became “snowbirds” in 2018 wintering in Lake Worth, Fla., where they are members of the National Croquet Club in West Palm Beach.

Jane Enochs: 1939-2024

Jane Martin Alexander Enochs passed away on January 31, 2024, in Charleston, S.C., from complications following surgery. She was 84. Jane was the wife of George H. Enochs for more than 31 years, and the mother of Charles and wife Susan Alexander and Brian Alexander, the stepmother of Brian and Sue Enochs, Lydia and Tony Fama and Kevin Enochs and Carol Kaufmann.

Jane lived a full life after being born on a family farm in Carrollton, MS, on December 28, 1939, the daughter of Walter and Mattie Belle Martin, and sister of Anita Martin. She grew up in Jackson MS, graduating from Murrah High School, and later lived in many locations, including Oxford, Miss., Lawrence Kan., Charlottesville, Va., Dallas, Texas, Bald Head Island, N.C., Lake Toxaway, N.C. and finally South Carolina. She attended MSCW and graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in Education, which she used to open a Montessori school in Oxford, Miss. Following her work as an apartment property manager in Ocean Springs, Miss., Jane worked for a hotel developer in Jackson, Miss., as a space planner and manager.

Jane became an accomplished croquet player and teacher to others and won sponsored events in multiple locations in the U.S. She was asked by her children how she wanted to be remembered and part of her answer was “I hope that I added some sunshine to the life of loved ones, friends and everyone that took the time to get to know me.”

PASSAGES

Martie Ekstrom Lenox Croquet Club and National Croquet Club

Desmond Davies St. Andrews Club

Stephanie Hayes ....................................................Croquet Club at PGA National, National Croquet Club and Ocean House Mallet Club

Jay Hughes At Large Member

J. Kevin Moran The Beach Club and National Croquet Club

Harvey Belson Linville Ridge Croquet Club

Mary Louise Kingsbery Rumson Country Club and Green Gables Croquet Club

Norma Truman Hall of Fame member, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton Yacht Club, National Croquet Club

Stephanie Hayes: 1928-2024

Stephanie R. Hayes passed away peacefully in Rhode Island on June 20, 2024, surrounded by her sons (William Hayes and Stephen Hayes) and son-in-law (Mark Ski) after an injury about a week earlier. She was 95.

Stephanie, and her predeceased husband William, lived in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Avon, Conn., and Watch Hill, R.I. They were world travelers and best friends.

Stephanie was an avid athlete her whole life. She was an alpine ski racer, tennis player, sailor, golfer and croquet player. Croquet

became her main sport, playing competitively at National Croquet Center (West Palm Beach, Fla.), PGA National (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), and Ocean House (Watch Hill, R.I.). Through croquet, she found wonderful and caring friends, who became her croquet family. She was particularly interested in and supported Special Olympics Croquet, and she truly enjoyed working to get special athletes involved in the sport she loved, both in Florida and Rhode Island.

The family will have a celebration of her life in the fall. In lieu of flowers and if so inclined, a donation can be made a Special Olympics organization of your choice at: https://support. specialolympics.org/a/tribute

James Hughes

James Hurd Hughes, 72, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024. He died as a result of injuries sustained while playing in the surf two days earlier. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by family. Jay was extremely well educated, intellectually curious, well-read and one of the kindest, most caring people with a delightfully dry sense of humor. He was a wonderful husband, father, son, uncle, brother, counselor and teacher, and a role model for many. He loved animals with a particular affinity for Irish setters. Jay was a consummate outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing, camping and biking. He especially loved water sports like windsurfing and whitewater kayaking and shared his knowledge and enthusiasm generously with those around him. In addition to his passion for the outdoors, he was a championship croquet player, competing in tournaments throughout the United States. His approach to croquet was consistent with his approach to life; he was not just a player, he was an avid student and instructor of the game, dedicating many hours to practice as well as to the study and implementation of complex strategy both on and off the court.

hartfield, virginia | October 18-26, 2024

Australia

Addison Matthews

Laurel Bank Croquet Club

BIO:

I began playing croquet in 2021 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. Since then, I have quickly risen to become a prominent player in the sport. I am a two-time Australian Under-21 Champion and proudly represented Queensland in national team events for both Association Croquet (AC) and Golf Croquet (GC).

CROQUET TIP:

Practice like it’s the real thing.

Barry Jennings

Hyde Park

BIO:

players by country

Gary Phipps

Moorabinda Croquet Club

BIO:

Now 70 years old, I am a retired fisherman who was born and spent most of my life in the Riverland of South Australia. In 2015, after moving to Meningie and taking on the role of greenkeeper for the bowls club, I was required to prepare the bowls and croquet lawns where I was persuaded to pick up a mallet and “have a go.” Six months into my croquet journey, I decided to make the move to Adelaide where I joined Hyde Park. In 2017, I was selected in the state team and have been a member every year since. To date, the only country I’ve played in other than Australia is New Zealand where I played both AC and GC events. In 2020, I was successful in gaining a world championship place via the qualifiers after only starting to play AC three years prior. I was third in the GC Australian Open in 2021 and won the Shield in the Over 50 Worlds in Bunbury last year. My highest Australian ranking position to date has been Eighth. Croquet has provided me with far more than I could have ever imagined, not least of all, my getting together with my partner after we played in an AC tournament at Victor Harbor in 2023.

CROQUET TIP:

Be quick to make up your mind, have one idea in your head and execute that shot to the best of your ability. Make your next shot the best shot of the match.

It still seems like only yesterday when a friend invited me to come to his club to experience the game of croquet. It didn’t take long for me to get the bug and before I knew it, all my spare time vanished. Nothing has changed in the seven years since. I still find myself quick to grasp any opportunity to spend time on the lawn, whether it be playing in a competition, working at the club or simply spending time outdoors. Apart from reawakening my competitive nature, joining the Moorabinda Croquet Club has been a great catalyst for getting out and meeting new people. Our club is truly amazing and a bonus last year was the chance to be involved in hosting the World Over 50’s GC competition. I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing overseas for the first time and the opportunity of seeing so many of the greats of our game live in action.

CROQUET TIP:

Dive in the deep end. Take up the challenge and learn from playing and watching the best.

Jamie Gumbrell

Canberra Croquet Club

BIO:

Jamie is excited to participate in the 2024 World Championships. She has been playing croquet since she was 15. She lives in Canberra, Australia. She was coached by Peter Freer, who is also participating in the tournament. Jamie is the Australian and World women’s champion. She has been part NSW Interstate team for four years and has been in the winning Interstate team on two of those occasions.

CROQUET TIP: Breathe.

Malcolm Fletcher

Caloundra Croquet Club

BIO:

Malcolm is a dedicated croquet enthusiast from Australia, with a passion for the sport that began at the age of nine. Over the years, he has honed his skills and competed at various levels, earning recognition and respect within the croquet community. His commitment to the game is matched by his professional dedication. Malcolm works in recycling, rehabilitation, construction and manufacturing, where he excels in bringing people together to develop innovative solutions across these diverse fields. In addition to his professional and sporting interests, Malcolm enjoys playing other sports like golf and taking long walks. He is also an avid reader, constantly seeking to broaden his knowledge and understanding through books. With the World Championship in Virginia on the horizon, he is eagerly preparing to compete against the world’s best players.

CROQUET TIP:

Aim small, miss small.

Peter Freer

Canberra

BIO:

Peter discovered croquet in 1981 when his work team hired a lawn at the Canberra Croquet Club and has been a member at Canberra CC ever since. After retiring from work in October 2008, he took up serious competition, playing Association, gateball and ricochet, but his preference is golf croquet. Peter has played golf croquet in tournaments across Australia as well as in Egypt, the United Kingdom, Belgium and New Zealand. He is married to Kate McLoughlin and they have two adult daughters. Peter is competing in his fourth World GC Championship and looks forward to playing in the USA for the first time.

CROQUET TIP:

THE VENUE

In the eastern tidewater region of Virginia, nestled between the Rappahannock and Piankatank Rivers, the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club (CBCC) offers 24 world-class croquet courts, easily making it the largest croquet facility in the world.

Chesapeake Bay is all about croquet. In the U.S., the sport of croquet has often catered primarily to the affluent, but Chesapeake Bay is dedicated to making the game affordable to all. Club membership and tournament fees are reasonably priced and open to anyone who wants to play. Players at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club are serious about having fun and strive to be the friendliest and most welcoming club in the world.

LOCATION

The club is located at 1860 Twiggs Ferry Rd., Hartfield, Va., in Middlesex County. The area is known for boating and fishing, historical attractions like Williamsburg and Norfolk. The area features a number of bed and breakfasts and the CBCC is an easy one-hour drive from the Richmond International Airport. Middlesex County is semi-rural with a large retirement community. There are tons of places to stay, more than 40 restaurants within a 20-minute drive and lots to see and do when you are not playing croquet. The club is open to guests and visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more info, check out the club website at www.CBCC.fun.

The more I practice the luckier I get.

Robert Fletcher

Caloundra Croquet Club

BIO:

Robert began his croquet career at the age of 10. Now 31, he is looking forward to participating in his second Open GC World Championship at the world-renowned Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club. Having previously been a semifinalist at the most recent GC Worlds held at the Sussex County Croquet Club in England in 2022. Distinguished for his exceptional skills, Robert is one of only two players to have held the number one world ranking in both golf croquet and Association croquet simultaneously. He has also achieved the remarkable feat of winning the GC Australian Open and British Open Singles titles concurrently, without losing a single game. In addition to his competitive achievements, he is an innovator in croquet equipment, manufacturing his own mallets and other gear. He is an active member of the Caloundra Croquet Club and resides on the Sunshine Coast. Beyond croquet, he works as a business strategist with involvement in the recycling, construction, manufacturing and food industries.

CROQUET TIP:

Invest in a good mallet.

Belgium

Caroline Denny Nailsea

BIO:

I live in Stroud in England with Graham and have two sons and a grandson aged one currently living in South Africa. I play for Belgium as both my parents were born there. I have played competitive AC since 2011, starting with my father at Waldron Village in Sussex and their annual exchange with Catenay Croquet Club in Normandy. I joined The Bear of Rodborough club in Stroud

which, with only one lawn played home matches with three sets of balls, the third having stripes. I am now a member of Nailsea Club near Bristol and Kelvin Grove in South Africa. I played in the ladies AC World Championships in 2015. I played in the Tier 2 GC team championships for Belgium in 2016. I was the runner-up in the New Zealand Ladies’ Invitation event in 2017. My GC competitive play began more recently and this year I played in the Rainbow tournament in South Africa and the GC Europeans in Southwick as the only woman. I have also played in Portugal and Latvia. I am keen to promote the development of croquet using bowls club facilities because in England many bowls clubs are struggling for members. They have the equipment to maintain a lawn and there is a South African hoop with fins rather than carrots that once pulled up leaves an almost unnoticeable hole.

CROQUET TIP:

Think positive thoughts before every shot.

Canada

Adam Barr

North Toronto Croquet Club

BIO:

I was invited to try croquet in May 2022 at the North Toronto Croquet Club, home to many of Canada’s top GC players. I saw the end of a competitive game with power clearances, long hoops and jumps, and knew right away that I wanted to play in those games. The competitive players welcomed me and provided the training and encouragement I needed to play my first tournament in the fall of 2022. One hundred games later, I am honored to have received a wild card entry to this event and am excited to continue my development through watching and competing with the world’s best players. I currently serve on the boards of the North Toronto Croquet Club and Croquet Canada. I am focused on expanding competitive play in Canada by organizing more local events and mentoring new players. Since I have not figured out a way to make a living through croquet, I work in account management and sales for a digital marketing agency. A huge thank you to my wife, Naomi, and children, Jacob (18), Max (15) and Anna (12), for their understanding and support of my new passion. Thank you to Don Oakley and Oakley Woods Croquet for the support of Team Canada. I play with an Oakley Woods Predator Mallet with a bent shaft.

CROQUET TIP:

Study past high-level matches on YouTube. The videos and commentary are amazing instructional tools and are available to everyone.

Ahmed Alshurafa

North Toronto Croquet Club

BIO:

Ahmed has a strong passion for the game. He dedicates daily time from his schedule to practice and enjoys playing with different friends and various competitions; he sees the game not only bringing a competitive edge but also introducing lots of new friends. Ahmed has been competing regularly in many tournaments across different countries and he’s improving his game. He has always been a big fan of various sports however lately Golf Croquet is his passion. His first GC World experience came in 2023 for the Over-50 event where he made it to the Round of 16. A special thanks to Don Oakley of Oakley Woods Croquet for the support of Team Canada.

CROQUET TIP:

Egypt

Ahmed El Mahdy Shooting CLUB

BIO:

This game is purely mental, regardless of how much skill you have or professional techniques. You must be mentally ready and focus on every single shot, this is how you bring your A game.

John Richardson

North Toronto Croquet Club

BIO:

John is 43 years old and was born in Toronto, Canada. He lives in a small town outside Toronto with his wife Leanna, baby girl Scarlett, and Penny and Laney (dogs). He works as a purchasing manager in the Equine industry and enjoys importing/exporting with companies from across the globe. He has been playing croquet since 2011 and is currently the top-ranked GC player in Canada and holds five national GC titles. He experienced his first GC World event in Australia in 2017 and just missed making it into the Plate Finals. In 2019, John surpassed his previous GC Worlds achievement and made it into the knockout round of 32 in England. John has been using Oakley Woods mallets since he started playing and highly recommends these mallets for any skill level. His favorite model is the Predator mallet with a custom weighted 12” head, 36” shaft, and foam grip for his Solomon grip style. A special thanks to Don Oakley of Oakley Woods Croquet for the support of Team Canada.

CROQUET TIP:

Stay calm and focused for each shot.

Ahmed has been playing golf croquet since 1998 and is currently a member of the Shooting Club croquet team. He has participated in all men’s world championships since 2002 and took ninth place in the World Golf Croquet Championships in 2002, sixth place in the World Golf Croquet Championships in 2008, third place in the World Golf Croquet Championships in 2012 as well as first in 2015. He has also won the Egyptian men’s ranking system many times. On the national level, Mahdy has been a long-time member of the Shooting Club team — winners of the Egyptian National League and Egyptian Cup for many years. He is also mentoring the new young generation for the Shooting Club croquet team. Lastly, he also won the Over 50’s GC World Champion 2023 which held in Australia.

CROQUET TIP:

Born to play, destined to win.

Ahmed Nasr Gezira Sporting Club

BIO:

Born in Cairo, Egypt, on February 1, 1978, and started playing croquet in 1997. He’s had many accomplishments throughout his career as a two-time World GC Champion and a one-time national teams world champion in addition to many national titlesl.

CROQUET TIP:

Leave a legacy to be remembered.

With this manual International player Ian Burridge takes the reader through the development journey of a competitive player.

A series of Golden Rules set out the basics, backed up with more detailed explanations This is followed up with more detailed elements of strategy providing the insight players need to make the most of their own ability and to counteract their opponent’s.

Available from Amazon.

Amr Elebiary

Egyptian Shooting Club

BIO:

I am 34 years old and I was born and am still living in Cairo, Egypt. I am a digital advertising sales manager at an advertising agency and have been playing croquet for more than 20 years. I was ranked number 1 in the world and in Egypt the same for golf croquet. I’ve won many titles in Egypt and I’ve participated in several World Championships: Egypt 2013, Melbourne 2017, Nelson 2019 and Brighton 2022. I also played in the 2023 Spanish Open. I am also now playing for the Egyptian Shooting Club.

CROQUET TIP:

I choose dedication over talent every day.

Khaled Tharwat

Semouha club

BIO:

I am 50 years old and a mechanical engineer. I’ve played croquet since 1990 in Semouha Club. I won the Egyptian Singles Open in 2009, the Egyptian League 2005-2022 with my club. I’ve played in world championships in 2015, 2017 and 2019. My best achievement was in 2019 GCWC where I made the knockout last 16.

CROQUET TIP:

Let us enjoy playing croquet.

Khaled Kamel

Gezira Sporting Club

BIO:

I was born in Cairo, Egypt, on December 4, 1985. I have been playing croquet for more than 10 years and this will be my second participation in the World Croquet Championship.

CROQUET TIP:

Enjoy what you do.

Mohamed Abuelnour

Mohamed Karem

El Zohour Sporting Club

BIO:

Mohamed was born in Egypt in 1988. Having graduated with a degree in business administration allowed him to have his private business in the food and beverage catering services in Egypt. He discovered his passion for golf croquet at the age of 22. He’s represented Egypt in five world championships, achieving second place in 2019. Moreover, he has been selected to participate in the World Team Championships Tier 1, achieving second place. He also was internationally ranked number one in 2016 and 2019. He believes that his passion toward what he does will make him able to excel and achieve his targets. He always dreamed of starting coaching for golf croquet to make a useful reflection of what he has learned and explored through his passionate journey in golf croquet.

Mohamed Nasr

Gezira Sporting Club

BIO:

My name is Mohamed Nasr. I was born in Cairo, Egypt, on December 28, 1979. I started playing croquet at a young age in 1997. I have had many accomplishments throughout my career with many national and international titles. I am a onetime world champion, one-time national teams world champion along with many nationals.

CROQUET TIP:

Be great at what you do.

Mohamed Taha

El Zohour sporting club

BIO:

My name is Mohamed Taha, and my nickname is Mido. I have been playing croquet for 20 years. I have won local championships, such as the Egypt Cup, the Federation Cup and the Singles Cup, and I have won international championships, such as the Spanish Championship held in Tenerife and the Egypt International Championship. I hope to be the world champion.

CROQUET TIP:

Stay focused and composed, for your mindset is the true game changer.

Mohamed Waleed Shooting Club

BIO:

My name is Mohamed Waleed, and my nickname is Willy. I was born in Cairo, Egypt, on April 14, 1993. I am a banker at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait-Egypt. I have been playing croquet for more than 10 years now. This year’s World Croquet Championship will be my third participation.

CROQUET TIP:

Hard work pays off.

Mostafa Eissa

Alexandria Sporting Club

BIO:

I am 46 years old, I am a mechanical engineer and I own a private company for marine engines and yachts. I live in Alexandria and started to play croquet at the age of 18. I currently represent Alexandria Sporting Club as a player and coach. I won the Egyptian Single open twice and the Egyptian rank twice as well as many titles in doubles tournaments. I participated in the World Championships in 2004, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022. I love football and horses, especially show jumping, as it was my sport when I was young.

CROQUET TIP:

Fair play is more important than winning.

Naguib Hossam Eldin

Alexandria Sporting croquet club

BIO:

I am 40 year old and am the general manager of the national for textile. I started playing golf croquet in 1999 at the Smouha Club. I won with team Smouha all the titles including the Egyptian League and cup and the Federation Cup but now I am part of the Alexandria Sporting club team. We won the Federation Cup in 2023, and I participated in the World GC Championship for the Sussex County Club in 2019 and 2022.

CROQUET TIP:

I am excited to play in one of the best lawns ever.

HOTELS NEAR THE CBCC

Dockside Inn / 804-776-1021

70 Dockside Dr, Deltaville, Va.

Pilot House Inn / 804-758-2262

2737 Grey’s Point Rd., Topping, Va.

Whispering Pines / 804-435-1101

226 Methodist Church Rd, White Stone, Va.

Holiday Inn Exp / 800-695-1900

6639 Forest Hill Ave, Gloucester, Va.

Hampton Inn / 800-997-5148

6638 Forest Hill Ave, Gloucester, Va.

Tides Inn / 800-230-4134

480 King Carter Dr, Irvington, Va.

Best Western / 804-436-1500

599 N. Main St., Kilmarnock, Va.

BED AND BREAKFASTS NEAR CBCC

Wilton Plantation House / 804-824-3038

1425 Twiggs Ferry Rd., Hartfield, Va.

VA River Cottages / 757-472-7211

323 Twiggs Ferry Rd, Hartfield, Va.

Cranes Nest Farmhouse / 804-577-7985

15 Mill Wharf Road, Wake, Va.

B & D’s Deltaville Place / 252-207-1141

254 Moores Creek Dr, Deltaville, Va.

The Oyster House in Deltaville / 804-370-9163

205 Paradise Ln, Deltaville, Va.

Piankatank Shore & Gold Coast / 757-784-1933

1167 Chapel Lane Cobb’s Creek

Waterfront Cottage / Bookiag.com

38 Callis Ln., Deltaville, Va.

Sweet Suite at The Flow Fields / ffsc_guest@pm.me

82 Sturgeon St., Deltaville, Va.

Inn at Sandy Creek / 804 693 2311

9689 Burkes Pond Road, North, Va.

Teeny Weeny House in D’ville / 804-839-2694

70A Jackson Creek Rd. Deltaville, Va.

Green Heron Cottage / 804-943-3089

279 Sturgeon Point Loop, Deltaville, Va.

The Deltaville Inn / 804-337-5496

15378 General Puller Highway, Deltaville,

Paddler’s End / 804-356-9045

107 Kennard Lane. Deltaville. Deltaville, Va.

Clifton Villa Apartments (RV) / 757-450-4887

6995 Buckley Hall Rd, Cobbs Creek, Va.

Family Tides / 804-370-9163 Deltaville, Va.

Harrow House / 804-815-3102

167 Lovers Lane, Deltaville, Va.

Waterman’s Cottage / 804-776-0284

84 Kennard Lane, Deltaville, Va.

Rivers Landing B&B / 804-761-5111

50 Rivers Landing Dr, White Stone, Va.

Atherston Hall / 804-758-2809

250 Prince George St., Urbanna, Va.

Edentide Inn B&B / 804-370-5654

204 Bland Point Rd, Deltaville, Va.

Flowering Fields B&B / 804-435-6238

232 Flowering Field, White Stone, Va.

Inn at Urbanna Creek / 804-758-4661

210 Watling St., Urbanna, Va.

Snug Harbor / 804-338-1353

84 Snug Harbor Dr., White Stone, Va.

Rosie’s Cottage / 804-815-1060

221 Taylor Ave., Urbanna, Va.

Pop Castle B&B / Airbnb

143 Pop Castle Rd., White Stone, Va.

The Hope and Glory Inn / 804-669-5719

65 Tavern Road, Irvington, Va.

The Chesapeake Inn / 804-758-1111

250 Old Virginia St., Urbanna, Va.

Southern Sighs Inn / 804.758.2639

35 Wares Bridge Road, Church View, Va.

The Inn at Tabbs Creek / 804-725-5136

384 Turpin Ln, Port Haywood, Va.

Back Inn Time B&B / 804-436-7345

445 Irvington Rd., Kilmarnock, Va.

Kilmarnock Inn / 804-435-0034

34 East Church Street, Kilmarnock, Va.

Inn at Warner Hall / 804-695-9565

4750 Warner Hall Rd, Gloucester, Va.

Hidden Haven B&B

411 Gill Rd., Gloucester, Va.

Riverwalk Farm

White Stone, Va.

Omar Saleh Fahmy Ahmed

El Shorouk club

BIO:

My name is Omar Fahmy and I am married with two children: a boy and a girl, and I will be a grandfather soon. I’ve previously attended the World Cup Championship and one achievement was reaching the 32nd round playing for El Shorouk Club in Egypt. First team on a professional level, I am the CEO of Pixi a retail company selling leather goods to the Egyptian market.

CROQUET TIP:

Keep the faith.

Yasser Sayed

El Zohour Sporting Club

BIO:

England

Aston Wade

The

Hurlingham Club

BIO:

Yasser Sayed is 23 years old and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Likewise in his career, he is a supervisor in the Egyptian sugar and integrative industries. Yasser started playing croquet just under 10 years ago. He participated in three World Championships and came in third in the 2019 under 21 World Championship and World Team Championship 2020, Tier 1. And he came in second with his team. Yasser is now ranked number 1 in Egypt, and he has many national titles with his teams. Yasser loves his game and he has high hopes for achieving his goals.

Aston started out playing Association Croquet in 2016 during his first year at Winchester College. He began to play Golf Croquet in the summer of 2020 at Hamptworth Croquet Club and made his first appearances on the tournament circuit in both AC and GC that August. One year later, Aston won the 2021 British Golf Croquet Open at the age of 18 on his debut at the event. Since then, his major victories include: U21 GC World Champion (2023), European GC Champion (2022), U21 European GC Champion (2023), The GC First Eight (2022), The AC Second Eight (2022), The Hurlingham Cup (2023), the Egyptian Open Plate (2023), the GC World Championship Plate (2022) and the AC Student’s Championship (2021, 2022, 2023). He has represented multiple England teams at both the AC and GC Home Internationals, England vs Spain GC Test Matches, the England vs Egypt Test Match and the European Team Championship. He also represented Great Britain in the Solomon Trophy at Sarasota last year. He has captained England on several occasions and has played in eight different countries. He is currently studying Medicine at the University of Exeter and also enjoys playing polo, squash, golf, snooker and chess. Aston is a member of the Hurlingham Club in London and played his first AC World Championship there last year. He is looking forward to returning to his birth country for his second GC World Championship.

CROQUET TIP: Be adaptable.

Dom Aarvold

Bristol Croquet Club

BIO:

Dom was born in Bristol, U.K., in 1983, where he attended Clifton College before the family moved to Dorset at age 10. He undertook a degree in digital media and now lives in Clevedon, renovating houses for a living. He is a member of Bristol Croquet Club and Cornwall Croquet Club. He was introduced to golf croquet by family in 2017, and the following year he joined the club in Bristol, where he was taught to play AC and GC. He was hooked from the start and spent more time playing than studying for his Master’s. His GC handicap dropped rapidly, starting at 10 and getting to 0 by the beginning of the 2020 season. He was awarded the most improved player at his club in 2019 and 2023 and, nationally, the Spires Trophy for the most improved male GC player in 2023. Dom has represented Somerset at the GC Inter-Counties since 2021. He played in his first Championship Series competitions in 2023 and got through to two finals, finishing second each time but gaining him a place in the national final. This year, he was fortunate enough to play in the European GC Championship, getting through to the quarterfinals.

CROQUET TIP:

James Galpin Nailsea

BIO:

“The next shot is the most important” is a phrase I find helpful.

Euan Burridge

Nottingham

BIO:

Euan took up the game at age 7 under his Dad’s wing at Nottingham Croquet club and has since gone on to play various tournaments both nationally and internationally. He is predominantly a GC player, and his notable performances have been a Semifinal at the U21 Golf Croquet World Championships in 2019 and winning the plate and the main event that year. He has also won the GC Welsh Championship, AC National Junior Championship, GC Under 25s Open Championship and reached the final of the 2021 Ricki Savage Memorial. Euan will be looking to compete with the very best at the upcoming World Championships and hopes to be selected for the 2025 Openshaw Shield in Australia.

CROQUET TIP:

You can’t win unless you take enough hoop shots on.

James has been playing croquet for 11 years. His home club is Nailsea, in the U.K., where he started playing at age 12 after attending an open day. He plays both AC and GC with current handicaps of -1.5 and -3, respectively. Some of his croquet achievements include winning the Egyptian Plate, winning the New Zealand GC Open Doubles and being runner-up in the 2019 GC World Under 21s. He has played in a wide number of events throughout his croquet career with his favorite being the 2020 AC Worlds in Melbourne. He works as a Communications Rating in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and in his free time enjoys running and hill walking.

CROQUET TIP:

Always enjoy yourself and make sure you have fun!

Richard Bilton Gainsborough

BIO:

Richard is from Lincolnshire and is 28 years old. He won his first tournament in May 2018, and saw further success in winning his first Championship that July. He then won the ENSC Final in September, his first GC “major.” Richard has since won various other tournaments. He has had some success in the GC European Championship, reaching the semifinal in 2023 and being runner-up in 2019 and 2024. He reached the semifinal of the GC British Open in 2021. He has also done well in the GC World Championship, reaching the quarterfinal in 2019 and 2022. Richard has played for England in the GC Home Internationals, England vs Spain Test, England vs Egypt Test, and he was part of the England team in the 2020 GC World Team Championships in New Zealand. Richard has been on the CA/CE GC Tournament Committee since 2017 and is the current chair. He is also on the GC Rules Committee and the Handicap Committee. Richard is the WCF GC Ranking Officer.

CROQUET TIP:

Play one shot at a time and take each outcome as it comes.

Stephen Mulliner

Surbiton

BIO:

Steve Leonard EAST DORSET

BIO:

Stephen Mulliner, 70, discovered competitive croquet as a Cambridge undergraduate in 1975 and began playing in tournaments in 1976. Stephen has competed in every Golf Croquet World Championship since 2000, reaching the semifinal in 2000, 2006 and 2015. He has won the British Open Champion eight times, the European Championship five times, the English National Champion four times and the First Eight three times. He represented Rest of the World against Egypt in the Ramsis Cup in 2008 and 2016 and England in the GC World Team Championship in 2012, 2016 and 2020. His Association Croquet record includes winning the World Championship in 2016 and reaching the final in 1997 and 2008. He has also won the British Open Champion three times, the Open Doubles Championship 11 times and the President’s Cup six times, most recently in 2023 when he became the first player to win the First Eight in both codes in the same year. Internationally, he was the Sonoma-Cutrer Champion four times, the European Champion 13 times and is the only player so far to have won both the Singles and Doubles Championships of Australia, England, New Zealand and United States. He has represented Great Britain and England in the MacRobertson Shield on eight occasions spanning 1982 to 2017. Stephen has now competed in 20 different WCF member counties (should this be countries? Or stay counties?) and served as the Secretary-General of the World Croquet Federation from 2013 to 2021. He is a Vice President of Croquet England and the current chairman of the WCF Golf Croquet Rules Committee. He and Sarah have lived in Haslemere, Surrey, since 1987 and have four children and seven grandchildren. Outside croquet, he had a financial career and served as a local councilor for 24 years until 2023. He is a keen golfer and bellringer and also plays tennis.

CROQUET TIP:

Start the downswing slowly.

I am a 66-year-old retired car transporter truck driver from Bristol, England, now living on the South Coast and a member of East Dorset Croquet Club along with my wife Michelle. I picked up my first mallet in 2015 and was soon playing regularly both socially and then competitively. I won my first B-Level tournament the following year and moved into the Level series. Selected for the International Development Squad in 2018, I was awarded The GC Most Improved Player 2019 and made my international debut for England in the same year. Since then, I have, along with Stuart Smith, won the English National Doubles Championship; I have won the England Veterans title, Czech GC Open and have been runner-up in the Baltic Open twice. I have played in four previous World Championships, GC Over 50’s in Egypt in 2018, GC Worlds in England in 2019 and 2022 and was a losing quarterfinalist in the Over 50’s in Australia last year. By the time this tournament is held, I would have also competed in Latvia with my wife Michelle in the European GC Mixed Doubles (June 2024) and also in the Austrian GC Open (August 2024), hopefully with more successes. I have family who live in the USA in Sarasota, Fla., who I have visited regularly but this will be my first time playing croquet here and I am looking forward to meeting up with some old friends and making new ones.

CROQUET TIP:

Look, think and then decide your shot and play it with conviction ... believe in your shot choice.

Stuart M. Smith

Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club

BIO:

2024 WCF GC WORLDS TOURNAMENT PERSONNEL

Stuart M. Smith lives in Devon, England, and is married with an adule daughter. He is selfemployed within property maintenance. Stuart is a member of Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, one of the biggest and most prestigious clubs within the U.K. He started playing croquet in 2016 and entered the tournament circuit a year later in 2017. In 2018, Stuart was honored with the Most Improved Player award. Since then, he has won numerous croquet tournaments, including both the English National Singles and Doubles titles. Stuart has represented England at European and World levels, winning the World Championship Shield in 2022 and the European Teams Championships in 2023. He has also played in Spain and Egypt and been part of the England test match team three times. Stuart was awarded a ranking place in this year’s World Championships in the USA and is looking forward to competing with the international field of players at Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club.

CROQUET TIP:

Play positive – your opponent is on the court, not in your head!

Tim Russell

Roehampton

BIO:

Tim is 61. Born in London, he took up croquet at school and won half blues at Oxford playing in the 1984 and 1985 varsity matches. After a 20-year break, he returned to croquet after retiring as an investment manager. He took up GC tournament play in 2021, winning two Championship Series events and the Vets in 2023. He is a member of the Roehampton Club, which is the current holder of the AC Inter-Club Trophy as well as having won the GC InterClub trophy in 2022. He is enjoying starting to travel to play croquet and has played in the newly formed European Club Cup: first in Portugal, winning the heat before being runner up in the 2023 finals, and this year in Spain. He also played in the Egyptian Open last year.

CROQUET TIP:

It’s only a game; relax and enjoy!

Tournament Directors:

Bev Cardo: Volunteers & Planning

Michael Albert: Marketing & Planning

Tournament Manager: Jeff Soo

Tournament Referee: Cheryl Bromley

Venue Contact: Macey White

WCF President: José Álvarez-Sala (Spain)

USCA President: Damon Bidencope

Media: Dylan Goodwin

Marketing-Promotion: Tom Cooper

Video Streaming: Russ Dilley

Brian Hovis, Paul Neubecker - USCA Youtube Channel

SPONSORS

Oakley Woods Croquet

White Tie Croquet

PFC Hoopmaker

Germany

Alexander Kirsten

Croquet Sport Leipzig

BIO:

Alexander, born in 1974, works at a printing company in Leipzig. He is also a surfer and snowboarder, is interested in classic cars and likes travelling in his old camper van. He started to play croquet in 1999 on a small private back lawn, won four times the German national GC Championships and has played for Germany in four GC World Championships and several other international tournaments and team events since 2002.

CROQUET TIP:

Don’t be afraid of the opponent’s D Grade; you always can win.

Ulf Saewert

Croquet Berlin

BIO:

Hello everyone, I am Ulf Saewert from Berlin, Germany. I’ve lived in Berlin all my life and was born in East Germany. In 1989, I was 16 when the Berlin Wall came down. Now I am 50 years old and am married and have two children. I work as a geriatric nurse. My history with croquet began in my childhood for three or four summers with a garden croquet set. I then took a break for than 25 years. I started playing seriously in 2015. In 2019, I won the GC German National Championships, 2022 for the second time. Since 2020, my family and I are playing in a Croquet Club in Berlin, called Croquet

Berlin. We train and play on two lawns in a small public stadium. Ee try to make croquet more popular there as it is almost unknown. I have taken part in the European Championships twice and know a few European players. I’m now traveling to the USA for the first time, and I am really excited to meet the best players in the world that I have only seen on YouTube so far. I am looking forward to see you at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club.

CROQUET TIP:

I think an American player will win.

Hong Kong, China

Thomas Ingram

Hong Kong Cricket Club

BIO:

Tom Ingram was born in Hong Kong and lived there until moving to the U.K. for boarding school at age 11. He spent the early years of his life playing sports, with particular passions for cricket and rugby. After completing his education in the U.K., Tom moved to Adelaide, Australia, to attend flight training school and then joined Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong as a pilot on the Boeing 777, where he has now been for nearly 10 years. After a serious knee injury in 2019, which meant Tom could not play cricket for some time, he found a new passion in croquet. From humble beginnings of two to three players playing AC at the Hong Kong Cricket Club, Tom founded the Hong Kong Croquet Association. With two member clubs and just under 50 active players, Tom has played a leading role in growing the sport of croquet in Hong Kong. Tom won the first GC National Championship of Hong Kong and whilst he is tremendously excited to play, there is some trepidation in the talent that will be on display at the GC Worlds.

CROQUET TIP:

Breathe. It’s just a bad shot, not a bad game.

Ireland

Mark Stephens

Carrickmines Croquet Club

BIO:

Mark is 30 years old and has been playing croquet internationally since 2017. He is a one-time Irish GC champion and has competed at the previous two world championships in 2019 and 2022. This will be his first time competing in the USA and hopes to qualify from his block for the first time at a world championship. Outside of croquet, Mark works at one of Ireland’s leading banks and enjoys playing tennis, golf and more recently padel. He is looking forward to representing his country in 2025 at the GC world team championship in Tasmania in what he feels is the best croquet tournament in the world.

CROQUET TIP:

Mexico

Brian Lozano Croquet Mexico & Cullasaja Country Club

BIO:

Brian Lozano is a top North American professional croquet player and program director from Mexico. He leads the croquet program for Cullasaja Country Club in Highlands, N.C., a geographically exciting croquet region of the United States. Brian is currently ranked top 50 in the world at GC and is number 1 in Mexico; contesting the 2024 GC World Championships. He led the Croquet Mexico National Team to a debut WCF Tier 3 World Championship in England 2022.

CROQUET TIP:

He either fears his fate too much, or his desserts are small, that puts it not unto the touch, to win or lose it all.

Play like Reg Bamford (at least for a hoop)!

Patricia Mulcahy

Phyllis Court Croquet Club

BIO:

I was born in Dublin, grew up in Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary, moved via Paris and Munich to London in the early ‘70s. I have lived in Henley on Thames, home to the famous Rowing Regatta, since 1977. Having raised three children, I returned to work in London, commuting for 20 years, which left little time for sport. Previously a tennis player, I had once played garden croquet and thought it an intriguing game. Once retired, I joined Phyllis Court Club, where I discovered croquet coaching was available. I soon was hooked. Greatly encouraged by Chris Roberts and Frances Colman, I got into competitive croquet and by some miracle, won a national award for the most improved woman GC player in 2022. In 2023, I registered as an Irish player, went to play in Dublin and later that year joined the team of Irish women who played in Seville, Spain. Encouraged to join an AC group trip to Corfu as a complete rookie, I came back determined to improve. I now play both AC and GC and I am currently chairman of Phyllis Court Croquet Club, which boasts 156 members, the largest in the U.K. My current D grade is 1501.

CROQUET TIP:

Go for it: take every opportunity offered and enjoy the game and life.

New Zealand

Edmund Fordyce Te Aroha Croquet Club (NZ) / Highlands CC (USA)

BIO:

My name is Edmund and I am 24 years old and I hail from Methven, New Zealand. I have been playing croquet for 16 years and this will be my first time competing at the GC World Championship. I currently work as a croquet professional for Highlands CC in North Carolina and have been there since the start of the year. I am a current GC World Teams Champion and a previous Under 21 World Champion. I have played in a number of countries but would love to play in Egypt one day soon! In my free time, I really enjoy playing golf and tennis and am an avid sports fan in general. I have also had a great time travelling recently and hope to be able to do more in the future!

CROQUET TIP:

Try not to overcomplicate the game.

Felix Webby

Heretaunga

Croquet Club

BIO:

Josh Freeth

North Shore Croquet Club

BIO:

Felix is a 24-year-old originally from New Plymouth, New Zealand. He began playing croquet in 2014 through the NZ secondary school program. Felix has had the opportunity to play in the GCWC once before, in 2017, where he won a bronze medal. Other croquet achievements include winning the 2017 Under 21 Golf Croquet World Championship and captaining the winning Openshaw Shield Team in 2020. He has also represented New Zealand in Association Croquet, most recently at the MacRobertson Shield. He currently resides in Hawke’s Bay where he is a member of the Heretaunga Croquet Club and works at the local hospital as a junior doctor.

CROQUET TIP:

Never underestimate putting a ball in position.

Jenny Clarke

United (NZ) and Nottingham (UK)

BIO:

Jenny is a 52-year-old retired golfer and croquet player from Christchurch, New Zealand. Most recent GC successes include winning the inaugural Sugar Beach Golf Croquet Invitational in Mauritius and a silver medal in the Over 50s World Championships in Bunbury. Her most significant croquet successes include being on world championships winning teams in both AC and GC with husband Chris. Jenny primarily plays golf in New Zealand, but is a life member of United Croquet Club, enjoys croquet in the U.K. summers and is also a member of Nottingham Croquet Club.

CROQUET TIP:

Never stop experimenting ... you’re never too old to improve.

Josh Freeth has represented New Zealand since 2015 during which time he has earned four WCF golf croquet medals both individually and with his New Zealand teammates. Freeth is excited to watch and participate in great games with people from all around the world and wishes everyone a fantastic tournament.

CROQUET TIP:

The little man points the way.

Nathan Bullen

BIO:

Kia Ora, I am 20 years old living in Paraparaumu, Wellington, New Zealand. I am currently working full time as a food and beverage supervisor at Mövenpick Hotel Wellington. I started playing croquet when I was 13, playing competitively in my first U21 nationals in 2016. I was first introduced to croquet by my father Brian playing at Paraparaumu Croquet Club. My playing highlights were playing in Nottingham in 2019 at the U21 World Championships and coming in fifth and winning the shield, also playing in my first open New Zealand Nationals in Hawkes Bay. I Have played in New Zealand, England and, for the first time in Australia, in April. This will be my first time playing croquet in USA and my first Open World Championships.

CROQUET TIP:

Always put your ball in front.

Te Kiri King

Park Croquet Club Hawera

BIO:

My name is Te Kiri King and I am 21 years olf. I come from a small town called Hawera, which is located in Taranaki. I have been playing Hauwhiti for about 12 years, though only eight of those years have been competitively. My great grandmother introduced me to Hauwhiti at the ripe old age of nine and I am glad she is still alive and able to celebrate the success that I have had, such as winning the Gordon Smith Invitation, Yvonne Yeates Invitation and third in the recent U21 World Championship. I love playing Hauwhiti but in my off time I’m a volleyball coach with the local high school as well as a region volleyball coach. I’m also involved in our Hawera Brass band as the Principal Cornet, and I also serve on many boards and committese in my region. Overall, I like getting involved in my community as I see it as a way to give back to my town as it has helped me become a better person. Nga Mihi

CROQUET TIP:

Aim in the general area!

Scotland

Mark Shanks

Meadows Edinburgh and Maitland NSW

BIO:

Mark found Golf Croquet in the Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia, at the end of 2021 at age 57. On returning to Scotland in May 2022, he was introduced to AC in June 2022, becoming very enthusiastic with his handicap dropping quickly. He won his first AC Level Tournament in April 2024 with the Glasgow Open. In GC, in 2022 he won the Meadows C Level GC tournament. In 2023, his GC improved quickly winning the Meadows GC Open and the Edinburgh Tournament Open GC Handicap. In 2024, he has been selected for Scotland in the Home Internationals. His clubs include Maitland NSW, Meadows and Balgreen in Edinburgh and Surbiton in England.

CROQUET TIP:

Play your own game!

Thomas Halliday Enfield

BIO:

Thomas is 35 years old, and from Edinburgh. He is a palaeobiologist and the author of the best-selling popular science book “Otherlands.” He has lived in Enfield, in north London, for the past six years with his young family. Having played AC informally at university, he started playing both GC and AC competitively in 2018, winning the AC All-England Handicap in his debut season. Since then, he has concentrated on entering tournaments where most players are higher ranked, emerging with the occasional trophy, most recently Guildford’s 2022 Cara Cup. He made his debut for Scotland in the World Team Championships Tier 2 in 2021 in Cadiz, and has been awarded both the Gleneagles Trophy and Kelvingrove Cup (twice) for rapid improvement in AC and GC. He is a development officer within the East Anglia Croquet Federation.

CROQUET TIP:

Timing is everything.

South Africa

Andrew Hobbs

Dulwich

BIO:

I was born in Durban, South Africa and am now 48years young. I play croquet and field hockey and also enjoy reading and Dungeon’s & Dragons. I likes rock and punk music, BRAAING, biltong and droewors. I grew up in Somerset West, Cape Town, until the age of 16 where I then moved, finished school and went to university in Johannesburg. I am happily married to my wife Lindsay with two children, Caitlyn and Calum. I am also now a proud grandfather to granddaughter

Rowen-Lillie. I first learned about croquet via my grandparents, Dilys and Gilbert, where I first used a croquet mallet playing in their back garden when we went to visit. I then learned to play Association Croquet at Somerset West Croquet club at age 13. It was here I was taught to play association by Jemima Benn and got hooked along with other young friends Judith Hanekom, Darren Handforth, Wynand and William Louw. Since then, I have played both forms of croquet AC and GC over the years and aspired to play at the highest level I could. My notable achievements are winning the Dilys Hobbs trophy in 1995, the Riggall Gold Trophy in 2000, the SACA Gauteng championship in 2000 and the SCA Edinburgh Crammond Cup in 2004 as well as the Hunstanton open in 2024 and the Scottish Open 24 for Golf croquet. I have represented South Africa B vs Japan and my proudest moment was obtaining national colors and representing South Africa vs Ireland in 2000. I have also represented South Africa in the WCF world Championships in 2001, 2023 and in the world team Championship in 2010 and 2022. I am proud to be selected for the 2024 Golf Croquet World Championships this year and hope to improve as a GC player .

CROQUET TIP:

If in doubt, step away; always have fun.

Reg Bamford

Surbiton Croquet Club

BIO:

Reg Bamford (age 57) is the seven-time World croquet champion. Although a resident in England, he plays croquet for his native South Africa. He is the only player to have won both versions of the World Championships (GC and AC) and held both titles simultaneously in 2013. He has won the WCF AC World Championship five times (2001, 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2020), and the WCF GC World Championship twice (2013 and 2017). He has won the British AC Open Championship 12 times and the British GC Open Championship 12 times, the premier events in the UK of each code. He enjoys a rivalry with Robert Fulford, whom he has faced in eleven British AC Open singles finals. He is a businessman and qualified Chartered Accountant and is married to Adrienne. They have two sons.

CROQUET TIP:

Practice makes permanent.

Andrés Álvarez-Sala

Real Sociedad Hípica Española Club de Campo

BIO:

Andrés is the current Spanish Champion and no 1 ranked player. He has played 82 times international with the Spanish National Team since 2016. In his private life, Andrés is married and the father of two daughters, ages five and three. He works as a Corporate and M&A lawyer at BDO.

CROQUET TIP:

Let’s do it!

José Álvarez-Sala

RSHECC

BIO:

Born in Madrid 40 years ago, José studied Business Management and Journalism at the Complutense University of Madrid. He moved to Asturias nine years ago, where he began his croquet career when he was only 11 years old. He is the current European GC champion after his conquest in Sussex County Croquet Club in May. This is the second time he has become European champion. He has also been Spanish GC champion in 2008 and 2018. In AC, he has won the Spanish tournament in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021. José has represented Spain internationally on more than 140 occasions and is one of only three players in Spain to have made it to the top division in the second AC World Team Championship and also in the GC World Team Championship.

CROQUET TIP:

Just be you.

Jose Riva

Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro

BIO:

Still in my thirties (only just), married and have two children. I lived in London for five years working in investment banking and am currently based in Madrid working for the family business, a logistics and shipping company. I’ve been playing croquet since I was six, and I’ve had the opportunity to play both GC and AC all around the world, meeting great people on the way so very happy to be here and have the chance to catch up with everyone!

CROQUET TIP:

“Hasta el rabo, todo es toro.”

Manuel Álvarez-Sala

Real Sociedad Hípica Española Club de Campo

BIO:

My name is Manuel Álvarez-Sala, I am 34 years old, lawyer by profession and I have been playing croquet from a very young age. I am passionate about croquet and everything related to it, and among some of my main achievements, I have won the Spanish Individual Championship Tier 1 (1), the Spanish Doubles Championship (4), the Spanish Cup (4), the Madrid Championship (1), the President’s Cup of Spain (2), and I have been selected twice consecutively as the most improved player in Spain (2018 and 2019). In addition to the above, I have been ranked number 1 in the Spanish ranking and captain of the national team. Internationally, I participated in Spain’s promotion to the first division in both GC and AC. I contribute to the development of croquet through “ESPAÑA

DESTINO CROQUET,” a company whose aim is to promote the practice of this sport both nationally and internationally. Besides croquet, I also enjoy practicing other sports such as tennis, swimming and boxing. I am also a nature and animal lover.

CROQUET TIP:

You cannot defeat someone who never gives up.

Nicolas Denizot

Real Club De la Puerta de Hierro

BIO:

My name is Nicolás Denizot Elzaburu, born on March 30, 1997. I currently work at Dentsu Creative, a renowned Marketing and Communications firm, where I serve as a Client Coordinator for prestigious fashion brands such as Hackett, Pepe Jeans and Façonnable. I began playing croquet in 2017 and have steadily progressed through the Spanish rankings, currently holding the sixth position. My passion and dedication to the sport have led to several notable achievements. I won the Spanish National Championship in 2021, and I was part of the winning team in the Teams Championship in both 2023 and 2024. Additionally, I secured the National Doubles Championship alongside my partner, Patricio Garay. I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to represent my country at the World Championships. Competing against the best players in the world is a dream come true, and I am eagerly looking forward to the challenge and the chance to showcase my skills on the international stage.

CROQUET TIP:

Championship again, earned a spot on the Spanish team for the test match against England and my team and I have won the Spanish Club Championship for the second consecutive year with Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro. I have also just won the Spanish Doubles Championship with Nicolás Denizot.

CROQUET TIP:

Calmness and concentration are your best allies in croquet.

Sweden

Anton Kamne Poseidon Croquet Club

BIO:

Play like someone you love is watching.

Patricio Garay Gonzalez de Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro

BIO:

I am Patricio Garay Gonzalez de la Bastida, born on June 10, 1997 (I am 27 years old). I’ve been working for three years in the Infrastructure Department at Telefónica. Graduated in Business at the American University of Richmond, London. I started playing croquet in 2020 and, to date, I have managed to rank among the top five players in the Spanish ranking. In 2022, I won the U25 Spanish Championship and participated in the Egyptian Open. In 2023, I was the runnerup in the Spanish Individual Championship, played in the European Championship, and won the Spanish Team Championship with Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro. During this year, 2024, I have played in the European

Anton Kamne, from Sweden, is 33 years old. Anton has played garden croquet since he was a child but started to play golf croquet in 2020. His major achievements are being the Swedish champion in 2023 and winner of the Baltic Open in the same year. He has played croquet in Sweden, England and Latvia. He plays for Poseidon Croquet Club and travels as often as he can to play tournaments. Anton has played some European championships, where his best performance was in 2022 when he ended in 13th place. This is his first World championship and first time playing croquet in the U.S. He lives with his girlfriend Clara and their 1-year-old daughter Frigga outside Gothenburg, Sweden. He is an educated industrial engineer and works within the field of supply chain management. When not playing croquet, Anton enjoys alpine skiing in the winter time and sailing on the west coast of Sweden during summer.

CROQUET TIP:

To become a good player, it is important to always strive to improve a little every time you practice, and then make sure to practice continuously. Before you know it, you have made great progress.

Joakim Norback

Croquet Clubben Cuculidae

BIO:

Joakim is 52 and grew up in Eskilstuna, Sweden. He and some friends started a croquet club, Croquet Clubben Cuculidae, there in 1992. Soon afterward, he moved to Los Angeles to attend college. The stay in the United States became longer than expected and it wasn’t until he came back to Sweden in 2007 that he picked up croquet again. Since then, he has played regularly. His best tournament finishes to date are winning the Swedish Championships in both AC and GC. Joakim is currently living in Stockholm where he works as a Risk Manager. Besides croquet, he also enjoys building things, watching ice hockey and travelling.

CROQUET TIP:

2024 WCF GC WORLD QUALIFIER PLAYERS

CONFIRMED PLACES FROM INITIAL ALLOCATION

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | October 13-16, 2024, Updated August 5, 2024

# NAME COUNTRY DGRADE

01 Harry Dodge England 24130

02 Jacques Fournier USA 2397

03 Brian Cumming Canada 2141 04 Kent Lovvorn USA 2119 05 Paul Neubecker USA 2095

06 Sam Cuthbert England 2094

07 Damon Bidencope USA 2076

08 Begoña Elzaburu Spain 2051

09 Amr Hamdy Canada 2044

10 Louise Smith England 2036

11 Cecil Creasey USA 2028

12 Jimmy Huff USA 2028

13 Adam Lassiter USA 2017

14 Rafael Hernandez-Alcala Spain 2011

15 Íñigo Castañon Spain 2007

16 Hesham Elzoghby Canada 2002

17 Dylan Goodwin USA 1992

18 Jim Jamison USA 1976

19 Matt Griffith USA 1966

20 Kendall Hendrick USA 1956

Have a short memory and forget bad shots and unfortunate hoops quickly. Keep your focus on the next hoop instead.

Switzerland

Ian Sexton CERN Croquet Club

BIO:

Ian Sexton has worked at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva Switzerland, since 1984. Married with four children, he started playing croquet in1990 at the CERN croquet club. Since then, he has represented Switzerland in several International matches and has played in the World and European Championships (AC &GC). He is ranked number 1 in Switzerland, currently the Swiss AC & GC Champion. Other interests include skiing, golf, travel and food.

CROQUET TIP:

Promote GC croquet for the Olympic Games.

21 Chris Olsen USA 1948

22 Darin Guffey USA 1944

23 Billie Ray USA 1921

24 Tate Russack USA 1919

25 Jack Rush USA 1907

26 Dawn Jupin USA 1854

27 Kate McLoughlin Australia 1850

28 Eileen Soo USA 1849

29 María Jose Pailos Spain 1823

30 Crayton Morrow USA 1813

31 Paz Gonzalez De Aguilar Spain 1813

32 Eduardo Villanueva Spain 1801

33 Mateo Palazon Spain 1800

34 Jane Beharriell Canada 1800

35 Cami Russack USA 1792

36 Jose Ignacio Alonso Spain 1787

CONFIRMED REPLACEMENTS

37 Shane Hettler USA 2064

38 Randy Cardo USA 2044

39 Gregory Gonzalez USA 1828

40 Greg Fletcher Australia 2363

USA

Ahab Abdelwahab

National Croquet Club

BIO:

I started playing GC in 1980, represented the USA in world championships since 1997. I am married and currently live in Florida, USA, where I’m an airline pilot. I am a member of the National Croquet Club where I try to maintain my level of play when I’m not working. I am the winner of two singles championships, several runner-up singles and doubles national and regional championships.

CROQUET TIP:

Steady body while shooting.

Ben Rothman

Oakland Croquet Club

BIO:

Ben Rothman won the WCF Golf Croquet World Championship and achieved the world #1 ranking in 2019. He has nine U.S. National Golf Croquet Championships including four consecutive years winning singles and doubles. Ben is the youngest member of the U.S. Croquet Hall of Fame and the oldest member of the 2023 Solomon Trophy winning team. Ben lives in Berkeley, Calif., with his wife, two daughters and a dog named Rover

CROQUET TIP:

Find your flow state, then stay in the zone.

Blake Fields

Mission Hills Croquet Club

BIO:

My name is Blake Fields, and I am currently 18 years old. I have been playing croquet since I was seven years old and have won three Golf Croquet National Doubles Championships along the way. I am a senior at Xavier College Preparatory High School in Palm Desert and currently play croquet at Mission Hills Croquet Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif. In my spare time, I am a saltwater fishing captain and a commercial fisherman, but I also love to play sports like water polo and golf. One of my main goals in croquet is to win a World Championship, but something also as important to me is growing the game and promoting it to everyone across the world. I have played in tournaments all over the country in North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia and California, but I have also traveled internationally to Spain, New Zealand, England and Ireland. I am looking forward to the continuation of my croquet career, meeting some people along the way and experiencing new places and cultures and meeting my goals.

CROQUET TIP:

Failures are a part of everyone’s greater success.

Chris Barley

Country Club of Orlando

BIO:

I am 64 years old and a native of Florida. My wife Gail and I have been married for 38 years and we live in Orlando, Fla. We have two children and two grandsons. I’ve served my community as a Certified Financial Planner for 42 years. I started playing eight years ago at our golf club in North Carolina. I was proud to be taught the game by David Maloof, who is also in this Championship. This is my first experience playing an international field much less a World Championship. It’s an honor.

CROQUET TIP:

I hit 100 balls a day towards a small target at seven yards or less to improve my accuracy.

Danny Huneycutt

David Maloof

Mountain Lake croquet Club

BIO:

David Maloof, age 70, has had a long career as a teaching tennis professional and added croquet to his teaching profession in the 1990s. Starting with the American Six Wicket game, he transitioned to AC when he was encouraged to try out for Team USA. Along the way, he took home some singles and doubles national championships before he was elected to play his first MacRobertson Shield competition in the 2013-2014 series. In 2016, he was the runner-up in the Individual AC World Championship. His last international team competition was the 2020 Golf Croquet World Team Championship. After taking a little time off from competition, his two most treasured titles are as National doubles champion in golf croquet with son Kyle in the last few years. David believes that this GC World Singles Championship will cap off his international croquet competition, which has been a great experience that allowed him to travel the world with his wife Mieke by his side. After 44 years, David retired from his job as tennis and croquet professional at the Mountain Lake Corporation in Lake Wales, Fla., where he was honored by having their new three-court croquet facility named after him, the Maloof Croquet Center. You can find David almost every day in the winter playing with the members there, who have been such great supporters and support for him all those years. But he has kept his foot in the door by still teaching croquet during the summer, now in his 27th season at the Linville Ridge Golf and Country Club in Linville, N.C., as well as coaching the USCA High Performance and Talent Development Program where he is affectionately called “Coach Maloof.”

CROQUET TIP:

A good swing feels good.

Kyle Maloof

Mountain Lake croquet club

BIO:

Kyle Maloof is from Lake Wales, Fla., where he is the Director of Racquets and Croquet at Mountain Lake. While originally a tennis player, Kyle took up croquet in 2020. Since then, his highlights include becoming a two-time doubles GC National Champion with his father, David, an AC doubles National Champion and a member of the winning U.S. Solomon team. This will be his first GC world championship.

CROQUET TIP:

Macey White

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

BIO:

Macey White is 64 and has been playing croquet for 11 years. Macey made the U.S. GC Team and participated in the world GC championship for the first time in 2019. Macey lives in Hartfield Va., and spends much of his time helping with the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club and teaching croquet at other clubs in the U.S. Macey is semi-retired and has had a varied career. He was a research chemist for DuPont, a farmer and most recently he worked as a bounty hunter for his bail bonding business.

CROQUET TIP:

Treat the area behind the ball you are going to play as a sacred area.

Matthew Essick

Country Club of Orlando

BIO:

I have played croquet since the age of six, and currently teach croquet professionally for a living in Orlando, Fla., in the winter and in Quogue, N.Y., in the summer. I am the current Golf Croquet World Champion and have made the final in the last three World Championships (two AC and one GC). I have won 11 national championships and was the captain of the recent winning Solomon Trophy U.S. team. I started playing GC seriously in 2019 and look forward to another chance to compete on the biggest stage. In my spare tim,e I enjoy playing loads of golf and spending time with family and

Mathematically you are only able to play better than your average 50% of the time. Learn to compete the rest of the time.

CROQUET TIP:

When in doubt, shoot the hoop.

Mohammad Kamal

Pasadena Croquet Club

BIO:

Paul Bennett

Arizona Croquet club

BIO:

I am 59 years old born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Cairo, Egypt. I currently live in San Marino, Calif., with my wife and three children. I am a medical doctor specialized in gastrointestinal pathology. I started playing croquet at the young age of 13 at Zamalek Club in Cairo and later became a member of the team winning five national league championships between 1986 and 1990. I played for one year at Gizera club and won a league national championship in 1991 before moving to the United States. Right at the birth of Golf Croquet in the U.S., I hosted many GC clinics and in 2000, I organized the Beverly Hills International, the first major GC international tournament in North America. I was the winner of the inaugural U.S. GC national championship in 1999. I won three more national championships (two singles in 2007 and 2009 and one double in 2021). In 2012, I was a member of the U.S. team at the first GC World Team Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2021, I was inducted into the United States Croquet Hall of Fame. On the organizational level, I was a member of the WCF first GC rules working party and a member of the first USCA GC committee. I am a co-founder of the Pasadena Croquet Club and served as president of the historic Beverly Hills Croquet Club in 1999-2000.

CROQUET TIP:

My top tip is to train yourself on practicing with a purpose. Set goals for your practice and work on them with focus and dedication. It is the quality, not the quantity, of your practice that matters.

For me, GC has always seemed a foreign game, nurtured in the shadows of those ancient pyramids. Not understanding much about the game of GC, I convinced Jacques Fournier into playing at an upcoming USCA GC Nationals one year when it was being hosted at Mission Hills Croquet Club wherefor many on the West Coast. GC began 25 years ago when Mohammad Kamal brought the game to Merv Griffith’s. Bob Riddell and Mik Mehas were immediately hooked when the first USCA GC Nationals were held. Jacques and I practiced several times a week for a couple of months before entering the event and I met my goal that year when I got my first match win in the playoffs against Mohammad Kamal. After that, Jacques and I were tossed out of singles but remained in the doubles playoffs, defeating the likes of Ben Rothman, Danny Huneycutt and Sherif Abdelwahab to earn my first USCA National title. I can’t remember when that was and can’t find the trophy. It might be buried underneath a pile of dust. I hope to dig up a new trophy this year while playing at the largest event hosted at the largest venue. Congrats to all the players for traveling to visit us from far away and a big thanks to all the volunteers helping to make this grand event one to remember.

CROQUET TIP:

Take good aim, then relax and shoot.

Sherif Abdelwahab

Bonita Bay Club, Indian Creek Country Club

BIO:

Sherif Abdelwahab lives in Naples, Fla. He is the croquet director at Bonita Bay Club, Indian Creek in Miami, Fla., in the winter and the croquet pro at Wildcat Cliffs and Hight Hampton in North Carolina in the summer. Sherif was inducted into the USA Croquet Hall of Fame in 2020, and he also reached the final national champion 41 times, winning 21 national titles. Sherif ranked third in the USA.

CROQUET TIP:

Keep your head down, square your mallet on the ball.

Stephen Morgan

Ocean House mallet club & Hillsboro Club

BIO:

Stephen was born in Washington D.C. and began playing croquet with the Capitol Croquet Club in 1993. Stephen is a croquet professional at the Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., and the Hillsboro Club in Florida. This is Stephen’s second time competing in a World Championship for Golf Croquet and he has competed in numerous top events over the past 18 months including the Spanish Open (Plate winner), Egyptian Open (Quarterfinals) and the Australian Open (third place). In addition to GC, Stephen competes in AC as a player for the U.S. team since 2017. Outside of croquet, Stephen enjoys fishing and foraging for wild edibles.

CROQUET TIP:

WCF GOLF CROQUET WORLD CHAMPIONS

Year Winner Runner-up

Venue

2022 Matthew Essick (USA) Robert Fulford (ENG) West Sussex, England

2019 Ben Rothman (USA) Mohamed Karem (EGY) West Sussex, England

2017 Reg Bamford (RSA) Ahmed Nasr (EGY) Melbourne, Australia

2015 Ahmed Elmahdy (EGY) Hamy Erian (EGY) Bay of Plenty, Tauranga

2013 Reg Bamford (RSA) Ahmed Nasr (EGY) Cairo, Egypt

2011 Mark McInerney (IRL) Hisham Abuosbaa (EGY) London, England

2008 Ahmed Nasr (EGY) Reg Bamford (RSA) Cape Town, South Africa

2006 Mohamed Nasr (EGY) Salah Hassan (EGY) Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

2004 Ahmed Nasr (EGY) Dennis Bulloch (NZL) West Sussex, England

2002 Khaled Younis (EGY) Salah Hassan (EGY) West Palm Beach, Florida

2000 Salah Hassan (EGY) Khaled Younis (EGY) Cairo, Egypt

1998 Khaled Younis (EGY) Mik Mehas (USA) Royal Leamington Spa, England

1997 Salah Hassan (EGY) Walid Salah (EGY) Cairo, Egypt

1996 Khaled Younis (EGY) Hisham Abuosbaa (EGY) Milan, Italy

Strike the center of the ball with the center of the mallet, while aimed at the target.

Tamer Hatata

National croquet club

BIO:

I was born in Egypt and moved to the United States in 2001. My journey into croquet began in 2015 at the Heliopolis Club in Cairo, where I played for fun whenever I visited Egypt. What started as a casual pastime soon turned into a passionate pursuit. In 2020, I decided to take my love for croquet to the next level by participating in my first competitive event, the Steuber Classic at the National Croquet Center in Palm Beach, Fla. This initial experience in competitive croquet sparked a series of participations in various tournaments. My dedication and skill quickly paid off. I achieved a significant milestone by winning the National First Flight Championship in North Carolina, remaining undefeated throughout the event. My prowess on the croquet lawn continued to shine as I secured third place in the prestigious US National Championship in 2024. Croquet has become more than just a sport for me — it’s a passion. The journey from casual play to competitive success has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing to grow and achieve in this wonderful sport.

CROQUET TIP:

Focus on accurate ball placement to set up your next shot, ensuring better overall position and control.

TOM BALDING

Grandfather Golf and Country Club

BIO:

Tom is a 27-year-old professional croquet instructor from Long Island, N.Y., who now works and lives in North Carolina. He first discovered croquet at St John’s college, where he helped his school beat the U.S. Naval Academy in their annual rivalry match in 2018. He found a love for the game and has been competing ever since. Tom, along with his partner Blake Fields, was the 2023 US GC national doubles champion. He is the 2024 US GC Eights champion, as well as the Australian GC Open doubles champion, with partner Stephen Morgan. He is also the reigning U.S. Open champion, as well as the current AC rules doubles and singles national champion, with partner Steve Scalpone. He teaches croquet at Grandfather Golf and Country Club, as well as Linville Golf Club, which are his two home clubs. Outside of the U.S., he has competed in England.

CROQUET TIP:

Wales

Angharrad Walters Bowdon Croquet Club

BIO:

Never forget to cover the basics. You never get so good that you don’t need them.

Born in Gorseinon, near Swansea, in South Wales, Angharrad learnt to play Croquet at Bowdon Croquet Club, near Manchester, in NW England. She now represents Wales at both GC and AC and won the Welsh GC Championship earlier this year. Now a carer, her opportunities to play internationally are limited, but Angharrad is happy to be returning to the East Coast, having previously spent four years working in Delaware. Angharrad is currently the Hon. Secretary of her local club, the NW Federation of Croquet Clubs and a committee member of the Welsh Croquet Association.

CROQUET TIP: Don’t look back!

Ian Burridge Nottingham

BIO:

Ian began playing as a 17-year-old at school in Colchester. He rapidly progressed, becoming an AC International for Wales and Great Britain. More recently, Ian has focused on GC winning the English National Singles in 2016, First Eight in 2017 and the Welsh Championship in 2018, 2022 and 2023. He is a regular representative of Wales at international events. Ian lives near Grantham and plays at the Nottingham croquet club.

CROQUET TIP: Practice.

organizations

Austrian Croquet Federation

The Austrian Croquet Federation is located close to Vienna in Wolkersdorf im Weinviertel. The lawns are clay-based soil and wellkept ensuring for great playing conditions. All Austrian tournaments are played at this location. AC and GC Open Championships are usually in June or late August. Another club with an exceptional view to the mountains is close to Salzburg at the Römergolf Golf Club. More information at: www.croquet.at.

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

In the eastern tidewater region of Virginia, nestled between the Rappahannock and Piankatank Rivers, you will find an amazing five acres of dead flat carpet like grass and a bunch of people hitting blue, red, black and yellow balls through hoops. This is the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club (CBCC). Originally founded in 2016, with two members and eight new laser-leveled courts, Chesapeake Bay has now grown to 160 members and 24 courts, making it the largest croquet facility in the world.

Chesapeake Bay is all about croquet. Chesapeake Bay is dedicated to making the game affordable to all. Club membership and tournament fees are reasonably priced and open to anyone who wants to play. Folks at the CBCC are serious about having fun and strive to be the friendliest and most welcoming club in the world.

The land the croquet courts occupy was once a peach orchard. In 2016, local croquet player Macey White, disappointed in the lack of quality croquet courts in the area, cleared those trees and produced immaculately groomed turf so that he and others could enjoy the game.

In 2016, the club offered its first USCA sanctioned tournament. According to founder, Macey White, “our club absolutely fell in love with holding tournaments. Having players travel here to enjoy our facility and our game with us is like having a party. We love it.” Soon the club officers decided to make the party bigger and expand its facilities.

In 2017, the old peach packing shed near the courts was converted into the clubhouse with bathrooms and showers, a large common area, lounge, kitchen and a wet bar for social gatherings. According to original member John Priest, “the social part of croquet is a wonderful part of the sport.” He says he constantly meets delightful

Bulldozer leveling lawns in June 2016. The peach packing shed that was turned into a clubhouse is in the background.

and interesting people at the social gatherings and games at CBCC. The club has access to a second clubhouse on the property with a commercial kitchen and dinner seating for 140 people. For the upcoming 2024 WCF GC World Championship, daily meals will include local seafood as a choice for dinners and home cooked breakfast and courtside lunches. In 2019, the club added lights to the original eight courts and six bedrooms to the back of the clubhouse for visiting players,

After completing the first eight courts, Macey wrote an article for Croquet News explaining how inexpensive it really is to build courts. The purpose was to debunk the idea that it costs $100,000 to build a court and encourage others to follow in his footsteps and build multi-court facilities in other parts of the country. In that article, Macey stated, “…if a donor were to grant us $250,000, we would build 12 more courts, maintain them for at least five years and let the USCA and World Croquet Federation use the courts for titled tournament play, free of charge.” A few players responded with “are you serious?” In 2022, four leaders of the club, Macey White, John Priest, Steve Thurston and Lyle Browning decided to take on the challenge of building new courts. White led the fundraising effort and with the help of Geri O’Neill, Penn Pendleton and a few others, the fundraising campaign quickly surpassed the original goals and the project scope expanded to include 16 new courts (24 total), six new pavilions, additional maintenance equipment, a filming tower, a press and media center to facilitate video production and live streaming, and a budget to support maintenance for five years. The total budget was just $400,000.

In the spring of 2022, White, Priest, Thurston and Browning started the 16-court expansion. The site was topo mapped and a plan for pushing the topsoil aside, leveling the subsoil and then replacing the topsoil was developed. Next, the team rented a HUGE bulldozer only to discover that none of them had ever operated a dozer before. But with a few YouTube videos and a lot of trial and error, the team all became competent dozer operators and ran the machine eight hours a day for three months. Next, a contractor was hired to do the final laser grading and grass sprigging. Mother nature was not kind to the court construction crew. The dozer work was hampered by one of the wettest three-month periods in recent history followed by a drought. The laser leveling contractor ended up pushing dust around that never really settled down. On sprigging day, the heavens

opened up and sent deluges of water down at one time, turning the field into a mud bog and miring the sprigging equipment. Most of 2023 was spent fixing the laser leveling and sprigging issues from the year before. But now the courts are level, the grass is beautiful, and the club is ready to stage its first international event, the 2024 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship.

If you have never been to Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, the club welcomes you! The courts are at 1860 Twiggs Ferry Rd., Hartfield, Va., in Middlesex County. The area is known for boating, fishing, historical attractions and fantastic bed and breakfasts. CBCC is an easy one-hour drive from the Richmond International Airport. Middlesex County is semi-rural with a large retirement community. There are tons of places to stay, more than 40 restaurants within a 20-minute drive, and lots to see and do when you are not playing croquet. The club is open to guests and visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more info, check out the club website CBCC.fun.

Original eight courts two months after sprigging

Croquet Canada

Shaping the Future

of a Timeless Sport in Canada

Founded in 1989, Croquet Canada has been the driving force behind the growth and development of croquet across the country. Croquet Canada has a mission to increase the number of members, clubs and courts nationwide. The organization is spearheading several initiatives to promote both social and competitive play.

Expanding Horizons: Croquet Canada’s website project aims to streamline information for members, aligning with the organization’s goals for growth and an enhanced presence. The new platform will serve as a hub for resources, event details and updates, making it easier for croquet enthusiasts to stay connected and informed. Additionally, Croquet Canada is dedicated to increasing its media presence through social media platforms like YouTube, providing engaging content and fostering a broader community.

A Community for All: Croquet Canada, with approximately 500 playing members, is committed to creating opportunities for players of all levels. Croquet Canada supports its members from novice to champion with programs such as equipment loans and grants for new clubs, fund matching for club initiatives, national tournament prize money awards and international event entrance fee subsidies.

Competitive Edge: Croquet Canada boasts impressive rankings, currently holding the ninth spot in the Country AC Rank and the eighth in the Country GC Rank. The main hubs for croquet are located in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, where players can enjoy various game types, including AC, GC, Six -Wicket, Snake, Pirate and Gateball.

Champions of the Court: Celebrating the sport’s finest, Brian Cumming holds the record for the most AC Canadian National Titles with six wins, while John Richardson leads in the GC category with five titles. These champions exemplify the high level of skill and dedication present within Croquet Canada. Additionally, Croquet Canada is proud to be the current titleholder of the Tier 2.2 AC Team World Championship, with team members Brian Cumming,

Nick Mitchell, Jim Wright and Pierre Dunn. Beyond these established champions, Canada has a growing number of up-andcoming players who are gaining national and international attention.

Upcoming 2025 Croquet Canada Events:

• 2025 AC Nationals: likely in June at Bayfield International Croquet Club, Ontario.

• 2025 GC Nationals: likely in July at North Toronto Croquet Club, Ontario.

• 2025 AC Elora Open: likely in August at Elora Croquet Club, Ontario.

• 2025 AC/GC Quebec Open: likely in September at Westmount Croquet Club, Quebec.

These events promise thrilling competitions and a chance for players to showcase their talents on a national stage.

Leadership and Vision: Under the leadership of President Jim Wright, and nine dedicated board members, Croquet Canada continues to thrive as a Full Member of the World Croquet Federation (WCF). The organization’s dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive croquet community is evident in its ongoing projects and initiatives. Join Croquet Canada and be a part of this exciting journey as we work together to elevate the sport of croquet across Canada. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, there’s a place for you in our growing community.

Visit croquet.ca for more information or reach out to John Richardson (thunderwalkers@hotmail.com).

Croquet Association of Ireland

The Origins of Croquet

Few people realize the strength of the influence of Ireland on croquet. The origins of the game are obscure and it may well have had ancient beginnings, but it is clear that wherever it came from, it was developed in Ireland in the early part of the 19th Century. The Field of 1858 (quoted by Betty Prichard in the Croquet Gazette of April 1976) mentions “meetings of the County Meath Croquet Cracks.” They were mostly young and met at each other’s houses: the reporter was George Annesley Pollok of Oatlands and Newcastle, County Meath. Later that year he sent a copy of his rules under the pseudonym of “Corncrake” and called them “The Rules of the Oatlands Club”. That is the first mention of a croquet club. The noted croquet historian Dr Prior, in his book of 1872, makes the categoric statement “One thing only is certain: it is from Ireland that croquet came to England and it was on the lawn of the late Lord Lonsdale that it was first played in this country.” This was about 1851.

Early Years

The first Irish Croquet Championship is recorded in 1871, and it was played again in 1873 and 1874 before seemingly lapsing. Indeed croquet did not prosper in England during the next 25 years, although there is patchy evidence that it may have in America, and the new craze of Lawn Tennis stole its thunder in the sporting press. Although croquet flourished in Ireland after its early days, most of the clubs were in the provinces and there were few in Dublin. There were active clubs in Athenry, Athlone, Belfast, Birr, Carrickmines, Cork, Galway, Lismore, Malahide, Mallow, Mullingar, Muskerry, Newcastle (County Down), Rushbrooke, Tullamore and Youghal. This was the heyday of croquet in Ireland, when players like Cyril Corbally, his brother Herbert, C.L.O Callaghan, Nina Coote and Peter Duff Mathews bore all before them both at home and in England. And they introduced a totally new style, gripping the mallet in what became known as the Irish style, and for the first time swinging it between the legs instead of outside the feet or across the body. For photos of some of the early Irish players, see the CAI website.

After the First World War and in the 1920’s, croquet sadly went into a decline and many of the clubs mentioned above collapsed. Carrickmines continued to be the only club that kept in the main stream, and the Irish Championship has continued to attract visiting players from among the strongest in the world. As host to Ireland’s international matches, it has welcomed England, Scotland, Wales, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, the USA, South Africa and Canada.

Croquet in Ireland Today

The Croquet Association of Ireland (CAI) was formed in 1985 on a wave of enthusiasm following the victory of an Irish team against the USA in Palm Beach, Fla. The CAI is currently working on a Strategic Development Plan with a focus on encouraging new clubs, improving facilities and generally promoting the game in Ireland. There are around 10 clubs in Ireland with some 300 active players. Association Croquet and Golf Croquet are both played, most players start with GC and then (hopefully) move on to AC as well. All croquet is currently played on grass, but we are investigating the suitability of all-weather surfaces for croquet, which would help in our efforts to develop the game in schools and local communities.

All International matches and the AC and GC Irish Open Championships are played at Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, which is the only Club in Ireland with 4 lawns. The European AC Championships were held at Carrickmines this August.

Croquet at Marino, Dublin circa 1874.

Croquet at Carrickmines circa 1910

Croquet New Zealand

Croquet in New Zealand is organized by Croquet New Zealand and both Association and Golf Croquet are played. New Zealand has approximately 5,000 croquet players across its 113 croquet clubs. The clubs are affiliated to Croquet New Zealand through 19 regional “Associations.” Our clubs are spread across the country from Kaitaia in the far north of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island in Invercargill.

Croquet New Zealand is striving to make croquet a sport for everyone and provide quality experiences for all our members, based on an inclusive, respectful and enjoyable environment and making the best use of resources.

To realise this vision, our small team of employees with the help of volunteers run various operational programmes. Player Development and Coaching are the responsibility of our Sport Development Officer (SDO) Greg Bryant, while Oliver Field, Inclusion Officer, runs our Inclusion Programme and is responsible for Safeguarding.

Player Development

Player development is managed through two key streams, our High Performance Plan (HPP) and our Youth Development Programme.

The Youth Development Programme comprises the Secondary Schools Programme and the Under 21 squad. During the COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately our youth participation declined significantly in New Zealand in we are now in a phase of rebuilding. This programme has been incredibly successful in the past and produced several Under 21 GC World Champions, three of which will be playing in the 2024 GC World Championship in Virginia.

Our HPP supports player development through coaching, personal development plans, and mentoring and is structured as campaigns in preparation for international championships.

Coaching

While our SDO still provides some community coaching, the core of our coaching programme is focussed on developing coaches across the country who can provide coaching on the ground. Greg Bryant and two volunteer coach tutors deliver the relevant courses and coach assessments.

As part of the coaching work the SDO developed a new game called “Rush.” Rush is a “Teaching Games for Understanding” activity that is played on half lawns and combines elements of golf and association croquet. Rush has been successfully introduced during the 2023-24 season and it has helped taking some of the myth out of AC, and thereby helped attracting new association croquet players.

If you would like to know more about our development or coaching programmes, please contact our Sport Development Officer, Greg Bryant, at admin@croquet.org.nz.

Croquet

New Zealand’s Disability Inclusion Initiative

Over the last two and a half years, Croquet New Zealand (CNZ) has embarked on a journey to make the sport more accessible for people with various disabilities across the country, and to promote the sport at various national sporting events.

In December 2021, CNZ filled the role of Inclusion Officer, who would have the responsibility of fostering relationships between our croquet clubs and disability organisations. This meant ensuring that clubs were physically and socially accessible, while overcoming any barriers to the sport through equipment and training techniques.

So far, 16 formal programmes have taken place throughout the country, with over 250 players with various disabilities and of a range of ages having a chance to try the sport. Many have returned for further opportunities or have joined clubs themselves.

A vital part of making the Inclusion Programme a success has been adaptations to the sport during sessions. These include making the rules less stringent initially to allow players to take multiple shots to get to a hoop, or taking alternative shots to conserve energy. However, many players have shown great ability immediately, and took to competing with club members as soon as they learnt basic swinging techniques. Equipment has played a huge role, with mallets being adapted for wheelchair users as well as using different styles of balls or targets.

Feedback from competitors and their families has been most valuable, and taking the lead of individuals has certainly helped to make sessions as welcoming and accessible as possible.

If you would like to know more about the Inclusion Programme, or tips on how to make croquet more accessible, please contact our Inclusion Officer, Oliver Field, at inclusion@croquet.org.nz.

What is happening in New Zealand in 2024-25

At the core of our sport remain competitions and Croquet New Zealand runs various national tournaments in both Association and Golf Croquet. It is always a pleasure to see international players visiting New Zealand and play in our tournaments. For the 2024/25 season the two premier events will be held:

• GC Open Championship at Nelson Hinemoa CC, January 6-11, 2025

• AC Open Championship at Croquet Mount Maunganui, January 18-25, 2025

The full list of tournaments is available on the Croquet New Zealand website croquet.org.nz and a link to the registration portal is available through the website as well.

Visitors coming to New Zealand, who would like to visit some of our croquet clubs outside of tournaments, can find clubs through the “Find a Club” link on our website.

We will again be livestreaming some of our tournaments with the first event, the NZ Secondary Schools Finals, scheduled for 2/3 September 2024. Further events and links to live streams will be announced in due course through our Facebook page https://www. facebook.com/croquetnzpage, so make sure to follow us.

Czech-Moravian Croquet Federation

In the historic town of Telč, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest croquet complex in Central Europe, now with four croquet lawns. The town lies halfway between Prague and Vienna, has good transport links and a wide choice of accommodation.

CC Dynamo Telč, the local croquet club, hosts the most important Czech croquet events. The Czech Open AC is regularly held here at the end of May and the Czech Open GC at the end of August. The club prides itself on its friendly atmosphere and developing relationships with all croquet enthusiasts. This year, the club hosted one of the rounds of the European Club Croquet League.

The Czech-Moravian Croquet Association has many young players in its membership. The youngsters have regular training sessions and tournaments under the guidance of qualified instructors. The association is organising the GC U21 European Championships in 2025 and aspiring to host other European format events in the future. Detailed information about international events and contacts can be found at www.ccdynamotelc.cz or www.kroket.org.

German Croquet Federation

Croquet (Krocket) is known to most Germans as a children‘s game. Since 1998 the German Croquet Federation (Deutscher Krocket Bund) works to change this view. Today there are 11 clubs in the country with approximately 150 active players.

GC is the most popular form with fewer AC enthusiasts. Many of our players love to travel and frequent tournaments in nearby countries such as Switzerland, Czech Republic, Lativa and the U.K. The game is only played on natural lawn surfaces, with most clubs having two lawns available. Some of the courts are very challenging, but always played with a focus on the social side of the game, enjoying good conversations over a good lunch (which can surely make up for a bumpy lawn).

Due to the relatively small number of clubs at present, we do not have a national league but we do have inter-club test matches. Some of the German clubs participate in the European Croquet League, a contest amongst croquet clubs throughout Europe.

Since 1998, National Championships in both AC and GC are played annually. We also stage International Open tournaments. Visiting players are always welcome to join. Contacts and locations can be found on our website www.croquet.de.

Croquet at Hamburg CC

Hong Kong Croquet

The history of Hong Kong croquet remains steeped in mystery. What we do know is that the Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) was established in 1851 to “promote the sport of cricket, tennis and croquet.” Online, only a hint of its history can be found in a single image on gwulo.com. A group of expats sitting on a croquet court, sometime in the 1870s. Since that date however, croquet seemed to melt into the background of the many changes Hong Kong has seen in 170 years.

More recently, The Hong Kong Club (HKC) took on the mantle of croquet within Hong Kong and has had a core following for around 17 years. Up at the Hong Kong Cricket Club however, the embers still burned on the cricket outfield, crying out for croquet to rise from the ashes.

In 2018, starting with just a few players who committed to playing on Saturday and Sunday afternoons under the blanket of humidity bought by Hong Kong summers, a spark was lit and croquet was once again back to the front of one of the many sports played up at the Hong Kong Cricket Club.

From a few, became many. As one of the positives to arise out of the strict Hong Kong quarantine rules and restrictions, was that croquet was able to flourish. Through the hard work of those at HKCC and HKC, the Hong Kong, China Croquet Association was established. Now with

65 players (including 30 in the internal league at HKCC) the future is bright for croquet in Hong Kong and we are very excited to start writing our own history as the new born baby of the croquet world.

The Hong Kong, China Croquet Association has now held four national tournaments, with more planned on the horizon. Singles and Doubles tournaments in both GC and AC were well attended and I have no doubt will increase the competitiveness of play within Hong Kong.

Looking to the future, the Hong Kong, China Croquet Association continues to be open to more member clubs, and hopes to continue the close work that it has with registered charities within Hong Kong. Whilst we can bask in the heat that emanates from the new passion for croquet within this community, it is important to continue to look to build on the great work that has been done so far. We plan to soon add a women’s tournament into our schedule, as well as establish a Hong Kong Croquet League — these are two important elements to continue the growth of croquet.

The Hong Kong, China Croquet Association hopes to send more members overseas in the future to tournaments around the world. Having the opportunity to do this would have been unfathomable a few years ago with just a few of us trying our hand at this wonderful sport, so a huge thanks from all of us to the WCF for accepting us.

A group of expats sat on a croquet court in the 1870’s

Thomas Ingram wins the first national tournament in Hong Kong in GC

George Lamplough and Luke Voyce win the first national doubles tournament in Hong Kong in GC

Iran Croquet Association

The Iran Croquet Association (ICA) was established on October 19, 2016, by Mr. Abbas Valikhani in Iran under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

In November 2019, Iran Croquet Association became a Member (RCO) of the World Croquet Federation and operates in accordance with WCF rules.

The ICA aims to develop the interests of all croquet players and croquet clubs in Iran at national and international level. In particular, the association organizes the participation of Iranian players in World Championships tournaments and also organizes international matches in Iran. Iran’s Croquet Federation currently promotes Association Croquet (AC) and Golf Croquet (GC).

The vision of the ICA is to make the croquet understood, respected, well organized in Iran and accessible for all people regardless of their age.

Activities and Tasks:

• Determine objectives, supervise and execute croquet’s roles in Iran

• Introduce and develop croquet sports in the country and support the croquet member’s family

• Establish the training courses, coaching, and refereeing in the country

• Identify and promote talented individuals for the croquet game

• Hold matches in different categories for the different levels (children, adolescents, youth, and adults) for men and women

• Create opportunities for introducing croquet to the public sports fan

• Send the Iran National Team to the world croquet championship

2025 Events

• Men’s: National GC, U21, O60 (pending) and AC

• Women’s: National GC and U21

• Club tournaments and GC open

2026 Events

• Men’s: National GC and U21

• Women’s: National GC and U21

• Club’s tournaments and GC open

The Iran Croquet Association recognizes only croquet clubs, tournaments, training institutions, training courses, coaches previously reviewed and officially approved by ICA. All officially approved parties are published on our website. All other activities without official written permission or license are deemed illegal. These illegal activities will be prosecuted and will not be recognized by ICA.

Member Clubs of Iran Croquet.

V-Royal Croquet Club (VRCC)

Tehran, Iran - 2 Full Size Courts

Kish Croquet Club (KCC)

Kish Island, Iran - 1 Full Size Court, 1 Mini Court

We are planning to establish two more clubs by 2030 so that all interested parties can more easily access croquet clubs in different cities.

Iran Croquet Academy

The Iran croquet Academy was established by Mr. Valikhani and MC team. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all croquet theory courses, introductory courses, coaching, arbitration courses and electronic publishing were held online. Currently, GC and AC training courses, coaching and refereeing courses are held at the Academy.

Website: https://irancroquet.com

Email: info@irancroquet.com

President of ICA: Mr. Abbas Valikhani, it.abbas@gmail.com

National Croquet Club

The National Croquet Club, the largest membership croquet club in the United States and a beacon of community, camaraderie and sporting excellence. Nestled in the heart of West Palm Beach, Fla., our club is minutes away from Palm Beach International Airport and the fabulous dining, shopping, recreation, and entertainment in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach, making it a convenient and exciting destination for croquet enthusiasts from near and far.

The club is located at the National Croquet Center (NCC), a worldclass facility spread over 12 beautiful acres. The NCC currently has 12 full-size championship courts, with more on the way, plus two full-sized six-wicket practice courts and a regulation 9-wicket court. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the sport, our expansive grounds offer the perfect setting for every level of play.

At the National Croquet Club, our nearly 500 members enjoy a variety of croquet games, including Golf Croquet, American Six Wicket and Association Croquet. With three lighted courts, evenings come alive with events like Wine & Wickets and Night Owls on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We provide free loaner mallets, balls and markers, ensuring everyone can join in the fun. Free lessons are available to non-members and new members every Saturday morning, and organized games take place nearly every day, catering to all levels and interests.

The Caribbean-Colonial-style clubhouse also houses the headquarters offices of the NCC’s owner, the Croquet Foundation of America (CFA), a non-profit educational and charitable organization dedicated to promoting and developing the sport of Croquet through programs and activities that benefit the individual and society. The United States Croquet Association (USCA) is headquartered at the NCC.

The NCC is also a national croquet museum, home of the U.S. Croquet Hall of Fame, and houses a dedicated croquet Pro Shop. Other facilities include a dining room, lounge/bar, locker rooms, two ballrooms and a charming, wrap-around veranda with stunning views of the courts (www.croquetnational.com).

Our calendar is packed with exciting tournaments and events. In addition to the Club Championship Tournaments in all three main versions, other highlights include the Women’s GC Open in January (attracting global talent), the Steuber Classic in February, and the Snowbirds & Flamingos tournament each fall, all hosted by the Club.

The Palm Beach County Special Olympics Croquet Club also operates there, supported by our Club. We have Interclub Games and fun-filled weekly events like Martinis & Mallets and Twilight Croquet, plus the New Year’s Eve Tournament and the Fourth of July “Red, White and Brew” event, to name just a few.

The NCC is a hub for several USCA titled tournaments and schools, featuring top players from around the world. The USCA holds schools for Association Croquet, Six Wicket American Croquet, and GC, as well as being the venue the USCA Senior Masters Tournament and Croquet Week. Our members actively participate in these prestigious events, showcasing their skills and passion for the sport.

We make it easy for players from other areas who can only be here for a short time to join us with a National Patron membership that allows you to play in club tournaments and to have up to 10 days of free play on the courts at any other time like prior to (or just after) any tournament.

We warmly welcome guests! Full members of the club receive five guest passes per year, allowing their guests to play for free under the same rules as the member host. After two complimentary visits, guests can continue to enjoy our courts for a nominal fee of $30 per day. On the courts, members and guests must wear traditional white attire, adding to the elegance of our beloved game.

We pride ourselves on fostering a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, where the focus is solely on the joy of croquet. If you have any questions or wish to find a host, our friendly Board members and the NCC staff are always ready to assist.

For more information, visit our website and follow us on Facebook.

Website: https://www.nationalcroquetclub.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nationalcroquetclub/ Instagram: nationalcroquetclubWPB

Scottish Croquet Association

Written evidence records that croquet has been played in Scotland since the 19th Century. Rules for the game were published for Eglinton Castle in the mid-1860s. Competitive play dates from 1870s and Moffat features strongly, before Edinburgh and other areas emerged. A full report can be read at www.scottishcroquet.org. uk/index.php/croquet-in-scotland. Additionally, David Appleton’s synopsis of the first 50 years is available at: www.scottishcroquet.org. uk/index.php/the-scottish-championship-1870-1914.

Evidently, the numbers of men and women have continued as broadly equal. Although today there are fewer than a thousand croquet players across Scotland, about half are registered members of the eight clubs within the Scottish Croquet Association.

After the World Wars Croquet developed steadily, adding the golf version over the past 30 years. Despite small numbers, Scotland is able to field successful teams and compete at internationally. Scotland became Association Croquet Tier 2.1 World Team Champions in 2022.

Individual players enter international events in either discipline; may this year’s GC entrants have every success.

South African Croquet Association

Croquet in South Africa, the Rainbow Nation

In the 1870s, croquet had already reached South Africa and contemporary writers refer to croquet being played “under the oaks in Cape Town” and “in the park at Pietermaritzburg.”

Information regarding the subsequent development of the sport is sketchy, but it is clear that it first spread within the two British colonies of the Cape and Natal.

Currently there are clubs in all the major provinces (states) of South Africa namely the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng (Johannesburg) and Natal, although there are clubs who do play association croquet, the majority play golf croquet.

SA croquet holds an annual National AC and GC event in November, which rotates around the country, the Rainbow International GC Open Doubles and Open Singles, held at Somerset West (45 minutes out of Cape Town and in the Winelands) early March, the Western Province AC and GC championships February/ March, the Port Alfred Classic GC in April and the Gauteng Open amongst others. The annual events during February and March attract croquet visitors from across the globe (England, Wales, Spain, Switzerland, Australia to name a few) who enjoy both the super weather, competitive croquet and all the Cape has to offer.

SA Croquet’s most valuable export, Reg Bamford, has represented South Africa for many years in both Association Croquet and Golf Croquet and we are extremely proud to have an asset such as Reg, a world champion many times over.

South African Croquet welcomes any visitors from far shores and looks forward to hosting them with all the friendliness and hospitality we are renowned for.

Duncan Reeve, Lorna Dewar, Chris Martin and David Warhurst: AC Tier 2.1 champions 2022

Swedish Croquet Association

Backyard croquet has been played in Sweden since the late 1800s. The lawn is typically uneven, the size is determined by what is available without defined boundaries, occasional obstacles may be present, such as a tree or a rock, and the configuration is usually nine hoops with two pegs at either end and the game is played by two to six players.

Competitive croquet has been played since 1985 when the Swedish Croquet Association was established. The first game was Swedish croquet, which was derived from backyard croquet and developed into a more competitive version. A Swedish championship has been held in this game since the associations’ beginnings. In 1999, the first Swedish championship in Association Croquet was held and in 2006 Golf Croquet was also added to the yearly agenda. Today there are Swedish Championships held in all three disciplines.

The Swedish Croquet Association has 16 member clubs with around 200 players. The challenge that Sweden is facing when it comes to expanding the sport is the lack of quality lawns. There are between 10-15 lawns suitable for AC/GC in Sweden so there are relatively few Swedes that have somewhere to play close to where they live. And, with a population that is fairly spread out, it’s difficult to have enough people in one place to afford to build new lawns. This is a classic catch-22.

We believe that the way forward is to add croquet to existing golf clubs and we hope to have a pilot project going in the next couple of years. The idea is that golf clubs already have the know-how and equipment to build and maintain croquet lawns and that croquet can be an additional offering to existing members and a draw for new members. Just the presence alone of lawns near a club house would increase awareness of our brand of croquet and could spark interest.

Welsh Croquet Association

The Welsh Croquet Association was founded in 1986 by John Grimshaw following the successful creation of a club at Dyffryn Gardens, near Cardiff; the first major club created in Wales for many years. In 1992, Wales hosted the USA team at Dyffryn, before the Solomon Trophy match against Great Britain; this event gained good publicity and showed the local media that the game was played internationally.

Growth of croquet in Wales has been a little slow, but in recent years a number of new clubs have been formed, playing mainly GC on old lawn bowling greens, and there are now eleven clubs in Wales. The club at Dyffryn Gardens moved a few years ago to the Glamorgan Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend, after the National Trust, who had taken over the house and gardens, decided that the club would no longer have priority access to the lawns. Croquet had not been played at Merthyr Mawr for more than 100 years, even though the club had retained croquet in their name. The members raised over £25000 to lay two new courts at Merthyr Mawr, and the courts are now considered to be among the best courts in the UK.

On the international scene, Wales has always been a big supporter of World and European events and the Welsh team have won the WCF 14 point Team Championship, the WCF AC World Team Championship Tier 2 (twice), the WCF GC World Team Championship Tier 2 and the European Team Championship.

Linda Sisson Trifone

Age: 69

Home base: Ridgeland, Miss. (Jackson Mississippi Area)

Home club: The Country Club of Jackson. I also play at Highlands Mallet Club, a private club at the home of Mike McRee in nearby Flora, Miss.

Grip: Solomon

Mallet: PFC Hoop Maker; 11” head with Zelatron ends; 2 lbs. 14 oz.; 34” shaft

Years playing croquet: Eight years

Favorite croquet venue: My home court at the Country Club of Jackson is my favorite venue. The groundskeepers do an excellent job of maintaining the courts.

Favorite tournament:

It’s a tie between the Pinehurst Invitational and the Beach Club Invitational (6W).

How did you get into the game?

My son and his wife had joined the Country Club of Jackson on a junior membership and asked me to join so I could play golf with my son. A year and a half later they announced they were moving to Dallas. I planned to quit the club. But one Sunday before they left town, I responded to an ad in the club’s newsletter that said to come join the fun on the croquet courts. Equipment and lessons would be provided. I showed up and was instantly hooked and have been playing avidly ever since. The structure of our croquet activity really suited my needs. It provides both a sport and a social life. I don’t need a tee time or to find a partner to play. Just show up on Sundays and Thursdays and you will have a game. I find this is true with many croquet clubs.

Do you play other sports?

I enjoy games, whether sports or cards or dominos. Before croquet, I was a golfer. In earlier years, I played a lot of tennis and now occasionally play pickleball. Throughout my life, I have exercised regularly.

Favorite sports teams?

I love college football, especially SEC football, and big rivalry games in other divisions. My two favorite college teams are Notre Dame and LSU.

Team USA Captain Matthew Essick

Croquet highlights/tourney wins:

Last year, our American Six Wicket club championship competition was tough. I made it through block play and faced Ed Becker, one of the fellows who taught me how to play, in the semifinals. With some quality playing and good fortune, I made it to the finals to face another of my teachers and mentor, Mark Fields. I was partner dead and watching him run a break. I kept trying to decide which ball to clear. Fields got stuck in the rover wicket and I was able to make a break of it. Going in to last turn I was up 1413. Fields groomed the court to set a break for his partner ball. Unfortunately, he wired my balls, so I was able to scatter his balls and become the 2023 American Six Wicket club champion, ending Field’s four-year run. I am still thrilled!

Another memorable victory was playing in the 2023 Beach Club Invitational. I was paired with David Issacs. We squeaked by in block play and on to bracket play. In the semifinals, I went dead on partner to score wicket two. I felt I should do a roll shot to approach the wicket but chickened out and did a takeoff. It was unsuccessful and I had to get off the court. I was angry with myself for not having had the courage to try the roll shot. I hid behind the deadness board (at NCC) and was nearly in tears. Isaacs came over and told me a silly knock-knock joke. What a great partner! We won that game by one wicket. And went on to win the finals in a heavy, windy downpour. I learned a lot that day.

Pop culture favorites:

I’m a huge fan of audiobooks but still read hardback books. My favorite authors are Daniel Silva, Christopher Reich and David Baldacci. Other than those authors, I pick a book by its cover or its title and have had great success with that strategy.

Best thing the USCA has done for croquet?

The USCA provides a structure to advance the sport of croquet, through rule books, referee training and designations, croquet schools, talent development programs and the like. Individuals and member clubs can take advantage of these resources. Also, continuous learning opportunities are provided in the Weekly Break and the quarterly Croquet News

The USCA also schedules many tournaments throughout the year for individuals and club teams to socialize and compete. And it provides materials for clubs to host their own tournaments.

What is the USCA’s greatest weakness?

It takes a lot of time and energy to keep the USCA functioning smoothly, and a lot of the effort is done through volunteers. People have busy lives, so progress isn’t as timely as it sometimes could be.

What would you like to see happen in the sport over the next 10 years?

Croquet is such a fun sport and one that can be played with couples or families with older children or groups of friends. You don’t have to be particularly athletic or an exercise buff. And, in general, you can play it for the rest of your life. To me, the target market is empty nesters, or parents with teenagers or older children. The 40ish individuals/ couples who have more time on their hands and no children underfoot. I’d really like us to see growth in that age group, which could sustain the aging membership.

What have you learned from croquet?

Oh, I have learned so many countless things from croquet. First and foremost, I have learned to enjoy the time spent at cocktails after croquet. I had never been one to take time to sit and visit. We play croquet four times a week, then head to the Onyx for cocktails and maybe dinner. Croquet is the first time I have embraced postgame socialization. Through a lot of practice, I am learning to compete. Until croquet, my inner voice would say I choked under pressure in sports, but I am learning that I can make the winning wicket under pressure, and I can win games and tournaments. It has really boosted my confidence. And I love the challenge of the American Six Wicket strategy, particularly the deadness board and rotation. I continue to learn new strategies, which I feel are helping me to think and keep young.

Quick Croquet Tip:

Practice, play, practice, play. Then, be confident in your skills and let your muscle memory work for you during games.

Photo by Michael Barrett

NATIONAL CROQUET DAY 2024 Winners

A record number of USCA Clubs sent in photos of their Croquet Parties and it was hard to select the winning photos. Every Croquet Party is appreciated. Congratulations to All!

Belleair Country Club Croquet Red, White and Blue Award

Proud to be a Croquet American! More than 30 enthusiastic, patriotic members came out to enjoy a morning on the courts playing Golf Croquet. The party continued with a buffet dinner, live music and over 50 fun loving croquet players dancing the night away.

Decker Lawn Croquet Greatest Game Ever Award

The 19 th annual Decker Lawn Croquet Tournament and party was hosted by Ralph and Linda Decker at their home in St. Louis, Mo. More than 100 guests turned out for a fun day of spectating and competing, including 32 players. The final round gave the Decker’s and their guests special enjoyment this year with a new team who kept advancing, Patrick Holland, age 13 , and Will Holland, age 10, first cousins and great nephews of the hosts. “This is the greatest game ever!” say the boys as they took on all the adults in four rounds of croquet. The event includes a group photograph, which is an annual tradition, followed by a summer supper. “We find so much joy in hosting this event every year. Croquet brings back fun childhood memories for many; we love to bring it to the next level for our guests. Now we have a future generation excited about this great sport,” says Ralph Decker.

Village of Glencoe Croquet Club Crazy Croquet Hat Award

To promote our club and spread croquet love, GCC hosted a community open house for about 60 people. GCC members showed our guests how to shoot the ball and run a few hoops. Very quickly, guests were playing lively games of golf croquet.

By a wide margin, GCC members voted for Bill Hall’s simple hat, beribboned with croquet ball colors and topped by a carved-in-miniature croquet game. Well done, Bill!

Grand Haven Croquet Club The Splashiest Party Award

Grand Haven once again had a large group of very energetic players dressed in a splash of croquet colors. That’s also one of the best 6-Wicket shirts we’ve ever seen.

Lakewood Croquet Club Mardi Gras Party Award

“Laissez Les Balles De Croquet Rouler”

Mission Hills Croquet Club

Colors of the Desert Award

Despite triple digit temperatures, Mission Hills Croquet Club, in Rancho Mirage, Calif., celebrated National Croquet Day with the popular theme “Celebrate the Colors of Croquet.” We had a three game tournament. Before each game we drew names for partners to give everyone opportunities to play with someone new. In addition to first, second and third places, we gave a prize for best dressed player!

National Croquet Club Life’s A Beach Award

The past two years have been a rained-out at the NCC. This year with the theme, “Life’s A Beach,” we had 90 members and guests signed up with many new to croquet and all ages. Interestingly, the instructional courts did better than the silly games. A wonderful summer lunch buffet was served.

Rossmoor Croquet Club The Science of Croquet Award

Rossmoor, located in Central New Jersey and a long-standing USCA Club, held a unique croquet party. Its theme was a Celestial CME Blackout Event. For those not in the “know,” coronal mass ejection (CME) is an explosive outburst of plasma from the sun. The blast of a CME carries about a billion tons of material out from the sun at very high speeds of hundredsa of kilometers per second. The Rossmoor Croquet group is ready for anything and they had a great turnout!

Sandwich Croquet Club Crazy Carnival Award

Sandwich Croquet Club had a wonderful time celebrating National Croquet Day. Throughout the day we had more than 40 members come to play golf croquet and American Six Wicket. Our club pro, Bob Kroeger, set up the swing trainer and videoed members’ swings. He also coached members on their jump shots and split shots in front of the wicket. During our lunch break between Golf Croquet and American Six Wicket, members were able to enjoy lunch provided by the club, a time to catch up with friends, meet new members and the opportunity to participate in a mini golf themed croquet obstacle course. The obstacle course included five challenges: a 4-foot wicket shot, roqueting a ball from 15 feet, a ramp shot into a bucket, a shot through the shark mouth from 40 feet and a shot at the stake from 20 feet.

The Clubs at St. James Best Use of Flamingos Award

The Clubs at St James, Southport N.C., had a huge turnout for National Croquet Day, with more than 90 croquet players celebrating “Flamingos Love Croquet.” The pictures tell the whole story.

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Keep the Balls Rolling Award

SCCC had a great National Croquet Day with a “Keep the Croquet Balls Rolling” theme. A video was submitted and we will try to publish the video on social media channels. Well done!

Wyndemere Country Club

The Wild West (Florida) Award

Wyndemere Country Club went all out again this year.

Belleair Country Club Croquet

One Country Club Lane Belleair, FL USA 33756 (727) 461-7171

Burlingame Country Club PO Box 130 Sapphire, NC USA 28774 (828) 966-9200

The Chattooga Club

PO Box 1886 Cashiers, NC USA 28717 (828) 743-3640

Chicago Croquet Club

3700 West 104th St Chicago, IL USA 60655 (630) 291-3377

Derby City Croquet Middletown Louisville, KY USA 40229 (585) 474-3753

Village of Glencoe Croquet Club

621 Westley Rd. Glencoe, IL USA 60022 (847) 835-0250

Grand Haven Croquet Club

4 Scarlet Oak Circle Palm Coast, FL USA 32137 (703) 727-6971

Green Gables Croquet Club

100 Camp Dr Sea Girt, NJ USA 08750 (732) 319-5113

High Hampton

1525 Hwy 107 S Cashiers, NC USA 28741 (800) 334-2551

Highland Falls Country Club

1 Club Drive Highlands, NC USA 28741 (828) 526-4118

Highlands Mallet Club

PO Box 1006 Jackson, MS USA 39215 (601) 949-3103

Houston Croquet Association Houston, TX USA 77024 (713) 876-1508

The Country Club of Jackson 345 Saint Andrews Drive Jackson, MS USA 39211 (601) 956-1411

Kactus Creek Croquet Club

13312 NW 76th Street Parkville, MO USA 64152 (816) 891-6762

The Lakewood Club

6525 Battles Road Fairhope, AL USA 36532 (251) 990-4268

Lenox Croquet Club

111 Yokun Avenue Lenox, MA USA 01240 (646) 483-3000

Milwaukee Croquet Club

3942 No Hackett Ave Milwaukee, WI USA 53211 (414) 405-5468

Mission Hills Croquet Club PO Box 2822

Rancho Mirage, CA USA 92270 (714) 743-7186

Naples Croquet Club of Florida

3285 Pine Ridge Road Naples, FL USA 34109 (239) 405-4143

National Croquet Club

700 Florida Mango Road West Palm Beach, FL USA 33406 (561) 478-2300

New York Croquet Club

PO Box 806 New York, NY USA 10021 (917) 494-8827

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

2201 Silver Lake Road Bartlesville, OK USA Ponte Vedra Croquet Club

305 Pablo Road Ponte Vedra Beach, FL USA 32082 (904) 273-0806

Rochester Croquet Club

@ G&T SportsPark

Grace & Truth SportsPark

373 N. Greece Road Hilton, NY USA 14468 (585) 287-4531

Rossmoor Croquet Club

2 Rossmoor Dr Monroe Township, NJ USA 08831 (609) 235-4367

Sandwich Croquet Club

PO Box 284

Sandwich, MA USA 02537 (617) 877-1879

Sarasota County Croquet Club

1400 Lucaya Avenue Venice, FL USA 34285 (703) 887-7236

St. James Croquet Club 1872 Camp Rd James Island, SC USA 29412 (843) 277-2765

West River Wickets

PO Box 61 Galesville, MD USA 20765 (410) 867-0434

Westhampton Mallet Club

PO Box 206Westhampton, NY USA 11978 (516) 480 9930

Wyndemere Country Club

700 Wyndemere Way Naples, FL USA 34105 (239) 263-1700

MOORE breaks through for First SINGLES TITLE at 9W Nationals

Fifteen participants descended on the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club from May 30 to June 2 to compete in the national championships for 9-wicket croquet in both singles and doubles. The entrants were treated to fantastic weather, good-spirited competitors and a sneak peak of the venue under construction for the Golf Croquet World Championships being held in October.

The tournament began with doubles competition on Thursday and Friday, with block play finishing Friday morning before moving into the knockout. After block play ended, the team consisting of Macey White and Nancy Crouch secured the one seed and Doug Moore and Paul Neubecker secured the two seed and first-round byes. The knockout “went chalk” until the finals, where the two-seeded team of Moore and Neubecker were able to knock off White and Crouch. Keep your eyes peeled on the USCA YouTube channel for this game.

The two teams who got knocked out in the first round competed for the First Flight Doubles title, which was won by a team of relative newcomers, John Woods and Jeff Taylor. This happened to be their only victory as a team in the tournament, proving they only win the ones that count. Saturday saw three additional players join for singles-only play divided into two flights, eight players in Championship and seven players in First Flight. All eight players advanced to the knockout for Championship Flight, while six of seven First Flight players made the knockout with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye.

First-time tournament participant, Dean Rowland, made a deep playoff run in First Flight as a four-seed, but ultimately lost in the finals to two-seed George Claffey. In Championship Flight, doubles partners Moore and Neubecker made their way through the knockout to face each other in the finals. Given the two were looking at a seven-hour drive back to New York together after the match, the potential for hard feelings and awkwardness was luckily avoided as Moore ended his second-place finishing streak to secure his first national singles title. All competitors were in good spirits at the conclusion of a successful tournament.

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Doug Moore

02. Paul Neubecker

03. Brian Hovis

03. Macey White

05. Steve Thurston

05. Gil Rocha

05. Nancy Crouch

05. Greg Clouse

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. Paul Neubecker/Doug Moore

02. Macey White/Nancy Crouch

03. Brian Hovis/Dean Rowland

03. Todd Marshall/Greg Clouse

FIRST

FLIGHT SINGLES

01. George Claffey

02. Dean Rowland

03. Todd Marshall

03. Kabe ErkenBrack

05. Jeff Taylor

05. John Woods

07. Russ Brudnicki

FIRST FLIGHT

DOUBLES

01. John Woods/Jeff Taylor

02. Steve Thurston/George Claffey

Championship finalists Doug Moore and Paul Neubecker

First Flight singles champion George Claffey with Paul Neubecker (L) and Doug Moore (R)

Championship Doubles finalists teams: Macey White/Nancy Crouch and Doug Moore/Paul Neubecker

First Flight Doubles Champions: Jeff Taylor and John Woods

MIDWEST REGIONAL MAKES FIRST VISIT TO HOUSTON

2024 USCA Midwest 6W Regional Houston, Texas | June 20-23, 2024

The USCA 2024 Midwest Regional American 6W Championship was played June 20-23, 2024, on the remarkably lush and manicured croquet lawns of Memorial Park and the Bayou Club in Houston, Texas. This marks the first time the event has been played in Houston.

Old foes squared off once again and new rivalries emerged as players gave it their best in four matches per day while temperatures hovered in the low 90s in this double-elimination competition. The tournament was strongly represented by Houston Croquet Association (HCA) members and attracted top players from Oklahoma, Louisiana and California. The competition was divided into a championship flight and first flight.

HCA President John Brown took top honors in the Championship Flight in singles and runner-up in doubles. It was a nail-biter to the very end as Brown outmaneuvered skillful George Cochran of Baton Rouge in the last balls round.

Two HCA members rose to the top of the First Flight in a dramatic series of three-ball breaks and long-distance “hit-ins.” Kevin Fasano and Tish Peterkin wowed the spectators with their skills and meteoric rise to the top in their final showdown. Fasano eventually prevailed and even won the first flight doubles competition with Debbie Hafner, who happens to be his mother-in-law.

Congratulations to each of the players and victors! This USCA-sanctioned event automatically qualifies entrants to advance to the 2024 USCA American 6W Championship Tournament at the Chesapeake Croquet Club in Hartfield, Va., October 6-12, 2024.

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. John Brown

02. George Cochran

03. Bob Hafner

04. Donna Dixon

05. George Peterkin

06. Carl Archiniaco

07. John Craddock

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Kevin Fasano

02. Trish Peterkin

03. Joe Leary

04. Bill Sullivan

05. Mary Craddock

06. Rob Franks

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. George Cochran/Bob Hafner

02. John Brown/Donna Dixon

03. John Craddock/George Peterkin

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Rob Franks/Bill Sullivan

02. Kevin Fasano/Debbie Hafner

03. Stuart Coco/Rebecque Demark

04. Trish Peterkin/Mary Craddock

Expanded Reach

Four Issues to Deliver Maximum Impact

The USCA’s full-color Croquet News magazine is now quarterly with all four issues released in print + the interactive digital edition. Since the Croquet News digital magazine was launched, it continues to set new standards for reader engagement and advertiser click-throughs. Plus, the digital edition goes beyond the USCA membership and offers a global reach of more than 4,000 total readers per issue for the print + digital editions.

Each issue of the magazine includes tactics columns, tournament dates, news, results, national event coverage and features full of the best croquet photography. The print version of the Croquet News is a core attraction for USCA members and still boasts a print circulation of roughly 2,000 copies per issue and reaches over 3,000 croquet players and fans.

Get Started

For a Croquet News media kit, contact Dylan Goodwin at croquetnetwork@gmail.com

Upcoming Ad/Copy Deadlines

2024 November Issue (Winter) – 10/30/24

2025 February Issue (Spring) – 1/17/25

2025 May Issue (Summer) – 4/18/25

2025 August Issue (Fall) – 7/18/25

SOUTHEAST 6W REGIONAL FEATURES DEEP FIELD OF ZERO LEVEL PLAYERS

2024 USCA Southeast 6W Regional Pinehurst, North Carolina | May 2-5, 2024

Thirty-five players gathered on the beautiful lawns of the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. to play in the 2024 Southeast Regional American Six Wicket Tournament. Except for spotty rain on May 5, 2024, the weather was gorgeous. The tournament was played on four manicured and fast lawns. The tournament was ably organized and run by tournament director Danny Huneycutt and tournament manager Elaine Moody.

The field was divided into three flights with Championship Flight including 18 players, 12 of whom were handicap 0 or lower. First Flight handicaps ranged from 4.5 to 7, while Second Flight handicaps ranged from 9 to 13. Numerous highly contested matches were played in each flight.

Players had the opportunity to practice all day on April 30. A courtside reception of beer and wine at the croquet pavilion took place May 1 in the evening ahead of tournament play. The tournament started with doubles in the morning on May 2 followed by the opening rounds of singles block play in the afternoon. Doubles and singles block play continued on May 3.

In Championship Flight, George Cochran dueled with Danny Huneycutt in one semifinal match while Adam Lassiter and Macey White challenged each other in the other semifinal. Cochran and Lassiter met in the finals where Lassiter convincingly won his second consecutive Southeast Regional title.

Cecil Creasey and Jim Podraza took to the courts in one of the First Flight semifinal matches while Danna Huneycutt and Gene Bryan faced off in the other semifinal. Creasey was victorious in the finals against Podraza.

The semifinals in Second Flight found Bill Lichtenberger pitted against Rocky Smith. Dan Phelan and Elizabeth Robinson contested the other semifinal match. Lichtenberger prevailed over Phelan in the final game.

There were two flights in doubles: Championship Flight had two blocks and First Flight had one block. As is customary in regional play, players selected their partners. The doubles games were a lot of fun and quite entertaining. Championship finals found Jay Hughes and Rodney Lassiter competing against Macey White and Bill Daigle. Hughes and Lassiter survived despite leaving White and Daigle a four-ball break.

In First Flight doubles, Susan and Cecil Creasey managed a victory against James Podraza and Gene Bryan.

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Adam Lassiter

02. George Cochran

03. Danny Huneycutt

03. Macey White

05. Mike Taylor

05. Mark Fields

05. Jay Hughes

05. Brian Zindel

09. James Spoonhour

09. Webster Bull

09. Brett Stovall

09. Edward Roberts

13. Robert Gannon

14. Rodney Lassiter

14. Dick Johnston

16. Linda Trifone

16. Joshua Lassiter

16. Stephen Errickson

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Cecil Creasey

02. Danna Huneycutt

03. Gene Bryan

03. James Podraza

05. Teresa Errickson

05. Christine Smith

07. Mel Eckhart

08. Randy Lassiter

SECOND FLIGHT SINGLES

01. William Lichtenberger

02. Daniel Phelan

03. Rocky Smith

03. Elizabeth Robinson

05. Susan Creasey

05. Janet Mullen

07. Mary-Stewart Regensburg

08. Hillary Lassiter

08. Elaine Smith

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. Rodney Lassiter/Jay Hughes

02. Macey White/Bill Daigle

03. Danny Huneycutt/Danna Huneycutt

03. George Cochran/Joshua Lassiter

05. Mike Taylor/James Spoonhour

05. Brett Stovall/Brian Zindel

07. Edward Roberts/Dick Johnston

07. Stephen Errickson/Teresa Errickson

09. Mark Fields/Linda Trifone

09. Adam Lassiter/Randy Lassiter

11. Webster Bull/Robert Gannon

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Cecil Creasey/Susan Creasey

02. James Podraza/Gene Bryan

03. Christine Smith/Mel Eckhart

03. William Lichtenberger/Daniel Phelan

05. Mary Stewart Regensburg/ Elizabeth Robinson

05. Rocky Smith/Elaine Smith

07. Hillary Lassiter/Janet Mullen

9W PLAYERS ENDURE THE HEAT IN FLORIDA REGIONAL

2024 USCA Florida 9W Regional

West Palm Beach, Florida | April 25-27, 2024

Eight hardy croquet players endured the challenge of 9 wicket croquet on the back courts of the National Croquet Center, April 25-27, 2024. The endurance challenge went well beyond the rough grass and uneven terrain. Each player had five block matches consisting of both singles and doubles for the first two days. That meant participants took on five games each day in exhausting Florida heat.

The group consisted of both American Six Wicket and golf croquet players. One entry, Mary Walters, had never swung a croquet mallet or played a game. Everyone enjoyed the challenge and utilized their own unique expertise in playing.

The first four seeds of the singles block of eight earned the opportunity to play in the Championship Flight knockout and the other four competed in the First Flight knockout. The doubles portion of the tournament consisted of four teams. The top two seeds played in Championship Flight and the other two played in First Flight. Johnny Mitchell bested Devin Burress 32-24 to capture the singles Championship Flight title. Billy Simmons defeated Caryl Firth 25-22 to win the singles First Flight knockout. Bill Trower/Devin Burress defeated Johnny Mitchell/Caryl Firth 29-23 to win Championship Doubles. Priscilla Flowers/Suzanne Turner defeated Mary Walters/Billy Simmons 26-24 to win First Flight doubles.

Special thanks to Dave Spivey for managing Croquet Scores and Ursula Peck for the photographs.

—Bill Trower, TD

FINAL ORDER

CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

01. Johnny Mitchell

02. Devin Burress

03. Priscilla Flowers

03. Bill Trower

FIRST FLIGHT SINGLES

01. Billy Simmons

02. Caryl Firth

03. Suzanne Turner

03. Mary Walters

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

01. Bill Trower/Devin Burress

02. Johnny Mitchell/Caryl Firth

FIRST FLIGHT DOUBLES

01. Priscilla Flowers/Suzanne Turner

02. Bill Simmons/Mary Walters

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The Names of the Game

By Jeff Soo

Abbreviations used: blUe, Red, blacK, Yellow

Croquet talk is replete with jargon, both official (“ball-in-hand,” “roquet,” “wiring”) and unofficial (“rush,” “take-off,” “attack”). This can seem overwhelming, or at least a bit silly, to new players, but this shared vocabulary is important. Having simple names for various shots, plays and situations makes it much easier to discuss the game with others, especially our doubles partners. More than that, names can facilitate clear thinking. “Handle” is a synonym for name because a name serves as a mental handle that helps us to recall complex ideas. The subject of this article is rotation: the color order of turns in American Six Wicket Croquet. Striker ball and partner ball are official terms identifying the two balls of the striker’s side in the rotation. No official terms for the other two balls exist — the opponent’s balls. For the ball that follows the striker ball, two terms are commonly used: hot ball and danger ball. The other opponent ball is commonly called the spent ball (or, more rarely, cold ball). “Hot” and “danger” imply an immediate threat; “spent” suggests powerlessness. These names can be misleading.

Figure 1 shows a First Flight game. In the rotation leading up to this position, K had rushed U to 2 but then failed the wicket. Y then took off from R and used the opponent balls to score 2, but then broke down at 3. U, also for 3, shot at Y and missed, bouncing off the wicket. R played to the boundary a few yards from corner I and it is K to play. What would you do with K? (While this is a First Flight game, the same considerations will apply at most other skill levels.) As usual, think through some possible plays before reading on.

I got the idea for this article while perusing one of Stephen CustanceBaker’s excellent books on Golf Croquet tactics. Every Shot is Tactical includes a section titled “Clearing the danger ball,” by which the author does not necessarily mean the ball that follows the striker ball. Sometimes the ball that just played represents the greater threat, and the same is true in American Six Wicket Croquet. In Figure 1, Y is the “hot” or “danger” ball, as Six Wicket players commonly use those terms, but Y offers no immediate threat whatsoever: it can’t run its wicket (or even play into the jaws), it is dead on both U and K, and U is much too close for Y to take position at 3.

If Y is no threat, is K safe to play to position at 2? When you’re partner-dead, you need to look for opportunities to take position at your wicket, and from here K has an excellent chance to get good position. What would you expect Y to do in response? Because it can’t roquet U or K, can’t run its wicket and can’t take position, what is left? Join partner, of course. R has no deadness and is for 2. If K plays to position at 2, and Y plays a reasonably good shot to join R (i.e., to the north of R and within a few feet of it), R has a laid threeball break. So, the real “danger ball” in this situation is R, not Y.

Even if the “hot ball” is more of a threat, it is sometimes a mistake to think of it primarily as “dangerous.” Most of the time you should prioritize offense over defense. Three- and four-ball breaks are the best offense, and an opponent ball in the right place should be seen as an opportunity rather than a danger. “Creating a rush” (Croquet News 2024 Vol. 1) features such a case, where the best play is to rush the “hot ball” to your wicket, despite potentially dire consequences if the play fails.

FIGURE 1: K to play. R and K are for 2, Y and U are for 3.

Back to Figure 1, what are K’s other options? The obvious alternative to taking position at 2 is to join U, giving it a rush to 3. This is risky against a strong player because U may end up leaving K behind at 3. If Y has played a good shot to join R, R may be able to cut-rush Y to 2 and begin a three-ball break. (Again, note that R is the real threat here, despite being the “spent ball.”) But against players without that skill set, it is quite safe.

An alternative for K is to play to the boundary somewhere near 2, as shown in Figure 3. This looks vaguely threatening to any attempt by R to use Y to score 2 because K is close enough for a fair chance of hitting any ball that R leaves at the wicket. This might convince Y to play to the boundary somewhere near 3, planning to join up so Y can use R to score 3 and clear its

deadness. And if Y does that, U will have a free shot at it. U can shoot gently, trying to roquet, or firmly, trying to cross the boundary directly behind Y. If U manages to roquet Y without knocking it out of bounds, U sends Y to K. If U goes out directly behind Y, U is placed almost touching Y. Depending on what R does next, this may give K a safe opportunity to take position at 2. That’s a lot of ifs, but with K’s partner-deadness UK is in a relatively weak position, and there’s no harm in trying to bluff RY into a tactical error.

All in all, it would be better for Six Wicket players to retire the term “danger ball.” Stick to “hot ball” and “spent ball,” and think of these as tactically neutral terms referring merely to each ball’s position in the rotation of turns.

3: Alternatively, and again starting from the position shown in Figure 1, K has played to the boundary near 2. Y has played to the boundary north of 3, and U has shot out behind Y, placing it so the two balls nearly touch. R needs to play to where Y can safely join it (shown by red dotted lines),

FIGURE 2: Starting from the position shown in Figure 1, K has joined U; Y’s response is to join R, giving it a “line rush” to its wicket. If R is capable of that rush, U is under pressure to move K after scoring 3.

FIGURE

How to Watch the Big Show

By Cheryl Bromley

It’s going to be a great opportunity to witness the “rock stars” of croquet at the Golf Croquet World Championships this October in Virginia. Eighty top players from around the world will be battling it out with thrilling shot-making and smart tactics on display.

Hopefully, many of you will be able to attend in person or, if not, livestreaming on YouTube will be available to watch. Either way, here are a number of specifics to look for as you watch the matches.

GRIPS: Which grip does a particular player use? Solomon, Standard, and Irish are the three most commonly used grips. Do they change their grips or hand positions on the shaft to execute different shots, such as a jump shot? Are the player’s hands next to each other on the grip or spread apart?

PRE-SHOT ROUTINE: It can be fun to look at the different individual styles of pre-shot routines players use. Do they stalk the ball to align their shots? Do they use continuous casting to hit their shots or stabilize their mallet before taking a shot? Or do they use some combination of both? Does their routine differ depending on what type of shot they are hitting, such as a placement, hoop or clearance shot?

FOOT PLACEMENT/STANCE: Take note of where players position their feet. Are their feet close to the mallet or is space remaining? Do they use a wide or narrow stance? Are their feet parallel to the mallet or slightly turned in, turned out or staggered? Are the players bent over their mallet or standing more upright?

TEMPO: Notice whether players use the same tempo on their shots depending on the type of shot taken, such as a hoop, stop, clearance shot, etc. The Quadway hoops being used tend to be unforgiving and reject balls frequently when players try to power through them and/or are off even the slightest bit.

DEMEANOR: Can you tell by watching whether a player is feeling confident or struggling? Are they displaying positive or negative body language? How do they recover after a missed shot? What do they do after hitting a great shot? Look for displays of good sportsmanship and enjoyment of competing on the lawn on the biggest stage.

TACTICS: So much can be learned from the tactics of the top players. You are sure to see fearless shot-making and risk-taking as well as methodical and patient high-percentage play along the way.

TRACKING DATA: As a player yourself, you may find it useful and fun to track data during a match. It can be as simple as which

color ball scored each hoop. Was there a pattern of winning two hoops in a row? How many clearance shots were attempted? How many hoop shots were taken before the hoop was successfully scored? Perhaps you design a profile of the players you watch based on the items listed above, which will show you comparisons of techniques.

The bottom line: Enjoy the tournament! This is an incredibly exciting event for the USCA and Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club to host and I hope to see you there!

How to Use a Phantom Ball

Imagine this scenario, your opponent has gone into the jaws at Hoop 1 and, fortunately for you, your ball is in a position on the back side of the hoop to possibly knock it out of scoring position. Most wickets are set firmly in the ground so that hitting the stanchion to get the ball out of the hoop is usually not an option. Instead, try imagining a phantom ball next to the ball you are attempting to clear. Aim your striker ball through the middle of the phantom ball, which will allow the edge of your striker ball to contact the edge of the opponent ball sticking out through the hoop.

This type of shot will require a fair amount of pace to move the opponent ball a good distance out of the hoop and, because you are hitting your ball at a 90-degree angle, your striker ball will deflect and travel a good distance as well. At least for the time being, you’ve stopped your opponent from scoring.

Another option would be to use a placement shot to have your Red ball end up just in front of the Blue ball, blocking its path down to the next hoop. In this case, aim so both balls have a tiny bit of space between them, which increases the risk of a double tap for Blue.

Rockfish GC Tournament

July 4-7, 2024

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club

Hartfield, Virginia

Championship Flight Singles

01. Marc Stearns

02. Brett Stovall

03. Helen Covington

03. Nancy Crouch

05. Gary Gamble

05. Devin Burress

05. Caryl Firth

05. Dorothy Silliman

09. Charlie Fleming

09. Brian Zindel

09. Jim Hester

09. Kent Lovvorn

09. Justin Berbig

09. Lisa Maloney

09. Gregory “Spike” Gonzales

First Flight Singles

01. Kathie Gamble

02. Nicholas Capobianco

03. Charles Stovall

03. Pam Groh

05. Lynda Bjorklund

05. Dana Silliman

05. MaryCarol Stearns

05. Michael Kolowich

09. Kimberly Leedy

09. Trudy Crowetz

Second Flight Singles

01. Chris Musick

02. Inez Cancienne

03. Alice Scanlon

03. Clyde Anderson

05. Greg Presley

05. William “Hardy” Littleton

05. Marianne Maglione

05. James Peasley

05. Sarah Persons

09. Ann Littleton

Combined Doubles

01. Marc Stearns/Alice Scanlon

02. Jeff Taylor/Greg Presley

03. Dorothy Silliman/James Peasley

04. Gregory “Spike” Gonzales/ Trudy Crowetz

05. Brett Stovall/Deb Thornton

06. Kathie Gamble/Kimberly Leedy

07. Gary Gamble/Barbara Krouse

08. Charles Stovall/Pam Groh

09. Kent Lovvorn/Ann Littleton

10. Wyck Knox/Julie Woods

11. Nancy Crouch/Clyde Anderson

11. Lisa Maloney/ William “Hardy” Littleton

13. Bill James/MaryCarol Stearns

13. Caryl Firth/George Shute

15. Cynthia Fowler/Russ Brudnicki

16. Michael Kolowich/Dana Silliman

18. John Woods/Lynda Bjorklund

19. Helen Covington/ Marianne Maglione

20. Jim Hester/Sarah Persons

Greenwich Invitational

June 28-30, 2024

Greenwich Croquet Club

Greenwich, Connecticut

Championship Singles

01. Larry Lynch

02. Courtney Green

03. Kathleen Green

04. David Kepner

05. George Claffey

06. Mary McCarthy

07. Doug Greeff

08. Gerry Kagan

First Flight Singles

01. Kevin Carey

02. Linda Merk

03. Thomas Love

04. Scott Brown

05. Larry Schmutz

06. Karen Kay

07. Nancy Love

New York State GC Championship

June 21-23, 2024

New York Croquet Club

New York, New York

Championship Singles

01. Shane Hettler

02. Tate Russack

03. Christopher Morris

04. John Wight

05. Stephen Tasker

06. Cami Russack

07. Justin Berbig

08. Matthew Harders

First Flight Singles

01. Mark Ski

02. Linda Merk

03. Doug Moore

04. Billy Simmons Jr.

05. Jeanne Branthover

06. Michael Kolowich

07. Britt Bell

08. Lois Clay

Second Flight Singles

01. David Goddard

02. Peter Timmins

03. Ezra Roth

04. Klaud Lucas

05. Gregory Presley

06. Temp Peck

07. Trudy Crowetz

08. Georgia McCravey

09. Trula Myers

10. Emily Martin

11. Geoffrey Johnson

12. Pat Spratt

13. Patricia Richmond

14. Jane Andrews

15. Nicholas Capobianco

16. Janet Anthos

Championship Doubles

01. Tate Russack/Cami Russack

02. Linda Merk/Stephen Tasker

03. Christopher Morris/Shane Hettler

04. Doug Moore/Justin Berbig

05. Nicholas Capobianco/Britt Bell

06. Mark Ski/Pat Spratt

07. Billy Simmons/Michael Kolowich

08. John Wight/Matthew Harders

First Flight Doubles

01. Emily Martin/Geoffrey Johnson

02. Jeanne Branthover/Peter Timmins

03. Georgia McCravey/ Patricia Richmond

04. Trula Myers/David Goddard

05. Janet Anthos/Gregory Presley

06. Ezra Roth/Klaud Lucas

07. Jane Andrews/Temp Peck

08. Lois Clay/Trudy Crowetz

Berkshire Invitational

June 20-23, 2024

Lenox Croquet Club Lenox, Massachusetts

Championship Singles

01. Stephen Errickson

02. Courtney Green

03. Preston Stuart

03. Patrick Little

05. Jim Wright

05. Jim Erwin

DNF Mike Gibbons

First Flight Singles

01. David Kepner

02. Fred Beck

03. George Claffey

03. Teresa Errickson

05. Kathleen Green

05. Rick Hayes

05. Michael Jeary

05. Doug Greeff

Second Flight Singles

01. Amy Bothwell

02. Bobbi Shorthouse

03. Katie Bull

03. Debbie Martin

05. Kim Beaty

05. Chris Darton

05. Bess Gallanis

05. Ken Heim

First Flight Waterford Doubles

01. David Kepner

01. Bobbi Shorthouse

02. Rick Hayes

02. Amy Bothwell

05. Kim Beaty

06. Michael Jeary

07. Chris Darton

08. Katie Bull

09. George Claffey

10. Teresa Errickson

11. Kathleen Green

12. Doug Greeff

13. Ken Heim

14. Fred Beck

15. Bess Gallanis

16. Debbie Martin

Championship Waterford Doubles

01. Patrick Little

01. Preston Stuart

02. Stephen Errickson

02. Courtney Green

05. Stuart Lawrence

06. Jim Erwin

07. Jim Wright

08. Mike Gibbons

Woodlawn Invitational

June 13-16, 2024

Woodlawn Croquet Program

Ellsworth, Maine

Championship Flight Singles

01. Bob Worrell

02. Peter Grey

03. Neil Houghton

04. Perry Mattson

05. Don Parker

First Flight Singles

01. Charlotte Pulitzer

02. Fred Beck

03. Bill Whitman

Second Flight Singles

01. Jim Lane

02. Linda Merk

03. Whitney Small

Hi/Lo Doubles

01. Neil Houghton/Linda Merk

02. Bob Worrell/Whitney Small

03. Perry Mattson/Fred Beck

04. Bill Whitman/Charlotte Pulitzer

05. Peter Grey/Janet Pearson

06. Don Parker/Jim Lane

Scissortail Invitational

June 13-16, 2024

Scissortail Croquet Club

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Championship Flight

01. Conner Helms

02. George Peterkin

03. Joe Yoder

04. John Watson

05. Greg Clouse

05. Joe Steiner

07. Jon Spaulding

DNF Scott Spradling

DNF Matt Baird

First Flight

01. Carl Archiniaco

02. Suzanne Spradling

03. Joe Schulte

04. Gene Bryan

05. Ford Austin

05. Jim Loftis

07. Tish Peterkin

08. Nora Watson

Western North Carolina GC Open

June 7-9, 2024

Highlands Falls Croquet Association

Highlands, North Carolina

Final Order

01. Brian Lozano

02. Edmund Fordyce

03. Sherif Abdelwahab

04. Chris Barley

05. Thomas Balding - Plate Winner

06. Jim Teel

07. Jeff Soo

08. Jim Jamison

09. Darin Guffey

10. Robb Turner

11. Dallas Denny

12. Gary Gamble

13. Hammond Rauers

14. Billie Ray

15. Peter Carlin

16. Dan Horton

Albemarle Golf Croquet Invitational

June 6-9, 2024

Albemarle Croquet Club

Belvidere, North Carolina

Championship Singles

01. Danny Huneycutt

02. John Lassiter

03. Adam Lassiter

03. Josh Lassiter

05. Cecil Creasey

05. Amr Hamdy

05. Robert Smothers

05. Scott Winslow

09. Tate Russack

09. Tony Reaves

09. Shep Slater

09. Cami Russack

13. Steve Thurston

13. Rodney Lassiter

First Flight Singles

01. Bob Natole

02. Linda Merk

03. Sarah Persons

03. Russell Lassiter

05. Susan Creasey

05. Randy Lassiter

05. Mike Hewitt

DNF Lee Robinson

Second Flight Singles

01. Gregory Presley

02. Rocky Smith

03. Debra Boyce

03. Elaine Smith

05. Janet Mullen

05. Tom Mullen

05. Blaine Charac

05. Hillary Lassiter

09. Kathy Killmon

Championship Doubles

01. Amr Hamby/Susan Creasey

02. Steve Thurston/Robert Smothers

03. Cecil Creasey/Tate Russack

03. Scott Winslow/Randy Lassiter

05. Danny Huneycutt/Adam Lassiter

05. Lee Robinson/Linda Merk

07. Rodney Lassiter/Cami Russack

07. John Lassiter/Russell Lassiter

09. Tony Reaves/Shep Slater

09. Josh Lassiter/Bob Natole

First Flight Doubles (Waterford)

01. Mike Hewitt

02. Gregory Presley

03. Sarah Persons

04. Debra Boyce

05. Janet Mullen

06. Hillary Lassiter

07. Rocky Smith

08. Elaine Smith

09. Tom Mullen

10. Kathy Killmon

11. Blaine Charac

Indian Territory Open

May 24-27, 2024

Tulsa Croquet Club

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Championship Singles

01. Greg Clouse

02. Scott Spradling

03. Kevin McQuigg

03. Ron Millican

05. Joe Steiner

05. Jon Spaulding

07. Deborah Millican

First Flight Singles

01. Joe Schulte

02. Peter Bowers

03. Suzanne Spradling

03. Carl Archiniaco

DNF Greg Adams

DNF Jodi Adams

Championship Doubles

01. Scott Spradling/Kevin McQuigg

02. Ron Millican/Greg Clouse

03. Joe Steiner/Jon Spaulding

03. Deborah Millican/Pete Bowers

First Flight Doubles

01. Suzanne Spradling/Carl Archiniaco

02. Greg Adams/Jodi Adams

Texas State Championship

May 16-19, 2024

Houston Croquet Association

Houston, Texas

Championship Flight

01. Bob Pulitzer

02. Britt Ruby

03. John Watson

04. Stuart Coco

05. John Brown

06. Scott Kennedy

07. George Peterkin III

08. John Dill

First Flight

01. Carl Archiniaco

02. Kevin Fasano

03. Ed McCullough

04. Joe Leary

05. Don Chapoton

06. Rebecque Demark

Croquet by the Bay May 16-19, 2024

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club Hartfield, Virginia

Championship Singles

01. Perry Mattson

02. Steve Thurston

03. Macey White

03. Walt Janitz

05. Nancy Crouch

06. Gil Rocha

07. Cecil Creasey

07. George Claffey

09. Sandy Janitz

10. Rick Darnell

First Flight Singles

01. Peter Sherer

02. Fred Beck

03. Roy Revels

04. Susan Creasey

05. Michael Kolowich

06. Pete Davies

07. John Welch

07. Wyck Knox

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Championship Doubles

01. Macey White/John Woods

02. Walt Janitz/Rene White

03. Perry Mattson/Jeff Taylor

04. Nancy Crouch/Michael Kolowich

05. George Claffey/Sandy Janitz

06. Fred Beck/Cecil Creasey

07. Peter Sherer/Rick Darnell

08. Susan Creasey/Steve Thurston

North Carolina Open May 9-12, 2024

Pinehurst Country Club

Pinehurst, North Carolina

Championship Flight

01. Jeff Soo

02. Sherif Abdelwahab

03. Wy Louw

03. Brian Cumming

05. Danny Huneycutt

05. Jay Hughes

05. Rodney Lassiter

05. Chris Barley

09. Ed Roberts

09. Walt Janitz

11. Michael Todorovich

11. Webster Bull

First Flight

01. Jane Beharriell

02. Arlene Parker

03. Stephen Errickson

03. Sandy Janitz

05. Tim Williams

05. Teresa Errickson

05. Rick Hayes

05. Mel Eckhart

09. Elaine Moody

09. Christine Smith

09. Bill Hartmann

09. John Graney

USCA Florida Central District GC Tournament April 26-28, 2024

Belleair Croquet Club

Belleair, Florida

Championship Flight

01. Kendall Hendrick

02. Joe Fairbanks

03. Brand Shank

03. Clark Lea

05. Mike Hatcher

05. Mike Hoggatt

05. Lori Matway

05. Jeanette Hodgkins

09. Jim Watrous

09. Georgia McCravey First Flight

01. Frank LaValla

02. Mike Carroll

03. Randy Kilgore

03. Tom Albrecht

05. Michael Andriola

05. Norwood Jackson

05. Alan Burczyk

USCA Collegiate Championship April 20-21, 2024

Merion Cricket Club

Haverford, Pennsylvania

Golf Croquet Team

01. St. John’s College

02. Oklahoma Wesleyan

03. US Naval Academy

04. Texas A&M

Golf Croquet Individual

01. Caden Marshall

02. Asher Scantlin/Luka Nettleton

03. Nehemiah McFredrick/Lane Wyatt

04. Angela Preston/Henry Stockman

American Rules Team

01. St. John’s College

American Rules Individual

01. Mangus Oberg

02. Ginger Hoofnagle

03. Carlos Aspillaga

04. Benjamin Ginnebaugh

Palmetto Invitational

April 19-20, 2024

Green Boundary Croquet Club Aiken, South Carolina

Championship Doubles

01. Alvin Thurman/Jim Podraza

02. Scott Brown/Marc Blumberg

03. George/Patricia Peterkin

04. William Lichtenberger/ Daniel Phelan

First Flight Doubles

01. Charles Hayes/Nina Milton

02. Mark Williams/Sue Williams

03. Rocky Smith/Elaine Smith

04. Steve Miller/Karen Miller

05. Mary Blumberg/John Harte

06. Scott Glass/Beth Glass

©2024 Jiminy Wicket LLC

Glow-in-the-Dark Croquet

Tabletop Croquet

USCA Golf Croquet Eights

April 11-14, 2024

Sarasota County Croquet Club

Venice, Florida

First Eight

01. Tom Balding

02. Tamer Hatata

03. Brian Lozano

04. Jeff Soo

05. Ahab Abdelwahab

06. Kent Lovvorn

07. Chris Barley

07. Danny Huneycutt

Second Eight

01. Billie Ray

02. Tate Russack

03. Marc Stearns

04. Jack Rush

05. Kendall Hendrick

06. Darin Guffey

07. Matt Griffith

08. Billy Harper

Third Eight

01. Ellie Griffith

02. Rick Brown

03. Eileen Soo

04. Chris Weihs

05. Alex Galasso

06. Chris Morris

07. Cami Russack

08. Webster Bull

Fourth Eight

01. Steve Jackson

02. Joe Fairbanks

03. Jose Benjumea

04. Mary Galasso

05. Lee Robinson

06. Michael Kolowich

07. Lynda Bjorklund

08. John Strasser

Fifth Group

01. Dick Rendleman

02. Karen Weihs

03. MaryCarol Stearns

04. Chris Smith

05. Sarah Persons

06. Jason Collins

07. Kathie Hart

newmembers

ALABAMA

Cullman – At Large Member

Lowry Wimberly II

CONNECTICUT

Greenwich – Greenwich Croquet Club

Chauncey Johnstone

Old Lyme – Ocean House Mallet Club

Evy Lynch

Wilton – At Large Member

Henry Snyder

FLORIDA

Atlantic Beach –

Fleet Landing Croquet Club

Eunice Rogerson

John Rogerson

Celebration – At Large Member

Arthur Ramos

Beth Ramos

Gulf Stream – The Little Club

Deidre Neal

Naples – Audubon Croquet Association

Judith ValorieCorriganMarkarian

Naples – Wilderness Country Club

Michael Kane

Orlando – The Country Club of Orlando

Xi Lu

Ponte Vedra Beach –

Northeast Florida Croquet Club LLC

Mary Walters

The Villages – The Villages Croquet Club

James Polley

Vero Beach – John's Island Croquet Club

Laura McDermott

Richard McDermott

Wellington – At Large Member

Gale Marcell

Miguel R. Montenegro

West Palm Beach – National Croquet Club

Florence (Fluffy) Barbey

Josephine Bayard

Dale Connor

Violet Frizzell

Michael Hertzberg

Patricia Hertzberg

Matthew Myers

Jude Plum

Marcos Rivera

Mark Sparkman

Noni Sparkman

Anita Watkins

GEORGIA

Atlanta – Peachtree Hills Place Croquet Club

Andy Isakson

Jekyll Island – Jekyll Island Croquet Club

Gabriella Feher

Susan Hogan

ILLINOIS

Chicago – Chicago Croquet Club

Joshua Ewen

MARYLAND

Gibson Island – Gibson Island Club

Joshua Ewen

MASSACHUSETTS

Nantucket – The Westmoor Club

Karen Gray

MISSISSIPPI

Jackson – The Country Club of Jackson

James Blackwood

Bob Germany

Holly Morgan

NEW JERSEY

Monroe Township –

Rossmoor Croquet Club

Dan Dobromilsky

John Mischak

Spring Lake – Green Gables Croquet Club

Sharon Sudol

NEW YORK

Buffalo – Buffalo Croquet Club

Joseph Murray

New York – New York Croquet Club

Sallie Abelow

Margaret Blakely

Riley Cahill

Peter Dempsey

Lucia Fischer

Steven Fischer

Lee Lee Johnson

Meeja Kinsey

Ilana Kulman

Kelly Lauren

John Moyers

Sarah Myers

Glenn Pagan

Jack Rubin

Edgar Von Ottenritter

Trevor VonKaenel

Marisa Wallace

RJ Wolf

Saratoga Springs –

AIM for Saratoga Croquet Club

Marissa Romero

Westhampton Beach –

Westhampton Mallet Club

Betty Barbatsuly

NORTH CAROLINA

Cashiers – High Hampton

Curtis Loftin

Highlands – Highlands Falls Country Club

Dawson Landers

Highlands –

Highlands Strikers Croquet Club

Carey Gilbert

Patricia Gilbert

Highlands – VZ Top Croquet Club

Mark Williams

Sue Williams

Linville – Linville Golf Club

William Harris

Frank Lockett

C. Scott McLanahan

Linville – Linville Ridge Croquet Club

Joe Spidaletto

NEW CLUBS

Pinehurst – Pinehurst Croquet Club

Roberta Kachell

Rob Mendel

Roey Mendel

Pittsboro – At Large Member

William Adney

Southport – The Clubs at St James

Sidney Godwin

Susan Godwin

Winston-Salem – Arbor Acres Croquet

Nirma Perricone

Phil Perricone

OKLAHOMA

Bartlesville –

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Evan Rogers

Lane Wyatt

Tulsa – Tulsa Croquet Club

Vicki Canty

Andrew Kwateng

OREGON

King City – King City Croquet Club

Doraine Bault

Chris Culbertson

Kathy Dahlstrom

Margo Lee

PENNSYLVANIA

Lincoln University –

New London Croquet Club

Anthony Boiardi

Laurie Schaefer

Quakertown – At Large Member

Peggy Shoup

SOUTH CAROLINA

Dataw Island –Croquet Club of Dataw Island

Maureen Dodgen

San Dodgen

James Island – St. James Croquet Club

Peter Reeves

TENNESSEE

Memphis – University Club of Memphis

Berkeley Burbank

Virginia Burbank

Susan McKay

Gloria White

TEXAS

Houston – Houston Croquet Association

Ellen Donnelly

Frank Donnelly

Charles Duncan

Jenny Elkins

Larry Elliott

Michelle Elliott

Liane Hinrichs

Ellen Prelle

Fred Prelle

Billye Tezel

Isik Tezel

Ron Walker

INTERNATIONAL

CANADA-BRITISH COLUMBIA

Victoria – At Large Member

Gopala Gowda

September

2024

09/12/24 - 09/15/24

Osborn Cup 6W | US

New York Croquet Club/Central Park | New York City, NY

Mark Ski | 917-494-8827 | markski125@gmail.com

09/17/24 - 09/21/24

USCA Selection Eights AC | AC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

09/20/24 - 09/21/24

Merion Cricket Club 6W & GC Interclub | US & GC

Merion Cricket Club | Haverford, PA

Whitney Thain | 610-642-5800 | wthain@merioncricket.com

09/25/24 - 09/29/24

Pinehurst Invitational 6W | US

Pinehurst Country Club | Pinehurst, NC

Elaine Moody | 910-986-3164 | halliburton_2@msn.com

09/26/24 - 09/29/24

USCA Western AC Regional | AC

King City Civic Center - Westmoreland Park (Portland) Tigard, OR

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

09/27/24 - 09/29/24

Cape Cod 6W Invitational | US

Sandwich Croquet Club | East Sandwich, MA

Kathleen Green | 617-877-1879 | kmcginnis94@gmail.com

09/29/24 - 09/30/24

USA vs Egypt | GC Cairo, Egypt

October 2024

10/01/24 - 11/30/24

Autumn GC Challenge | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

10/01/24 - 10/05/24

USCA SE Regional GC Championship | GC

Linville Ridge, Linville Golf Club & Grandfather Linville, NC

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/06/24 - 10/12/24

USCA American 6W Nationals | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/08/24 - 10/09/24

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/13/24 - 10/16/24

WCF World GC Championship Qualifier | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/14/24 - 10/16/24

Big Oyster GC Tournament | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Macey White | 804-694-9771 | maceywhite@gmail.com

10/15/24 - 10/16/24

Association Laws Croquet School | AC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/18/24 - 10/26/24

2024 World GC Championship | GC

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/24/24 - 10/27/24

Bermuda Invitational | US

Pagest, Bermuda

John Young III | 441-238-7308 | theyoungs@northrock.bm

10/29/24 - 10/31/24

USCA American 6W School | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

10/31/24 - 11/03/24

PVCC Seahorse GC Tournament | GC

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club | Ponte Vedra, FL

Marc Stearns | 562-762-5400 | mstearns2@bellsouth.net

Visit us on - line

➢ Mallets crafted in New Zealand

➢ Mallet Head Covers and Bags

➢ Pegs – Hoops – Flags - Clips - Balls

➢ Clothing – Hats – Visors

Now Thru October

November 2024

11/01/24 - 11/03/24

NCClub GC Doubles | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

11/06/24 - 11/10/24

USCA Seniors Masters 6W | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

11/08/24 - 11/10/24

Green Boundary Invitational GC | GC

Green Boundary Club | Aiken, SC

Marc Blumberg | 404-229-7052 | ppimab@aol.com

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

Sharktooth GC | GC

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL

Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 | nh13sc@gmail.com

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

NCClub 6W Doubles Championship | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

11/15/24 - 11/17/24

USCA FL NE District GC Championship | GC

Ponte Vedra Croquet Club | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

11/21/24 - 11/24/24

USCA GC Seniors Masters Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

December 2024

12/03/24 - 12/04/24

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

12/06/24 - 12/18/24

USCA GC Club Teams | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

12/11/24 - 12/12/24

Snowbirds & Flamingos GC | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Julia Johnston | 561-852-1413 | medstone100@me.com

12/13/24 - 12/15/24

Beach Club GC Invitational | GC

The Beach Club | Palm Beach, FL

Thomas Tribby | 561-308-9447 | thomastribby@gmail.com

12/13/24 - 12/15/24

Holiday Invitational 6W | US

Sarasota County Croquet Club | Venice, FL

Nancy Hart | 803-530-2035 | nh13sc@gmail.com

January 2025

01/06/25 - 01/06/25

USCA GC Open Pro-Am | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

01/07/25 - 01/11/25

February 2025

02/04/25 - 02/05/25

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

02/13/25 - 02/16/25

USCA Florida Regional GC Championship | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

02/26/25 - 03/02/25

Steuber Classic 6W & GC | US & GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

March

2025

03/04/25 - 03/06/25

USCA American 6W School | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

03/04/25 - 03/15/25

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

03/07/25 - 03/09/25

USCA Croquet Week GC Tournament | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

03/13/25 - 03/16/25

USCA Club Teams 6W | US

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

03/20/25 - 03/23/25

WGCA Women’s International Friendship Cup GC | GC Ponte Vedra Croquet Club | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Marc Stearns | 562-762-5400 | mstearns2@bellsouth.net

April 2025

04/04/25 - 04/06/25

NCClub GC Singles | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

04/15/25 - 04/16/25

USCA GC School | GC

National Croquet Center | West Palm Beach, FL

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

04/24/25 - 04/27/25

Country Club of Jackson Invitational 6W | US

Country Club of Jackson | Jackson, MS

Mark Fields | 601-918-2704 | mfields5@gmail.com

05/01/25 - 05/04/25

USCA SE 6W Regional | US

Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club | Hartfield, VA

Johnny Mitchell | 561-478-0760 tournament@uscroquet.com

USCA SCHOOLS

Our schools are taught by top USCA-certified instructors who are qualified and experienced players selected by our staff because of their croquet expertise and ability to communicate to those who wish to learn to play the game correctly. Students will have the opportunity to play croquet in a structured environment. Classes are small (8:1 or less student-to-teacher ratio) and are tailored to the specific playing levels of the participants.

AMERICAN 6W (3 days)

October 29-31, 2024

January 21-23, 2025

March 4-6, 2025

October 28-30, 2025

GOLF CROQUET (2 days)

October 8-9, 2024

December 3-4, 2024

February 4-5, 2025

March 4-5, 2025

April 15-16, 2025

October 7-8, 2025

Dec 2-3, 2025

ASSOCIATION (2 days)

October 15-16, 2024

October 14-15, 2025

5 hours/day of on-court instruction

Use of equipment

Official Rulebook (New A6W or GC members

USCA Shot-making Manual (1st time A6W)) Daily Continental Breakfast and Lunches Certificate of Completion & Photograph Wine and Cheese Graduation Party.

United States Croquet Association