Happy Holidays from Croquet Network to players and supporters of the sport across the world. It was an exciting year in 2023 as six major international events took place between November 2022 and the end of November 2023. As we wrap up our 16th year covering the game of croquet, I am pleased to present our annual Top 10 Croquet News Articles for 2023 based on total readership.
Photo by Hurlingham Club photographer Isobel McTear.
It was no surprise that our interview with croquet legend and six-time WCF Association Croquet World Champion Robert Fulford easily topped the list for the year. It was my pleasure to be granted a Q&A with Fulford and we hope to continue to build on the content agenda that we were able to offer in 2023. Based on the expanded coverage of world events and our resource articles, Croquet Network grew by 40 percent in website traffic compared to the prior year. Thank you to the readers, clubs, players, managers, writers, photographers and association contacts that have supported the website throughout the years. The support of Croquet Network through readership, sharing articles, following our social channels, subscribing to the Morning Coffee newsletter and of course the deeply appreciated backlinks all support the mission of providing improved world event coverage and additional educational and promotional resources that the game of croquet deserves. It’s a beautiful sport and more people deserve the opportunity to discover and enjoy the game.
With that, I hope you enjoy this recap of 2023 through our list of most-read croquet news articles.
2023 MOST POPULAR CROQUET NETWORK ARTICLES
01. Interview: Robert Fulford
Fulford in play during the WCF AC World Semifinals. Photo by Andrew Moss.
In July, croquet players and fans across the world were treated to a captivating WCF Association Croquet World Championship held at Hurlingham and nearby clubs in England. Thanks to daily live streaming, fans were able to watch as England’s Robert Fulford won an unprecedented sixth WCF AC World title in a dramatic final against American Matthew Essick that went to a fifth game. In September, Fulford agreed to an email interview and the resulting article drew interest from readers across the world.
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02. 2023 Annapolis Cup Set for April 15
The Annapolis Cup rivalry between the Johnnies of St. John's College and the midshipmen of the U.S. Naval Academy is truly an April “Tradition Like No Other.” The annual nine-wicket test began in 1982 but was forced to take a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021. The rivalry is back in full swing now and any time we offer coverage on the event, it’s always near the top of our annual list.
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03. USCA Selection Committee Announces 2023 Solomon Trophy Team
Even during a year packed with international events, the USCA’s roster announcement for their November Solomon Trophy team captured the attention of the Croquet Network audience. The event was hosted at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Florida, November 7-12, 2023, with Team USA taking just their third win in the series. No matter what, the series seems under-leveraged, but the popularity of the announcement says a lot about the potential interest.
04. Buying Your First Croquet Mallet
In recent years, we’ve offered more content on croquet mallets and equipment as a resource for new and experienced players. This year, we offered a guide for players looking to take the leap and buy their first mallet. The process is a little more challenging for croquet as quality gear is not available at your standard sporting goods box stores. Our simple guide points players in the right direction and since the posting, the article has drawn steady readership all year.
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05. Women's GC Worlds Final: Rachel Gee vs Jamie Gumbrell
Rachel Gee during block play at the 2023 Women’s GC Worlds. Photo by Andrew Moss.
With all of the world event coverage in 2023, it is certainly notable that the preview for the WCF Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship was the most-read tournament coverage article of the year. With live stream available the world was treated to a wonderfully entertaining knockout that led to a finals showdown between England’s Rachel Gee and Jamie Gumbrell from Australia. The final took place at the Sussex County Croquet Club in Southwick, England.
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Photo by Andrew Moss.
06. Unstoppable: Gumbrell is Women's GC World Champion
After eight days of intense competition, Australia’s Jamie Gumbrell claimed the 2023 WCF Women’s Golf Croquet World Championship with a 7-3, 7-5, 5-7, 7-2 win over England’s Rachel Gee in yesterday’s final at the Sussex County Croquet Club in Southwick, England. Gumbrell is the first transgender athlete to win a women’s croquet world championship and the story has recently drawn more attention as the mainstream media has picked up on the story.
07. Fulford Wins Spectacular Final to Claim Sixth WCF AC World Title
The WCF Association Croquet World Championship final held in London in July featured a thrilling display of croquet as England’s Robert Fulford battled back from 2-0 to take a 3-2 win over American Matthew Essick by a final of 9-26tp, 9-26tp, 26tp-22, 26tp-0, 26otp-18. Up 2-0, Essick was on a winning turn in game three, but the tide turned and Fulford came back in one of the most entertaining AC World finals to date. Most importantly, it was again available via live stream for the world croquet community to enjoy. Cheers!
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08. 2023 Association Croquet World Championship R1
Matthew Essick during knockout play in the 2023 AC World Championship. Photo by Andrew Moss.
As the 2023 WCF Association Croquet World Championship moved into elimination play, our post setting the stage with 32 players battling in the first round of the knockout was well-received with fans across the world. The 2023 ACWC event was held at several clubs near London with Hurlingham as the primary venue and ran July 15-23.
09. USCA Announces Croquet Week 2023
As a testament to pre-event marketing, the USCA’s announcement for Croquet Week 2023 held each March in West Palm Beach ranked #9 with our readers. The nine-day event featured a variety of competitions and activities for croquet players, including the Croquet Week Golf Croquet Tournament followed by American Six Wicket Club Teams which also includes a St. Patrick's Day celebration.
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10. 2023 Croquet News Volume 1: US Hall of Fame
Based on the inductions of Bob Alman, Hal Denton and Rory Kelley to the U.S. Croquet Hall of Fame, the 2023 Croquet News Volume 1 Digital Edition magazine release snagged the tenth spot on the list. As usual, the issue was jam-packed with coverage that also included the 2022 American Six Wicket National Championship, GC Club Teams and Seniors Masters. AC Women's Grand Prix champion Loretta Cooper was featured as the member profile.
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