The 2024 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship Round of 32 and 16 is one of the most entertaining days in croquet and yes, I will say it — all of sport. Eighty players battle for five days in block play to whittle down to 32. That first playoff day is a whirlwind of action as the day brings unpredictable best of three action and generally ends with only eight players left standing. It’s a nail-biter for top seeds and anyone following the event.
Read MoreEssick is Golf Croquet World Champion
American Matthew Essick rolled through the 2022 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship with both perseverance and strong form to claim his first world croquet championship with a 7-3, 6-7, 7-3, 7-3 finals win over England’s Robert Fulford yesterday at Sussex County Croquet Club in Brighton, UK.
Read MoreBeyond Expert Croquet Tactics - New Book
The Croquet Association (UK) in now selling a limited run of a new book titled Beyond Expert Croquet Tactics. The ambitious book has a wide-ranging focus, but at the top of the list it looks to provide updated tactical advice on Keith Wylie’s Expert Croquet Tactics which was first published in 1985.
Read MoreClark: 2018 AC Worlds Overview
Many congratulations to Paddy Chapman on becoming our new AC World Champion! The final was a good quality match played in easy conditions – apart from during one downpour when the lawns became unplayable for about 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, the hoops were left in the same holes that had been created on Wednesday and which had become wet inside with overnight rain. This made the final very much a shooting contest rather than a more complete test of skill. We need to ensure that hoops are in fresh holes for finals – as is normally the case.
Soo: Chapman Crowned World Champion in New Zealand #10
One of the most well-liked and respected players in the game, it seemed only a matter of time until Paddy Chapman (NZ) would add the title of AC Singles World Champion to his croquet resumé. A past winner of the NZ Open, the NZ President's Invitation, the UK President's Cup, and a leading member of NZ's victorious MacRobertson Shield team, Chapman did not lack for impressive accomplishments. But the world singles title cements his reputation as one of the very best.
Read MoreChapman is AC World Champion
Paddy Chapman found a way back from down 2-1 to claim his first WCF Association Croquet World Championship with a 26tp-19, 0-26tp, 0-26tp, 26tp-11, 26tp-9 win over Reg Bamford yesterday at Kelburn Municipal Croquet Club in Wellington, New Zealand. It was Chapman's second appearance in the final after he made it in 2013, but lost to Robert Fletcher. Bamford made his fifth appearance and is now 4-1 in AC World finals play.
Read MoreSoo: No Time Limits Needed #09
The Main KO semifinals were played at the Wellington Municipal Croquet Club, a hundred year old club with three lawns south of the city center. Weather was calm and overcast with occasional sprinkles, and fog developing throughout the day. The lawns were about the same medium-slowish pace we've seen at most venues throughout the week, with some lusher areas and a few tricky hoop approaches, but overall quite true. The main challenges were the hoops -- based on the number of failed shots these must have been quite solid -- and the pressure of the situation.
Read MoreClarke: Bamford and Chapman for the Title #09
The semifinals were played at the Wellington club. The lawns were only running at 10 seconds after overnight rain, but the hoops were in fresh firm ground, albeit they were set much wider than a standard Wellington Open weekend. The day started overcast and there was the occasional light drizzle as it progressed.
Read MoreSoo: Riva Back from 0-2 to Advance #08
Plate, Bowl, and of course Main KO quarterfinals were played today. The Shield (for players knocked out in the round of 16) has a doubtful level of interest. The widely dispersed venues are probably a factor (participation in the Bowl was also on the low side). Now that the tournament is in its final stages it feels like a unified event again. Those on hand to watch the Main KO quarterfinals were treated to four great matches, each with its own character.
Read MoreClarke: Top Four - Chapman, Mulliner, Bamford and Riva #08
We were treated to four interesting matches at Kelburn today. The sun was out and there was no breeze, so conditions were as benign as they could be. By early afternoon there were a couple of faster patches near hoops on most of the lawns which made breakplay that bit more interesting.
The first match to finish was Chapman v Patel. It looked like a straight games victory for the Kiwi before he failed rover when about to peg Patel out in the third. Patel took that game, but Chapman then won the fourth.
Read More