Updated list of of entries for the 2015 USCA Selection Eights. The entry deadline was October 9, 2015 and the event will be held October 22-25, 2015 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: USCA 9W Nationals Scratched
I received an email from local player Ron Millican yesterday indicating he had been informed that the USCA had cancelled the Nine Wicket Croquet National Championship in Washington, D.C. From the USCA, president Johnny Mitchell provided the following statement:
"The (we assume) Park Service cancelled all activities on the Mall and Park areas because of wet ground. Participants that are there and prepared to play are trying to plan an alternative event. They have received my approval to make it a sanctioned event. I don't know at this point if this will be considered a National or if we will reschedule. I am awaiting further updates on the situation. It appears that reports have the hurricane moving more toward the east and not arriving in the area until Monday. It may not be an issue at all."
USCA Visits the Capitol
The United States Croquet Association has designated October 4, 2015 as "9 Wicket Croquet Day." In celebration, the USCA is hosting the National 9 Wicket Championship October 2-4, 2015, on the National Mall at West Potomac Park, Washington, D.C. The view from the courts should be spectacular with the Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson Monuments all in view. Registration will be at Ohio Drive SW and West Basin Dr. SW.
There will be Championship flights in singles and doubles play for the National Championship title. Three time singles and doubles champion George Cochran will be returning with his winning soubles partner John Warlick. Another past Singles winner, Stephen Morgan of Capital Croquet Club will also be vying for the title.
2015 USCA Selection Eights Process
The USCA has posted the initial list of applicants for the 2015 Selection Eights event to be held October 22-25 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. There is a limit of 40 players who will participate in the 2015 Selection Eights with a possibility of a sixth group. If that group is formed, all players will be notified. Below is a list of the 40 players followed by the players in the sixth group and waiting lists. The non-top forty players lists are in D-Grade order which will also be the order players move from the these lists to the top 40. In years past there have been eight to twelve players drop out.
Read More2016 USCA National AC Championship Announced
The USCA National Association Laws Championship is scheduled for February 29-March 5, 2016 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California.
2015 Solomon: Tale of the Tape (Early Look)
Today, we'll take an early look at how Team USA and Great Britain stack up for the 2015 Solomon Trophy test coming up in May in North Carolina. Some notes are below, but here is how it breaks down:
Read MoreMorning Coffee: Soo Claims 2014 Grand Prix
TIGHT GP RACE FOR 2014: With 2014 in the books, that brings another USCA Grand Prix to a close. The standings show that Jeff Soo edged out Ben Rothman with 22,225 points to Rothman's 19,515. Based on Rothman's three national titles (USCA Singles, GC Singles and GC Doubles) versus Soo's two titles (AC Singles and USCA Doubles), it could again spell controversy for the USCA which uses the Grand Prix to select the USCA Player of the Year.
Read MoreUSCA's Croquet News: 2014 Volume 3 Edition
The USCA's Croquet News Volume 3 for 2014 went to press just prior to the holidays and is hopefully mailing this week. If you would like to enjoy a sneak preview, you can now access a PDF of this issue in the member's section of the USCA website along with back issues all the way back to 2007.
USCA Croquet News 2014, Volume 3This issue is overloaded as we’ve squeezed in features on Nine Wicket Nationals, USCA Nationals, Seniors Masters, GC Nationals and Selection Eights. We are excited to bring back feature level coverage to the Eights, which many players consider to be our premier event. And with Nine Wicket Nationals taking a quantum leap by hosting the 2014 edition at the historic Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, we are excited to provide an in-depth report on the growing success of the newest USCA championship series.
We have also launched a new Committee Guest Column and Club Profile department. The guest column this issue is from Cheryl Bromley on the Golf Croquet Committee. Going forward we will rotate the column each issue to include all of the key USCA committees. Our goal is to give members a view into the overall progress of the USCA across all sectors of the organization. Our club profile features the New York Croquet Club in this issue and again, we'll continue to explore new clubs in future editions.
Unfortunately, the sport lost a few key figures this fall. Ted Prentis and Jeff Soo have written wonderful tributes to John Solomon and Mack Penwell that are essential reading for all American croquet players. Beyond just recognizing Solomon and Penwell, both pieces provide valuable insight into the history of croquet in the US.
2015 Solomon Trophy Set for North Carolina
The Pinehurst Croquet Club in North Carolina will host the 2015 Solomon Trophy test between the United States and England/GB May 8-11, 2015. England/GB leads the series 19-2 and has a two-test streak in progress. The US team took wins in 2009 and 2011, but the England/GB team roared back with 13-8 and 17-4 victories in 2012 and 2013.
Read MoreJeff Soo Chasing Number Six
Jeff Soo certainly has his name all over the USCA Champion's page. In fact, he currently holds five National American Rules titles in both singles (2013, 2008, 2005, 2002, 2000) and doubles (2013, 2008, 2002, 2001, 1999). When the balls roll out for the 2014 USCA American Rules Croquet National Championships to be held October 5-11 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, Soo will be on the cusp of an unprecedented achievement in US croquet.
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