Club croquet players across Europe will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for the title of Champion club team in Europe in an exciting new event set to kick off in April. The event, which will consist of six qualifying stages, will culminate in the Grand Final to be held at the prestigious Roehampton Club in London, England from October 13-15, 2023.
During each of the six qualifying stages, four teams of four players will compete against each other over the course of a single weekend. The first Qualifying Stage was held in November 2022 at the Algarve Club in Portugal, which saw the Roehampton Club emerge victorious (results on croquetscores.com). This event provides a unique opportunity for club players to experience playing abroad and to compete against some of the best club teams across Europe.
THE HOST CLUBS
Dulwich Croquet Club (England)
A three-lawn club, based in South London (approximately four miles from center of London)
Accessible from any of London’s airports, and with numerous transport links to the club
Part of a wider sports club, with tennis, squash and cricket on site
Well known for its sociability, hospitality and general desire to enjoy all things croquet
CERN Croquet Club (Switzerland)
Cern CC is located within the grounds of the European Centre for Fundamental Physics Research, on the outskirts of Geneva. CERN, itself straddles the Swiss / French border, and the Club’s two full sized lawns are situated within that part of CERN which is in France.
CERN is a 20 minutes Tram ride from the City Centre and 10 minutes by bus from Geneva International Airport. There are a host of hotels on both sides of the border, offering a wide range of facilities and prices. Assistance with transportation from hotels to the Club can be arranged if required.
Should anyone be interested in a tour of CERN, or indeed any other attractions in Geneva, this can be arranged in advance if requested early enough.
Roehampton Croquet Club (England)
The Roehampton Club is situated within the private members Roehampton Club. It has four immaculate lawns, one in a walled garden. It is situated in South West London, approximately 30 minutes from Heathrow and a short walk from Barnes railway station.
Ikskile Croquet Club (Riga, Latvia) is in a small suburb town of Ikskile in beautiful surroundings, 30 km from downtown Riga, or 45 min drive from Riga International Airport. The three full size club lawns have been built in 2021 with a help of WCF development grant. Clubhouse has all modern facilities, and there are good accommodation and catering facilities nearby. In 2022, the club hosted the European Women’s GC Championship with 28 players. (Google street view)
2023 Stages and HOW TO ENTER
Five further Qualifying Stages are planned throughout 2023. The first 3 are:
April 29-30: Dulwich, London (England)
June 10-11: CERN, Geneva (Switzerland)
July 8-9: Ikskile, Riga (Latvia)
Two additional stages will be arranged during 2023, open to those that have been unsuccessful in gaining places in the above heats. All clubs are encouraged to enter. The commitment for each team is to play in just one qualifying stage from those listed above. If victorious, the club would then be able to participate in the Grand Final, October 13-15, 2023.
If interested to enter please return the completed form to burridge.ian@gmail.com. Entries must be received by Sunday, March 5, 2023.
ENTRY FORM: GC European Club League Entry Form 2023
2023 RULES: GC European Cup League Rules for 2023 Season