Former WCF Secretary General honored for four decades of elite performance, leadership, and service to global croquet
The World Croquet Federation has announced the induction of Debbie Lines into the WCF Hall of Fame, recognizing a career that has shaped the modern era of international croquet both on and off the lawn.
Lines’ induction, dated Sept. 24, 2025, reflects her extraordinary impact as a world-class competitor, trailblazing figure for women in the sport, and a central architect of the WCF’s recent governance evolution. Most recently, she served as WCF Secretary General from 2021 through 2025, a period marked by significant international and organizational challenges. Among her most consequential achievements was leading the process that resulted in the formal incorporation of the WCF—one of the federation’s most important structural milestones in decades.
Her competitive journey began early. Lines first picked up a mallet at age six, playing at home with her father, Don, and brother, Stephen. Family holidays in Cromer soon became known for fiercely contested American rules tournaments, before a turning point in 1985 introduced her to Association Croquet during Hunstanton week. What followed was a rapid ascent through the sport’s elite ranks.
By the late 1980s, Lines had already secured the Ladies Field Cup, executed her first triple peel, and captured both the Spencer Ell and the British Women’s Championship. Over the next decade, she competed at the highest levels internationally, including appearances in the Chairman’s Salver, President’s Cup, Solomon Trophy, and a runner-up finish at the Sonoma-Cutrer World Championship. Her résumé also includes two USCA American rules doubles titles.
The year 1995 stands as a defining chapter. Lines reached the quarterfinals of the World Championship in France, advanced to the semifinals of the British Open, and claimed the North of England Championship with a win over David Maugham. Those performances led to her selection for Great Britain’s victorious 1996 MacRobertson Shield team, where she won 11 of 15 matches—an emphatic demonstration that women could compete, and win, at the sport’s highest level.
After focusing on her professional career for several years, Lines returned to top-level competition in 2008 and has since added further highlights, including the 2024 Women’s Association Croquet World Championship, the Bowl at the 2024 AC World Championship, and the 2025 British Mixed Open Doubles title. She remains a regular presence in elite events, with selections to the President’s Cup in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and is one of only four women ever to complete a tournament sextuple peel.
Her international contributions have continued in team competition as well. Lines captained Great Britain’s Solomon Trophy side in 2024 and was part of the title-winning team again in 2025. She has also excelled in Golf Croquet, reaching the last 16 of the 2023 Women’s GC World Championship and currently ranking as England’s No. 3 woman.
Across four decades, Lines has consistently redefined what was possible for women in croquet. She reached a world ranking of No. 6 overall in 1995, stood as the world’s top-ranked woman for 16 consecutive years from 1989 to 2004, and remains among the global elite today as the reigning Women’s AC World Champion.
Beyond competition, her administrative legacy is equally significant. As Secretary General, Lines helped deliver multiple world championships, integrated the European Croquet Federation into the WCF as its European Regional Committee, authored and revised key regulations and statutes, modernized ranking systems, and played a central role in the development of the WCF’s digital platforms. At the national and club level, she serves as secretary of the Peterborough Croquet Club and sits on the Croquet England Sport Development Committee.
A former senior manager with Interflora, Lines semi-retired in 2019 to dedicate more time to the sport. She now lives in Lincolnshire with her husband, Ian Lines, balancing croquet with travel, fell walking, and community involvement.
Whether competing, officiating, administering, coaching, or promoting the game, Debbie Lines has left an indelible mark on world croquet. Her Hall of Fame induction recognizes not only a record of sustained excellence, but a legacy of leadership that continues to influence the sport at every level.