Morning Coffee: 2011 GC World Championship Allocation, U.S. Tourney Results, GC Exhibition

Ben Rothman won the Pasadena Playoff GC Exhibition match over Mohammad Kamal 10-6. The full summary is available on Croquet World.

Several U.S. Tourneys posted results recently. Standings have been placed in the Croquet Network forum here:

The WCF announced the initial allocation for the 2011 Golf Croquet World Championship. It will include 64 players and be held in London from July 18-24, 2011 at the Hurlingham and Surbiton clubs. WCF member organizations are requested to provide to the WCF a list of nominees by February 28, 2011. There will be a Qualification Event held in England, July 15-16. This event will be open to a maximum of 16 players, with eight places initially reserved for overseas entries. The closing date for entries to this qualifier will be June 1, 2011. Allocations follow:

Ahmed Nasr – Holder
Reg Bamford – Runner-up
Chris Clarke – Semi-Finalist
Mohammed Nasr – Semi-Finalist
 
Australia 6
Canada 1
Egypt 7
England 7
Ireland 2
Italy 2
Japan 1
New Zealand 6
Scotland 1
South Africa 2
United States of America 3
Austria 1
Germany 1
Spain 1
Sweden 3
Switzerland 1
Wales 1
Belgium 1
Czech Republic 1
Finland 1
Norway 1
Denmark 0
Isle of Man 0
France 0
Jersey 0
Palestine 0
Russia 0
 
Qualifiers 4
Wildcards 6

Source: http://www.croquet.org.nz/?id=364&entityType=Event

Croquet Search Trends (October 2010)

Here are the hottest trending croquet search keywords to hit Croquet Network in October:

01. Wii Croquet
02. Jerry Stark
03. Ben Rothman
04. Croquet Network
05. Rocco Mango
06. Morning Coffee Croquet
07. George Cochran
08. Rhys Thomas
09. 2010 Gateball Video
10. Fargo Moorhead Croquet
11. Kevin Betz
12. Elaine Moody
13. Ian Sidey
14. Patrick Sweeney
15. Headland Buderim Croquet Club

2010 USCA Selection Eights Results

FIRST EIGHT
Rk / Player (Wins)
1 -- Jim Bast (9)
   -- Ben Rothman (9)
3 -- Brian Cumming (8)
   -- Danny Huneycutt (8)
   -- Chris Patmore (8)
6 -- Doug Grimsley (6)
7 -- Jeff Soo (5)
8 -- Rich Lamm (3)

SECOND EIGHT
Rk / Player (Wins)
1 -- Damon Bidencope (13)
2 -- Charlie Gillmarten (11)
3 -- Bob Kroeger (8)
4 -- Stuart Lawrence (6)
   -- John Osborn (6)
6 -- Paul Billings (5)
7 -- Johnny Mitchell (4)
8 -- Paul Emmett (3)

THIRD EIGHT
Rk / Player (Wins)
1 -- Michael Carmichael (11)
2 -- Adrian Wadley (9)
   -- Martyn Selman (9)
4 -- George Cochran (8)
5 -- Leo Nikora (6)
6 -- Tim Rapuano (5)
7 -- Russell Brown (4)
   -- Steve Scalpone (4)

FOURTH EIGHT
Rk / Player (Wins)
1 -- Mike Gibbons (11)
2 -- Jon Essick (9)
3 -- Steve Summer (8)
   -- Mike Taylor (8)
5 -- Jane Beharriell (6)
   -- Robert Hurst (6)
   -- Eileen Soo (6)
   -- Tom Yates (6)
9 -- Tony Reaves (4)
10 -- Donna Dixon (1)

Morning Coffee: USCA Website and WCF Secretary General Position

The USCA website implemented a few notable changes over the weekend:

  • The first is a site map and search box geared at helping members navigate the incredibly deep and resourceful website. The site map link is always handy on the right side of the main menu for users that are struggling to find info they know exists.
  • The second initiative targets further grass roots growth for croquet in the United States. As part of the "Start a Club" web page, Leo Nikora has now provided a How to Build an Easy Website tutorial document. The tutorial goes step-by-step through the process of building an informational croquet club site on the free host service Weebly. Websites have become the new yellow page listing and unfortunately if you check the USCA directory, there are far too many U.S. clubs operating without a site -- generally considered the first resource that younger demographics will check for more information. One of the keys to the project is having the new club link to the USCA main site and the USCA site link back in return. This will hopefully give the new site enough power on Google search to top the listing for croquet searches in their community. In addition, more links into the USCA site will boost the already solid Google ranking for the USCA main site.

The Croquet Association website now has a job description available for the WCF Secretary General position.

Morning Coffee: Meadowood Dedication, Selection 8s and New FEC Website

Donna Stark recently posted on the Nottingham List indicating that the Meadowood Croquet Lawns will be officially dedicated in Jerry Stark’s honor next Wednesday, October 27th with a plaque of Jerry’s likeness installed court side. (Caring Bridge Journal Link)

"I understand the plaque is beautiful!  It has been delivered to Meadowood and will be mounted on a boulder set into the stone wall that runs the length of the croquet courts."

Hisham Abouesbaa of Egypt won the first 0ver 50's GC World Champion when he beat England's Stephen Mulliner 7-3, 6-7, 7-6, 5-7, 7-4.

In case you missed it in the forum, the line-ups for the U.S. Selection 8's were posted earlier this week. The association event is scheduled for October 28-31 at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Federation of European Croquet recently launched their new website. The federation has 20 member countries.

Danny Huneycutt announced on the Nottingham List that the 2011 USCA Association Croquet National Championship will be held April 10 – 16 (Sunday-Saturday) at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. More from Danny:

Some players outside North America have incorrectly been under the impression that you must be a member of the USCA to participate.  The USCA Association Croquet National Championship is to North America what the British Open is to Great Britain.  Singles and Doubles will be played throughout the week. 

Morning Coffee: High School Croquet, iPad Game and Over 50 GC

Catching up on the latest in croquet ...

Interesting news video on four high schools that are playing nine-wicket croquet in the Fargo, North Dakota area and are aiming to play a state championship next spring. The four schools that are playing include Moorhead, Shanley, West Fargo, and Fargo North.

Here's a review of a new croquet game for the iPad. I still don't have my hands on an iPad, so I won't be able to review this one.

The latest results from the WCF Over 50 GC World Championship are posted in the forum. For a summary on the action, check the front page of the WCF website.

Final standings from Nine-Wicket Nationals are available and have been posted in the forum.

The 100+ member Tega Cay Club in South Carolina also made a recent newscast:

 

Croquet Search Trends (September 2010)

The hottest trending croquet search terms to hit croquetnetwork.com during the month of September:

01. Wii Croquet
02. MacRobertson Shield
03. Courtney Green
04. Lafortune Park Croquet
05. Ruth Summers
06. Mission Hills Invitational
07. Jerry Stark
08. NYCC Tournament
09. Royal St. Catharines Croquet Club
10. David Ekstrom
11. Ruth Summers
12. Quebec Open
13. SC Croquet
14. Croquet NC
15. Cynthia Rugart

The Pasadena Playoff: West Coast GC Exhibition

Ben vs. Mohammad for Golf Croquet Supremacy

The Pasadena Croquet Club will be hosting a golf croquet extravaganza the weekend of 6-7 November 2010, which is the weekend before the Golf Croquet National Championships at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, CA on 10-13 November.

The highlight of this event will be a challenge Golf Croquet matchClick for full size between MHCC professional Ben Rothman and PCC member Mohammad Kamal, which will take place on Saturday November 6th at 1:30 pm at the Pasadena Croquet Club in Pasadena, California.  The event is free and is open to the public.  After the match, Ben and Mohammad will do a jump-shot demonstration, which will culminate with them selecting members of the audience to join their respective teams for an impromptu jump shot competition after showing some pointers.

On Sunday, November 7th at 10:00 am, there will be a doubles Golf Croquet tournament in which spectators, beginners and those new to the sport will be paired up with experienced golf croquet players to compete for prizes.

We are honored to have Ben and Mohammad play for us.  Ben is currently the top ranked Croquet player in the United States and North America.  He is the 14th ranked International Croquet player in the world.  Mohammad is the reigning national champion of Golf Croquet in this country, and is the highest ranked American Golf Croquet player in the world.  Both Mohammad and Ben have represented the United States on various teams that have played in international championships.  Needless to say, Ben and Mohammad are world class croquet players!

Please contact Eric Sawyer with any questions, at ecsccs@sbcglobal.net.

2010 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals (Final Day)

George Cochran on his way to another singles titleFINAL DAY PHOTOS

SHAWNEE, KANSAS -- George Cochran picked up his second national title in nine-wicket singles Sunday afternoon with a 28-18 (unofficial) win over Bill Martin. It was Cochran's second nine-wicket national championship title as he also won in 2008.

Cochran actually had an early mishap when his black ball was un-intentionally placed deep in the jaws of wicket one. Martin was unable to get both yellow and black into the game and was unable to take the early advantage.

Cochran got the early break and ran out to the 11-point wicket. He followed a little later with his partner ball and had control of the game as Martin had trouble generating offense. Cochran did get hung up with both balls for the 14-point wicket and that allowed Martin to generate a late run with red, but he was not able to establish a three-ball break coming out of the turn.

In other action Sunday, Matt Smith and Nick Zink claimed their second straight doubles national championship with a win over Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell.

FINAL STANDINGS

Championship Singles
1    George Cochran       
2    Bill Martin          
3    Billy Bob Breeden    
3    Nick Zink            
5    Matt Baird           
5    Jeff Caldwell        
5    Matt Smith           
5    John Warlick         
9    Greg Clouse
9    Eric Sawyer          
10    Don Brooks           
10    Pat Garner           
10    Don Oakley           
10    Dylan Goodwin        
14    Matt Griffith        
14    Jason Cole           
    
Championship Doubles
1    Matt Smith/Nick Zink
2    Matt Baird/Jeff Caldwell
3    George Cochran/Don Oakley
3    Matt Griffith/Billy Bob Breeden
5    Bill Martin/John Warlick
5    Don Brooks/Johnny Nichols
    
First Flight Doubles
1    Greg Adams/Troy White
2    Don Millican/Deborah Millican
3    Eric Sawyer/Caren Sawyer
3    Jodi Adams/Debbie Breeden
5    Pat Garner/Jason Cole

2010 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals (Day Two)

Greg Adams during the championship gameDAY TWO PHOTOS

SHAWNEE, KANSAS -- Greg Adams and Troy White took the USCA Nine-Wicket First Flight Doubles Championship last night with a win over Debbie and Ron Millican. Adams and White advanced through the semi-finals by knocking off Jodi Adams and Debbie Breeden. The Millicans had advanced to the championship game by defeating Eric and Caryn Sawyer in the semi-finals.

Today, features the championship doubles elimination bracket and the singles championship game between George Cochran and Bill Martin.