2011 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals-Day Two Report

DAY TWO PHOTO GALLERY

The rain hit Nine-Wicket Nationals on Saturday, but play continued on with both championship and first flight doubles action. First flight wrapped up their segment with Greg Adams and Troy White taking first place in the round-robin format. Ron and Debbie Millican took second place in the flight.

This morning is playoff and championship action, but there is steady rain falling, likely making for miserable condition's at the courts in Shawnee, Kansas. Championship singles semi-finals were scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. with Matt Smith set to face Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Baird slated to take on reigning champ George Cochran.

Four teams of eight advanced to the knockout in championship doubles on day two. The semi-finals were played mid-afternoon and Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith knocked off Matt Smith and Nick Zink 31-23 to advance to today's final against Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell. Baird and Caldwell advanced by defeating Bill Martin and John Warlick 29-26.

The first flight singles playoff is also scheduled for the morning with Greg Adams taking on Jason Cole and Barry Dupuy facing off against Ron Millican.

2011 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals-Day One Report

Day One Photo Gallery

Day one was played under gray skies and cool conditions, but for the most part rain was avoided. Championship singles block play concluded and round one of the playoffs was held at the end of the day (results below). Saturday starts doubles play.

Quarterfinals
Matt Smith 32-17 over Don Brooks
Billy Bob Breeden 28-25 over Jeff Caldwell

Matt Baird 27-26 over Greg Clouse
George Cochran 32-26 over Matt Griffith

Semi-Final Matchups
Matt Smith vs Billy Bob Breeden
Matt Baird vs George Cochran

Morning Coffee: USCA Nine Wicket On Deck

Click image to visit store

This week the USCA's Nine-Wicket National Championship will be played in the Kansas City metro (Shawnee, Kansas). As usual, Croquet Network will post short reports and daily photos from the event so be sure and tune in Friday through Sunday to follow the action.

Robert Fulford won the CA Selection Eights. Photos and summary are on the CA webite. Final standings in the forum--
/croquet-network-forum/post/1595180#post1595180

Read More

Morning Coffee: Amir Ramsis is New WCF President

Click image to visit store

The World Croquet Federation has announced that Amir Ramsis will become acting President. Ramsis is Vice-President of the Egyptian Croquet Federation and has served on the WCF Management Committee since 2003. The election for a new WCF President, along with other posts on the Management Committee, will take place during November-December with the successful candidates taking up their posts on January 1, 2012. More info--
/croquet-network-forum/post/1590857

Read More

Morning Coffee: The Loss of a Leader

Click image to visit store

The murder of WCF President Charles Jones in Thailand last week is still the news that haunts the croquet world. There was an update in that a suspect has been arrested. In the meantime, there has only been a short statement released on the WCF website and I suspect the shock of such an event has everyone a bit paralyzed. After all, there is very little precedent for such an event in sports. And perhaps, a moment of quiet is what is best for the croquet world. Despite the fact that I never knew Charles, the international club of croquet creates a bond and I know that players across the world were saddened by this senseless loss.

Read More

Croquet World Mourns Death of Charles Jones

World Croquet Federation president Charles Jones was killed August 23 in Thailand. Articles indicate that he was 56 and taking a holiday while making his way back from the World Golf Croquet Championships held in England.

Info on Jones from the Croquet New Zealand website:
http://www.croquet.org.nz/?id=306&entityType=HTML

News links:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5505783/Kiwi-croquet-boss-murdered-in-Thailand

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10747339

Video:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Slain-Kiwi-wanted-to-open-Thai-croquet-club/tabid/309/articleID/223514/Default.aspx

Morning Coffee: World GC Debate Continues

Click image to visit store

Nearly one month later and the debate surrounding the World Golf Croquet Championship reached a crescendo this past week. To start, Mark McInerney hit the Irish Times website with a compelling Q&A driven by a truly slanted interviewer. McInerney seemed to handle it well, but I find it interesting that the piece made their society section and not the sports section. I find it interesting that society page reporter would feel comfortable with such a condescending attitude toward croquet--
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/0820/1224302538156.html

Read More

Morning Coffee: Australian Gateball Championship

Click image to visit store

Nominations close for the 2011 Australian Gateball Championships this Friday (August 19). A limited number of places remain for the event. The event will be held from 16-18 September 16-18 at Newcastle National Park Croquet Club. Spectators are welcome throughout the event with the finals to be held on Sunday, September 18. Entries to date indicate that of the 170+ competitors around 50 will be from China, Japan, Nepal and India with the remaining 120 from the eastern Australian states.

Read More