World Gold Croquet Champion Matthew Essick
Peachtree Hills Place Croquet Club co-hosted an exhibition match with the United States Croquet Association (USCA) on Sunday, October 15. Reigning GC World Champion Matthew Essick (24) played five-time AC National Champion Stephen Morgan (35) in an exciting exhibition match that was announced by USCA President Damon Bidencope.
Read More
First Eight Winner Stephen Morgan
The final day of the 2023 USCA Selection Eights held at the National Croquet Center had key games played in both the First Eight and Second Eight. In the First, Stephen Morgan started the morning by picking up the one win he needed to clinch the First Eight title. He took care of business early with a 26tp-4 win over Sherif Abdelwahab to secure his first First Eight win. He was 8-4 overall in the event and is ranked fifth in the U.S. player AC rankings and #37 in the world. Morgan says it was his 12th year in the event and first time winning the First Eight.
Read More
Day Three View From Court 8
The 2023 USCA Selection Eights worked through the third day with the the Second and Third Eights now having played 12 of the 14 scheduled games. It looks like the First Eight will be playing 12 games and Stephen Morgan is still at the top of the standings with a 7-3 record. On Sunday morning, he still has Zack Watson (5-5) and Sherif Abdelwahab (4-6) to play.
Read More
Brian Cumming in play on day two in the First Eight
The 2023 USCA Selection Eights moved through Day Two yesterday and with eight of 14 games in the books for the Second and Third Eights. In the First Eight, Stephen Morgan is at the top of the standings with a 4-2 record, but Brian Cumming, Doug Grimsley and Randy Cardo are close behind at 4-3. Rich Lamm is a scratch, so that seems to be impacting the number of games played for the group.
Read More
The 2023 edition of the USCA Selection Eights kicked off yesterday with three groups. It’s definitely a smaller overall group than expected, with five groups of eight being more of the standard. I suspect the recent AC Worlds and next year’s GC Worlds set for October in the U.S. are having an impact. Top players might be looking to shift more playing time and travel budget to GC to prepare for next fall.
Read MoreThe USCA has announced a new American Rules Six Wicket School to be held at Sarasota County Croquet Club from December 12-14, 2023, offering croquet players a unique opportunity to enhance their skills and strategy.
Read More
CREDIT: istock.com/Robert vt Hoenderdaal
A few weeks ago, I had my first opportunity to be a part of a croquet match that utilized an actual shot clock. We were holding a best-of-two semifinal for the Kansas City Croquet Club Club Singles Championship with the format being nine-wicket croquet played according to MCA Advanced Nine-Wicket Croquet Rules with handicaps.
Read MoreThe USCA has announced the following information for golf croquet selection with several world events on deck for 2024 and 2025. The WCF has three GC world championships scheduled for late 2024 and early 2025, two of which are slated to be held in the U.S.
Read More
Robert Fulford in play during the 2023 AC World Championship semifinals at Hurlingham. Photo by Andrew Moss.
In July, croquet players and fans across the world were treated to a captivating WCF Association Croquet World Championship held at Hurlingham and nearby clubs in England. Thanks to daily live streaming, fans were able to watch as England’s Robert Fulford won an unprecedented sixth WCF AC World title in a dramatic final against American Matthew Essick that went to a fifth game.
Read More
The Country Club of Jackson is delighted to extend a warm invitation to all croquet players for the highly anticipated 2023 Country Club of Jackson Croquet Invitational. The format is American Six-Wicket (US Rules) and the USCA-sanctioned event is set to take place from October 19-22, 2023 and promises a thrilling and innovative experience for participants and spectators alike.
Read More