Minister for Sport visits Open Championships

[<<] [>>] by Elizabeth Williams
5th July 2000 (Other News)

Kate Hoey, Britain's Minister for Sport, visited the Open Championships at Hurlingham on 5th July at the invitation of David Openshaw.

The Minister was impressed by the successes of individuals and teams from Great Britain in croquet's world events and congratulated those concerned.

Kate Hoey chatted to a number of players and officials including Sarah Burrow, Rob Fulford, Pauline Healy, Richard
Hilditch, David Maugham and David Openshaw.

Quiller Barrett (standing in for Chairman of Council, Don Gaunt who was abroad) and Nigel Graves discussed with the Minister the Government's policy towards sports like croquet: no change is planned. Kate Hoey promised to see if she could persuade Sport England to look again at the CA's application for helping to fund our hosting of the 2001 Association Croquet World Championships that has recently been turned down.

The Minister for Sport took a genuine interest in croquet and left the door open for the CA to have further contact with her.