Golf Croquet 2011 World Championships to be Held in England

[<<] [>>] by Elizabeth Larsson
9 Nov 2009 (CqE Official News)

The ninth Golf Croquet World Championship will be held in UK from 18 - 24 July 2011, it has been announced by the World Croquet Federation and The Croquet Association. Sixty four players will be selected to take part and the event take place at the Hurlingham Club, supported by the Surbiton Croquet Club.

Patricia Duke-Cox, Chairman of the Croquet Association, said: "We are delighted to be hosting this event in the UK once again. We are also pleased that two clubs who have not previously hosted this event will be doing so. Hurlingham is very supportive of major croquet events and has hosted many world class events in the past, as has Surbiton. We look forward to welcoming overseas players to these clubs in 2011"

The championship was last held in 2008 in Cape Town, RSA. The final was won by Ahmed Nasr of Egypt who defeated Reg Bamford of South Africa. Egyptian players have won the championship on every previous occasion but following the success of a Rest of the World team in narrowly beating Egypt in 2008, there are hopes that a local (UK-based) player may triumph for the first time.

David Openshaw, President of the World Croquet Federation, said;

"I am very pleased that the Croquet Association (CA) has put forward a successful bid to hold the World Golf Croquet Championships in 2011. We really appreciate their commitment and enthusiasm to hold such an event. I am sure all other member associations and players will join with me in saying thank you to the CA and the Hurlingham and Surbiton clubs.

"It is part of the remit of the WCF to promote the development of croquet around the world, and holding World Championships is very much part of this aim. We have seen a growth in croquet and international events over the past 10 years and we look forward to an exciting tournament in 2011."

This is the third occasion that the CA has hosted this event, the last being at the Sussex County Croquet Club in 2004, and in Leamington Spa in 1998. The tournament is held every two years on average.

The Hurlingham Club has hosted many world class events including the MacRobertson Shield (World Team Championship) and World Association Croquet Championships. Surbiton has previously hosted a qualifying event for the World Championship and will host the MacRobertson Shield in 2010.