Provisional Forward Tournament Schedule
Cautionary Notes
This provisional forward calendar is published here to assist:
- Croquet England prepare the forward calendar
- clubs to avoid clashes when planning their own tournaments
- players with their personal plans
Please note that this information is primarily to help Croquet England and club planning, and is therefore provisional. Dates and venues are subject to change, particularly for later years. Any forward planning should bear this in mind. Dates and venues are finalised at the time the annual Croquet England Fixtures Calendar is published for the appropriate year. In the event of any discrepancy, the Fixtures Calendar should be considered correct.
Scheduling Assumptions are recorded to aid Croquet England's collective memory, but are non-definitive and may be changed (temporarily or permanently) by the relevant committee(s). Each event has an Event Group, which together with the Scheduling Principles are used to avoid clashes between major events. The number of Courts is provided as a guide for fixtures organised by Croquet England; the actual number of courts will vary with the number of entries. The Court Fee is similarly provided for guidance (see Court and Equipment Hire Fees for details), but is subject to agreement with the relevant Tournaments Committee each year. This only applies to fixtures organised by Croquet England. Separate arrangements apply to World and European events; arrangements for club events are a matter for the host club.
Applications to Host Events
Applications to host an event should be made to the relevant Tournaments Committee. Requests will be solicited by the office at the appropriate time. The lawns column is an approximation of the number of lawns required to host the event and is provided as guidance to clubs.
Provisional Calendar
Key:
- TBA: To be arranged. Bids will be solicited at the appropriate time by the office or by the Tournament Director. Where a provisional allocation is shown, this indicates a greater potential for change than for other entries.
- TBD: To be determined. It is not yet known whether this event will take place in that year.
- TBC: To be confirmed. This date is even less certain than others on the provisional calendar.
- N/A: Not Applicable. This indicates that this event is not expected to take place in that year.
- Bold text is used for Events in Group A (World and National Representative team events)
- Backgrounds:
light red AC events in Groups A, B or C light blue GC events in Groups A, B or C clear Group D and E events Darker blue events for which the provisional allocation of either the date or venue (or both) is overdue
This table lists all fixtures organised by Croquet England and selected club and international events. It is sorted primarily for the 2024 season.
Event | Event Group | AC/GC | Courts | Court Fee | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Scheduling Assumptions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WCF U21 GC World Championship |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | 14-18 April |
Sarasota, Florida, USA |
N/A | N/A | Every two years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
Croquet England Women vs. Inter-Counties Division 2 Winners | E | AC | - | - | 20-21 Apr | Surbiton | TBA | Match v Lancashire. Venue TBC | TBA |
TBA, Division 2 Inter-County Champions 2025 |
Date arranged by the two teams |
Coles | C | AC | - | - | 4-6 May | Cheltenham | 3-5 May | Cheltenham | 2-4 May | Cheltenham | Cheltenham; Saturday-Monday May day bank holiday weekend |
Peels | C | AC | 5-6 | Base | 16-19 May | Nottingham | 8-11 May | Nottingham | 7-10 May | Nottingham | Second weekend in May |
Western Championship | C | AC | - | - | 11-12 May | East Dorset | 9-11 May | East Dorset | 8-11 May | East Dorset | Second weekend in May |
ERC European GC Championship | - | GC | 8+ | - | 16-19 May | Sussex | 15-18 May | Budleigh | TBA | TBA | Future schedule to be determined by European Regional Committee of the WCF |
AC Inter-Counties | B | AC | 15 | Tournament | 25-28 May | Sussex & Compton | 24-27 May | Sussex & Compton | 23-26 May | Sussex & Compton | Saturday-Tuesday, including the Spring Bank Holiday Monday. |
GC Women's Open Championship | C | GC | 4 | Tournament | 8-9 Jun | Nottingham | 7-8 Jun | Surbiton | 1-2 Aug tbc | Colchester | Early June |
AC Home Internationals |
A |
AC |
4-5 |
Tournament |
8-9 Jun |
Southport |
7-8 Jun |
Budleigh |
6-7 Jun |
Carrickmines, Ireland |
Second weekend in June, except when Ireland host the GC Home Internationals in which case swap the AC and GC Home Internationals |
Men's & Women's | B | AC | 8+ | Tournament | 12-16 Jun | Surbiton | 11-15 Jun | TBC | 10-14 Jun | Surbiton | Wednesday to Sunday; finishing on the third weekend in June |
England v Spain |
A |
GC |
4-6 |
Tournament |
21-23 Jun |
Roehampton |
2-4 May |
Tambre, Santiago de Compostela, Spain |
19-21 Jun |
England |
Host alternates between England and Spain. |
AC Veterans (Over 65) | D | AC | 10 | Tournament | 24-29 Jun | Budleigh | 16-21 Jun | Cheltenham | 15-20 Jun | TBA | Monday-Saturday, finishing on the last Saturday in June |
Juniors' Championship | D | AC/GC | - | Base | TBA | TBA | 21-22 June 2025 | Nottingham | |||
Schools' Championship | D | AC/GC | - | Base | TBA | TBA | 21-22 June 2025 | Nottingham | |||
GC Open Championship | B | GC | 8+ | Tournament | 25-30 Jun | Sussex | 24-29 Jun | Budleigh | 23-28 Jun | Budleigh | Ends on the last Sunday in June |
Championship of the East Midlands | C | AC | - | - | 28-30 Jun | Nottingham | 27-29 Jun | Nottingham | 26-28 Jun | Nottingham | Friday-Sunday; Weekend before the AC Opens |
AC Open Championships | B | AC | 8+ | Enhanced | 6-14 Jul | Cheltenham | 5-13 Jul | Surbiton | 4-12 Jul | Nottingham | Saturday-Sunday (9 days), starting on the first Saturday in July |
GC Home Internationals |
A |
GC |
4/5 |
Tournament |
20-21 Jul |
Nailsea (hosted by Wales) |
19-20 Jul |
Balgreen, Scotland |
18-19 Jul |
TBA |
Third weekend in July, except when Ireland host in which case swap the dates between the AC and GC Home Internationals |
AC Seniors (Over 50) | D | AC | 10 | Tournament | 15-20 Jul | Budleigh | 14-19 Jul | Budleigh | 13-18 Jul | Budleigh | Monday-Saturday, starting after the AC Opens |
GC Veterans (Over 60) | D | GC | 6 | Tournament | 23-25 Jul | Sussex | 22-24 Jul | Sussex | 21-23 Jul | Sussex | Tue-Thu in 3rd/4th week in Jul (after AC Seniors) |
Eastern Championship | C | AC | 4 | - | 26-28 Jul | Wrest Park | 25-27 Jul | Colchester | 24-26 Jul | Wrest Park tbc | Fri-Mon, two weeks after the end of the Opens. Venue determined by EACF. |
GC English National Doubles (Ranelagh Cups) | B | GC | 6 | Tournament | 27-28 Jul | Budleigh | 26-27 Jul | Budleigh | 25-26 Jul | Cheltenham | Last weekend in July |
ERC Womens GC European Championship | - | GC | 4+ | - | 1-4 Aug | Compton | N/A | N/A | TBA | TBA | Arranged by the WCF European Regional Committee |
MacRobertson Shield (World AC Team Championship Tier 1) |
A |
AC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 24 Jul-9 Aug |
Roehampton, Hurlingham, Southwick, Surbiton |
Every four years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
WCF World AC Team Championship Tier 2 |
A |
AC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25-30 Jul |
Nottingham |
Every four years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
WCF World AC Team Championship Tier 3 |
A |
AC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 25-30 Jul |
Nottingham |
Every four years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
Championship of Surrey | C | AC | - | - | 2-4 Aug | Surbiton | 1-3 Aug | Surbiton | 31 Jul - 2 Aug | Surbiton | Friday-Sunday; First weekend in August |
WCF World GC Team Championship Tier 2 |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | 5-10 Aug |
Sussex, England |
N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
WCF World GC Team Championship Tier 3 |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | 5-10 Aug |
Sussex, England |
N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
Solomon Trophy |
A |
AC |
4 |
Enhanced |
N/A | N/A | 7-10 Aug |
Budleigh |
N/A | N/A | Dates agreed with the USCA. Two events between each MacRobertson Shield. |
GC Under-25 Open |
C | GC | 4 | Tournament | 10-11 Aug |
Cheltenham |
9-10 Aug |
Compton |
TBA |
TBA |
Early August |
McWeeney (Croquet England v CAI) | - | AC | 3 | Base | 12-13 Aug | Carrickmines, Ireland | 5-6 Jul | Ramsgate | 15016 Aug tbc | TBA, Ireland | Hosted in Ireland alternate years, date agreed with CAI each year. |
ERC AC European Championship | - | AC | 4 | - | 15-18 Aug | Carrickmines | N/A | N/A | TBA | TBA | Every 2 years, according ERC schedule |
GC Inter-Counties Division 1 | B | GC | 11 | Tournament | 17-18 Aug | Sussex | 16-17 Aug | Sussex | 22-23 Aug | Cheltenham | Sat-Sun on weekend before the Summer Bank Holiday weekend |
GC Inter-Counties Division 2 | B | GC | 8 | Tournament | 17-18 Aug | Cheltenham | 16-17 Aug | Cheltenham | 22-23 Aug | Sussex | Sat-Sun on weekend before the Summer Bank Holiday weekend |
Croquet England v SCA | - | AC | - | Base | 31 Aug - 1 Sep | Crake Valley | 30-31 Aug | Meadows, Scotland | 5-6 Sep | TBA (England) | Hosted in Scotland in alternate years |
ERC European U21 GC Championship | - | GC | - | - | N/A | N/A | TBD | Czech Republic | N/A | N/A | Every two years, according to ERC schedule |
Northern Championship | C | AC | 4 | - | 23-26 Aug | Bowdon | 22-25 Aug | Bowdon | 28-31 Aug | Bowdon | Friday-Monday, finishing on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday, at Bowdon |
GC First Eight
|
B | GC | 4 | Tournament | 24-26 Aug | Budleigh | 23-25 Aug | Ramsgate | 28-31 Aug | Sidmouth | Saturday-Monday, finishing on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday |
GC Second Eight (Kate Jones Memorial) | B | GC | 4 | Tournament | 24-26 Aug | Budleigh | 23-25 Aug | Colchester | 28-31 Aug | Budleigh | Saturday-Monday, finishing on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday |
GC Third Eight (Suzanne Roberts Memorial) | B | GC | 4 | Tournament | 24-26 Aug | Nailsea | 23-25 Aug | Nottingham | 28-31 Aug | Budleigh | Saturday-Monday, finishing on the Summer Bank Holiday Monday |
Challenge & Gilbey | C | AC | 6 | Tournament | 8-11 Aug | Nottingham | 28-31 Aug | Cheltenham | 3-6 Sep | TBA | Thursday-Sunday after the August bank holiday |
President's Cup | B | AC | 4 | Enhanced | 5-8 Sep | Hurlingham | 4-7 Sep | Sidmouth | 10-13 Sep | East Dorset | Thursday-Sunday, second weekend after the August bank holiday |
Chairman's Salver | B | AC | 4 | Tournament | 5-8 Sep | Ramsgate | 4-7 Sep | East Dorset | 10-13 Sep | Cheltenham | Thursday-Sunday, second weekend after the August bank holiday |
Spencer Ell Cup | B | AC | 4 | Tournament | 5-9 Sep | Pendle | 4-8 Sep | Nottingham | 10-14 Sep | Colchester | Thursday-Monday, second weekend after the August bank holiday |
Treasurer's Tankard | B | AC | 4 | Tournament | 5-9 Sep | Colchester | 4-8 Sep | Southport | 10-14 Sep | Ramsgate | Thursday-Monday, second weekend after the August bank holiday |
Selectors' Weekend | B | AC | 4 | Tournament | 6-8 Sep | Bath | 5-7 Sep | Ramsgate | 11-13 Sep | Guildford | Friday-Sunday, second weekend after the August bank holiday |
GC English National Singles Finals (Ascot Cup) | B | GC | 4-8 | Tournament | 21-22 Sep | Nottingham | 20-21 Sep | TBA | 19-20 Sep | Nottingham | Saturday-Sunday, 3 weekends after Summer Bank Holiday weekend. |
GC All-England Handicap Final | E | GC | 4 | Base | 14-15 Sep | Guildford & Godalming | 13-14 Sep | Camerton & Peasedown | 5-6 Sep | Watford | Same weekend as Ascot Cup |
AC All-England Handicap Final | E | AC | 2 | Base | 21-22 Sep | Blewbury | 20-21 Sep | Guildford & Godalming | 19-20 Sep | Ealing | Same weekend as Ascot Cup |
GC B-level Final | E | GC | 5 | Base | 21-22 Sep | East Dorset | 20-21 Sep | Budleigh | 19-20 Sep | Pendle | Same weekend as the English National Singles Finals |
GC Grass Roots Competition Final |
E | GC | 4 | Base | 29 Sep |
Camerton & Peasedown |
28 Sep |
Watford |
27 Sep |
TBA |
Last Sunday in September |
Short Croquet National Final | E | AC | 2 (4 SC Courts) | Base | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | |
South of England Championship | C | AC | 5 | Tournament | 20-22 Sep | Compton | 19-21 Sep | Compton | 25-27 Sep | Compton | Compton; Friday-Sunday; penultimate or last weekend in September |
GC A-Level Final | E | GC | 4 | Tournament | 28-29 Sep | Sidmouth | 27-28 Sep | Ryde | 26-27 Sep | Ramsgate | Weekend after the English National Singles Finals |
GC C-Level Final | E | GC | 4 | Base | 28-29 Sep | Watford | 27-28 Sep | Compton | 26-27 Sep | Wrest Park | Weekend after the English National Singles Finals |
GC Inter-Club Final | B | GC | 2 | Tournament | 28 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | 27 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | 26 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | Saturday, late September, Neutral Venue |
GC Murphy Inter-Club Shield Final | B | GC | 2 | Tournament | On or before 29 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before 28 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before 27 Sep | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before last Sunday in September, Neutral Venue |
AC Inter-Club Finals | B | AC | 6 | Tournament | 5 Oct | Neutral Venue TBA | 4 Oct | Neutral Venue TBA | 3 Oct | Neutral Venue TBA | Finishing on first Sunday in October |
GC Federations Shield Final | B | GC | 2 | Tournament | On or before 6 Oct | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before 5 Oct | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before 4 Oct | Neutral Venue, TBA | On or before first Sunday in October, Neutral Venue |
WCF GC World Championship Qualifier | - | GC | 4+ | - | 13-16 Oct | Chesapeake Bay CC, Virginia, USA | N/A | N/A | TBA | TBA | Immediately before the WCF GC World Championship |
WCF GC World Championship |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
18-26 Oct |
Chesapeake Bay CC, Virginia, USA |
N/A | N/A | TBA | TBA | Every two years, according to WCF schedule |
WCF AC World Championship Qualifier | - | AC | - | - | N/A | N/A | 13-16 Oct |
National Croquet Centre, Florida, USA (TBC) | N/A | N/A | Every two years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
WCF AC World Championship |
A |
AC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | 18-26 Oct |
National Croquet Centre, Florida, USA |
N/A |
N/A |
Every two years, according to WCF 10-year schedule |
Event | Event Group | AC/GC | Courts | Court Hire | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Scheduling Assumptions | |||
GC IPD Weekend | B | GC | - | - | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||
AC IPD Weekend | B | AC | - | - | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||
AC Students' Championship | D | AC | - | Base | TBA | Oxford University | TBA | Oxford University | Oxford University is normal venue | ||
ERC European Teams Championship | - | AC and GC | - | - | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to ERC schedule | ||
WCF Women's AC World Championship Qualifier | - | AC | - | - | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF schedule | ||
WCF Women's AC World Championship |
A |
AC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF schedule | ||
WCF Women's GC World Championship Qualifier | - | GC | - | - | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Immediately before the WCF Women's GC World Championship | ||
WCF Women's GC World Championship |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF schedule | ||
WCF Over 50 GC World Championship |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Every four years, according to WCF schedule | ||
WCF World GC Team Championship Tier 1 |
A |
GC |
- |
- |
N/A | N/A | 17-23 Feb |
Tasmania, Australia |
Every four years, according to WCF schedule | ||
Event | Event Group | AC/GC | Courts | Court Hire | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Scheduling Assumptions |
Event Groups and Scheduling Principles
Following a growing number of clashes between events, Croquet England has conducted a review, during 2018, of the tournament calendar to see what could be done. This generated the following principles which have been confirmed by the relevant committees, and will apply from the 2020 season.
Group | Description | Events | Scheduling Principle |
---|---|---|---|
Group A | Fully representative international events |
|
Group A events should not clash with each other |
Group B | Croquet England's Flagship Events, including Grade 1 Championships |
|
Group B events should not clash with each other, or with any Group A event |
Group C | Grade 2 and 3 Championships |
|
Group C events should not clash with an event of the same code from either Group A or B |
Group D | Age-Specific Events |
|
Group D events should not clash with the matching Group D event of the other code |
Group E | Other |
|
No constraints |