Morning Coffee: Denmark Joins WCF and Peyton Ballenger

  The WCF announcement that Denmark's Danish Gymnastics and Sports Association (DGI) has been accepted as an observing member could be a massive boost for the federations membership totals. According the article, DGI has active croquet membership of 5,000 with 226 clubs. They have few dedicated croquet lawns and most clubs utilize soccer fields for play. Based on the description it appears they play a variation of nine-wicket croquet.

Utilizing stats from the 2005 WCF Survey, that puts Denmark as the second largest croquet playing nation. Australia boasts 7,741 members for the top spot. It would also represent a 26.3% growth for overall playing membership for the WCF which totaled 19,120 in that 2005 survey.

The DGI could become officially ratified at the WCF Council General Meeting on August 23rd in London, England. Denmark would become the 27th member of the WCF. The IOC requires 75 countries for consideration, but the WCF has targeted membership in Sportaccord which could lead to participation in the World Games. Sportaccord requires membership from 40 countries.

Johnny Mitchell won the PGA Peyton Ballenger championship singles flight over the weekend with a 26-8 victory over Barry Gibson in the final. In the Waterford Doubles segment of the event Henry Vaughan won the championship and first flights. Full results posted in  the CroquetWorld forum.