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 MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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 MoreIn 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 MoreThe team representing Great Britain for this year’s Solomon Trophy competition has been announced. The USA versus Great Britain test will be held November 7-12, 2023 at the Sarasota County Croquet Club in Venice, Florida.
Read MoreToday’s WCF Association Croquet World Championship final at the Hurlingham Club in London featured a thrilling display of croquet as England’s Robert Fulford battled back from 2-0 to take a 3-2 win over American Matthew Essick by a final of 9-26tp, 9-26tp, 26tp-22, 26tp-0, 26otp-18.
Fulford had the first break in all five games but game three looked relatively bleak for Fulford as Essick set up for a sextuple finish. It did loosen up a bit as the turn progressed, but Essick was looking to end with a straight triple finish before a complication arose at 4B (H10).
Read MoreRainy conditions at London’s Hurlingham Club didn’t slow down Mathew Essick as he rolled through his semifinal against world #1 Robert Fletcher 26tp-6, 26tp-10, 26tp-0 to advance to his third straight world championship final. Accordingly, five-time WCF AC World Champion Robert Fulford made his way through to the final to set up a repeat of the 2022 Golf Croquet World Championship final.
Read MoreTwo US players have advanced to the 2023 WCF Association Croquet World Championship “Last Four” after working through their matches in relatively quick fashion earlier today. 2020 AC Worlds runner-up Matthew Essick was the first one through dispatching Mark Avery in three games, 26tp-9, 26-13, 26tp-0. Fellow American Tom Balding was next through as he worked past Alain Giraud (ENG) 26-9, 26-9, 26tp-9.
Read MoreRound Two of the WCF Association Croquet World Championships did not disappoint as there was plenty of action at Hurlingham as 16 players took to the courts looking for a chance to advance to the last eight. Here’s a quick summary of the day’s action. World #1 Robert Fletcher (AUS) was the first one through to the Last Eight based on a 3-0 win over #46 Gavin Carter (ENG) with three triples. That kept a streak of 14 straight games with a peeling finish for Fletcherhich means a peeling finish in 14 straight games.
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