Happy Holidays from Croquet Network to players and supporters of the sport across the world. It was an exciting year in 2023 as six major international events took place between November 2022 and the end of November 2023. As we wrap up our 16th year covering the game of croquet, I am pleased to present our annual Top 10 Croquet News Articles for 2023 based on total readership.
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Robert Fulford in play during the 2023 AC World Championship semifinals at Hurlingham. Photo by Andrew Moss.
Interview: Robert Fulford
In 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.
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Robert Fulford in play during the semifinals. Photo by Andrew Moss.
Fulford Wins Spectacular Final to Claim Sixth WCF AC World Title
Today’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 MoreAC Worlds to Feature Essick vs Fulford Rematch
Rainy 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 MoreAmericans Advance to AC Worlds Last Four
Two 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.
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Tom Balding kept his run going and will face Alain Giraud in the Last Eight. Photo by Andrew Moss.
2023 AC Worlds: Last Eight
Round 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.
Read MoreEssick is Golf Croquet World Champion
American Matthew Essick rolled through the 2022 WCF Golf Croquet World Championship with both perseverance and strong form to claim his first world croquet championship with a 7-3, 6-7, 7-3, 7-3 finals win over England’s Robert Fulford yesterday at Sussex County Croquet Club in Brighton, UK.
Read MoreBeyond Expert Croquet Tactics - New Book
The Croquet Association (UK) in now selling a limited run of a new book titled Beyond Expert Croquet Tactics. The ambitious book has a wide-ranging focus, but at the top of the list it looks to provide updated tactical advice on Keith Wylie’s Expert Croquet Tactics which was first published in 1985.
Read MoreClarke: 2018 AC Worlds Preview
The 2018 WCF Association Croquet World Championship starts this Saturday in Wellington, NZ. Five clubs are being used and I’ll try to send photos from each of them as the event progresses. There are eight blocks of 10 players with the top four qualifying for the knockout from each block, with ties on wins being broken with play-off games, so net points are irrelevant.
Read MoreMorning Coffee: 2016 US Solomon Team
The 2016 Solomon Trophy, pitting the United States against Great Britain in Association Croquet, will be held on June 29-July 1, 2016, at the Bowdon Croquet Club in Manchester, England, United Kingdom. The US team is as follows:
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