Golf Croquet Tourney Highlights
Letchworth Croquet Club Strawberry Tea event. Starting about 2:30 you get some great low-angle shots from the ground.
Croquet in the 90's
Here's a great story from New Zealand on a couple in their 90's (90 & 91) playing in a 76-and-over tournament. I tell this to friends all of the time. Croquet is a sport you can play the rest of your life:
Parkville, MO Field in the KC Star
Nine Wicket National Championship Results
Matt Baird sets up during the USCA 9-Wicket Doubles Championship
Baird and Parsells Claim National Title
Matt Baird and Art Parsells capped off a fantastic three days of croquet by surviving a final run by Reid Fleming to claim the 2008 USCA Doubles National Championship early Sunday afternoon in Shawnee, Kansas. With time expired, Fleming had to run out from wicket #5 to the final stake on his last turn in order to snatch away the title from Parsells and Baird. Fortunately, Fleming's partner Bob Kroeger set him up for a three-ball break. Fleming worked the break all the way to #12 but got caught in the jaws on the wicket shot.
In other action, Brad Clouse claimed the national title in the Cutthroat (six-ball singles) division on Saturday. On Friday, George Cochran claimed the title in the singles Championship flight.
The event was hosted by the Missouri Croquet Association and ran pretty much on schedule and featured three straight days of perfect weather. Plans are already in place for the 2009 event.
9-Wicket Coverage on KC TV
The FOX affiliate here in Kansas City did an interview with Matt Griffith at his court in Parkville, MO regarding the upcoming National Tournament in Shawnee:
Nine-Wicket Nationals Forecast
Looks like a great weekend for the USCA Nationals:
Fri -- High: 74° Low: 53° / Sunny
Sat -- High: 75° Low: 63° / Mostly Sunny
Sun -- High: 78° Low: 62° / Mostly Cloudy
As a participant, I plan to provide daily recaps over the event. Stay tuned.
September Croquet Photo of the Month
This photo appeared in a Whyalla News article on Aussie Croquet and getting young people involved in croquet. Always good for the sport.
Navy vs St. Johns 2008
The 2008 Annapolis Cup from David T. on Vimeo.
First Shot: Nine-Wicket Nationals On Deck
Well, the year has certainly flown by as all of the sudden we are on the cusp of the USCA Nine-Wicket National Championship. The event will be hosted in Kansas City (Shawnee Mission to be specific) and I'm locked and loaded and looking forward to participating in and witnessing this event. I could hardly pass on it since I live right here in the metro.
The tournament spans October 3-5 with nine-wicket singles and doubles events in addition to a singles "cutthroat" event for mid-level players. The host organization is the Missouri Croquet Association.
Details for the event are as follows:
FRIDAY (one event only)
Championship Singles (1 vs. 1, each person plays two balls)
*Open to all skill levels, but be prepared to play against high level players
*Standard USCA Nine Wicket Rules with options 1, 1A, 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10
SATURDAY & SUNDAY (two events)
Championship Doubles (2 vs. 2, each person plays one ball)
*Open to all skill levels, but be prepared to play against high level teams
*Standard USCA Nine Wicket Rules with options 1, 1A, 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10
or
Cutthroat Singles (6 players per game, each plays one ball)
*Recommended for those with USCA handicap 9 & higher or no handicap
*USCA Nine Wicket Rules w/ options 2 & 3, with no carry-over deadness
To enter, call the USCA and provide entry and credit card information, or
send written entry information with a check to:
Linda Berry, Tourn. Serv. Coord. USCA
700 Florida Mango Rd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
561-478-0760 ext. 204
tournamentusca@aol.com
You can also get more info at the USCA website -- www.croquetamerica.com.
See you in Shawnee!
Sincerely,
Dylan Goodwin
Publisher, Croquet Network