Kenilworth Croquet Club received the Silver ClubMark accreditation

Junior Coaching at Kenilworth

A defining milestone of 2025 was Kenilworth becoming the first club in England to receive Croquet England's Silver Clubmark Accreditation, reflecting excellence in governance, coaching, safeguarding, and community engagement. Alongside this, the club received the Chris and Gail Barley Award, further highlighting its model approach to growth, development, and community involvement.

Coaching and development have been central to the club's success. Thursday morning Association Croquet sessions, led by Adrian Morris and supported by Mervyn Harvey, have been particularly popular, combining competitive play with group and one-to-one coaching. These sessions have significantly improved members' understanding of tactics, strategy and shot execution. Newer players now regularly challenge established players, adding excitement to the club's competitive atmosphere. Coaching for younger players has also been successful, with Judith and Elizabeth Thomson guiding children through their first experiences on the lawns.

Competition results this year reflected the club's growing strength across both codes of the game. Golf Croquet and Association Croquet tournaments, organised by Philip Wood, Pauline Harvey, Jon Hodge, and Adrian Morris, produced thrilling matches and new names on trophies. Highlights included the Kenilworth Festival, run by Philip Wood and Phil Blake, where Kenilworth's team won the competition, and the WMF 6+ League team, captained by Tony Watmore, claiming the Eastern Section title. The Association Croquet league team finished an impressive second overall after a season of strong performances.

One of the standout achievements in competitive play was Kenilworth B winning the Robertshaw Cup at their first attempt, narrowly defeating last year's winners, Kenilworth A. Despite having a higher combined handicap, Kenilworth B impressed early with victories over Broadwas and Himley, including an impressive win by Ian Robertson over a minus-1 opponent, setting up a dramatic final between the two unbeaten Kenilworth teams. Strong singles performances-most notably from Pauline Harvey, the only unbeaten player and Nick Hegan-secured a 4-2 victory for Kenilworth B. The final showcased the club's depth and highlighted the benefits of wider participation in competitive play.

Community engagement has remained a cornerstone of the club's ethos. Demonstrations and coaching events, organised by Mervyn Harvey and team, have introduced croquet to the local community, including U3A groups and families. Open days, friendly matches and festival activities have made the sport accessible and appealing, encouraging participation across all ages. Croquet at Kenilworth is truly a game for everyone, offering mental stimulation, strategic challenge, and social interaction.

As 2025 draws to a close, Kenilworth Croquet Club reflects on a year of achievement and growth with pride. With excellent facilities, skilled coaching and a welcoming community, the club looks forward to 2026 with confidence, ensuring Kenilworth will continue to flourish on and off the lawns for many years to come.

If you should be interested in trying this sport or finding out more about it email us: croquet#ktscc.co.uk or visit our website: https://ktscc.co.uk/croquet/

Vacancy: Croquet England Treasurer

by Samir Patel [^]
29th November (CqE Official News)

Croquet England, the National Governing Body for the Sport of Croquet in England, is Seeking a Treasurer

Location: Remote, with occasional travel to meetings and the Croquet England office in Cheltenham

It is estimated that the work will take approximately 60 hours per month.

A fee of £10,000 plus reasonable expenses will be paid for the year.

About Croquet England

Croquet England is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered in England & Wales (Charity No. 1202444), with the following charitable purposes:

• To promote community participation in healthy recreation through the provision of facilities for playing croquet.
• To advance the amateur sport of croquet for public benefit.

We are proud of our heritage and excited for our future. Approximately 10,000 players belong to over 200 affiliated clubs, with many thousands more enjoying croquet informally at home. The competitive scene is thriving, from local leagues to national championships and international tournaments.

Our Strategy focuses on seven key areas: play, safeguarding, coaching, inclusion, wellbeing, funding, and sustainability.

The Board of Trustees has responsibility for the management of the affairs of Croquet England and may, for that purpose, exercise all the powers of the CIO. The Treasurer is responsible to the CIO through the Board for providing independent leadership and guidance in matters relating to administration and finance respectively, encouraging the highest standards of integrity, effectiveness, and openness, and have a duty to ensure the CIO's regulatory compliance

The Executive and Chief Executive Officer have delegated authority for the day-to-day running of the organisation and for ensuring the strategy and policies are delivered. They are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Treasurer is a member of the Executive.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Croquet England is committed to building a sport and community that welcomes everyone. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

We support flexible working and welcome applications from candidates seeking alternative arrangements.

Application Process

If you require any further information or an informal chat about the role, please contact:

• Robert Fulford, Current Treasurer
• Andy Dalby Welsh, CEO
• Samir Patel, Chair of the Board of Trustees

To apply, please send a one-page cover letter outlining your suitability for the role as well as a brief CV to Gabrielle Higgins, Secretary.

The Role

On the basis outlined below it is estimated that the work will take approximately 60 hours per month. A fee of £10,000 plus reasonable expenses will be paid for the year.

There is some potential flexibility to exactly how the role is defined and to a degree it can be tailored to suit an applicant.

Duties Include

• Weekly - prepare payment run. Answer occasional queries from office staff.
• Monthly - process payroll (HMRC Basic PAYE tools and NEST pension), reconcile bank accounts, on-line shop transactions, subscriptions and tournament entry system payments.
• Quarterly - process VAT return. Prepare internal management accounts.
• Annually - prepare annual accounts and liaise with Independent Examiner, prepare annual budget, stock take, renew insurance policies (including dealing with occasional insurance matters).
• When required - manage investments, deal with financial matters that arise through the year.

We are in the process of reviewing operational processes, and the successful candidate will be involved in identifying improvements. This could result in some regular tasks being streamlined or reallocated. This could suit someone who has experience in updating treasurer practices and introducing time-saving efficiencies.

Skills and Qualifications

• A knowledge of bookkeeping/accountancy is essential.
• Formal qualifications are desirable, but not essential.
• Experience of working within the charitable sector would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of the Sage accountancy platform would be an advantage.

Location and Meetings

The Treasurer is a member of a number of committees. Nearly all meetings are held electronically, often in the evenings or at weekends to accommodate volunteers, with only occasional face to face meetings each year when required:

• Board of Trustees - approx. seven per year online and one in person
• The Executive - approx. monthly, generally online other than by exception.
• Funding Committee, which oversees grants, loans and bursaries - approx. six times per year
• Administration Committee, which deals with staff matters, online, once or twice each year

We are currently reviewing organisational strategic priorities and how we will deliver them. This is intended to increase efficiency and is likely to reduce the number of meetings that the successful candidate will be required to attend.

Practical Matters

• You'll use your own IT equipment, supported by a Croquet England Microsoft 365 account.
• The Treasurer plays an important role liaising between the Executive and the Office, attending the Croquet England Office in Cheltenham at least once a quarter.
• A managed handover will take place in order that the new Treasurer is fully aware of current practices.

Role Description

Formally the role of Treasurer is set out in the Croquet England Standing Orders and Practice Book.

Standing Order 2.1

The "Secretary" and "Treasurer" in this document are the Secretary of the CIO and Treasurer of the CIO appointed annually by the Board. They are responsible to the CIO through the Board for providing independent leadership and guidance in matters relating to administration and finance respectively, encouraging the highest standards of integrity, effectiveness, and openness, and have a duty to ensure the CIO's regulatory compliance. Specific duties for them may be determined by the Board from time to time and recorded in the Croquet England Practice Book.

Practice Book Extract

The "Treasurer" in this document is the Treasurer of Croquet England, appointed annually by the Board of Trustees, with the overall responsibility described in Standing Order (SO) 2.1. The Trustees have resolved that the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the CEO and the Secretary may not be appointed as the Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall be invited to all meetings of the Board of Trustees in accordance with SO 4.2 and is an ex-officio voting member of the Executive.

The specific duties of the Treasurer relating to the Executive are as follows:

• Attend as a member all the meetings of the Executive.
• Keep the Executive aware of and informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
• Compile and present regular management accounts to the Executive, including the implications of financial plans and budgets of the Executive's operational committees, and three-year financial forecasts for Croquet England.
• Prepare the annual budget for submission to the Executive in November and approval by the Trustees in December.
• Prepare the annual accounts for submission to the Executive in February and approval by the Trustees in March, advise on whether an audit or independent examination is required, and liaise with the auditor or examiner.
• In conjunction with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Secretary, prepare the annual report and accounts and the annual return and submit them to the Charity Commission, and prepare and submit any other reports or documents it may require, including Serious Incident Reports.
• Serve on the Administration Committee and in particular advise it on salaries.
• Provide the Office Manager and staff with guidance and training on the Croquet England's financial practices as required.
• Monitor the financial activities of the Office, report to the Executive on them and advise on improvements.
• Audit the financial records produced by the Office and ensure that it keeps proper records of all financial transactions for inspection e.g. by the Independent Examiner, the Charity Commission and HM Revenue and Customs.
• Compile and submit returns and any payments owed to HM Revenue and Customs in due time.
• Make salary payments and honoraria and provide statements in due time.
• Operate the workplace pension scheme for Croquet England staff, make the necessary returns, and ensure payment of liabilities.
• Manage Croquet England's financial assets and systems, including investments, bank accounts and the accountancy database. This with the assistance of the Office Manager.
• Report to the Executive the advice of the Investments Consultative Group on investments and execute investment decisions.
• Advise the Executive on subscriptions and tournament levy rates.
• Assist the Office Manager in ensuring that Croquet England is properly and adequately insured as directed by Executive.

Do Croquet champions compete longer than Snooker champions?

Snooker and Croquet both require similar strategy and techniques, and the same coloured balls.

The Question Asked on the BBC News, "is There Another Sport Where at 50 You Will Still be Operational at a Professional Capacity?" Alison Maugham of Croquet England Challenges: "What About Croquet?"

Read the full article >> https://www.croquetengland.org.uk/news_and_media/do-croquet-champions-compete-longer-than-snooker-champions/

2026 European GC Women's Championship

by Ian Lines at Carrickmines [^]
27th November (International)

The 2026 European GC Women's Championship will be held at Carrickmines Croquet Club, Dublin, Ireland on 25-28 June 2026.

England players who wish to make themselves available can do so at https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=members/availability. Note that availability must be declared by 12 January 2026. England will initially get up to four Ranking Places, and one England Membership will subsequently be selected.

Further details of the event are available at https://www.croqueteurope.com/competitions/gc-women-championships.

Ian Lines
International Committee

England MacRobertson Shield Team announced

MacRobertson Shield Team 2026

Croquet England are delighted to announce the England Team selected to defend the MacRobertson Shield next summer. Congratulations and good luck to those selected.

Mark Avery

Jamie Burch

James Death

Robert Fulford

Jack Good

Samir Patel

......................................................................................................................

Chris Clarke

Chair of CqE MacRobertson Shield Selection Committee

Selection announcement date for GC European Champs changed

by Chris Clarke at Nottingham [^]
21st November (CqE Official News)

The ERC has moved their dates for the allocation of ranking places and also when Member places will be required. Therefore, the announcement date on the selection availability page has now been moved to 17th February 2026.

Chris Clarke

Chair of CE GCSC

ERC Committee Election 2025

by James Death [Admin] [^]
19th November (CqE Official News)

On behalf of Roberts Stafeckis Chair of the European Regional Committee [ERC] of the World Croquet Federation.

In 2025 we are calling for nominations for one position on the European Committee.

Andres Alvarez-Sala tenure is concluding, and he is seeking re-election to the Committee.

Role of the ERC Committee and its Members

The committee operates via email but also meets approximately once per month.

The main language used is English, and the ERCs main task is to ensure that the calendar of ERC Championships and Club League Matches are organised and planned.

This involves finding hosts, agreeing the bids, sending out invitations, managing the player lists, communicating with the host organisers and advertising all this on the WCF website. Additionally, the ERC may consider regional promotional or development initiatives if requested by the Members.

To find out more about the ERC and its activities, please see the website: https://worldcroquet.org/european-regional-committee-erc/

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ian Lines, Chair of International committee (ian.lines#croquetengland.org.uk)

Official Ruling on the laws of Alternate Stroke Doubles

by James Death [Admin] [^]
13th November (CqE Official News)

The WCF AC.LC has issued an Official Ruling directing how the laws of Alternate Stroke Doubles are to be applied. This OR can be downloaded from the WCF website, link below.

https://worldcroquet.org/ac-rules-7th-edition-official-ruling-effective-1st-november-2025/

The Most Improved Player Awards 2025

by Christopher Roberts [^]
6th November (CqE Official News)

.

The Croquet England Handicap Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the Most Improved Player Awards 2025:

.

Also nominated were:

GC Female - Fiona Walker

GC Male - Joshua Wise (highly commended), Simon Bird, Euan Burridge, Colin Carver, David Dickins, David Drey, Jim Forster, Andrew Grant, Bobbo Piers, Ryan Ransom, David Skellern

AC Female -

AC Male - Gary Brice, Carl Brown, Colin Carver, David Dickins, Gabriel Furse, Philip Jay, Peter Rothwell, Stuart M Smith

.

Chris Roberts,
Chairman of the Croquet England Handicap Committee

Changes to the Eligibility Criteria for Golf Croquet A-Level and B-Level Series Tournaments

by Christopher Roberts [^]
6th November (CqE Official News)

Purpose of the GC Series Tournaments

The Golf Croquet (GC) Series tournaments are designed to provide a clear and progressive pathway for competitive play, supporting players as their technical skills, tactical understanding, and overall experience develop.

Each Series consists of a number of tournaments hosted by clubs nationwide, leading to qualification for a National Final (*the exception is the Open Series, where the overall national winner is determined by accumulated points rather than a final).

In recent years, the GC Series have continued to evolve, reflecting the growing depth of ability across the player base.

This ongoing refinement ensures fair competition and a positive experience for all participants - offering the opportunity to compete against peers of similar ability, within tournaments that follow standardised and approved formats.

Transition from Handicap to Dynamic Grade

To continue this development, the Golf Croquet Tournaments Committee (GCTC) has agreed to replace the existing handicap-based eligibility criteria for the A-Level (0+) and B-Level (4+) Series tournaments with criteria based on Dynamic Grade (DG).

Dynamic Grades provide a more accurate and reliable measure of a player's current playing strength than handicaps.

Dynamic Grades are already used successfully in the Open Series and Premier (formerly Championship) Series tournaments for precisely this reason.

As the name suggests, Dynamic Grades are dynamic - they respond to a player's current form, being calculated from a holistic assessment of ranked game results.

By contrast, handicaps can be more volatile, are influenced by non-ranked games, and sometimes affected by human error or subjective adjustment.

Revised Tournament Definitions (Effective from the 2026 Season)

From the 2026 season, the A-Level (0+) Series and B-Level (4+) Series tournaments will be redefined and retitled as follows:

• Golf Croquet A-Level (DG<2000) Series Tournament
• Golf Croquet B-Level (DG<1700) Series Tournament

Eligibility will therefore be defined as:

• "Players with a Dynamic Grade below 2000 points" for the A-Level Series
• "Players with a Dynamic Grade below 1700 points" for the B-Level Series

Allocations for entry will be made using these Dynamic Grade criteria as of the allocation date.

As part of this change, we are removing the handicap reference from the A and B-Level Series titles.

Looking Ahead

The GCTC hopes that players at all levels will approach the 2026 season with renewed enthusiasm - motivated to develop their game, embrace new challenges, and continue their journey through the GC Series.

These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to fairness, consistency, and progression across the sport.

We look forward to supporting every player in becoming the very best they can be - both on and off the court.

Chris Roberts

Director of the Golf Croquet A, B, C & D-Level Series

For the Golf Croquet Tournaments Committee

(A fuller vesrsion of this news item, includes a 'formats and consistency' section, and will appear in the December printed Croquet Gazette)