[<<] [>>] by Bruce Rannie
31st March 2009 (CqE Official News)

The Draws for the 2009 CA Inter-Club Competitions (Association Croquet) have been made and are available on-line. The full draws, with dates for completing each round (these are different from last year, to take account of the World Championship in May), and the usual letter giving details, will be circulated to club contacts, in the Tournament section. The letter includes the regulations regarding selecting a venue and date for a match, and how to handle a match should bad weather intervene.

John Handy is taking over as Tournaments Director with effect from 1 June 2009. Surbiton hosts the Finals Weekend on 3rd and 4th October.

Highlights of the Draws

Inter-Club (Holders Nottingham)

This year, by agreement, matches may comprise three rounds, with two additional doubles games - this format will be used for the Final at Surbiton in October.

Ten clubs have entered this year. In the First Round, Woking play Colchester, winners to meet Cheltenham, and Nottingham play Wrest Park, winners to play Bristol. The Second Round contains Hurlingham against Bowdon, and Sussex County against Surbiton.

Mary Rose (Holders Surbiton)

Nineteen clubs have entered this year, with newcomers Shrewsbury joined by Edgbaston and Royal Tunbridge Wells (each first time since 2001), so the draw is again in two sections. First Round Ties are Edgbaston v Shrewsbury, winners to play Bowdon, Sussex County v Hurlingham, winners to play Guildford & Godalming, and Medway v Dulwich, winners to play Royal Tunbridge Wells. Second Round Ties are Bath v Nottingham, Pendle & Craven v Cheltenham, Bristol v Wrest Park, and Surbiton v Colchester.

Secretary's Shield (Holders Canterbury)

Holders Canterbury (London & SE) join the nine qualifiers from the Federations to compete for the Shield. In the First Round, Pendle & Craven play Huddersfield, winners to play Belsay Hall, and Kington Langley play Ealing, winners to play Ashby. The Second Round contains Shrewsbury against Hamptworth and Canterbury against Colchester.

Longman Cup (Holders Fylde)

The 41 entries have been put into four sections to keep the draw reasonably regional. The sequence of sections in the draw was itself drawn, with North / Midlands, East / London, South-West / Wales, South / South-East being the result. Holders Fylde play Nottingham, while runners-up Parsons Green play Ealing. Third-placed Purley Bury play Roehampton, while Shrewsbury (4th) play Bristol. Edgbaston, entering for the first time since 1997, play Pendle & Craven.