THE CROQUET WORLD SERIES
(FOR THE MACROBERTSON SHIELD)
The first international Association Croquet event was established in 1925 between Australia and England. The Melbourne industrialist, Sir MacPherson Robertson, presented a trophy for the event - the MacRobertson Shield. This event is still the ultimate international croquet teams event.
In 1930 New Zealand was admitted to the event, and in 1993, the USA.
The event is now played every three or fours years in the different countries in rotation. Recent events have been:
|
1993 |
Australia (Rich River Resort, Moama, New South Wales) |
Winner: Great Britain |
|
1996 |
England (Nottingham, Cheltenham & Parkstone) |
Winner: Great Britain |
|
2000 |
New Zealand (Christchurch) |
Winner: Great Britain |
|
2003 |
USA (West Palm Beach, Florida) |
Winner: Great Britain |
|
2006 |
Australia (Rich River Resort & Shepparton) |
Winner: Great Britain |
The event has been won by England 13 times and Australia and New Zealand 3 times each. The last time Australia won the event was in 1935.
Details of the years, venues, and Australian team members can be found here.
Trans-Tasman
Australia and New Zealand play a regular Association Croquet test match series in alternate countries every two or three years - the Trans-Tasman Open. A Womens event started in 1988 and then an Open in 1991; these two have now been combined with teams comprising of 4 men and 4 women.
Trans-Tasman Womens Challenge
| YEAR | VENUE | WINNER |
| 1988 | Hobart, Australia | Australia |
| 1990 | Wanganui, New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 1992 | Adelaide, Australia | Australia |
| 1994 | Wellington, New Zealand | Australia |
| 1997 | Noosa, Australia | Australia |
Trans-Tasman Open
| YEAR | VENUE | WINNER |
| 1991 | Perth, Australia | Australia |
| 1994 | Christchurch, New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 1995 | Newcastle, Australia | New Zealand |
|
FIRST COMBINED TEST
|
||
| 1999 | Wanganui, New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 2001 | Brisbane, Australia | New Zealand |
| 2004 | Waikanae & Paraparaumu, New Zealand | New Zealand |
| 2006 | Melbourne, Australia | New Zealand |
More complete details of the Australian competitors can be found here.
WORLD CROQUET FEDERATION
The World Croquet Federation (WCF) was established in 1987 with Australia as one of the founding members. There are now 22 member countries. All WCF member nationals are eligible to send a number of players to the WCF Championships.
WORLD Association Croquet SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP
In 1997, this event was held at Bunbury, Western Australia; it was the first time that it had been held in the southern hemisphere.
The winners of this event have been:
|
YEAR
|
WINNER
|
| 1989 | Joe Hogan (New Zealand) |
| 1990 | Robert Fulford (England) |
| 1991 | John Walters (England) |
| 1992 | Robert Fulford (England) |
| 1994 | Robert Fulford (England) |
| 1995 | Chris Clarke (England) |
| 1997 | Robert Fulford (England) |
|
Reg Bamford (South Africa) |
|
|
Robert Fulford (England) |
|
| 2005 | Reg Bamford (South Africa) |
| 2008 | Chris Clarke (England) |
| 2009 |
A complete list of venues and Australians that have competed is here.
The next World Croquet Championship will be played in Palm Beach (Florida, USA).
World Golf Croquet Championships
The winners of this event have been:
|
YEAR |
WINNER |
| 1996 | Khaled Younis (Egypt) |
| 1997 | Salah Hassan (Egypt) |
| 1998 | Khaled Younis (Egypt) |
| 2000 | Salah Hassan (Egypt) |
|
Khaled Younis (Egypt) |
|
|
Ahmed Nasr (Egypt) |
|
| 2006 | Mohammed Nasr (Egypt) |
| 2008 | Ahmed Nasr (Egypt) |
A complete list of Australians that have competed is here.
Women's World Golf Croquet Championships
The winners of this event have been:
|
YEAR |
WINNER |
|
Nahed Hassan (Egypt) |
|
| 2007 | Iman El Faransawi (Egypt) |
A complete list of Australians that have competed is here.
OTHER MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Sonoma Cutrer
From 1986 until 2003 the Sonoma Cutrer Winery in California conducted an annual international event for top players, usually selected by national associations. The event was unique being renowned not only for high quality play but also for its auction of wines with the proceeds going to held disadvantaged children.
Again Australia has been well represented and Australians have won this event twice (Alan Cleland from Victoria in 1990, and Michael Taylor also from Victoria in 1994).
