Ealing Croquet Club

Congratulations to Team Surrey for their outstanding performance in the AC Inter-County Championship this weekend. Captained by Samir Patel. they came top of the table with 9 out of 10 match wins. Middlesex, who boasted the highest ranked team in the event also had nine wins, but their one loss was to Surrey. Division 2 was won by Wiltshire who will be promoted to division 1 alongside Gloucestershire and Glamorgan.

The ERC European Golf Croquet Singles 2026 will commence tomorrow (Thursday 14 May) at Nottingham Croquet Club. The knockout stages of the event will be livestreamed on Saturday and Sunday. Visit the Croquet England YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/croquetengland) to subscribe and receive notification of when we are live.

Good luck to our England players:

Jack Good
Tim Russell
Stephen Mulliner
Richard Bilton
Euan Burridge
Mark Avery
Rachel Gee
Sam Cuthbert

Follow the scores >> https://croquetscores.com/2026/gc/erc-european-singles

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DMeV7811v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

They came… but they didn’t stay ?

I’ve spoken with many potential players over time—
people who were curious enough to come to a Come & Try Day…
but chose not to join and I have spoken to some who did join but left before their fee payment time had ended.

Not because croquet isn’t a great game.
Not because they couldn’t play.
But because of how it felt.
Some said it felt a little flat.
Some said it felt overly serious.

Some simply said… “it just wasn’t for me.”
And that’s the part worth thinking about.
Because croquet itself is anything but boring.
It’s tactical, social, skilful, and incredibly rewarding.
So when people walk away…
it’s rarely the game they’re leaving.

👉 It’s the experience.
And here’s the truth—
we don’t just lose potential new members that day…
we risk losing them for good.
The same applies to existing members too... yes that is right existing members!

Clubs don’t just need new players.
They need players who want to stay.
So the question is:
Are we showing the very best of what croquet can be…
or just hoping people will see it for themselves?
and are Committee members doing what they were elected to do? .... seriously?
💬 I’d genuinely love your thoughts—
What makes someone stay… and what quietly pushes them away?

(this image is one I have created and is used for image purpose only, it is not happening to this club, but is happening to a lot of Clubs in other areas and as part of the croquet community we have it within our power to stop it). What are Croquet Asscociations doing to help prevent it?

Reg Bamford is the 2025 Association Croquet World Champion

Defeating England’s Mark Avery, Reg Bamford, representing South Africa, took the title with a quick three wins in the final best of five match

Read the full article >> https://www.croquetengland.org.uk/news_and_media/reg-bamford-is-the-2025-association-croquet-world-champion/

Mark Avery is a 2025 World Championship Finalist
In his three straight five game match in a row, Mark has secured his place in the Association Croquet World Championship 2025 Final

Read the full article >> https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=press/news&NewsID=8970

Mark Avery progresses through the Croquet World Championship by winning against USA number 1 player, Matthew Essick, in a gripping five game quarter-final battle.

Croquet England’s CEO, Andy Dalby-Welsh, says “It’s not just me that’s been gripped by the drama of the World Championship, my two daughters have been watching alongside me, and we are all wishing Mark the best of luck for his next match. I must also congratulate the United States Croquet Association (USCA) for what is clearly an immaculately run tournament with spectacular livestream for the croquet community, and the public, to enjoy.”

Read the full article >> https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=press/news&NewsID=8970

We are all excited to be able to watch the 2025 Association Croquet World Championship. The USCA YouTube channel will be covering the entire event starting on Saturday 18 October. Follow the channel and get notified when the cameras are rolling >> https://www.youtube.com/@uscroquetassociation

16 Players remain in the World Championship being played in Florida. The event started with 72 hopeful players from 15 different countries.

A special message of encouragement comes from Mark Atkinson, Investor Relations Manager for Alliance Witan, who has been following the progress of some of the England players, having met them at the recent MacRobertson Squad Training event.

Mark says "It has been enlightening to see the players in action at a World Championship. Their expert precision and tactics are clear to see and of course helped by the welcome commentary from the livestream team. Good luck to the England players, especially those who are hoping their performances will secure their places in the England MacRobertson Shield Team 2026."

Watch the livestream >> https://www.youtube.com/