Best of 3 or 5 games At Managers Discretion

Competitors Practice: Cheltenham Lawns available for Practice all day.from 9.30am

Tournament Players Meeting at 5pm

The Opening Ceremony at 5.30pm including a free very light finger buffet & welcome drink. The Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire will attend as the Queen's representative & the Managing Director of Mitsubishi will be there too. There will be a couple of short speeches.

WCF Council Members Meeting at the East Gloucestershire Club Tennis Club, The Old Bath Road, Cheltenham, (adjoining the Cheltenham Croquet Club) commencing at 2.00pm.

WCF Quiz session for all those with a desire to ask that awkward question of the WCF Management Committee.

Tournament Barbecue at the Cheltenham Club at 7.30pm

Tuesday 9th August 2005

Sponsors' afternoon - 12.30pm - Jim Tyrrell (Managing Director Mitsubishi Motors UK) & 7 guests will attend the Cheltenham Club to have lunch & then to spend an afternoon playing a little golf croquet & watching the championships after lunch.

WCF Management Committee Meeting No 2. at the East Gloucestershire Club Tennis Club, The Old Bath Road, Cheltenham, (adjoining the Cheltenham Croquet Club) commencing at 2.00pm.

MacRobertson Shield Meeting

Players Dinner at "The Mayflower Chinese Restaurant", 32-34 Clarence Street, Cheltenham - full details available at the start of the championship. Arrive 7.45pm for an 8pm start.

Ken has bought to the sport great natural ability that has allowed him to quickly develop his skills, but his rapid improvement is not just a matter of ability; it has involved a willingness to listen and learn from other players and from his coaches. The resultant hard work Ken has put into the game has seen his playing skills improve significantly over the past 2 years.

The mix of executional skills in stroke play and advanced tactical knowledge of the game required at International level does not come easily. Ken realised that if was to move his games beyond that of being a good State player to an Australian player and to an International player he had to challenge himself to achieve at these higher levels of play. Ken certainly achieved this at Australian level in the recent national Championships.

Ian's most remarkable event occurred in the Australian Doubles of 2000 in Adelaide. In the opening game, Ian broke his zig-zag handled mallet and from then on had to rely on his partner Ashley Faulkner's straight handled mallet. Despite this, they went on to win the event.

Now living in Perth, Ian is a member of the Como and Forrest Park Croquet Clubs. In 2004, he played in the successful WA Team for the Eire Cup and also won the last Australian Gold Medal Event.

He represented Australia in MacRobertson Shield in 2003 (winning 4 out of 6 Singles) , and Trans Tasman 2004.

He reached the final 32 in the last Worlds in New Zealand 2002

He is married with 2 children, a chef at the Geelong Hospital. He is a Weight Watchers Leader, President of Belmont Croquet Club, Green Keeper at the Club, and a Swimming Teacher.

His favourite memory was doing 2Tp's in the last MacRobertson Shield International on the first day.

He has also represented New South Wales 10 times and South Australia 10 times in the interstate cup.

A welcome return to form in the last couple of years has seen his ranking improve sufficiently to be selected to represent Australia in the 2005 World Championships.

Mark and is wife Christine are both members of the Norwood Croquet Club in Adelaide

Leo McBride, a 54 year old teacher says he will be retiring after one more year of work. The father of three acknowledges his family have been very understanding and supportive in allowing him the space to pursue his croquet dream, with the vast distances involved in moving from Tournament to Tournament in North America.

That travel has not dampened either his enthusiasm or his competitive edge, having been Canadian Champion for five years and USCA Association Rules National winner on three occasions.

He started playing seriously in 1979 having watched the very first Croq-Can Tournament and he has been hooked ever since. Leo says that he has played a number of sports competitively and considers croquet as challenging as any of them which will undoubtedly be the case when he takes to the Cheltenham Lawns in August amongst the world best players.

Ben Ashwell

Mark Avery

To complement that he has also shown his easy going temperament in taking the Open Doubles Championship in 1985 and 1987 with WCF President , David Openshaw and again in 2003 with David Maugham.

This success has made him an easy selection for the Great Britain MacRobertson Shield winning teams of 1986, 1990 and 2003. In addition he has also regularly played in the annual Solomon Trophy match for Great Britain against the USA.

He was arguably denied his finest moment in 1989, losing narrowly to Joe Hogan in the 1st WCF World Championship at Hurlingham, England.

When not playing, he is to be found in the world of Property Management and Investment but he does find time to enjoy most other sports and in particular Scuba Diving.

Robin Brown (Wild Card)

Chris Clarke

A consistently high performer, this five times President Cup winner has represented Great Britain in the last four MacRobertson Shield winning teams (as Captain in 1996). He seems to relish the doubles game being 10 times Open Doubles Champion, (9 with Robert Fulford and 1 with David Maugham), whilst in 1997 he did it on his own, winning the Open Singles Championship.

On the World stage not only did he win the 1997 Sonoma WCC World Championship, he was the WCF World Croquet Champion in 1995 defeating Robert Fulford in the final in France.

Known for his penchant for laying odds on all manner of things, his liking for figures includes his job as a Transport Cost Analyst. A lover of Chinese and Thai food he is ideally placed to ensure that players, “who don’t play to the spirit of the game,” find themselves in the hot soy sauce.

Jeff Dawson (Wild Card)

James Death

Working as a bingo caller and stock controller he finds that his time available for croquet playing is limited, but he is still able to find the energy to play Ultimate Frisbee.

Mind you, it does catch up with him in the mornings and he has a strong dislike for any attempt at an early start to the day.

He does enjoy eating, drinking and watching all types of sport, but it his croquet roots that are strongest.

On the croquet front he has won honours including Junior and Student Championships, Mixed Doubles (with Gail Curry). He was Open Doubles semi-finalist (with Marcus Evans) and Southwest of England Champion.

He recently played for GB in the Solomon Trophy Team series against the USA.

Ed Duckworth (Wild Card)

Marcus Evans

Robert Fulford (HOLDER)

John Gibbons

A Latin scholar he will have the opportunity to say "veni, vidi, vici" and despite being a qualified pilot, keep his feet firmly on the ground to present a real test for the rest of the field.

He started playing croquet in 1998 winning the All England Handicap event in that same year. He went on to win the English Eastern Championship in 2003 and has since represented England and Great Britain in International matches.

The 2005 World Championship will be his third appearance at this level, having competed in 2001 and 2002 when he won the Plate Event in Wellington, New Zealand.

His other interests include golf, cricket, skiing and travel.

David Goacher

Renowned for his slow, deliberate play, ably supported by various appliances, he displays that gritty determination to succeed that has seen him overcome many an opponent.

A resident of Bristol he hopes he will have the opportunity to compete at his home club at least once in the Championship but he likes nothing better than meeting new people, travelling and eating good food.

He has no interest in computers, describing himself as a “technophobe” which in a sport seemingly dominated by players working in the IT industry, is surprising. Being spared the “blue screen of terror” though, does allow him the opportunity to compete in other sports. Most notable of them is the contrast in Captaining his local Badminton Club and playing Volleyball, each with their fast pace. However, when not on the croquet lawn he likes nothing better than meeting the challenge of Tournament Management.

His croquet accolades include winning the English Men’s Championship in 1996, English Northern (1996) and Southern (1992) Championships and regular appearances in the English “Eights” with 4 wins in the Chairman’s Tournament and being runner up in the President’s Cup .

Jerry Guest

Colin Irwin

Ian Lines

That is until recent times, when he has made rapid progress winning the Chairman’s Salver in 2004 and underlining the fact that he is one of those players that will fancy their chances in August. He will be in a small group of players that will attempt a sextuple peel whenever the position is favourable despite his overall cautious approach to the game. His risk management should be spot on, as he is a Risk Management Consultant specialising in advising on major hazard installations such a chemical plants and refineries.

When away from the lawn he is one of those that the sport needs by giving up his time to coach, organise tournaments and acting as Secretary of the North West Croquet Federation (of England). His other sporting interest lies in Badminton that fills the long winter months.

David Maugham

David has also been on 4 Macrobertson Shield winning Great Britain sides, and considers his best match to be the one in which he completed a TP to win the deciding game of the final match of the test against New Zealand when the scores were level.

Outside of croquet, David hopes to attain his black belt in ju-jitsu this year; is pursuing a degree in IT with the Open University; enjoys computer games; and has recently taken up modern jive dancing.

Stephen Mulliner

David Openshaw

Peter Trimmer

Resident in the English West Country town of Yeovil he works as an aircraft systems analyst, but enjoys writing, kung fu and mathematics.

He confesses to filling his time with acrobatic endeavours on a uni-cycle, although no witnesses have yet been found, whilst resolutely managing to remain single.

Thomas Magin 44 years, is a physician from Mannheim He has played Tournament Croquet since 1999. represented Germany before in croquet tournaments. In 2002 he was the winner of the Deutsche Meisterschaft Golf Croquet Championship. Since then he was the beaten finalist in the 2004 Deutsche Meisterschaft 2004 in Association Croquet although he and his partner won the doubles Championship that year. and also represented Germany in the “Retrolympics” in Heidelburg in the Association Croquet Doubles Tournament with Michael Scholl, eventually taking the bronze medal.

However, 46 year old, IT Manager, Kevin Wells, describes himself as a person that dislikes playing croquet with people that display an attitude of Traa-dy-lioor. Literally translated as, “time enough”, that local Manx folk lore sometimes depicts as, “manyana - but without the urgency”.

Bounded by the sea does create practical difficulties for him of not getting to play in enough croquet tournaments due to family commitments and the cost of getting off the Island, but this has not deterred him from venturing far and wide.

Marriage, and 3 children, aged 14, 13 and 6 has provided some respite from his dread of playing in a slow paced encounter but it has not stopped him from winning the Isle of Man championships in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Last September he was also runner up in the Plate event of the European Croquet Federation Championships in Jersey.

His other passions include driving his MX5 over the mountain part of the famous Isle of Man TT course and admiring Old English Sheepdogs

Married with two daughters, he has been playing croquet for 18 years and won the Japan Open Championship in 1990,1996,1998,1999,2001,2002, 2003 and 2004. He has previously played in the WCF World Croquet Championships of 1991, 1997 and 2002 as the Japanese Champion.

His hobbies are travelling and gardening.

Matt is always one to watch. He never gives up and will fight till the end.

A qualifier for the 2002 Worlds and the 2004 Golf Croquet Worlds he is also a past winner of the NZ Open Doubles.

His pastimes and hobbies include ethnomusicology, anthropometry, the black bottom, negritude and anemology.

A versatile player, Dennis was a bronze medalist at the Worlds in 2001 and a Silver Medalist at the World Golf Croquet in 2004. Dennis played in the 2002 World Championship, the 2003 MacRobertson Shield and was NZ Open Champion in 2004.

Dennis enjoys travel, theatre, reading, movies, badminton and bridge.

A student from Christchurch he has been playing croquet 6 years and has been fortunate to have as a mentor the legendary John Prince. Paddy was a reserve for the Trans Tasman in 2004 and is playing in the NZ A Team against Australia A in May 2005. Paddy won the NZ School Age Tournament in 2001 and the Canterbury Open in 2004.

He enjoys the piano, dogs and computers and the croquet highlight for him is being selected for the 2005 Worlds.

Living in Wellington, he is a market analyst for a New Zealand Trading Bank. Toby has been playing for 12 years and has played in the MacRobertson Shield Team Tournament in 2000 and 2003 (the latter as Captain), Trans Tasman in 1999 and 2001, World Championship 2001 and 2002 and Sonoma World Championship in 1997, 1998 and 2000. NZ Open Champion 2001 and NZ Top 10 Winner 1999 and 2003.

His impressive record indicates that when the time comes to assess those that will seriously challenge for the title a lot of people will look to him to be the person of the moment.

He represented NZ in the 2004 Trans Tasman and is a previous winner of the NZ Doubles Championship, the NZ Mixed Doubles, the Arthur Ross national handicap Final twice and the NZ North Island Open.

Away from croquet, his pastimes are Soccer, Mozart and the bossa nova.

She is currently working as accountant in Christchurch but finds time for her other interests including hockey, mountain biking and outdoor recreation.

Living in Wellington he has been playing croquet since 1970 and has represented New Zealand in the MacRobertson Shield Team Tournament in 1982, WCF World Championship in 1990 and Sonoma World Championship in 1991.

His pastimes include music, photography and genealogy and his achievements in Croquet include NZ Mens Champion 1982 and 1984, NZ Doubles Champion 1984. In 2000 he was elected a life member of the NZCC.

Rutger Beijderwellen(Wild Card)

An office manager for a small estate agency established in
1947 she also enjoys music, sunshine, long walks, lots of laughs and seeing old friends again, and of course playing croquet.

Playing for 18 years, she has represented South Africa in an International match against Japan in 1997. She was National Champion in 2003 with other honours narrowly evading her as she was runner up in two Western Province Open Championships (one in the doubles tournament) and the very first Riggall Gold Trophy.

Although it will not happen this forthcoming Championship, it is almost inevitable that in time, William Louw will meet his brother Wynand in competitive play representing different countries!

Whilst brother Wynand was busy emigrating to the USA, 29 year old William became an Audit Manager at a firm of Chartered Accountants in South Africa.

Having started playing the sport 13 years ago, he has won the South Africa Championship and is currently the holder of the prestigious Riggall Gold Trophy.

William’s other interests are reading, pool, Kung Fu, and tasting different foods, saving his main dislike for his inability to travel and engage in more competitive tournaments.

He was also a key member of the Spanish team in the 2000 WCF World 14 point Association Croquet Team Championship held in Milan.

Not a player to give his opponents an easy time, he has demonstrated his croquet playing credentials being currently ranked as Number 1 in Switzerland, Swiss Champion, Swiss 14pt Champion and the Swiss Open Champion.

Not only is he the secretary of the Arizona Croquet Club, but also the Blind Squirrels Billiard Club and not forgetting MARCA Amateur Radio Corporation. His work with them does not stop him from actually playing the game though. Currently champion of the North American Open of Sonoma-Cutrer, and the US Open Championships he has progressed to be on the fringe of the top 100 in the world.

In what is left of his spare time he is an electrical engineer who designs integrated circuits for Freescale Semiconductor Inc. Paul is also a member of the Kentucky Wyndotte and Mission Hills Croquet Clubs

Whilst many a golfer has lost balls in the Blue Grass, 40 year old Curtis knows exactly where his priorities lay. Play with bigger balls!

Married to his wife Charlotte and with a daughter, Courtney, despite owning a structural steel fabrication shop in Owenboro and claiming that it is a hobby, he somehow has forged enough free time to take on the croquet world.

His first American rules tournament outside Kentucky was the February 2000 Arizona Open where he won First Flight Singles and Open Doubles.

He followed this up by playing his first Association Croquet tournament in July of 2001 in the Minnesota Open which he won.

With this success, in 2002 he played on the Solomon Team and also represented the US at the 2002 World Championships in New Zealand where he was the highest placing American.

In October of 2003, Curtis was a member of America’s MacRobertson Shield team, helping them to a creditable third place.

Earlier this year, Curtis was a member of the USA’s 2005 Solomon Team where notably, he defeated current world number one, Robert Fulford, 2-0.

Curtis is the current US Golf Croquet Nationals Champion

Following a brief, but critically acclaimed cameo appearance in the cult movie favourite, "Boogie Nights", Doug left the bright lights of Hollywood behind to pursue his first love----the quest for the perfect tuna!

Aboard his lovingly restored trawler, the "Fluffy One", he spent the subsequent years trolling the Mighty Potomac, practicing croquet, and showering often.

In a short, but inspired period of play (or as some have speculated--after a pact with the devil), Doug managed to win the 2003 USCA National Championship on a lucky shot. His additional successes have been both sporadic and mildly entertaining at best, but he continues to strive for the elusive "perfect game".... though often settles for praying that his opponent will self-destruct.

Although he does not intend to run the length of Manhattan to get his reward he will be a competitive threat to the other entrants.

After graduation from Kent School, Monmouth School in Wales, and the University of Pennsylvania he worked in the newspaper business and ended his career in 1990 as Publisher of the New Haven Register and Journal Courier.

At that time, he and his wife, Josie, set off on a world cruise on their sailboat. It was in New Zealand that they discovered the proper game of croquet and began competing in the six wicket game. Stewart earned fourth place in the NZCC Nationals A division, and a silver badge in the Northland A division in 1992.

Other than competing in the 2003 World Golf Croquet Championships, this will be his first international croquet event.

Taking a sabbatical from the Chicago-based leadership development company he founded after business school graduation, Mike discovered tournament croquet in 2000 and has been enthusiastically playing ever since. In his croquet career (to date), Mike is most proud of taking less than 52 weeks to make his way from a 5 handicap to a -0.5 handicap his first year playing. Mike agreed to retire from retirement in January of 2004 in order to take over as CEO of the National Croquet Centre in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is distressed to report that he has played less croquet since taking up residence in an office with 5 acres of croquet lawn for a back garden, than at any time in his croquet career.

He enjoys all forms of croquet: American Rules, Association Croquet, Golf Croquet, and his particular favourite, One-ball. Kenster has represented the USA on numerous occasions including the 2003 MacRobertson Shield team. He is the current American Rules National Doubles Champion along with his good pal, Mike Jenner. When not on the croquet court Kenster enjoys jogging, billiards, darts, squash, biking, fishing, and sleight-of-hand magic. Whatever you do, don't let him flip the coin to start a match!

After finding Tournament Croquet in 1983. he just pulled up stakes and moved 1000 miles from Kansas City, Missouri to Phoenix, Arizona. Now there’s dedication.

He got his break into international play in 1987 at the first Wine Country Invitational (later known as the Sonoma-Cutrer World Championship) and in 1990 tied for third in the second WCF World Championship. He has been a member of 14 USA croquet teams, has competed in the WCF World Championship no less than 8 times and the Sonoma-Cutrer World Championship 10 times. He was the winner of the first Resort Invitational in Welches Oregon.

Jerry is married and has two children. He has been the Director of Croquet at the luxurious resort Meadowood Napa Valley located in the wine country of Northern California for the last 15 years. Introducing guests there to what he calls the "grown-up" game of croquet. His other interests include golf, darts and Texas Hold'em poker.