The WCF Laidlaw World Golf Croquet Championship was held in Cape Town, South Africa.
8th - 16th March 2008
Champion: Ahmed Nasr (Egypt) 
| Group A | ||||||||||
| AN | JC | IL | JC | OE | DD | Mc | JW | Wins | Position | |
| A.Nasr (EGY) | 7-3, 7-6 | 7-2, 4-7 7-4 |
7-4, 7-4 | 7-4, 7-6 | 7-2, 7-5 | 7-4, 7-2 | 7-5, 7-2 | 7 | 1 | |
| J.Clarke (NZ) | 3-7, 6-7 | 4-7, 7-5 7-6 |
7-6, 5-7 7-3 |
5-7, 3-7 | 7-2, 7-2 | 7-2, 4-7 7-1 |
4 | 3= | ||
| I.Lines (ENG) | 2-7, 7-4 4-7 |
7-4, 5-7 6-7 |
7-4, 7-2 | 7-6, 7-3 | 6-7, 7-4 7-4 |
7-5, 7-6 | 7-4, 7-4 | 5 | 2 | |
| J.Christie (NZ) | 4-7, 4-7 | 7-1, 4-7 7-5 |
4-7, 2-7 | 5-7, 7-5 4-7 |
3-7, 4-7 | 7-6, 7-5 | 7-4, 5-7 7-5 |
3 | 6 | |
| O.Edwards (AUS) | 4-7, 4-6 | 6-7, 7-5 3-7 |
6-7, 3-7 | 7-6, 5-7 7-4 |
2-7, 7-4 7-4 |
7-4, 3-7 7-5 |
7-5, 7-6 | 4 | 3= | |
| D.Dray (ENG) | 2-7, 5-7 | 7-5, 7-3 | 7-6, 4-7 4-7 |
7-3, 7-4 | 7-2, 4-7 4-7 |
7-6, 7-2 | 3-7,7-4 7-5 |
4 | 3= | |
| M.McClure (NZ) | 2-7, 4-7 | 2-7, 2-7 | 5-7, 6-7 | 6-7, 5-7 | 4-7, 7-3 5-7 |
6-7, 2-7 | 7-4, 7-6 | 1 | 7 | |
| J.Walker (SCO) | 5-7, 2-7 | 2-7, 7-4 1-7 |
4-7, 4-7 | 4-7, 7-5 5-7 |
5-7, 6-7 | 7-3, 4-7 5-7 |
4-7, 6-7 | 0 | 8 | |
| Group B | ||||||||||
| KY | SA | DD | KB | IB | DS | GT | VT | Wins | Position | |
| K.Younnis (EGY) | 7-3, 4-7 7-2 |
7-4, 7-5 | 7-5, 7-4 | 7-3, 7-3 | 7-6, 7-3 | 7-0, 7-6 | 7-5, 7-4 | 7 | 1 | |
| S.Abdelwahab (USA) | 3-7, 7-4 2-7 |
7-5, 2-7 7-6 |
7-5, 7-5 | 2-7, 7-5 7-4 |
6-7, 7-2 7-5 |
7-3, 7-5 | 7-3, 7-2 | 6 | 2 | |
| D.Dixon (NZ) | 4-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 7-2 6-7 |
6-7, 4-7 | 7-5, 7-6 | 7-6, 4-7 7-5 |
7-1, 7-1 | 7-0, 5-7 7-3 |
4 | 4 | |
| K.Beard (AUS) | 5-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 5-7 | 7-6, 7-4 | 3-7, 7-3 7-2 |
7-5, 7-4 | 7-5, 7-4 | 7-3, 7-3 | 5 | 3 | |
| I.Brand (ENG) | 3-7, 3-7 | 7-2, 5-7 4-7 |
5-7, 6-7 | 7-3, 3-7 2-7 |
7-5, 7-4 | 7-4, 6-5(T) | 7-5, 5-7 7-5 |
3 | 5 | |
| D.Strover (ENG) | 6-7, 3-7 | 7-6, 2-7 5-7 |
6-7, 7-4 5-7 |
5-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 4-7 | 1-7, 7-6 7-4 |
6-7, 7-3 7-4 |
2 | 6 | |
| G.Tomes (RSA) | 0-7, 6-7 | 3-7, 5-7 | 1-7, 1-7 | 5-7, 4-7 | 4-7, 5-6(T) | 7-1, 6-7 4-7 |
2-7, 5-7 | 0 | 8 | |
| V.Tomes (RSA) | 5-7, 4-7 | 3-7, 2-7 | 0-7, 7-5 3-7 |
3-7, 3-7 | 5-7, 7-5 5-7 |
7-6, 3-7 4-7 |
7-2, 7-5 |
1 | 7 | |
| Group C | ||||||||||
| MN | SA | TS | MH | PB | JL | TW | MC | Wins | Position | |
| M.Nasr (EGY) | 7-6, 7-5 | 6-7, 7-3 7-4 |
7-3, 7-1 | 7-2, 7-2 | 7-3, 7-2 | 7-0, 7-4 | 7-5, 7-3 | 7 | 1 | |
| S.Aziz (EGY) | 6-7, 5-7 | 3-7, 7-6 5-7 |
6-7, 7-2 2-7 |
7-2, 7-2 | 7-6, 6-7 6-7 |
7-6, 7-6 | 5-7, 7-6 6-4(T) |
3 | 4= | |
| T.Stephens (NZ) | 7-6, 3-7 4-7 |
7-3, 6-7 7-5 |
3-7, 7-5 7-3 |
5-7,7-5, 7-5 |
7-3, 4-7 7-4 |
7-4, 5-7 7-5 |
5-7, 7-4 2-7 |
5 | 2 | |
| M.Hamilton (ENG) | 3-7, 1-7 | 7-6, 2-7 7-2 |
7-3, 5-7 3-7 |
6-7, 3-7 | 7-6, 7-3 | 7-4, 5-7 7-4 |
7-2, 2-7 7-5 |
4 | 3 | |
| P.Beaudry (BEL) | 2-7, 2-7 | 2-7, 2-7 | 7-5, 5-7, 5-7 |
7-6, 7-3 | 7-4, 2-7 7-6 |
4-7, 7-6 5-7 |
7-5, 7-4 | 3 | 4= | |
| J.Levick (AUS) | 3-7, 2-7 | 6-7, 7-6 7-6 |
3-7, 7-4 4-7 |
6-7, 3-7 | 4-7, 7-2 6-7 |
6-7, 7-4 7-3 |
? | 2 | 6 | |
| T.Weston (ENG) | 0-7, 4-7 | 6-7, 6-7 | 4-7, 7-5 5-7 |
4-7, 7-5 4-7 |
7-4, 6-7 7-5 |
7-6, 4-7 3-7 |
7-2, 7-2 | 1 | 7= | |
| M.Corcoran (RSA) | 5-7, 3-7 | 7-5, 6-7 4-6(T) |
7-5, 4-7 7-2 |
2-7, 7-2 5-7 |
5-7, 4-7 | ? | 2-7, 2-7 | 1 | 7= | |
| Group D | ||||||||||
| AE | HA | PB | EN | DR | CV | PJ | TM | Wins | Position | |
| A.Elmahdi (EGY) | 7-2, 7-2 | 7-5, 7-1 | 7-1, 5-7, 7-2 |
7-4, 7-4 | 7-1, 7-4 | 7-3, 7-4 | 7-2, 7-1 | 7 | 1 | |
| H.Abdelgayad (EGY) | 2-7, 2-7 | 7-5, 7-5 | 7-4, 6-7 7-3 |
7-5, 7-6 | 7-5, 7-5 | 7-5, 7-3 | 7-2, 7-2 | 6 | 2 | |
| P.Batchelor (NZ) | 5-7, 1-7 | 5-7, 5-7 | 4-7, 7-4 4-7 |
7-4, 4-7 7-4 |
7-2, 7-3 | 3-7, 7-3, 7-4 | 5-7, 7-5 3-7 |
3 | 4= | |
| E.Newell (IRE) | 1-7, 7-5, 2-7 |
4-7, 7-6 3-7 |
7-4, 4-7 7-4 |
7-6, 5-7 3-7 |
7-4, 7-5 | 6-7, 7-6 7-2 |
7-5, 7-4 | 4 | 3 | |
| D.Reyland (NZ) | 4-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 6-7 | 4-7, 7-4 4-7 |
6-7, 7-5 7-3 |
5-7, 7-6 3-7 |
6-7, 7-4 6-7 |
7-5, 7-6 | 2 | 6= | |
| C.Vries (RSA) | 1-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 5-7 | 2-7, 3-7 | 4-7, 5-7 | 7-5, 6-7 7-3 |
5-7, 7-5 3-7 |
7-3, 7-6 | 2 | 6= | |
| P.Johnson (RSA) | 3-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 3-7 | 7-3, 3-7 4-7 |
7-6, 6-7 2-7 |
7-6, 4-7 7-6 |
7-5, 5-7 7-3 |
7-6, 5-7 7-3 |
3 | 4= | |
| T.Magin (GER) | 2-7, 1-7 | 2-7, 2-7 | 7-5, 5-7 7-3 |
5-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 6-7 | 3-7, 6-7 | 6-7, 7-5 3-7 |
1 | 8 | |
| Group E | ||||||||||
| YE | ME | KG | NM | JS | CJ | KG | JG | Wins | Position | |
| Y.Esmat (EGY) | 7-2, 6-7 7-5 |
7-4, 7-2 | 7-6, 7-5 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7-6, 6-7 7-5 |
7-4, 7-3 | 7-2, 7-5 | 7 | 1 | |
| M.Evans (ENG) | 2-7, 7-6 5-7 |
1 - 3 | 7-2, 7-4 | 7-6, 7-3 | 6-7, 7-4, 5-7 | 7-5, 7-5 | 7-5, 6-7 7-0 |
4 | 3= | |
| K.Golfhoffer (AUT) | 4-7, 2-7 | 3 - 1 | 7-3, 7-5 | 7-5, 7-4 | 7-1, 5-7 7-4 |
7-6, 7-2 | 5-7, 7-6 7-5 |
6 | 2 | |
| N.Morrow (NZ) | 6-7, 5-7 | 2-7, 4-7 | 3-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 7-2 5-7 |
4-7, 7-5 5-7 |
4-7, 7-6 6-7 |
7-4, 3-7 2-7 |
0 | 8 | |
| J.Spiers (ENG) | 4-7, 5-7 | 6-7, 3-7 | 5-7, 4-7 | 7-5, 2-7 7-5 |
6-7, 0-7 | 3-7, 7-3 7-6 |
7-2, 6-7 7-3 |
3 | 5 | |
| C.Jackson (RSA) | 6-7, 7-6 5-7 |
7-6, 4-7 7-5 |
1-7, 7-5 4-7 |
7-4, 5-7 7-5 |
7-6, 7-0 | 4-7, 6-7 | 7-3, 7-3 | 4 | 3= | |
| K.Garrad IOM) | 4-7, 3-7 | 5-7, 5-7 | 6-7, 2-7 | 7-4, 6-7 7-6 |
7-3, 3-7 6-7 |
7-4, 7-6 | 5-7, 7-5 2-7 |
2 | 6= | |
| J.Guermont (FRA) | 2-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 7-6 0-7 |
7-5, 6-7 5-7 |
4-7, 7-3 7-2 |
2-7, 7-6 3-7 |
3-7, 3-7 | 7-5, 5-7 7-2 |
2 | 6= | |
| Group F | ||||||||||
| RB | SN | DO | JH | PD | AK | CS | RJ | Wins | Position | |
| R.Bamford(RSA) | 7-3, 6-7 7-5 |
7-1, 7-4 | 7-4, 7-6 | 7-4, 7-3 | 7-3, 7-4 | 7-2, 7-2 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7 | 1 | |
| S.Nafee (EGY) | 3-7, 7-6 5-7 |
7-3, 3-7 7-3 |
7-4, 7-5 | 7-6, 7-5 | 7-6, 7-1 | 7-4, 7-3 | 7-3, 7-1 | 6 | 2 | |
| D.Openshaw (ENG) | 1-7, 4-7 | 3-7, 7-3 3-7 |
2-7, 6-7 | 7-2, 7-5 | 7-6, 7-2 | 7-4, 5-7 7-3 |
7-3, 7-5 | 4 | 3= | |
| J.Hogan (NZ) | 4-7, 6-7 | 4-7, 5-7 | 7-2, 7-6 | 5-7, 7-3 6-7 |
7-4, 6-7 7-2 |
won | 7-5, 7-4 | 4 | 3= | |
| P.Drew (NZ) | 4-7, 3-7 | 6-7, 5-7 | 2-7, 5-7 | 7-5, 3-7 7-6 |
7-4, 7-4 | 7-3, 7-4 | 7-3, 7-5 | 4 | 3= | |
| A.Kirsten (GER) | 3-7, 4-7 | 6-7, 1-7 | 6-7, 2-7 | 4-7, 7-6 2-7 |
4-7, 4-7 | 2-7, 7-5 7-4 |
5-6(T),3-5(T) | 1 | 7 | |
| C.Stableford (RSA) | 2-7, 2-7 | 4-7, 3-7 | 4-7, 7-5 3-7 |
lost | 3-7, 4-7 | 7-2, 5-7 4-7 |
5-7, 6-7 | 0 | 8 | |
| R.Johnston (AUS) | 4-7, 5-7 | 3-7, 1-7 | 3-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 4-7 | 3-7, 5-7 | 6-5(T),5-3(T) | 7-6, 7-5 | 2 | 6 | |
| Group G | ||||||||||
| AB | CC | TK | PP | WL | DB | JS | DU | Wins | Position | |
| A.Baher (EGY) | 4-7, 6-7 | 5-7, 7-2 7-6 |
7-6, 7-4 | 7-1, 7-6 | 7-3, 7-6 | 7-3, 7-6 | 7-3, 7-4 | 6 | 2 | |
| C.Clarke (ENG) | 7-4, 7-6 | 7-3, 7-3 | 7-4, 3-7 7-5 |
7-1, 7-5 | 7-2, 7-5 | 7-3, 7-3 | 7-2, 7-3 | 7 | 1 | |
| T.King (ENG) | 7-5, 2-7 6-7 |
3-7, 3-7 | 5-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 7-5 7-2 |
7-5, 7-6 | 6-7, 7-4, 7-5 |
6-7, 7-3 7-3 |
4 | 3= | |
| P de Petra (ITA) | 6-7, 4-7 | 4-7, 7-3 5-7 |
7-5, 7-4 | 7-6, 7-3 | 3-7, 7-4 6-7 |
7-3, 7-5 | 7-0, 7-4 | 4 | 3= | |
| Wm.Louw (RSA) | 1-7, 6-7 | 1-7, 5-7 | 7-5, 5-7 2-7 |
6-7, 3-7 | 7-3, 7-5 | 7-2, 7-3 | 7-5, 3-7 7-6 |
3 | 5 | |
| D.Boyd (RSA) | 3-7, 6-7 | 2-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 6-7 | 7-3, 4-7 7-6 |
3-7, 5-7 | 3-7, 7-3 5-7 |
7-6, ? | 2 | 6= | |
| J.Shorten (IRE) | 3-7, 6-7 | 3-7, 3-7 | 7-6, 4-7 5-7 |
3-7, 5-7 | 2-7, 3-7 | 7-3, 3-7 7-5 |
7-4, 7-2 | 2 | 6= | |
| D.Underhill (SWI) | 3-7, 4-7 | 2-7, 3-7 | 7-6, 3-7 3-7 |
0-7, 4-7 | 5-7, 7-3 6-7 |
6-7, ? | 4-7, 2-7 | 0 | 8 | |
| Group H | ||||||||||
| SM | SH | AP | AV | DH | TH | VD | KH | Wins | Position | |
| S.Mulliner (ENG) | 7-6, 2-7 7-4 |
7-5, 7-5 | 7-3, 7-6 | 7-3, 7-3 | 7-6, 7-3 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7-1, 7-2 | 7 | 1 | |
| S.Hassan (EGY) | 6-7, 7-2 4-7 |
7-4, 7-6 | 7-5, 7-6 | 7-2, 7-6 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7-6, 3-7 7-5 |
7-4, 7-2 | 6 | 2 | |
| A.Pravettoni (ITA) | 5-7, 5-7 | 4-7, 6-7 | 4-7, 5-7 | 6-7, 6-7 | 7-5, 4-7 7-6 |
6-7, 4-7 | 7-6, 7-5 | 2 | 6= | |
| A.Varnas (SWE) | 3-7, 6-7 | 5-7, 6-7 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7-3, 7-4 | 7-2, 3-7 7-6 |
7-3, 6-7 7-3 |
7-4, 7-4 | 5 | 3 | |
| D.Hopkins (ENG) | 3-7, 3-7 | 2-7, 6-7 | 7-6, 7-6 | 3-7, 4-7 | 6-7, 4-7 | 7-5, 5-7 0-7 |
1-7, 7-3 7-3 |
2 | 6= | |
| T.Hall (AUS) | 6-7, 3-7 | 4-7, 5-7 | 5-7, 7-4 6-7 |
2-7, 7-3 6-7 |
7-6, 7-4 | 7-4, 7-5 | 7-4, 7-4 | 3 | 4= | |
| V.Dladla (RSA) | 4-7, 5-7 | 6-7, 7-3 5-7 |
7-6, 7-4 | 3-7, 7-6 3-7 |
5-7, 7-5 7-0 |
4-7, 5-7 | 7-4, 7-5 | 3 | 4= | |
| K.Ham (WAL) | 1-7, 2-7 | 4-7, 2-7 | 6-7, 5-7 | 4-7, 4-7 | 7-1, 3-7 3-7 |
4-7, 4-7 | 4-7, 5-7 | 0 | 8 |
Mohammed Nasr (Egypt) bt Carole Jackson (SA) 7-1 7-3
Anton Varnas (Sweden) bt Tony Stephens (NZ) 7-2 7-6
Paolo De Petra(Italy) bt Klaus Gollhoffer(Austria) 7-2 3-7 7-1
Yasser Esmat (Egypt) bt Tony Hall (Australia) 4-7 7-2 7-6
Reg Bamford (RSA) bt Evan Newall (IRE) 7-5, 7-3
Sherif Nafee (Egypt) bt Jenny Clarke (NZ) 7-5 7-4
Duncan Dixon (NZ) bt David Openshaw (Eng) 7-6 3-7 7-4
Ahmed el Mahdi (Egypt) bt Tim King (Eng) 7-3 7-4
Khalid Younis (Egypt) bt Peter Batchelor (NZ) 7-2 7-1
Sherif Abdelwahab (USA) bt Joe Hogan (NZ) 4-7 7-4 7-1
Kevin Beard (Australia) bt Salah Hassan (Egypt) 7-3 4-7 7-3
Chris Clarke (Eng) bt Owen Edwards (Australia) 7-5 5-7 7-3
Stephen Mulliner (ENG) bt Shoukry Aziz (EGY) 7-4, 6-7, 7-2
Helmi Abdelgayad (EGY) bt Marcus Evans (ENG) 7-5, 7-6
Amr Baher (EGY) bt Ian Lines (ENG) 7-4, 7-4
Ahmed Nasr (EGY) bt Mark Hamilton (ENG) 7-2, 7-3
2nd Round Knock-Out
Mohammed Nasr (EGY) bt Anton Varnas (SWE) 5-7, 7-4, 7-2
Yasser Esmat (EGY) bt Paolo de Petra (ITA) 7-6, 7-5
Reg Bamford (RSA) bt Sherif Nafee (EGY) 5-7, 7-4, 7-6
Ahmed Almahdi (EGY) bt Duncan Dixon (NZ) 7-4, 7-4
Khaled Younis (EGY) bt Sherif Abdelwahab (USA) 7-4, 7-4
Chris Clarke (ENG) bt Kevin Beard (AUS) 7-2, 7-6
Helmi Abdelgayad (EGY) by Stephen Mulliner (ENG) 7-3, 7-6
Ahmed Nasr (EGY) bt Amr Baher (EGY) 7-5, 1-7, 7-6
Quarter-Final Stage
Mohammed Nasr (EGY) bt Yasser Esmat (EGY) 7-3, 7-5
Reg Bamford (RSA) bt Ahmed el Mahdi (EGY) 4-7, 7-5, 7-6
Chris Clarke (ENG) by Khalid Younis (EGY) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6
Ahmed Nasr (EGY) bt Helmi Abdelgayad (EGY) 4-7, 7-4, 7-3
Semi-Final Stage
Reg Bamford (RSA) bt Mohamed Nasr (EGY) 7-5, 7-4
Ahmed Nasr(EGY) bt Chris Clarke (ENG) 7-5, 3-7, 7-6
Final
Ahmed Nasr (EGY) bt Reg Bamford (RSA) 7-6, 7-4, 2-7, 7-2
Plate Quarter-Final Stage
J Levick (AUS) bt T King (ENG) 7-6, 7-3
I Lines (ENG) bt T Hall (AUS) 7-4, 6-5 (T)
P Batchelor (NZ) bt A Pravettoni (ITA) 7-5, 5-7, 7-1
J Spiers (ENG) bt W Louw (RSA) 6-5 (T), 2-7, 5-4 (T)
Plate Event Semi-Final Stage
Ian Lines (ENG) bt John Levick (AUS)
Peter Batchelor (NZ) bt John Spiers (ENG)
Plate Event -Final
Ian Lines (ENG) beat Peter Batchelor (NZ) 7-5, 7-5
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The Plate event at the WCF GC World Championship will be organised differently to the WCF Sports Regulations.
The following format has been agreed by the WCF Management Committee and all players will be advised of this format at the players meeting.
The following players will be eligible for the plate:-
- those not qualifying for the KO stage;
- those losing in the first round of The KO.
The event will be played as a flexible Swiss followed by a KO stage.
Pre-Tournament Information
The World Croquet Federation has awarded the hosting of this prestigeous event to the South African Croquet Association.
Title Patron: Lord Laidlaw
Other Patrons:Reginald Bamford
Sponsors: Fleur du Cap wines and Durbanville Hills wines, Barlow Croquet and John Jaques and Son Limited,
Secondary Sponsors: Midas Group Eastern Cape
The event is centred at the Kelvin Grove Croquet Club, Newlands, Cape Town which has four excellent courts. Kelvin Grove is overlooked by Devil’s Peak and is next door to the famous Newlands Cricket Club and the Newlands Rugby Ground.
Additional matches will be played at Rondebosch Croquet Club which has three courts and is 10 minutes walking distance from Kelvin Grove, Helderberg Croquet Club with its two bowling and one croquet court 5km from Somerset West and Somerset West Croquet Club itself which has three courts (with a fourth currently being built) and is approximately a 40 minutes drive from Cape Town.
History of Croquet in South Africa
The Championship shall be played in accordance with the WCF Rules of Golf Croquet (2007) edition and the WCF Sports Regulations as amended from time to time.
Barlow balls will be used
Play will commence each day at 09.00hrs, but subject to the Tournament Managers discretion, may commence at 08.30hrs. It is expected that play will continue until dusk, which in the Cape area is approximately 19.15hrs.
No floodlighting will be used.
Registration of players will take place from 1600 on Friday 7th March. This will be followed by a players meeting at 1630. The formal opening of the tournament, with live entertainment will follow on. SACA will then host a typical South African Braai for all the players, their partners and dignitaries.
All matches played in this Championship shall be added to the WCF recognised Golf Croquet World Rankings
Immunisations
A query has arisen concerning the advisability of taking precautions for various illnesses that may befall a person whilst in South Africa.
According to some advice, vaccine is recommended for various serious illnesses for those taking proposed or repeated visits to South Africa.
SACA has advised that for Cape Town no immunisation is required. For those visiting the Kruger National Park area you are advised to take anti malaria tablets.
All players and others visiting the event should acquaint themselves with likely risks and take appropriate precautions including asking for advice, where appropriate, from their own General Medical Practitioner.
A useful web site of information, one of many, can be found at NetDoctor.
Qualification Tournament
A Qualifying Tournament will be held on 2 - 5 March at the Fish Hoek Croquet Club, Fish Hoek. The top 4 places will qualify to play in the World Championship.
Entries for this tournament may be made to the President SACA, Kildare House, 40 Palmboom Road, Newlands, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa, or by email.
Closing date will be 15th February 2008.
The entry fee will be R550 and may be paid on arrival. Those players that qualify will pay an additional 20 GBP to WCF for entry to the main event.
The manager will be Carole Jackson, and the ROT David Boyd. Double banking will be used. Time limits may be applied depending on entries.
Accommodation can be found at reasonable prices at the 3 star Avenue Hotel or its sister hotel the 4 star Constantia House, both can be found on www.avenuehotel.co.za . Both are within a km of the Fish Hoek Croquet Club and well within walking distance.
Other B&B’s are available if required by contacting Ken Wheeler.
If transport is required from the airport then please indicate arrival time and airline once known and SACA will attempt to do their best to organise transport to Fish Hoek.
Warm Up events
The South Africa Croquet Association are holding the Western Province Championships ealier than normal.
The Association Croquet event will be played 2nd -9th February 2008 to be played at Rondebosch.
The Golf Croquet event will be played 18th -22nd February 2008 to be played at Somerset West.
Players wishing to enter either of these events should contact Carole Jackson.
Closing date for both is January 1st 2008.
In addition:-
The Country Club Johannesburg is making its four excellent full-size lawns available for a warm up/practice/acclimatisation event during the previous week, between 1st and 6th March (these dates flexible as far as individual players are concerned.)
The Club has (limited) in-house accommodation at The Lodge and, if demand exceeds supply, there are many nearby excellent bed and breakfast establishments - in either case, at around R500 to R600 per night.
The added bonus is that all players are welcome to use the Club's many superb facilities including the pool, gym, restaurants, etc. - have a look at the website: www.ccj.co.za and click on "Auckland Park".
Individual car hire will not be necessary - the CCJ can arrange transfers to and from the airport and local taxis if required.
Many airlines offer a stop-over at Johannesburg as a free option on flights from overseas to Cape Town.
If you are interested please contact Esther Jones.
Australia: (5 players) 
France: (1 player) 
Germany: (2 players) 
Ireland: (2 players) 
Isle of Man: (1 player) 
Italy: (2 players) 
New Zealand: (10 players) 
Sweden: (1 player) 
Switzerland: (1 player) 
USA: (1 player) 
Wales: (1 player)
The overall Event Management of the Tournament is under the joint control of the WCF and the South African Croquet Association.
Tournament Officials are:-
Tournament Manager: Ken Wheeler
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Coming belatedly to the game, Ken plays croquet in both England and South Africa. A member of Hunstanton, he plays mainly Association around East Anglia during the English summer, then hibernates to South Africa during the winter, where Golf croquet is the dominant code of the game.
Ken has always been involved in the administration of sport and at his club, Fishhoek, led a major expansion of the membership during three years as president. Elected onto the reformed SACA (following the death of Brian Bamford) is now serving a third year as Vice President.
He has supported SACA's bid to host the 2008 Worlds and looks forward to managing an exciting championship at a wonderful venue. |
Tournament Referee: Peter Millson
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English born Peter Millson is the senior Golf Croquet referee in South Africa and chairman of the thriving Somerset West Croquet Club. He has served on both the South African Croquet Association Committee and on the Western Province Croquet Association (as Vice-President).
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The entry fee to the Championship is £60 (GBP) per player.
For member nominations and semi-finalists for the last event the entry fee shall be paid prior to the members closing date of 20th August 2007.
For Wild Card places accepted by the WCF, the entry fee shall be paid prior to 1st December 2007.
For easy payment, click on the card logo below and you will be taken to our exchange affiliate, "Paypal".
All costs transferring funds will be paid by the WCF.
Once you have made payment please send an email to the WCF Treasurer, Andrew Hope, with details of the player paid for.
- Kelvin Grove Croquet Club
- Rondebosch Croquet Club
- Somerset West Croquet Club
Maps
- Location of Cape Town Croquet Clubs overview
- Close up of Kelvin Grove and Rondebosch tournament venues
- Close up of Somerset West
Location of Cape Town Croquet Clubs overview
Close up of Kelvin Grove and Rondebosch tournament venues
Kelvin Grove Croquet Club
Rondebosch Croquet Club
Somerset West Croquet Club
Any player arriving on 6th or 7th of March 2008 or departing on 15th or 16th March 2008 at or from Cape Town Airport, can have transport arranged via SACA. To take advantage of this offer please give your flight details to Carole Jackson.
Those travelling at other times must make their own travel arrangements to and from their point of arrival and departure to and from their chosen accommodation.
During the event Transport arrangements have been made to move players and officials from the Newlands Sun Hotel and Vineyard Hotel to their playing venue. Those staying in B&B's and other hotels will be collected from and dropped off at Kelvin Grove Club.
All costs relating to accommodation for this event are the responsibility of the player, official or spectator.
The following is a list of popular Hotel and Bed and breakfast accommodation recommended by SACA for players, spectators and their families attending the event. All are convenient for the Cape Town area.
Early booking is essential for all accommodation in Cape Town as March is an extremely busy time with the Cape Argus cycle race taking place over one of the weekends.
The Newlands Sun (in Newlands). It is a Southern Sun hotel.
SACA has block booked 40 rooms from the 7th to the 17th March.
All the rooms are facing Table Mountain.
The hotel is a mere 5 minutes away from the tournament's main venue at Kelvin Grove and 15 minutes walk away from The Rondebosch club.
There are also some nice restaurants and shops close by (all walkable) and the hotel is only 15 minutes away by car or taxi from Cape Town's famous V&A Waterfront (which has it all).
Pricing
The hotel rooms are priced at R1,300 per double room (approx US$183.00 per double) per night - this price includes breakfast.
Bookings
Can be made directly by contacting Fairooz Davids.
The Southern Sun hotel telephone number is (27) (21) 683-6562
Capestay – A list of 35 establishments.
The Vineyard Hotel - a very up-market and very pleasant for those that want the extra touch.
Medindi - where most overseas players stay for the SACA Western Province Tournament. Most enjoyable and has a lovely garden with a swimming pool.
The Cape’s climate is described as Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild, moist winters. The Cape has a mostly temperate climate. Near the coast, summer temperatures range from a pleasant low of 15°C (59°F) to highs of 27°C (80.6°F). Inland temperatures are some 3 to 5 degrees higher, making for gorgeous summer days and nights.
To many, March signals the arrival of idyllic Cape weather. Summer's heat subsides, the wind settles, and autumn/fall casts its crimson, orange and yellow mantle over the vineyards, generating red, russet vistas spreading from the mountain tops to the sea.
Passports are required for all visitors to South Africa and must be valid for a further six months after leaving South Africa.
For most countries visas are not needed, for those countries that they are required for they would have to be purchased prior to arriving in South Africa.
Further details will follow in due course
WCF Media Release 19th September 2006 South Africa awarded 2008 Golf Croquet World Championship |
 The World Croquet Federation has much pleasure in announcing that the South African Croquet Association has been awarded the hosting of The 8th World Croquet Federation World Golf Croquet Championship.The event will be played from Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th March 2008 in Cape Town, centred at the Kelvin Grove Croquet Club, Newlands, which has four excellent courts. Kelvin Grove is overlooked by Devil’s Peak and is next door to the famous Newlands Cricket Club and the Newlands Rugby Ground. Additional matches will be played at Rondebosch Croquet Club which has three courts and is 10 minutes walking distance from Kelvin Grove, and Somerset West Croquet Club which has three courts (with a fourth currently being built) and is approximately a 40 minutes drive from Cape Town. This is the first time that a World Croquet Championship event has been held in South Africa, which is a founder member of the World Croquet Federation. There will be an expected entry of up to 64 players from around the world in the main event. President of the South African Croquet Association, Mrs. Carole Jackson said, “Croquet in South Africa has always been strong with the Association having fourteen clubs and enthusiasts around the country. This award will provide the impetus to spread the sport even wider. In particular I would like to thank the host clubs for their support together with Barlow Croquet Equipment who will be the ball suppliers for the event. Further details of the 8th WCF Golf Croquet World Championship will be released in due course. Note to Editors: 1. The current World Golf Croquet Champion is Mohammed Nasr, Egypt who beat his compatriot, Salah Hassan, Egypt, at Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, in March 2006. 2. An Egyptian player has won on each of the previous seven occasions the event has been held. 3. The 8th World Golf Croquet Championship is the first to be held in South Africa. 4. A South African, Reginald Bamford, is the current World Association Croquet Champion. 19th September 2006 |
Lord Irvine Laidlaw – Patron of the
WCF Laidlaw World Golf Croquet Championship
Irvine Alan Stewart Laidlaw of Rothiemay, was born in 1942 in Keith, Banffshire, Scotland.
He is a Scottish Businessman and a member of the House of Lords. He was made a life peer in June 2004.
Irvine founded the company Institute for International Research in 1973 which he sold in 2005. In 2003 Irvine provided funding to set up the Laidlaw Youth Trust, the aim of which is to change lives by funding activities that make a real difference to vulnerable children and young people in Scotland.
Irvine loves speed and has won the Key West Regatta twice using his Swan 60 cruiser-racer, Highland Fling. He began a voyage around the world in his yacht, the Lady Christine in 2003. He regularly competes in historic car racing around the world with his Porsche 904/6 Maserati 250S and many other cars.
Recently he added a 1001 hp Bugatti Veyron to his extensive car collection, he brings this with him on his regular visits to his home in Noordhoek, South Africa. Irvine and his wife Christine bought Noordhoek Manor a 23200m² estate in November 2005 and regularly divide their time between here and their apartment in Monaco, bringing their two dogs Coco and Casey with them.
Irvine has recently taken up croquet and has a croquet lawn overlooking the Noordhoek Valley with beautiful views of sea and mountains. He is a wily competitor who hates to lose and many balmy summer hours are spent playing croquet whilst sipping wine between shots.
SACA President, Carole Jackson said, “The South African Croquet Association is proud, honoured and privileged to have Lord Irvine Laidlaw as the Patron of the 8th World Golf Croquet Championship.
We look forward to welcoming all the players and visitors and invite them to join us in an ‘African Experience’ with memories to treasure far into the future”.