The CA Noticeboard December 2002

After a long silence occasioned by the traumas of moving the office to Chelten ham I am now ready to resume publication of the Noticeboard in the months that the Gazette is not scheduled to appear.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CROQUET

At the WCF World Championship just completed in Wellington, New Zealand, Rob Fulford regained the title he lost last year at Hurlingham to Reg Bamford. In the final Rob defeated Toby Garrison of New Zealand 26-0 TP, 26-0 TP, 9-26 TP, 26-11 TP. Toby had accounted for Reg in an earlier round with the assistance, I am told, of a trio of tea ladies.

The Plate event was won by John Gibbons from St Albans, who defeated Australian Steve Meathering ham in the final 26-6, 26-21.

CROQUET ASSOCIATION AWARDS

The Croquet Association loves to make awards both to clubs and individuals, recognising achievement or services to croquet, but clubs seem strangely reluctant to submit nominations.

On page 30 of the Club Handbook you will find details of the three club awards, the Townsend for one or two lawn clubs, the Apps Heley for those with three or four courts, and the Millennium Award for those with five or more. The Development Committee will be meeting in February to decide who the recipients should be; nominations should be submitted to the office if possible by the end of the year or very soon thereafter. Now too is the time to consider nominations for the Apps and Steel Memorial Bowls, to be presented at the next AGM to the most improved male and female players of 2002. These should reach the office by 31 March. Last but not least is the Croquet Association Diploma awarded for services to croquet generally, and designed to give recognition to those stalwarts, not necessarily players, who work so hard to keep clubs going and give them their character. Within reason there is no restriction on the number of diplomas which can be awarded; nominations by club committees, accompanied by a citation of up to ten lines, should be sent to the office by 31 July — but there is no need to wait that long.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO YOU ALL