CROQUET NEWS:  Croquet World Cup - a Battle for the Ages

13 January 2007
Milton Ulladulla Croquet Club, Milton, New South Wales, Australia
by Dee Carrington in Milton Ulladulla Times, New South Wales, Australia

Robert Fulford, world champion from England, on court against Australia.

Question: Where can you get ringside seats to see the world's top players participating in a world championship at no charge and get to rub shoulders, have a laugh and a photo opportunity with those players?

Answer: For the last three weeks in Moama and Shepparton, the venues for the MacRobertson Shield Croquet World Test Series which is played every four years between Australia, New Zealand, USA and England.

John and I enjoyed a thrilling and inspiring week of croquet along with several other members of the Milton Ulladulla Croquet Club.

It was a journey well worth it to see the world's best players go head to head in croquet's most prestigious event.

When we arrived, Australia had already beaten the US and was in the process of winning against New Zealand and then began the final decider between Australia and England to determine who would be world champions and take home the MacRobertson Shield.

So, while England and Australia were going head to head in the first Ashes test, they were also locked in battle for the Croquet World Championships.

I wish I could have reported that the results of both these tests were the same, an Aussie victory, but unfortunately while our cricketers had a very convincing win, the English croquet players had an even more convincing win, with the result of 19 games to England and two to Australia.

The standard of play from these young croquet players was a delight to watch with Robert Fulford of England, the world number one, delighting the crowd with the accuracy and consistency of his advanced level of play.

As we posed for a photo opportunity I was hoping a little of that genius might rub off!