Croquet is becoming more and more popular with the next generation.  Supported by Croquet England’s youth development plans, clubs around the country are welcoming more young players to the lawns than ever before.

The next generation programme has been running since 2018, when the inaugural next generation event was hosted in parallel to the Open Championship at Cheltenham Croquet Club.  Six years later the England team is represented by the youngest team in history, with all players being 25 or under.  All four players have shown their dedication to the sport and commitment to improving their performances, having worked their way through the National Development Squad and Elite Squad.  Callum Johnson, won most improved player in 2019 and was fast tracked through to the Elite Squad.

The team who took the title had been selected to represent England in April.

Euan Burridge (22)
Jack Good (18)
Callum Johnson (25)
Aston Wade (Capt.) (21)

Keith Aiton, Croquet England Chair of International Committee, has praised the team for their achievements.  He comments “We are so proud of our international team, their performance was exceptional only losing one match out of 15.”

The event was hosted by Nailsea & District Croquet Club, who provided championship standard courts on behalf of the Welsh Croquet Association for this prestigious event. This is because 2024 host nation Wales doesn’t currently have a club with enough courts on their home soil. Marcus Evans, a member of the host club and first reserve for the England team, helped to prepare the lawns and was also present to cheer on his team mates.  He reports that the highlight for him was “Aston beating Chris Roberts to win the test against Wales. This effectively won the trophy too, as England then only had Scotland to play, who on paper were the weakest team in the event.”

Image taken by John Hancock