News from the Golf Croquet World Championship 2024 Qualifier
England has three players in the 62 player World Championship qualifier tournament. The players will begin their bid for a place in the World Championship itself on Sunday 13 October 2024 at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club in Virginia, USA.
Harry Dodge, from Bath Croquet Club, is the highest ranked player in the qualifying event and is expected to earn a place in the main event. Last year Harry won the USCA Croquet Week GC Championship, only dropping one game, at the National Croquet Centre in West Palm Beach. This would have been considered as a great performance for any player, but even more impressive as Harry had not played a single ranked game for almost four years prior to the tournament.
Sam Cuthbert has this year turned eighteen and has been a rising star amongst the Croquet England junior squad for a few years. Sam and his doubles partner James Death, both from Cheltenham Croquet Club, won the English National Doubles Golf Croquet tournament this year, so Sam will be entering the tournament on good form and with confidence. With an impressive 65% win rate this season, Sam has gained almost 200 ranking points, earning his current world ranking #136.
Louise Smith has been playing competitive croquet since 2016 and is now based at Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club. Much like Sam, Louise has also shown great improvement in the last year taking home the Open Championship Plate and the East Dorset Open Series Plate. If Louise qualifies, she will then join husband Stuart M Smith, England Squad Player, who has already secured a place in the World Championship event.
The World Championship will be played at the same location, Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, and will begin on Friday 18 October 2024. The 80 player event will see 74 already selected players compete against 6 qualifiers from the preceding qualifying tournament.
