Sam Cuthbert, winner of the Qualifier.
Sam is pictured alongside Mike Todorovich – youngest and oldest players in the qualifier.

Sam Cuthbert qualifies for a place in the Golf Croquet World Championship

Following an exceptional performance winning 21 of 23 games in the qualifying event, Sam Cuthbert (18) from Cheltenham now has a place in the World Championship.  He joins the 10 other England players who will compete in the main event.

The 15th World Championship will be held from Friday 18 October to Saturday 26 October 2024, at the Chesapeake Bay Croquet Club, Virginia, USA. The tournament will see 80 croquet players starting in blocks of 10, playing against all other block entries to qualify for the main knockout.

Gordon Nardini, Chief Marketing Officer from Ambassador Cruise Line, sends a special message of encouragement to the players, “We would like to offer our congratulations to Sam Cuthbert for qualifying to play in the World Championship and good luck to all the players representing England.”

Ambassador Cruise Line were the dedicated sponsor for the 2024 England Challenge Teams and we are very grateful for their continued support and encouragement to our players. [Alison Maugham, Croquet England]

The 2022 World Championship held at Sussex County Croquet Club (Southwick, England) was livestreamed by Croquet England, where over 10,000 viewers watched the final between England’s Robert Fulford and USA’s Matthew Essick.  Matthew won and became the current world champion.

Matthew was one of three USA representatives to make the main knockout, whereas England had a 13 player strong contingency.

Egypt will, as always, be sending a strong field of 12 players, of which four of their players are ranked within the top 10 players in the World.

Good luck to our England players listed below with their home club and current world ranking:

Stephen Mulliner, Surbiton (46)

Aston Wade, Hurlingham (44)

Euan Burridge, Bowdon (51)

Richard Bilton, Gainsborough (87)

StuartM Smith, Budleigh Salterton (57)

Dom Aarvold, Bristol (121)

James Galpin, Nailsea (129)

Steve Leonard, East Dorset (308)

Tim Russell, Roehampton (151)

Lionel Tibble, Northampton (157)

Sam Cuthbert, Cheltenham (101)

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