World Croquet Championships

World Croquet Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Croquet New Zealand has announced the twelve members of the New Zealand team to represent the country at the World Championships in February.

The World Championships are to be held in Christchurch in February next year, and will feature the top 80 players from around the world.

The very strong New Zealand team is a good mix of experience and youth, and includes two players still in their teens.

Exciting 19 year old players, Paddy Chapman of Christchurch and AJ Reid of Wellington join the experienced Paul Skinley of Wellington, Brian Wislang of Nelson and John Price of Canterbury.

Reid showed his talent and “big match temperament” by being runner-up to World number 2, Chris Clarke, in the final of the 2007 New Zealand Championships.

The full team is:

Aaron Westerby, Waikato
Paddy Chapman, Canterbury
Robert Lowe, Auckland
AJ Reid, Wellington
Jenny Williams, Canterbury
Paul Skinley, Wellington
Greg Bryant, Nelson
Brian Wislang, Nelson
Shane Davis,
John Prince, Canterbury
Michael Wright, Wanganui, and
Toby Garrison, Wellington

The Championships are usually held in England or the United States. New Zealand has been chosen to hold the Championships only once before – a very successful event held in Wellington in 2002.

In the 2002 event Wellington’s Toby Garrison, then a 25 year old, was the runner-up to winner Robert Fulford of England, while Brian Wislang was third in the event.

The New Zealand team has a great depth of international experience. Five of the twelve players are ranked inside the top 30 in the world. Aaron Westerby from Waikato is currently ranked number 7, Skinley is number 24, Chapman no. 25, Auckland’s Robert Lowe is no. 27 and Wislang is no. 32.
Westerby returned to living in New Zealand after being resident in the UK for some time. He has been playing croquet for over 20 years, and has been a winner of the British Men’s Open, and the US and Irish Championships.

Canterbury’s Jenny Williams, a Christchurch physicist, is a long-standing New Zealand team member. She is the no. 1 ranked woman player in the world and is currently ranked no. 59 overall.

Her Canterbury team mate, 8 times New Zealand champion, John Prince, has been playing croquet for 46 years, first playing for New Zealand as a 17 year old. He has the distinction of being the world’s most capped croquet player and has an outstanding record in the sport. John was honoured with membership of the NZ Order of Merit in 2000 for his services to croquet and has since been inducted in to the World Croquet Federation Hall of Fame.

Wanganui’s Michael Wright is a first time selection for the New Zealand team, although he has previously played in the NZ “A” team. Michael plays for the Marton club in the Manawatu.

There are over 4,000 registered croquet players in New Zealand. This is thought to be the highest number in any country relative to total population. There are approximately 25,000 registered players world-wide, with the highest numbers in England, Australia and the US, as well as New Zealand.

Other countries with a significant following include South Africa, France and Egypt.

Information on play will be available on the Croquet New Zealand website (www.croquet.org.nz ) and on NZPA. Results will be published daily on the website and on NZPA.

Ends

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