Canada

It’s much easier in North America having captured 18 Canadian and 14 USA National Championships.

Slowly a regional interest grew in the Association version of the game, and the local competitive scene
shifted accordingly. Chris scored his first Triple in 2007, and purchased a more modern Mallet in 2010.

From here his game improved quickly, as the accuracy improved.In 2014 due to tendonitis issues in the forearm, he switched to Standard grip to play with less pain.
Lukewarm results for 10 years made him think about the future, then a poor result in Florida initiated a change.

Another grip change back to Irish grip with a modern aluminum handle with a bent shaft to alleviate
the pressure on the forearms and wrist started in 2026.Chris is a member of three clubs around Victoria.

In 2020 I got the bug and have worked at getting better ever since. Unfortunately, my golf game suffered from my change in focus. I have lots to learn and plan on having fun trying.

I have participated in the past two World AC Championships, discovering how awesome the worlds best really are. My home club is the Bayfield International Croquet Club, in the beautiful village of Bayfield, Ontario, on Lake Huron. I am the Chairman of the club’s Tournament Committee and this was the Director of our Canadian AC Championship.

I am very excited to be joining a team and playing for Canada.

Czech Republic

I have been playing for the Czech national team since 2005, and I have represented my country in New Zealand, England, Spain, and other places.

For me, the best—and at the same time most challenging—croquet event was the World Championship in New Zealand in 2008. In my opinion, the most enjoyable tournaments are held here in Telč and in Cheltenham, where there’s always a pleasant and friendly atmosphere.

I’m most looking forward to—and at the same time curious about—the atmosphere at the club in Nottingham, where I haven’t played yet, but I’ve heard a lot about it.

I have already represented the Czech Republic at the World Singles Championships in GC and AC in England, and I was part of the Czech national team at the Tier 2 GC World Championships in Egypt.

In Nottingham, I’m looking forward to finally meeting Robin Hood.

I have represented the Czech Republic in GC at several events: the World Team Championships in 2010, 2016, and 2025, and the European Individual Championships in 2025 and 2026. In AC, I represented the Czech Republic at the Tier 2, 3 World Team Championships in 2022.

I’m looking forward to the mutual support players that the World Team Championship in Nottingham will offer.

I prefer GC, but I can play AC either. I’ve been a runner-up twice in the semifinals of the Czech Republic GC Championship, which is why I represented the Czech Republic at the European Championships in England and Spain.

I’m currently returning to the greens among the top players after a five-year hiatus caused by knee surgery.

Germany

Ive been National Champion Association Croquet in 2024 and won 8 National Doubles Championships in Association Croquet and Golf Croquet.

His main titles are: 15 National Championships Association Croquet, 6 National Championships Golf Croquet and 17 National Doubles Championships in both Association Croquet and Golf Croquet.

I’ve won 6 National Championships in Association Croquet, 6 National Championships in Golf Croquet, 3 German Open and 20 National Doubles Championships in Associaton Croquet and Golf Croquet.

Ireland

I am a member of Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, where I developed my interest and enthusiasm for croquet. I have been the AC and GC Club Champion at Carrickmines, and have represented Ireland at both forms.

The highlight of my croquet career was playing in the AC World Championships in London in 2023 and Florida in 2025.

I am a member of the Croquet Association of Ireland Council and Chairman of the CAI Selection Committee.

I am a member at Hamptworth, a lovely golf/croquet club in Wiltshire and I represented the Irish team for the first time this June in Carrickmines and look forward to a new episode in my croquet life playing for Ireland.

I am 56 years old, a retired firefighter and I love meeting new people.

He plays at Newcastle Croquet Club, in the heart of the Wicklow countryside, along with many of the top Irish players. He won the South Leinster Open in 2022.

He is currently the Irish Doubles Champion (with Andy Johnston) and won the Dublin Championship singles title this June, where he also retained the handicap singles title. He competed in the European AC Championships in 2024 and the World AC championships last October.

Croquet travel is my favourite thing and I’m looking forward to another trip to Nottingham and playing on the new lawns.

He first represented Ireland in the Home Internationals against England, Scotland and Wales; and he played in WCF Tier 2 at Budleigh in 2022.

Latvia

He has been the founder and President of Latvia Croquet Federation since its establishment 16 years ago, was a captain of Team Latvia at the GC WTC 2012, 2021 and 2025, played in GC WC 2019, and GC European Championships in 2014, 2017 and 2022.

Roberts serves on the Management Committee of the World Croquet Federation and is Chairman of the European regional Committee.

A ten-times Latvian Champion in GC, and two-times in AC, and currently number one in national GC rankings, he also participated in GC WTC 2016 and 2025, and GC European Championships in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2026.

Normunds is one of the founders of the new Ikskile Croquet Club.

He was one of the founders of the croquet club SIG-LIG in 2010. Janis has been a multiple Latvian champion in both GC and AC. He participated in GC WTC 2012 and 2016, over-50 GC WC 2014, GC European Championships 2015 and 2017.

In this championship, he hopes to gain new experience in AC and have a wonderful time.

Andrejs is probably the most passionate croquet player in Latvia, using every chance to practice his shots, be it during summer in the club, or in winter in his apartment.

During his croquet career, he has already participated in 4 AC World Championships, and has won the Latvian title in AC twice in 2021 and 2022.

Scotland

I first played the proper game thanks to Paul Hetherington at Durham University. At the end of a cheese and wine open day, not even knowing the proper rules, he asked “do you want to play a match next weekend?”.  Hooked.

I first played for Scotland in the Home Internationals in about 1990. Since then, I’ve represented Scotland several times and also represented GB in the Solomon Trophy on two occasions.

At the last tier ACWTC in Budleigh, Scotland was playing Wales for the title. Last day, the rubber was two matches apiece, the final match was 1-1, late afternoon on the show lawn in front of the clubhouse, big crowd, nail biting finish, David Warhurst brings it home, croquet at its best.

She was part of the winning Scottish team at the last Teir 2 event and has previously won the Spencer Ell AC Eight.

Lorna started playing in Edinburgh, but now lives in Nottingham, the hosts for this year’s championship.

I played regularly back in the 1980s and 1990s before family commitments took over and restarted playing in 2018 at Balgreen in Edinburgh.

Croquet is my main sport but I also play the occasional game of white ball golf when enticed to join a group of old friends.

I hit my first croquet ball at Warwick University while an undergrad there. A duck pond was conveniently close to the lawn into which oppos balls were regularly dispatched. I started playing “proper rules” as a postgrad in Manchester. My digs were close to the Bowdon Croquet Club and a Spring recruitment drive caught my eye.

Moving to work in Scotland, I joined the Glasgow Croquet Club. During the 10 years I was there, the most memorable tournaments I enjoyed were held at Fettes College during the Edinburgh festival and at Gleneagles Hotel.

I am very much looking forward to playing again for Scotland in July.

Martin began playing croquet at Cambridge University in 1961, and has had a sixty year playing career. As early as 1968 he had his first success in an invitation event, winning the Surrey Cup (now the Spencer Ell), which he repeated in 1969, despite living in Germany and playing no other croquet that year. Promotion to the Chairman’s Salver followed in 1970.

After returning to England in 1971 he won the Chairman’s Salver in 1973, and thus gained a place in the winning Great Britain team in the MacRobertson Shield of 1974. The same year saw victory in the Men’s Championship, which he repeated in 1976, 1980, and 1982. 1979 and 1982 saw further selection for the Great Britain team.

After a decline in form in the 1980s and 1990s, retirement from work (as a chemistry lecturer at Bristol University) saw a revival, winning the Treasurer’s Tankard in 2008, and the Spencer Ell Cup in 2009 and 2011.

The good fortune of being born in Scotland means that Martin has been a regular in the Scottish AC and (more recently) GC teams for forty years. Both he and Stephen Wright are proud of their victory against England in the very first match in 1980.

Sweden

Home in Sweden Joi plays croquet in his back-yard, where he has laid out a full-size lawn.

I grew up in England where I first starting playing croquet in 1985 at the Ipswich Croquet Club. Notable achievements included winning the irish Championship in 1991 and the Spencer Ell a few years later. I moved to Sweden in 2007 to be with my girlfriend Monica and we have just celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary.

I have been the Swedish team captain for the past 7 years and have just relinquished my position. I am the current Swedish AC champion and have won on 4 previous occasions.

I currently work as a Production Planner for a furniture company, a role I have held for the past two years.

I was introduced to croquet about eight years ago. Since both Joi and his father play the sport, I didn’t really have much choice! Having a full-size croquet court in the backyard also meant I could practice almost every day while trying to keep up with Joi.

Being surrounded by players like Joi and his father, Eje Elebo, helped me improve my game from the very beginning. Both are considered part of the Swedish croquet elite, and their knowledge and experience have been invaluable to my development as a player.

I have competed in several Swedish National Championships as well as various club competitions, primarily in Golf Croquet. Although I have only been playing for a relatively short time, I have achieved some encouraging results in competition. There is still work to do before reaching the very top level, but I continue to improve and enjoy the challenge.

I’ve played in several European Championships in GC, and Baltic Open. As well as the European Team Championship (AC/GC) in which we finished 3rd (2023), World Team Championship GC Tier 2, we ended up winning the tournament. (2025)

In 2021, I also took the opportunity to compete in the Association Croquet (AC) National Championship. Despite it being my first experience playing AC at the national level, I managed to win a match, which was a rewarding achievement.

Having such skilled players around me from the start also gave me a solid understanding of the rules and tactics of both Golf Croquet and Association Croquet. Their guidance has played a significant role in my development and passion for the sport.

He has been playing Croquet for 20 years and won a few Swedish Championships, mostly in double Swedish Croquet and GC.

His family championship is one of the biggest Tournaments in Sweden, with more than 20 players every year.

Last year Eje was part of the Swedish team that won the World Team Championship Tier 2 in GC, together with three other players on the team this tournament.

I think I most enjoyed the World Championship in London in 2023.

This is my third international teams event, but I still look forward to it. I want to make some good breaks and get a few peels in as well.

Switzerland

I’ve played in many international teams (lost count – the first was in 1991.

I enjoy every tournament I play in. I am most looking forward to seeing old friends and making new friends.

Married with four children, Ian began playing croquet in 1990 at the CERN Croquet Club. Since then, he has represented Switzerland in numerous international matches and has competed in both the World and European Championships (Association Croquet and Golf Croquet).

Currently ranked number one in Switzerland, he holds the national titles in both AC and GC. Outside of croquet, his passions include skiing, yoga, golf, travel, and fine food.

This is my first international team tournament and I feel a bit nervous.
I’m hoping to play a lot of croquet in a good spirit.

Since which time I have continued to play and become heavily involved with the management of both the CERN Croquet Club and the Swiss Croquet Association. Sport has played a major part of my life, and like my middle name ‘I am a Jack of all sports but Master of none’. A true ‘sportsman’ with participation and enjoyment being my goal. Little did I know that when leaving for Switzerland in ’66 would I be travelling the world playing croquet in all its formats.

Thank you Croquet.

Wales

I first hit a croquet ball as about 6 years old in a back garden somewhere down south. I was introduced to AC by Andrew Bennett at the age of 13 or 14

Best croquet event played in: Northerns week in the late 80’s at Bowdon.

“It doesn’t matter who you are playing. You are only 2 breaks away from victory.”

I first came across croquet at Magdalen College, Oxford in the late 1970s at the age of 19. I took the game up properly when John Grimshaw founded the Dyffryn Croquet Club, near Cardiff in 1986.

I’ve been in so many events over the years, but three that do stand out are the WCF World Championship at Newport, Rhode Island in 1992, the World 14 point Team Championship in Italy in 2000 and the GC World Team Tier 2 in Cairo in 2022. All had great atmospheres. At both team events Wales won.

My favourite croquet quotes are: From Strat Liddiard who heard it from Colin Irwin – if you have a difficult shot then concentrate. If you have an easy shot then concentrate even harder. From Ed Dymock at Cheltenham after he had stuck in a hoop multiple times – there’s a goalie in that hoop – in Yorkshire accent.

I was 18 when I first hit a croquet ball. I was introduced you to the game by Tony White – who was a varsity player at Merton college, Oxford.

I think the last Tier 2 event at Budleigh covered all aspects. It was a wonderful atmosphere and the dry hot conditions made it quite a challenge.

A carer since 2017, her opportunities to play are limited, but Angharrad is happy to be returning to Nottingham, having previously spent three years at Nottingham University.

Angharrad is currently the Hon. Secretary of the NW Federation of Croquet Clubs and a Committee member of the Welsh Croquet Association.

Her memorable comment is “That was the sort of croquet shot Reg could have played…but wouldn’t have to!”

I’m looking forwards, as last time, to meet many players from many countries who play competitive croquet in a friendly way.