Croquet Matters_ Final February 2015 | Page 6

Managerial Comment: It was unfortunate the Qualifying and the Under 21s tournaments had been played so close to the Worlds, with only one day between their finishing and starting the next. This meant that those who qualified had played for 14 days with only the one day in between to change venues. By the time they had finished they were exhausted. In the words of the WCF Secretary-General the use of Atkins hoops set to 1/32” caused some hoop-running problems and confidence for the bottom 25% of the entry with the result that there were some long matches of between 3.5 and 5 hours when two players from that segment met. There was only one match where a time limit was applied. A Championship Dinner was held on the final night attended by 114 people where the Trophies and medals were presented. President of Croquet New Zealand Sue Roberts presents the trophy to Ahmed El Mahdi watched by the President of the WCF Amir Ramsis The New Zealand Team Referee Wayne Gair watches runner-up Hamy Erian take a shot, while eventual winner el Mahdi looks on. Note that in the previous photo with Wayne in it, it is Hamy Erian making the shot. Wayne is watching to see that Erian doesn’t touch the blue ball by his heel. Ahmid el mahdi kissing the ground after his win Seen at the Mount The Egyptian Team The other (salt) mountain beside Mt Maunganui – a salt mountain *********************************************