Download an Entry Form in Microsoft Word format.

Contents:

• Continuous Competitions
• Singular Competitions
• Rules for Ladder Competitions
• The Bray System

The combined handicap of the partnership must be 12 bisques or more at the time of the draw.

Handicap Singles; no time limit.

Each match will be best of three 13-point games.

'A' Class: Advanced Handicap play;
no time limit.

'B' Class: Advanced Handicap play;
time limit 3½ hours.

'C' Class: Ordinary Handicap play;
time limit 3½ hours; 22-point games.

'D' Class: Ordinary Handicap play;
time limit 3½ hours; 18-point games.

This event will be divided into four Classes by handicap, the actual ranges depending on the entries received. No block will contain more than 8 players.

If a Class has more than one block there will be a play-off on Finals Day between the block winners and runners-up.

For guidance, the ranges will be approximately:

Each match will be best-of-three 13-point games;
there will be no time limits.

This event will be played as one or more blocks (depending on the number of entries), each block containing a mix of handicaps. No block will contain more than 8 players.

If there is more than one block there will be a play-off on Finals Day between the block winners and runners-up.

Handicap Singles; time limit 3½ hours, though the Bray system will be used to shorten the games.

Each match will be best-of-three 13-point games;
there will be no time limits.

18-point games will be played as “1 & 3-back”, i.e. when a ball runs the first hoop, its partner clip is immediately put on 3-back (see Law 44(b)(4) for further details); the number of bisques
to be given must be scaled down appropriately (see “SCALING DOWN BISQUES”, in the mallet cupboard).

Swiss, “Wheeler Doubles” — enter individually, partners will be allocated for each round.

Handicap Doubles; time limits at Manager’s discretion.

22-point games (start at hoop 3).

Special condition:

• The lower-handicap player may use not more than ¼ of the bisque allocation (rounded down), and then only if his/her handicap is above 3.

Flexible Swiss — play as many games as you wish.

Handicap Singles; no time limits, but the Bray system will be used, in which the sum of the players’ handicaps determines the length of each game.

The winner will be the player with the highest percentage of wins at close of play on Sunday (minimum of 4 games).

There will be two one-day competitions: one for Association Croquet (Thursday, September 23rd), and one for Golf Croquet (Wednesday, September 8th).

Restricted to members of handicap 20 and above
who have not won a previous competition.

They will be held in September — please see separate notice, which will be put up in August.

SIMPLIFIED RULES

• CA and WCF Laws & Regulations For Tournaments will apply to all the above competitions, except for the special conditions indicated for the Bird Cup and Handicap Doubles Weekends.

• All singles competitions above, except the Bird Cup Weekend, qualify for the appropriate Automatic Handicapping System (Association or Golf Croquet).

• Finishing dates for knockout rounds and American blocks must be strictly observed: extensions may only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Please be aware of the Lateness Policy.

Lateness Policy For Knockouts: If any match in a knockout has not been played by the stipulated date then both players will be scratched. However, a walk-over conceded by one player is counted as "played".

Competitors are urged to arrange their matches at the earliest opportunity, to allow for unforeseen circumstances preventing a match being played by the due date; either player may take the initiative in this.

The following rules apply equally to both the Association and the Golf Croquet Ladders, except where differences are stated.

Starting conditions

Entrants will be initially placed on the Ladder by random draw.

Any player entering after the closing date will be placed at the bottom of the Ladder.

Type of play

• Association Croquet: time limit 3½ hours, though the Bray system will be used;

• Golf Croquet: each match will be best of three 13-point games; there will be no time limits.

The “Top Block”

The Top Block of each Ladder shall comprise the top 6 positions for Association Croquet, or the top 4 positions for Golf Croquet.

Challenges

• Any player below the Top Block of the Ladder may challenge another up to four places above his/her position.

• A player in the Top Block of the Ladder may challenge any other player in the Top Block.

• If the player who is challenged cannot accept any of three dates offered which fall within a ten‑day period then the challenger is deemed to be the winner (though no win or loss accrues to either player).

• If the challenger wins, or is deemed to win, then the challenger moves to, or remains in, the higher position on the Ladder and the loser moves to, or remains in, the lower position.

• If the challenger loses, then the challenger remains in, or moves to, the lower position on the Ladder and the winner remains in, or moves to, the higher position.

Restrictions

• Once a Ladder match has been arranged then, until that match has been played, neither player may arrange another match in the same Ladder.

• Any two players may not play each other again in the event until at least one of the players has played another competitor.

• Any two players may not play each other in the event more than three times, unless one of the players has had a handicap change.

Winner

The winner of the Ladder will be the player with the highest number of net wins at close of play on the last day of the Ladder Competitions, subject to having played a minimum of 4 games (for Association Croquet) or 3 matches (for Golf Croquet).

This last day will be announced later in the season, but it is hoped that it will occur in early October.

This last day will be announced later in the season, but it is hoped that it will occur in early October.

For these shortened games, the number of bisques must be scaled down appropriately.