CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S COLUMN CONTINUED
found people who care deeply about croquet, who want their clubs to flourish, and who are full of ideas about how Croquet England can support growth, participation and enjoyment. Those conversations matter. They help ground our national work in the lived experience of clubs and members. There have been many personal highlights. Winning the MacRobertson Shield will obviously live long in the memory. Attending the Golf Croquet Test between England and Spain was another, and it was terrific to see international Golf Croquet played with such quality, intensity and sportsmanship. It has been a privilege to watch elite Association Croquet and Golf Croquet this year, and equally rewarding to drop into clubs, pick up a mallet, play a few games with members and listen to what they would like to see from Croquet England as we move forward. A very different but equally special moment came when I took friends and family to play at Hove Beach Croquet Club. We were warmly welcomed by the members there, and it was a lovely
reminder of just how accessible and enjoyable our sport can be from the very first game. Croquet can be deeply strategic and fiercely competitive, but it can also be sociable, playful and immediately engaging. That combination is one of our greatest strengths, and it is exactly what we must continue to champion. All of this connects directly to our mission: more people playing more croquet in more places, for fun, friendship and competition. Those words are not simply a slogan. They describe the future we are trying to build together. We want more people to discover the game, more communities to experience it, more clubs to feel confident and supported, and more players to find the version of croquet that is right for them. For some, that will mean international competition. For others, it will mean a weekly game with friends, volunteering at the club, coaching new players or helping run local events. All of those contributions matter. As we look ahead, Croquet England itself will continue to evolve. Our Executive team will be changing at the
AGM, alongside changes to our committee structure. That will inevitably create change for some people and changes in responsibilities for others. I want to thank everyone who has been involved in shaping that work, and everyone who will be involved in carrying it forward. Our progress depends on people giving their time, expertise and goodwill, often alongside many other commitments, and I am hugely grateful for that dedication. So, as this fast-moving summer season draws to a close, I hope we can all take pride in what has been achieved and look forward with confidence to what comes next. From the MacRobertson Shield to club afternoons, from international Tests to first-time players, from long-serving volunteers to those just starting their croquet journey, our sport is full of people who make it special. Thank you to everyone who has contributed this year, and to everyone who will help us in the years ahead as we work together to inspire generations of croquet players through our accessible and exciting sport.
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