CROQUET: A combination of tactical prowess, logical execution and deft touch will be needed by players at the national golf croquet championships in Wanganui this week. The competition, held at the Wanganui Croquet Club (with some rounds played at the Marton Croquet Club) from yesterday until Sunday, sees a number ofthe countries best players in town as they prepare for the world champs to be held in Hawke's Bay in March. Golf croquet compares to association croquet (the traditional form of the game) in a similar way to one-day cricket compares to test cricket. It is a shorter, more simple version of the game, with matches lasting less than an hour compared to up to three hours for association croquet. Dennis Bulloch, who was the 2004 New Zealand oOpen association champion and runner-up at the 2005 world golf croquet championships, believes both games have their advantages. Golf croquet is a lot easier to learn, with players taking alternate turns and not having to worry about playing the correct sequence the way they do for association croquet. "Society has changed; people do not have so much time to play," Bulloch said. "It [golf croquet] is growing 10 times as fast due to its shorter duration." It is more accessible also. "Anyone can learn the strokes," Bulloch said. "The accuracy comes from practice. "Age and strength don't come into it, there are people of all ages playing." With about 20 countries expected in New Zealand the relatively new sport is starting to gain an international following. The Egyptian team is expected to be strong, having played the game longer with experience an essential ingredient to success. The doubles finished yesterday at the nationals in Wanganui, with singles qualifying today and the knockout phase tomorrow and Sunday.
