2011 USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals (September 16-18)
/This year we will be playing the Nine Wicket Championships at the Mid-America Sports Complex 20000 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, Kansas. Dates for the event are Friday, September 16 through Sunday, September 18. There will be Championship singles, doubles; and First flight doubles.
FRIDAY (one event only):
5th Annual Lee's Summit Parks Croquet Tournament
/The 5th annual Lee's Summit Parks Croquet Tournament was held June 18th with 18 enthusiastic players coming together for some "HOT" competition of High/Low croquet playing. Championship flight (High) players were paired with 1st Flight (Low) to battle for points to find the 2011 champions. Coming out on top in the Championship level was Nick Zink, Warrensburg, 2nd Troy White, Rockville & 3rd Johnny Nichol, Warrensburg. Leading the 1st Flight players were 1st Heather McNeely, Keanery, 2nd Jimmy Hutchinson, Warrensburg & 3rd Jason Johnson of Kansas, City.
Mahaffie StageCoach Croquet Tournament
/There was a happening at the Mahaffie Stagcoach stop, and that happening was FUN! With the help of the Mo Croquet Assoc & the Kactus Creek Croq. Club, the 2nd Annual Sunflower Wicket Benefit got off to a beautiful start with a continental breakfast followed by an energetic Croquet tournament. Competition was on the "FUN" side but still very competitive. Sporting "period dress", Mahaffie employees exhibited their skills to an exciting crowd pleasing win. Rounding out the day for the players, sponsors & croquet pros, was a champagne brunch that was enjoyed by all.
Update on 2011-07-16 19:06 by MCA Website Admin
First place: Tim Talbot and Alexis Woodall
Second place: Jim Randall and Larry Campbell
Third place: Don and Donna Ellis
Windstream TV Interview with Billy Bob Breeden
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To watch the interview click the attached link or you can just read it below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfrK6qDjpJs After an initial objection, it didn't take much to get Billy Bob Breeden hooked on a sport. A friend asked if he wanted to play in a croquet tournament. The lure? A T-shirt, band playing and beverages - all for $12. It was fun. Next time out, he placed second in a field of 400. And 30 years later, he's still at it. The Gallatin, Mo.,-based local manager is the United States Croquet Association Missouri-Nebraska district president, a role in which he promotes croquet at all levels and answers rules questions. He plays about eight tournaments annually and has competed in Oklahoma, Minnesota, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. "I'm a very competitive person and I play every chance I get," says the third-place finisher at 9 Wicket National Croquet Tournament three years ago. "I compete in four 6 wicket tournaments and four 9 wicket tournaments in the spring, summer and fall. The district also has hosted the 9W National the last four years in Kansas City, Kan. He doesn't play with just any mallet, either. Billy Bob's is a $500 graphite model (36 inches long with an 11-inch mallet head) imported from Australia. The one-pound balls are from Africa and run $40 each. "The money is well-spent," Billy Bob says. "I can't believe there's not more people falling all over themselves to do it." He says all ages can learn and benefit from a game that's played the world over. It's also a family sport for Billy Bob and wife Debbie, who competes with a mallet made in New Zealand. "It gets young people outside and older adults don't have to be athletic to compete," says the game's ambassador. "Not everyone can swing a golf club or can run to return a tennis ball, but everyone can swing a mallet," he points out. Like any sport, the key to success is "it takes lots of practice. Practice, practice and practice," he emphasizes. When the weather is bad, Billy Bob practices in the basement of his Cameron, Mo., home with specially made portable wickets. "I have a dry erase board on the wall that I uses to draw out different scenarios, like you would if you were playing football." The basement also is the place for his growing display of trophies. Practice is a stress reliever for Billy Bob and keeps him focused on a personal goal of winning a national championship. His goal is to play in the 6W Nationals at West Palm Beach, Fla., in 2012.What's That Thing You Do?
Midwest Regional Croquet Championship
/The Midwest Regional Croquet Championships starts this week in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt Smith, Matt Griffith, Billy Bob Breeden & Dylan Goodwin from Kactus Creek Croquet Club all will be attending this year tournament.
More to come ...
Update on 2011-06-12 03:13 by MCA Website Admin
Congratulations to Matt Smith on winning the Midwest Regional Croquet Championship Tournament. Matt has been playing in the Championship division for about 9 years. This was Matt first regional win but I'm sure it won't be his last.
Lawn Warrior Classic Croquet Fundraiser Tournament
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Jodi & Greg Adams, Deborah & Ron Millican, Debbie & Billy Bob Breeden all of the Missouri Croquet Association attended the first annual Lawn Warrior Classic Croquet Fundraiser tournament to benefit ALS in Lincoln, Nebraska. The William G Lauer Foundation said the tournament was a success and they are planning to have another one next year.
2011 Winners were Jodi & Greg Adams of Kansas City, Mo.
Click here to Strike Out ALS www.lauerfoundation.org
More to come.......
Update on 2011-05-23 18:24 by MCA Website Admin
Croquet in Lincoln, Nebraska for the ALS Fund Raiser
The day started off with meeting up with our co-croquet players from Cameron and riding together to Lincoln. We were going to Lincoln to play croquet in an ALS benefit. They had eight croquet courses set up and there were to be 64 people that were playing in this event. As we practiced we had fellow players who had not played croquet since they were kids out practicing with us and asking questions. I heard several times during the day “I never knew that there were rules I thought you just sent your opponents ball away as far as you could”.
At 1:00pm the tournament started. Each game consisted of four teams with two on a team. The Missouri partners were put on different courses which I believe was a very good move, as we were able to help the other players who really did not know exactly what they were doing and wanted to learn more about the game. They all were very interested in learning the various strategies of the game.
The top two teams from each game went on to the next game. Again after each game the top two sets went onto the next game until there were just four teams left for a final game. We had four teams that consisted of Joel and ??? (Lincoln), Billy Bob and Debbie (Cameron), Ron and Deb (Lee’s Summit) and Greg and Jodi (Kansas City). The field was surrounded by all the other players and fans to watch the game.
The final game was won by Greg and Jodi in first, Billy Bob and Debbie in 2nd, Joel and ??? in 3rd, and Ron and Deb in 4th.
I would have to say this event was well organized. They provided shirts for all players and lunch. They also had beer, pop, water and flowers that you could buy that would also help go to the ALS fund raiser.
This was such a great day! We meet lots of nice people in Lincoln and really just enjoyed the whole day. And the rain stayed away!
Article by GA.
Croquet Presentation
/MCA members are scheduled to do croquet presentation to the Cameron park board on April 28. More to come......
Update on 2011-05-06 02:33 by MCA Website Admin
Debbie & I met with the Park Board on April 28, 2011. At first there seemed to be no one interested. Then after the meeting we had a couple of the board members talk to us. They thought it was a great idea & presentation. The only thing they would like to see is just how many people we could get to play before they spend any money to build two courts and then only have a couple of people playing.
My thought is to gather more info on the cost and how to build the courts & include the idea of a croquet course on the previously planned survey that the Board has already planned on doing. Then go back to the meeting and present them with the results. I hope then we have the rest of the board members on board.
UCM Tournament
/Sixteen players played at the University of Central Missouri field on a warm April 9. The format was high-low doubles and partners changed every game. Evan Taylor and Annie Frisbie, members of the UCM croquet club, played their first tournament and really enjoyed the event and both played well.
Greg Clouse and Jodi Adams played great as partners and ended up winning the tournament. Greg won in the championship flight and Jodi won in first flight.
I would like to thank eveyone for the support and look forward to hosting more tournaments in Warrensburg.
Matt Smith
Spring fling in Arkadelphia, AR
/ARKADELPHIA, AR -- Results of the nine-wicket croquet tournament in Arkadelphia hosted by the Royal Knights Croquet Club of Arkadelphia, Arkansas are now in:
Championship: George Cochran 1st, Matt Griffith 2nd, Joe Franz and Matt Baird 3rd, Billy Bob Breeden, Jeff Caldwell, Pat Garner, Stu Brodsky 4th, Bob Bozeman and Glen Taylor 5th.
First flight: Rob Franks 1st, Ralph Bozeman 2nd, Lee Reed 3rd, Barry Dupuy 4th, Carl Jarret, Debbie Breeden, Scott Kennedy, Ron Millican 4th, Debbie Millican 5th.
They had a great tournament with the players from Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Oklahoma. The Royal Knights would like thank every one for making this a successful and fun tournament.
George Cochran only had one loss to Billy Bob Breeden and Matt Griffith only lost the one game to Cochran.
Central Missouri Open Date Change
/WARRENSBURG, MO -- Matt Smith has announced that the UCM Open will move up to Saturday, April 9. The event will be played in Warrensburg, Missouri and the formate is double golf croquet. The original date for the event was April 23.
Contact: Contact: Matt Smith (croquet1@charter.net) / UCM Croquet webpage
New President for the MCA
/INDEPENDENCE, MO -- At the February 26 MCA annual meeting, Matt Smith from Warrensburg took over the reigns as the new president of the Missouri Croquet Association. Greg Adams from Parkville previously served for two years as president.
In other news from the meeting, Ron Millican expressed concerns about growth for the MCA. It was noted that the new college club at Central Missouri that Smith was spearheading was showing early signs of success. Matt Griffith indicated that he had two new players at Kactus Creek through an intro to croquet class at the club. Dylan Goodwin is trying to establish a nine-wicket club in the Johnson County (KS) area of Kansas City.
Griffith also indicated that first flight would add singles play for the USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals Tournament in September, which is another step toward reaching out to developing players in the area.
The MCA also considered the purchase of a second clock at the Kactus Creek Croquet Club, but no decision was made.
2011 MCA Schedule Expands
/04/09 -- Central Missouri University Open (GC) / Warrensburg, MO
Contact: Matt Smith (croquet1@charter.net) / UCM Croquet webpage
05/26-30 -- USCA Midwest Regional (US) / Tulsa Croquet Club, Tulsa, OK
Contact: Erica Sherman (561-478-0760) (tournamentusca@aol.com)
06/04 -- Sunflower Wickets Benefit (GC) / Mahaffie Farmstead, Olathe, KS
Contact: Visit the Sunflower Wickets webpage
06/18 -- Lee's Summit Open (9W) / Lee's Summit, MO
Contact: Ron Millican (rdmillican@kcenvelope.com)
07/02 -- Kactus Creek Fun Day (GC) / Kactus Creek Croquet Club, Parkville, MO
Contact: Matt Griffith (kccroquet@kc.rr.com) / kactuscreek.com
07/09 -- KCCC 1st Flt (US)/ Kactus Creek Croquet Club, Parkville, MO
Contact: Matt Griffith (kccroquet@kc.rr.com) / kactuscreek.com
07/16 -- KCCC Champ Flt (US) / Kactus Creek Croquet Club, Parkville, MO
Contact: Matt Griffith (kccroquet@kc.rr.com) / kactuscreek.com
09/16-18 -- USCA Nine Wicket Nationals (9W) / Mid-America Sports Complex, Shawnee, KS
Contact: Matt Griffith (kccroquet@kc.rr.com) / kactuscreek.com
2011 Early Tourney Dates
/There are a few Midwestern Region Tourney dates floating around:
Mar 18-20 / Arkadelphia 9W Tournament / Arkadelphia, Arkansas
May 26-30 / USCA Midwestern Regionals (US) / Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jun 4 / Sunflower Wickets Benefit / Olathe, Kansas
Sep 16-18 / USCA Nine-Wicket Nationals / Shawnee, Kansas
Grand Prix Standings for Local Players of the USCA
/Rank Name Hcap Singles Doubles Total
733 Debbie Breeden 13 4 2 6
620 Jodi Adams 12 20 2 22
545 Deborah Millican 16 24 16 40
464 Ron Millican 9 44 39 83
302 Greg Adams 7 150 150 300
301 Donald Brooks 5 275 25 300
247 Dylan Goodwin 7 422 38 460
125 Billy Bob Breeden 3.5 966 448 1414
81 Matthew Griffith 2 952 1624 2576
29 Matthew B. Smith 0.5 4452 1904 6356
Nine Wicket National Championship
/SHAWNEE, KS -- Sunday wrapped up the 9W Singles & Doubles Championship.
George Cochran defeated Bill Martin in Singles Championship 28-20 and Matt Smith & Nick Zink defeated Matt Baird and Jeff Caldwell in Doubles Championship 32-25.
***
Sunday will wrap up the The 9W singles Championship between George Cochran & Bill Martin and the semi finals championship doubles. Matt Smith & Nick Zink vs Matt Griffith & Billy Bob Breeden & Matt Baird, Jeff Caldwell vs Geroge Cochran & Don Oakley
Todays winners for the 9W National First Flight Doubles was Greg Adams & Troy White over Ron & Deborah Millican.
Billy Bob Breeden loses heartbreaker to Bill Martin in Semi-Finals 24-23. George Cochran wins over Nick Zink in Semi-Finals. George Cochran & Bill Martin will square off tomorrow afternoon to decide who will be crowned 9W National Champion. Doubles competition will start tomorrow morning at 8 am sharpe.
Tulsa Fall Classic
/TULSA, OK -- Matt Smith Wins Tulsa Classic 15 - 9 over Matt Baird in Championship division. Matt Griffith also place 3rd in championship division. In the First Flight division Don Brooks took 2nd in singles & in Second Flight singles Jodi Adams took 2nd & Deborah Millican took 3rd place. In Championship Doubles action Matt Smith & Art Parsells took 2nd & Billy Bob Breeden & Matt Griffith took 3rd. In First Flight Doubles Greg Adams & Wendell Thompson took 2nd place. All in all Missouri players played very well.
Nine Wicket Nationals Sept. 17,18 & 19
/USCA Nine Wicket Nationals Entry Form
USCA NINE WICKET CHAMPIONSHIP
Singles and Doubles
September 17, 18, 19, 2010
Mid-America Sports Complex, 20000 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS
Entry Deadline: Sept 3, 2010
Dear 9-Wicket Player:
FRIDAY (one event only):
Championship Singles (1 vs 1, each person plays two balls). Open to all skill levels, but be prepared to play against high level players. Standard USCA Nine Wicket rules with options 1, 1A, 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Championship Doubles (2 vs 2, each person plays one ball). Open to all skill levels, but be prepared to play against high level teams. Standard USCA Nine Wicket rules with options 1, 1A, 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10.
1st Flight Doubles (2 vs 2, each person plays one ball). handicap 9 & higher and players without a handicap.
Standard USCA Nine Wicket rules with options 1, 1A, 2, 3, 7, 9 & 10.
Sunday will be the playoffs for doubles. Tournament will be over no later than 1:00 pm.
Play is limited to 30 in singles, 26 Championship doubles teams & 10 First Flight doubles teams. We expect a full tournament this year. Please don’t wait to the last minute to enter if you want to play.
Matt Griffith, Tournament Director Kactuscreek@yahoo.com. 816-665-6762
Entry to the tournament includes, lunches Friday and Saturday, Opening reception at Kactus Creek Croquet Club Friday evening. A courtside participant’s dinner on Saturday is included with your entry fee, for non-playing guests the dinner fee is $20.00.
Midwest Regional Championships 2010
/TULSA, OK -- Traveling to the Midwest Regional Championship Tournament held in Tulsa, Okahoma were Kactus Creek Croquet Club members Matt Griffith, Matt Smith, Billy Bob Breeden & Ron & Deborah Milligan. After enduring rain, heat & humidity but still able to enjoy themselves, Missouri players showed their expertise by bringing home several trophies. Matt Smith, Warrensburg won second place in the Championship Flight Division while Ron Milligan, Lee's Summit won second place in the Second Flight Division.
Winners in the doubles competition were 2nd place Championship Division, Matt Smith & Matt Griffith with Ron & Deborah Milligan winning second place in the Second Flight Division.
Click here for photos or go to the photo tag at top of page to see pictures of the Midwest Regional 2010.
Update on 2010-07-14 00:50 by MCA Website Admin
Britt playing blue and black balls made the 1st attack to set the break for black. He broke down after making the 4th wicket and was unable to hit a ball to continue the break. Matt hit in with yellow and set the break for red. Matt broke down during the break and in turn had alot of deadness on both balls red and yellow. Britt was content on making a wicket and hitting my balls out of position to maintain control and to burn clock. Towards the end with less then 5 mins to go Britt up by 3 wickets rushed yellow out of bounds by mistake near blue.
Matts yellow ball hit blue and got a rush on black to number 6. Scored the hoop and turned it over to red who was also heading to 6 . With red in last turn and down by 2 wickets scored 6 and trying for a hard rush to 2 back missed black about ten feet away.
Britt with a one wicket lead partnered up on the side line. Matt's yellow ball had a slight angle shot about 6 feet away on 1 back. Matt missed the shot and Britt won the game.
MCA members visit Sarasota County Croquet Club
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VENICE, FL -- Jodi and Greg Adams of Kansas City, Mo were at Venice, Florida this last weekend to visit the Sarasota County Croquet Club. The Adams' report everyone was very nice and welcoming.
The SCCC is located in Venice Florida on property owned by the City of Venice and maintained by the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department. The SCCC is the largest public facility dedicated to croquet in the United States.