Surbiton to host croquet's biggest competition (From Elmbridge Guardian)

Surbiton to host croquet's biggest competition

6:50am Wednesday 28th July 2010

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Surbiton Croquet Club is to host the final two Tests of the MacRobertson Shield, croquet's most important and prestigious competition.

The Shield sees Great Britain, the world's most successful croquet nation, take on its fiercest rivals, New Zealand, Australia and the USA, in a series of Test matches featuring the world's best players.

For fans of UK sport, this provides a rare opportunity to watch a British team that starts as strong favourites.

Great Britain is the current holder and has won the Shield on eight of the last 10 occasions.

The six-strong GB team also includes three members of Surbiton Croquet Club and players who are ranked first, third and fifth in the world.

This year the Test matches are coming to England and will not return to the UK for another 15 years – hence 2010 offers a rare opportunity to appreciate the skills of the world’s very best croquet players and to understand why croquet is often called “snooker on grass”.

The final two tests of the competition (each Test is the best of 21 matches, played over five days) will be at Surbiton, with the competition starting in early August in Bowdon, Cheshire, and Nottingham. Then the competition moves on to London.

• USA plays Australia at the Roehampton Club, London SW15, from 12th to 16th August.

• From the 18th to 22nd August the final tests between Great Britain and Australia and between New Zealand and USA are to be played at Surbiton Croquet Club, Alexandra Drive, Surbiton, KT5 9AA.

Play starts at 10 am each day, entry is free and refreshments will be available. Visit the website for more information : www.macrobertsonshield2010.org/

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