Croquet celebrates 100 years | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

Croquet... French dialect form of crochet, a hook. The Stratford Croquet Club will hold their centenary celebration at this year's opening day today, Wednesday September 20, when members will try to re-create how croquet was played and looked 100 years ago.

A brief history....croquet arrived in England around 1850, from France, although it seems to have been played in Ireland from about 1830. The All England Croquet Club was formed at Wimbledon in 1868, but shortly afterwards Wimbledon became the headquarters of lawn tennis. Tennis rapidly became very popular, and croquet was 'expelled' because it wasn't making enough money through championships, tournaments, members etc.

However, it was widely played on the lawns of private houses, especially by the 'upper class' and was high on the social scene. It was even enjoyed by royal patronage. The Golden Age (with the formation of The All England Croquet Association, in 1886, now shortened to The Croquet Association) continued until the outbreak of World War I. It came back to life after the war, became less aristocratic, and in 1925, international matches were played between England and Australia every four years for the McRobertson Shield.

New Zealand joined in 1930. Croquet has had its ups and downs, had rather a reputation for ageing players, but now has many younger enthusiastic players throughout the world, a lot of international play, and growing popularity - golf croquet has added to this. A point worth mentioning is that it is a game where the appeal lies in the balance it strikes between physical, tactical, and psychological demands.

You do not need to become a semi-professional to develop the skills, and it can be played by young and old. (To finish a game, you 'peg out'!) Sources: Play the Game by Stephen Mullins, Pears Cyclopaedia 1950 edition and Chamber's 20th Century Dictionary.