Carrickmines Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club was the excellent venue for the 4th women’s GC match between Ireland and Spain. This time the Spanish sent a team to match the Irish players DGrades, after decisive victories for Spain in the first three encounters. The format was a mixture of doubles and singles and at the end of the first day the Spanish had a slight lead. This was reduced to one game by lunchtime on Sunday with Clair Whyms taking a game off Spain’s no 2 Luz Maria Prado to reduce the lead to 23-22.

Ireland retain the Trophy after a four day battle at Carrickmines. 

 Matches between Ireland and USA began in the 1990s but have lapsed of late, since USA became a Tier 1 nation with a place in the McRobertson Shield, so this year's match was the first since 2011. A new format was agreed, whereby both AC and GC would be played and each side looked to have equal participation of genders.  

An Irish team, consisting of Jane Morrison, Simon Williams, Charlie von Schmieder (Captain) and Sandy Greig played in the Golf Croquet Home Internationals in Edinburgh. The team took a very creditable second place , with England winning.

The photo shows the team relaxing after their exertions!

CAI Council members May 2024/5

Celine Reilly ( Carrickmines) Chair, Governance, Funding chair@croquetireland.com
Huw Spiers (Carrickmines) Honorary Treasurer treasurer@croquetireland,com
Alan Looney (Carrickmines) Honorary Secretary secretary@croquetireland.com

A strong Irish team travelled to the Devonshire coast to compete in the 2025 AC Home Internationals held at Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club. Arriving on Friday evening, the lawns were in great condition and promised a good challenge for the weekend even allowing for rain predicted for the following morning.