2019 GC Nationals – Player Information

Dear All,
Thank you for entering the 2019 CNZ GC Nationals. We have 24 players (12 pairs) in the doubles and 22 players for the singles. Therefore, only Epsom Remuera Croquet club will be used.
Nelson Morrow has had to fly back to the UK, so I will be the manager for the doubles and Nelson will be back to manage the singles. Anne Mortimer will be Assistant Manager.
There will be a clubhouse fee of $5 per day, but for players in the singles, you can pay $20 on the first (Tuesday) morning to save a bit of money.
The ER club will provide morning and afternoon teas. Lunch orders will be taken in the morning for the local bakery. Subway is also within walking distance for lunch.
The Referee of the Tournament will be Kathie Grant. The Appeals Committee will be Kathie Grant (Chair), Anne Mortimer and one of Hamish McIntosh, Duncan Dixon or Dennis Bulloch.
There will be a $15 BBQ at the club on Sunday after play. Please sign up to the BBQ on Saturday so that we know numbers.

Formats
Doubles – 2 American blocks of 6 played as best of 3 matchplay. 3 rounds Saturday, 2 rounds on Sunday followed by the BBQ. Top 2 pairs from each block qualify for the knockout. If we finish early, I may play the first round of the Plate on Sunday.
Monday – Semi-Finals and Final, best of 3. Plate – American block of 8, single games with time limits of 1 hr, possibly longer if I get round 1 played Sunday.
Singles - Two blocks of 11 played as best of 3 matchplay. Positions to be decided by match wins, then net games, then net points, then who beat who if necessary. The top 4 players in each block will make the knockout which will be played as a full knockout best of 3, with 5 games for the final if time allows. The Plate will be played as two blocks of 7, single game, with a play-off, probably single game between the block winners.
Tuesday – 3 rounds
Wednesday – 3 rounds
Thursday – 3 rounds
Friday – 2 rounds followed by Quarter Finals and 2 rounds of the Plate.
Saturday – Semi-Finals and Finals plus 5 rounds of the Plate and Plate Final

Note – it is likely that all singles games/matches will be double banked with the exception of the Final – please bring plastic ball markers with you. Additionally, when the singles blocks are finished, we will be lawn limited, so one game will always have to wait for a lawn to become free. Please play expeditiously to ensure that no games have to be pegged down.
Whilst Player Choice Seeding has been advertised in the Yearbook, this is not an appropriate method for seeding since due to the low numbers, there are only two blocks. Therefore, seeding will be done based upon block position.
The average number of games in a match is 2.3, so players should expect around 7 games per day, however, please be prepared to play 9 if all your games go the distance! Each player will have one round as a bye sometime in the initial block phase, so may only have 4 games on one day. On average, each player will have 29 to 30 games over the five days.
The blocks will be populated on croquetscores.com this weekend and this letter will be posted in the commentary section together will details relating to orders of play/byes.
Safeguarding
Please can all players under the age of 18 report to the manager prior to leaving the club at any stage. If you wish to leave, please ensure that you are accompanied by an adult (over 18).
Transport
The Skybus runs every 15 minutes from the airport. It costs $20pp, runs every 15 minutes and you can get off at Mt Eden Road/Balmoral Road which is within walking distance of the club in Melville Park – see map below (note: may not appear on croquetscores commentary)

Start time will be 8.30 each day. Please arrive at 8.15 on the first day of the singles and doubles for a brief opening ceremony led by CNZ President Kathie Grant. You may practice for 5 minutes starting at 8.25 each day – during this time do not hit any shots at hoops that would go further than 7 yards if the hoops were not there.

If you have any queries, please let me know and either myself or a local member will try and help. I wish you all an enjoyable event.

Kind regards,

Chris Clarke