Thank you for entering the 2020 NZ AC Open Championships. Below you will find details of the formats and timings for all events and other matters of relevance. If you have any queries please e-mail [email protected] or phone 04 2368877.

Doubles (Saturday 18 - Monday 20 January)

Play starts at 8.30am each day, please be on deck by 8.00am on day one for Opening Remarks, etc, 8.15am thereafter.

We have 16 pairs and will start with 4 blocks of four with 3 hour time limits. The event will be played at Kelburn with four courts double-banked. Two pairs will qualify from each block. The KO Q-F and S-F will be single games with a 3 hour time limit. The final will be a BO3 match with time limits of 3.5/6.5/9. Q-F losers will play a Y KO. Y losers will play a Z KO. S-F losers may play-off for 3rd & 4th. These consolation finals may be BO3 subject to time constraints.

The Plate event for non-qualifiers will comprise two blocks of four followed by positional play-offs. These matches will be single games with 3 hour time limits.

Singles (Tuesday 21 - Sunday 26 January)

Play starts at 8.30am each day. Please be on deck at your correct venue by 8.00am on day 1 for Opening Remarks, etc, 8.15am thereafter.

We have 32 players and will start with 4 blocks of 8 with 3 hour time limits. Block play will occur at both Kelburn and Wellington Clubs. There will be a change of venue for most players on day 2. The top 4 from each block will qualify for the KO with ties on wins being broken by net points and, if necessary, who won the game between the tied players.

We will hold the Players' Choice draw for the 16 qualifiers at Kelburn at the completion of round 7 (on Thursday morning) and allowing for relevant players to arrive from Wellington. I anticipate having up-dated player rankings, as at close of play on Wednesday, available to support the draw.

The KO and the Bronze Medal events will be played at Kelburn. The KO will start immediately after the draw is completed. Time limits will be 4/7/10. There will be a Y KO for Q-F losers, Y losers will play a Z KO. S-F losers may have a 3rd & 4th play-off. Losers from the first round of the main KO may enter the Bronze Medal event.

The Bronze Medal will be a flexible swiss event with a 3 hour time limit. 5 games must be played to qualify (including those from round 1 of the main KO). Following a game on Saturday morning, the top four placegetters will play a single game S-F (3 hours time limit). This will be followed by a BO3 final for the top two placegetters (4/7/10) - the first round may be played on Saturday.

The 16 non-qualifiers for the main KO may enter the Heenan Plate. This will commence on Thursday afternoon and may comprise two blocks of 8 followed by a single game S-F on Saturday and a BO3 final on Sunday. Block play and the S-F will have 3 hour time limits. The final will be 4/7/10. Block play will largely be at Wellington with one court also used at Kelburn. The final will be played at Kelburn.

The Draw

The draw for both singles and doubles block play will be entered on croquetscores.com using rankings updated following the Wellington Croquet Association AC Open (completed 30 December). This was done on 31 December. A copy of the draws, their order of play and the venue for each match will be copied to players soon thereafter.

Details regarding order of play and any other relevant information, including this welcome note will also be posted in the commentary section of the NZ Open page on croquetscores.com. Please check this section for updates.

Double-banking and time limits

Due to lawn and time constraints, there will be many games double-banked. If you believe you are likely to have to wait more than a minute for your double-bankers, you may stop your clock - please remember to restart it!!

Practice

Kelburn courts will be available 1pm-4pm on Friday 17 January for pre-tournament practice. All players are also entitled to 5 minutes practice prior to their first game of the day. During this time, hoops may be run, but only with strokes that would send the ball no further than 7 yards if the hoop was run cleanly. Players who have had byes in the first round of the day and are due to play someone who has played a game may have 15 minutes practice. Players who have a bye but who have already played that day may have a 5 minute practice.

Catering

There will be a Clubhouse fee of $5 per playing day for all players. Please pay this to the Manager/nominated person on the first day you are present. Morning and afternoon tea will be included in this.

Lunches will be available at both Kelburn and Wellington. The cost will be $10 per day. Lunch will generally comprise salad makings and meat selections, which players can assemble, with bread/buns. Following receipt of this note, p
lease advise the Manager whether or not you are likely to purchase lunches.

Officials

Tournament Referee is Brian Boutel. Umpires are expected to be in short supply. Players are encouraged to assist by shot-watching for double-bankers and players on adjacent courts if necessary. Advice of the Appeals Committee members will be advised on day one.

Wellington venue Manager is Dick Smith.

Tom Berryman
Tournament Manager
31 December 2019