The MacRobertson International Croquet Shield is the premier croquet team event in the world. It is currently competed for by Australia, England, New Zealand and the United States. It is known affectionately as the MacRob or just the Mac.
The series is now played in rotation between the competing countries every three or four years.
The most recent series was held in 2022 in Australia; it was won by England.
The next series will be held in 2026 in England.
History
The competition is named after Australian confectionery maker and philanthropist, Sir Macpherson Robertson.[1] He enlisted returned World War I veterans to take up concessions for his products and encouraged them to try croquet also, believing it to be a teaching aid for developing skills in self-discipline and risk management. Eventually, a pool of players were participating in regular tournaments. In 1925, with a growing interest in the sport, he established the MacRobertson Shield, an international tournament of croquet "Tests" between Australia and England. The Victorian Croquet Association sent a team of four players to England to contest the inaugural tournament. England won easily and Robertson presented the Shield personally.[2]
In 1927-8 an England team played in Australia and was narrowly defeated. In 1930, New Zealand was invited to participate in a series between themselves and Australia, with Australia winning comfortably; the first triangular series was then held in 1935 in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne centenary celebrations. In 1993, a United States team was admitted into the tournament.
Between 1974 and 2010 the team representing the Croquet Association was named "Great Britain" and in two series "Great Britain and Ireland", because the teams included players from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Following the introduction of the World Croquet Federation World Association Croquet Team Championship in 2010, the team was named "England" from the 2013-14 series and now only includes English qualified players.
Each team is represented by six players and since 1996 each test has been the best of 21 matches comprising 12 singles and 9 doubles.
The 2022 Series
The 2022 Series [3] was played at Cairnlea, Melbourne, Australia in November 2022 and was won by England [4] over Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The 2017 Series [5] was played at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, USA and won by Australia over England, New Zealand and the United States.[6] The tournament was held over three five-day tests and 21 matches.
The 1993 series [13] was contested at Rich River, Moama, New South Wales, Australia and was won by Great Britain.
In the first series each country played each other country in a nine-match test match. The top two countries after the first series played a 21 match final and the bottom two played a 21 match third place play off.
The 1956 series [24] was contested between England and New Zealand in England over five test matches across five different venues and was won by England 5-0.[16]
13 - 15 June 1956: England v New Zealand at the Sussex County Croquet Club, Southwick. [25]
England 6 - 3 New Zealand
23 - 26 June 1956: England v New Zealand at the Nottingham Croquet Club, Nottingham. [26]
18 - 20 September 1956: England v New Zealand at the Budleigh Salterton Croquet Club, Budleigh Salterton. [29]
England 7 - 2 New Zealand
The 1950-51 Series
The 1950-51 series [30] was contested between England and New Zealand in New Zealand over three test matches across three different venues and was won by New Zealand 2-1.[16]
23 - 26 November 1950: New Zealand v England at the Mount Hobson Croquet Club, Auckland
New Zealand 4 - 3 England
11 - 13 December 1950: New Zealand v England at the Waimarie Croquet Club, Lower Hutt, Wellington
New Zealand 5 - 2 England
3 - 5 January 1951: New Zealand v England at Dunedin
New Zealand 2 - 4 England
The 1937 Series
The 1937 series [31] was contested between England and Australia in England over five test matches across five different venues and was won by England 5-0.[16]
The 1930 series [33] was contested between Australia and New Zealand in Australia over three test matches in Melbourne and was won by Australia 3-0.[16]
12 - 15 January 1930: Australia v New Zealand at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 8 - 1 New Zealand
17 - 20 January 1930: Australia v New Zealand at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 8 - 1 New Zealand
23 - 25 January 1930: Australia v New Zealand at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 6 - 3 New Zealand
The 1927-28 Series
The 1927-28 series [34] was contested between Australia and England in Australia over three test matches in Melbourne and was won by Australia on the basis of winning most game (20-19).[16]
16 - 17 December 1927: Australia v England at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 4(9) - 2(5) England
6 - 8 January 1928: Australia v England at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 2(4) - 4(9) England
12 - 14 January 1928: Australia v ZealEngland nd at the Warleigh Club, North Brighton, Melbourne
Australia 3(6) - 3(6) England
The 1925 Series
The 1925 series [35] was contested between England and Australia in England over three test matches across three different venues and was won by England 3-0.[16]
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