Article content BAYFIELD – Croquet players from across North America and beyond brought their skills to Huron County for the recent Canadian Association Croquet National Championships. Dubbed “CroqCan,” the June 4-7 tournament was once again hosted by the Bayfield International Croquet Club with matches in Bayfield and the Seaforth Lawn Bowling Club. This year’s championship featured 26 players from Bayfield, Elora, Toronto, British Columbia, the United States and even Australia.
Recommended Videos Players were divided into three flights: Championship, A Flight and B Flight. In the end, Alain Giraud, now of Toronto but previously from Derbyshire, England, won the Championship Flight for the third year in a row. Tournament director David Druiett of the Bayfield club said Giraud is now ranked 24th in the world, and he defeated top Canadian Brian Cumming of Elora, who is ranked 52nd in the world.
Michael Kernaghan of Vancouver took the A Flight after defeating Bill Rowat of Bayfield, while James White of Saturna Island, B.C., successfully defended his B Flight title with a win over Patrick Little of St. Catharines. Now in its 51st year and with nearly 100 members, the Bayfield club is the oldest and largest croquet club in Canada, Druiett said while adding that Bayfield has been hosting the event for more than 20 years.
“It’s always been sort of a time for people to come and discover Bayfield,” he said. The club was started by cottagers and evolved over time into a large group that Druiett described as an important part of the community. “We’re always welcoming people to come and try us out,” he said.
“It’s a great way to meet people, and it’s very social.”
