Croquet hits the sporting spotlight at Heaton Park

Manchester is used to hosting top-flight sports tournaments such as football, swimming, athletics and netball and now it can add the WCT World Association Croquet Team Championship to its portfolio.

International croquet players will head to Heaton Park in August this year for part of the 20th Croquet World Series for the MacRobertson Shield 2010, which is this year taking place at venues around England.

The matches at Heaton Park will be held from 5-10 August, and will be played at the Heaton Park Bowls Complex, which was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. 

Teams from Australia, the USA, Great Britain and New Zealand will compete for the MacRobertson Shield, a prestigious competition organised by the World Croquet Federation.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure said: "We're delighted that the World Croquet Federation has chosen the excellent facilities at Heaton Park for their tournament. Manchester has an impressive track record for hosting a wide range of international sports events and, as a city, we take pride in the fact that we have the world-class facilities to accommodate all sports from football to croquet and everything in between."

"I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to all the players and wish them the very best of luck."

The bowling and croquet complex at Heaton Park is located in the northwest corner of the park and is home to three local clubs: The Heaton Park Bowling Club, The Manchester Commonwealth Bowling Club and the Bury Croquet Club. The venue has continued to host local, regional bowls competitions since it opened.

An opening ceremony will take place at Heaton Park on Thursday, 5th August followed by the first test series which will run from 6-10 August. Spectators can watch free of charge.

For further details about the championship visit http://www.wcfcroquet.org/