The 2025 Croquet Canada National AC Championship Tournament was hosted by the Bayfield International Croquet Club between June 5-8, 2025. The tournament is played on five courts with three in Bayfield and two at the Seaforth Lawn Bowling Club.
This popular tournament attracts players from North America and Australia. Canadian players arrived from one end of the country to the other. The 26-players were separated into three flights based on their world dynamic grade.
This tournament offers outstanding croquet play as well as opportunities for players to get together and socialize.
A disconcerting situation arose when players discovered that every red ball (Dawson Mark 3) was not perfectly round, resulting in these balls getting stuck in the hoops. The players elected to continue play with a previous version of Dawson balls that were older but round.
The Championship flight was dominated by Alain Giraud from Toronto, On who won 8 of 9 round robin games. Brian Cumming from Elora, On shared the second spot with Rich Lamm from Cathedral City, CA, Stuart Lawrence from Springfield, MA and David Wise from Australia with 6 wins each. In the First Flight, Brian Wasylyk from Campbell River, B.C. shared the top spot with Tony Simmonds from Saturna Island, B.C., each with 6 wins. Pierre Dunn from Victoria, B.C. took the second spot with 5 wins. In the Second Flight, Jane Beharriell from Toronto, On won 6 games as did James White from Saturna Island, B.C. Phil Parsons from Toronto, On won 5 games.
The Championship Flight Knockout was a best of three contest between the top 8 of 10 players. In the final round, Alain Giraud beat Doug Grimsley in 2 games. The second game featured an exciting 1 ball finish for each player.
The First Flight Knockout with all 8 players saw Tony Simmonds beat David MacLaren in a single game.
The Second Flight Knockout with all 8 players resulted in Arlene Parker beating Jane Beharriell in a single game.
A number of spectators watched the Knockout rounds, appreciating the level of play.
The 2025 Croquet Canada Association Tournament finished late on Sunday with presentations of art glass award designed, created and donated by Tim Charney who is a fused glass artist in Cathedral City, California.
Pictures of the event can be found here:
2025 Croquet Canada National AC Championship