Croquet on Film

Bob Kroeger reports to the Nottingham board:

I have uploaded the corrected versions of the 2006 CA Highspeed Video Shoot. The real-time examples have sound. The CA’s AC and GC Committees studying the videos included their findings in a text document. I included the contact distances for single ball shots stated in those findings in 2) below. The first video listed here is a compilation of various shots using the Casio EX F1 Highspeed Camera (1200 frames per second). Special thanks to Chris and Jenny Clarke for making this camera available to me during the Worlds, Mark Avery as ball striker, and Rodger Lane as the real-time camera operator. I would say the predominant shot for referees during the Worlds was the sweep shot. The second sweep shot in 1) is close to a bevel edge in slow motion. It would likely be called clean by a referee due to the difficulty of seeing it in real-time from a referee’s position.

1)Casio EX F1 Highspeed Croquet Video

2)Single Ball Shots

3)Single Ball Shots – Double Taps

4)Croquet Shots

5)Hoop Shots

6)Hammer Shots

7)Jump Shots

Chris Clarke has now edited his footage from last Sunday’s final. He says (on the Nottingham list):

I have now uploaded the footage I took of the worlds final. As you will already know from the commentary, the play in the final was not representative of the two players previous performance in the event, but I have put it up after several requests. Providing that you have decent speakers on your computer, you should be able to follow the games since I do jump about on a few occasions, but this is explained in the commentary. Apologies for the duff camerawork at times.

The videos are embedded here. If you would like to view them at YouTube the links are provided below, just scroll down.


Clip 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTDhT4JJPvE
Clip 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPg8oZBr2Zw
Clip 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB8wMDimE0Q
Clip 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2etf5tkoG8
Clip 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6irAGerv5k
Clip 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNeQ1y-GNCY
Clip 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeVw_W66oUk

The World Croquet Championship Final is underway in Florida at the National Croquet Center. Reg Bamford from South Africa, 2 time world champion is playing Ben Rothman of California. No videos from either Chris Clarke or Bob Kroeger have been posted yet today – will report here when one is available.

14:50 EDT
Dave Maugham reports: “we have our oldest ever world champion…”

Reg Bamford beats Ben Rothman 3-0 (+13tp +22 +16tp)

Archived commentary available here.

At 14:40 Reg has two peels done of a triple to win the Championship.

Status at lunch: Reg Bamford leads Ben Rothman by two games to none +13tp +22

Status at 12:25pm EDT is Reg Bamford one game up (+13tp) in the best-of-five final. Game two also went to Bamford. Dave Maugham’s commentary reports that Ben Rothman’s good shooting has deserted him today.

Mostly of Bamford vs Fletcher, from Chris Clarke – commentary on the audio track. For written commentary see the record on the 2009 World Championship scoring site.

• Reg Bamford beats Rob Fletcher -8otp +26tp +26tp +5tp

In the other semi

• Ben Rothman beats Chris Farthing +13tp -5 +23 -26tp +26tp

The written commentary is also archived here.

Bob Kroeger reports on the use of the high speed camera:

While I realize the focus is on the World semi at this moment, I did want to share a very short clip using the Casio EX-F1 highspeed camera (1200 fps). I am very pleased with this camera’s potential to create a good referee training video. The real-time examples had the Canon S5IS in use. Special thanks to Jenny and Chris Clarke for making the Casio available to me this week.

A collection of five clips by Chris Clarke:
The matches were
Reg Bamford [ZAF] v Rutger Beijderwellen [NLD]
John Gibbons [ENG] v Ben Rothman [USA]
Chris Farthing [ENG] v Stephen Mulliner [ENG]
James Death [ENG] v Rob Fletcher [AUS]

Quarter Final Results

• Rob Fletcher beats James Death +26tp +12tpo -23 +13tp
• Reg Bamford beats Rutger Beijderwellen +26tp +24tp -26tp +26tp
• Ben Rothman beats John Gibbons +17 +17 +16
• Chris Farthing beats Stephen Mulliner -17tp -7 +19tp +17 +26tp

The online commentary was provided by David Maugham and Samir Patel with support from others and can be found at the 2009 World Championship scoring site. It’s also archived here [pdf].

Bob Kroeger at PGA on the Nottingham board reports:

This has Robert Lowe from NZ in play doing a straight rover peel and combination peg-out to complete his triple on Lawn 3 at PGA Thursday.

and apologizing too:

Apologies for my dreadful camera work as I was in quiet conversation during most of it hence the reason for no sound until the end.