Croquet Factsheet

SAVE THE DATE
The 28th Annual Croquet Match - SJC VS. USNA
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Rain Date: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 1p.m.

Imperial Wickets 2010
Stats
History
The Trophy
Attire
Traditions
Etiquette
How the Game is Played
Guidelines for tents and tables
Victory Record
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Imperial Wickets:

St. John’s Senior Cameron Coates of Chicago (see his interview) and Midshipman First Class David Cole from Colorado Springs.

Croquet 2009

Stats:

St. John’s has won the Annapolis Cup 22 out of 27 matches; the Mids have taken the trophy five times. Who will win it this year?

History:

According to legend, the rivalry began in 1982 when the commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy was speaking with St. John’s freshman Kevin Heyburn and remarked that the Mids could beat the Johnnies in any sport. “What about croquet?” was the Johnnie’s retort. He later proposed the match to a group of midshipmen in the interest of fostering better relations between the schools.-Back to top-

The Trophy:

The Annapolis Cup – which has been housed everywhere from the Little Campus to a storage closet – currently lives in the front window of 49 West in Annapolis. Passerby can view it, adorned with the colors of the winning team. -Back to top-

Attire:

The Mids wear crisp, U.S. Croquet Association “Croquet Whites,” along with a team tie, varying from year to year. The Johnnie uniform changes every year, revealed only minutes before each match. Past years have included camouflage, tuxedoes, T-shirts inspired by the film “Napoleon Dynamite,” and even kilts. Several Plebes in dress mess uniforms serve the players refreshments. The audience makes sure to choose suitably eccentric outfits to match. -Back to top-

Croquet 2009 Croquet 2009

Traditions:

In preparation for the match, both St. John’s and the Naval Academy play the Ginger Cove Croquet Team, from the Ginger Cove retirement community. They have met a few weeks prior to the St. John’s match each year since 1992.

The day before the match, the Johnnies have lunch with the Mids at the Academy mess hall, where the Imperial Wicket for the Johnnies formally challenges the Mids to a match.

The match opens with music. The St. Johns’ freshman chorus sings and the Naval Academy Trident Brass band plays. The Johnnies emerge in their surprise uniforms. At 1 pm, the ceremonial first ball is truck and champagne bottles pop open.

United States Croquet Association Collegiate National Championships: Both St. John’s and the Naval Academy teams compete in the United States Croquet Association Collegiate National Championships. This year the Nationals will be held in April at the at the Merion Cricket Club in Merion, Penn. -Back to top-

Etiquette:

Courtesy and good sportsmanship are expected of all players. No players may throw a mallet or hit a ball in protest or anger. No trash talk is allowed. -Back to top-

How the Game is Played:

The game played at the annual match is nine-wicket, or “backyard”, croquet. A full-size croquet court is a rectangle 100 feet long and 50 feet wide. Nine metal wickets and two wooden stakes are arranged in a double diamond pattern. The object of the game is to advance the balls through the course by hitting them with a mallet, scoring a point for each wicket and stake made in the correct order and direction. The winner is the first side to score 14 wicket points and 2 stake points for each of its balls. Teams can also win bonus points by “scoring” a wicket or stake or by hitting another ball. For the Annapolis Cup, each side has 10 players divided into two-person teams. -Back to top-

Guidelines for Guests:

  • No grills, kegs or dogs permitted on campus.
  • Alcohol containers on campus must be monitored by an adult 21 years of age or older at all times.
  • Guest tents and tables may be set-up only in the designated areas (in front of the Greenfield Library).
  • No tents larger than 20-by-20 feet will be permitted on campus.
  • Guests will not be permitted to set up their spaces before 8 a.m. on the morning of the match.
  • All tents and other personal items must be removed from the front campus by 8 p.m. on the day of the match or they will become the property of St. John's College.
  • Only lawn chairs and blankets will be permitted in the vicinity of the crouqet courts (north of the pathway to Prince George St.).

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Victories

  • 2010-?
  • 2009- Johnnies
  • 2008- Johnnies
  • 2007 -Johnnies
  • 2006 - Johnnies
  • 2005 - Mids 3-2
  • 2004 - Johnnies 4-1
  • 2003 - Johnnies
  • 2002 - Johnnies
  • 2001 - Mids
  • 2000 - Johnnies 5-0
  • 1999 - Johnnies 5-0
  • 1998 - Johnnies 4-1
  • 1997 - Johnnies 5-0
  • 1996 - Johnnies
  • 1995 - Johnnies
  • 1994 - Johnnies
  • 1993 - Johnnies
  • 1992 - Johnnies
  • 1991 - Mids
  • 1990 - Johnnies
  • 1989 - Johnnies
  • 1988 - Johnnies
  • 1987 - Mids
  • 1986 - Johnnies
  • 1985 - Mids
  • 1984 - Johnnies
  • 1983 - Johnnies

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