Luxmoore takes the State Title by one hoop at Windsor

Windsor Croquet Club hosted the 2026 Queensland Association Croquet Open Singles Championship over three days, 17 to 19 July. Twelve players took part, in two blocks of six. The field came from across the country: Eastern Park in Victoria, Como in Western Australia, Canberra, and clubs from around Queensland; with Stephens showing they're Queensland's home of Association Croquet by sending five players.

In the end, the State Title came down to a single hoop. Dave Luxmoore beat Malcolm Biddle 20–19 in the Championship final.

Both men finished Block A on four wins from five games. Luxmoore had the edge on net hoops, and he found himself a whisker ahead again when it counted.

Bruce Ford (Stephens) won the Plate, winning all three of his games.

The two blocks sorted the field into a Championship knockout of eight and a four-player Plate.

Dave Luxmoore with the Emmie Cornelius Perpetual Trophy as 2026 Queensland Open AC Singles Champion, alongside runner-up Malcolm BiddlePhoto: Windsor Croquet Club

*Dave Luxmoore (left) holds the Emmie Cornelius Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the Queensland Open AC Singles Champion, with runner-up Malcolm Biddle. Photo: Windsor Croquet Club.*

Block A was close at the top. Luxmoore beat Biddle 26–16, but he did not have it all his own way. Heather Knight (Stephens) beat him 25–19.

In Block B, Yuni Rowell (Coolangatta) topped the block ahead of Addison Matthews (Laurel Bank).

In the knockout, Luxmoore beat Rosemary Newsham and then Heather Knight to reach the final. Biddle came through Jacky Lynch and David Ward on the other side.

So the two men met for the second time that weekend. Their first game had gone Luxmoore's way by ten hoops. The final was far tighter, and Luxmoore won it by one.

David Ward (Como, WA) took third place with a 20–16 win over Heather Knight.

Bruce Ford receives the Queensland AC Open Singles Plate for 2026Photo: Windsor Croquet Club

*Bruce Ford collects the Queensland AC Open Singles Plate for 2026. Photo: Windsor Croquet Club.*

In the Plate, Bruce Ford finished ahead of his clubmate Lindsay David (Stephens).

The host club summed up the weekend:

"Over the last 3 days Windsor Croquet Club hosted the QLD A/C Open Singles Championship. Shane Davis, as usual, did a magnificent job managing the event and ensuring everything ran smoothly. Thank you to Willy, Helen and Greg for refereeing and all the members of Windsor Croquet Club who gave up their play day, set hoops and supplied morning and afternoon tea. Congratulations to Dave Luxmoore for taking out the State Title and to Malcolm Biddle for coming a very close second. Well done also to Bruce Ford for winning the Plate."

*Windsor Croquet Club*

Championship final placings. 1st Dave Luxmoore (Palm Beach Burleigh Heads), 2nd Malcolm Biddle (Eastern Park, VIC), 3rd David Ward (Como, WA), 4th Heather Knight (Stephens), 5th Yuni Rowell (Coolangatta), 6th Addison Matthews (Laurel Bank), 7th Jacky Lynch (Stephens), 8th Rosemary Newsham (Stephens).

Final. Dave Luxmoore 20 beat Malcolm Biddle 19.

Semi-finals. Luxmoore 26 beat Heather Knight 12; Biddle 26 beat David Ward 11.

Third place. David Ward 20 beat Heather Knight 16.

Plate final placings. 1st Bruce Ford (Stephens), 2nd Lindsay David (Stephens), 3rd Casey De-Vene (Eildon), 4th Janelle Wilson (Canberra).

Block A (wins, then net hoops). Dave Luxmoore 4, +69; Malcolm Biddle 4, +67; Heather Knight 3, −2; David Ward 2, −9; Bruce Ford 2, −44; Janelle Wilson 0, −81.

Block B (wins, then net hoops). Yuni Rowell 3, +53; Addison Matthews 3, +32; Jacky Lynch 2, −6; Rosemary Newsham 2, −18; Casey De-Vene 0, −61; Chris Borlase 0, net not available.

Photographs reproduced with thanks to Windsor Croquet Club, from the club's Facebook page.

Full results and ladders are on CroquetScores: https://croquetscores.com/2026/ac/caq-open-singles