Croquet comes of age on the Indian Ocean: Sugar Beach hosts its third international cup

A fixture that is finding its feet

What three years ago was little more than a niche experiment is on the verge of becoming a firmly established date in the Mauritian sporting calendar. The Sugar Beach International Croquet Cup — the SBICC to those in the know — has established itself in just a few editions as one of the rare international-level croquet tournaments held anywhere in the Indian Ocean. This year, twenty-four competitors from England, Ireland, Australia and Scotland have made the journey to Flic en Flac to contest the honours from 16 to 20 March, on the celebrated lawn that stretches before the historic manor house at Sugar Beach.

The setting is far from incidental. That immaculate turf, framed by the hotel's colonial architecture, lends the event a singular atmosphere quite removed from the ordinary bustle of the beach resort — a backdrop that suits perfectly the rigour and elegance inherent to the sport.

An international field, a local side

The entry list leaves no doubt as to the genuinely international character of the SBICC. The English contingent is the largest, featuring Stephen Mulliner, David Dickins and Christopher Cheetham among others. Australia is represented by Peter Hamilton, Kathy Hamilton and Janelle Morris, while Ireland sends Jane Morrison and Clair Whyms, and Scotland Sue Fraser.

Ranged against these veterans of European and Commonwealth tournaments, Mauritius will field five players: Samuel, Rémi, Jérémie and Paul Brousse de Gersigny, alongside Henri Piat and Atish Beesony. Their presence speaks to the steady growth of croquet on the island since the competition's inception.

Match results will be tracked in real time on the Croquet Scores platform, allowing enthusiasts to follow the overall standings from anywhere in the world.

The next generation takes up the mallet

The defining novelty of this third edition amounts to a single day: on Sunday 15 March, from ten o'clock in the morning, four young players will compete in the inaugural Sugar Beach International Junior Croquet Cup. The competition will conclude at half past three with an official prize-giving ceremony.

It is worth recalling that croquet is a precision sport played individually or in teams of two to eight. The object of the game is to drive a wooden ball through a course of hoops using a mallet, combining strategy, composure and technical mastery in equal measure.

Organised by the Sunlife group — which this year marks nearly half a century in Mauritian hospitality, since the opening of La Pirogue in 1976 — the SBICC reflects a clear ambition to broaden the island's sporting and cultural offer beyond water sports and golf alone.

Full programme and information: yoursunlife.com