It's ¡Viva Espana! - but not completely

32 players from 13 European countries took part in this 4 day competition under the auspices of the World Croquet Federation.

Two and a half days of  block play were followed by a knockout championship and secondary competitions.

There has been an explosion of croquet in Spain in recent years so it was no surprise that all five Spanish players took part in the knockout stage and two reached the semi-finals (playing each other). The final was between England player Richard Bilton and Spanish player Jose Alvares-Sala, won by the latter 6-7, 7-3, 7-5.

Spanish player Andres Alvarez-Sala won the Shield beating Stuart M Smith 7-6, 7-6.

But Spain did not have it all its own way as Chris Roberts (Wales) won the Bowl, beating Manual Alvarez-Sala 7-1, 6-7, 7-5.

The Plate was won by WolfGang Usbeck (Germany) beating Bjorn Kamne (Norway).

Shield winner Andres Alvarez-Sala with WCF Representative Peter Payne

Bowl winner Chris Roberts

Bronze medalist Jose Riva

Silver medalist Richard Bilton

European GC Champion 2024 Jose Alvarez-Sala