Crokinole UK’s Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 16th July, bringing together committee members and players from across the UK—and beyond—via Zoom. Chaired by Terry Brown, the meeting tackled a packed agenda with one goal in mind: strengthening the game we all love.

Here are the key takeaways from the meeting and what they mean for players across the UK:


A New Era for the UK Tour

The biggest change agreed was a shift to a calendar-year tour format. From 2026, the UK Tour will run January to December, replacing the previous football-style season. The UK Championship in St Albans will now serve as the season-ending finale, featuring both Singles and Doubles play.

To manage the transition:

  • The remaining 2025 events (Scotland Grand Prix, Clash in Wales, St Albans Open) will mark the start of Season 3.
  • The number of countable events per player will be temporarily increased to ensure a clear champion each year (announced shortly).
  • The committee has also reviewed the tour points system to ensure top-32 finishers at events always receive more points than those below. (the new scoring is detailed on the Tour page)

Tour Expansion and Accessibility

The calendar-year format allows more flexibility for adding new events to the tour. Up to two additional events could join Season 3, pending committee approval. To be considered, an event must have either already taken place or be led by a Tournament Organiser (TO) with prior tour experience.

Other considerations include:

  • Growing demand for Doubles play, with a potential for separate rankings in future seasons.
  • Sunday scheduling is under review to make events more accessible to a wider range of players.

Financial Position and Fundraising

Crokinole UK launched with committee-subsidised costs in Year 1 and broke even in Year 2, largely through the success of the St Albans event and merchandise sales. In Year 3, the target is again break-even or a modest surplus to cover core costs such as room hire, prizes, and equipment.

Ideas under discussion for long-term sustainability include:

  • Introducing a nominal membership fee (e.g. for early event access)
  • Exploring fundraisers, raffles, and sponsorship opportunities

International Affiliation

The committee discussed the potential benefits of affiliating with the National Crokinole Association (NCA), which would allow UK players to be formally ranked in its system. However, the current view is that the value for UK players is limited at this stage. The issue will remain under review.


International Crokinole Day

International Crokinole Day (ICD) is set for Wednesday, 20 August. This global celebration will include:

  • Creative play formats such as team challenges, time-zone relays, or timed play
  • Online engagement via the #InternationalCrokinoleDay hashtag

Everyone is encouraged to participate, wherever they are in the world.


Standardising Equipment and Supporting Inclusion

To improve visibility and consistency, natural/tan discs will be phased out in favour of coloured discs. A central supply of spare discs will be maintained, and loans will be tracked.

Custom discs are under review and will likely be permitted, provided they stay with a specific board to ensure fair play.

Other actions include:

  • Proactive checks on venue accessibility
  • Encouragement of reasonable adjustments for timed play
  • Ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, including gender balance and community representation

Supporting Local Clubs and Community Growth

Crokinole UK is seeing the steady growth of local clubs, such as in Caernarfon, and is supporting this through:

  • A seminar on club development at Tabletop Scotland
  • A “Crokinole Connections” map on the website, listing in-person and online play groups
  • Outreach at conventions, including drop-in demo tables, dedicated space, and printed materials

Additional promotion ideas include adding flyers to board sales and using QR codes to direct new players to club resources.


Committee Structure and Constitution

The committee presented a draft constitution defining the core officer roles: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Marketing & Merchandising Officer. Feedback is welcome from members ahead of ratification.

There will also be an open call for co-opted committee members in the coming season. Members with ideas, energy, or organisational interest are encouraged to step forward.


Year Ahead

The year ahead promises exciting developments and new opportunities to play, compete, and connect. See you at your next event!