Bob Jackson

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Robert Vernon ‘Bob’ Jackson. Bob passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday 22 January at the age of 92. Bob is survived by his wife Mary and his three sons.

Bob’s croquet achievements include representing New Zealand in both Association Croquet as well as Golf Croquet. Bob was selected for nine MacRobertson Shield teams playing in seven events, as well as playing in three Trans-Tasman Golf Croquet Tests. Bob also represented New Zealand in Singles World Championships in both Association and Golf Croquet.

Bob won a record 14 New Zealand Singles Open Championships in Association Croquet between 1975 and 2003 and 10 New Zealand Doubles Open Championships between 1972 and 1990. Bob also won three national singles as well as three national doubles titles in Golf Croquet.

He won 13 New Zealand Men’s Championships and 2 Mixed Doubles Championships playing with his wife Mary.

In addition to national titles Bob won many championships overseas and there are too many to list them all.

Bob was arguably the best croquet player in the world during the 1970’s and 80’s being the first player to complete an octuple peel, doing so twice in consecutive games.

Bob was an inductee of both the Croquet New Zealand Hall of Fame as well as the World Croquet Federation Hall of Fame.

Before taking up croquet Bob was also a New Zealand Champion in table tennis.

This is a sad day for croquet around the world and our thoughts are with Bob’s family.