John Prince

John Graham Prince (23 July 1945 – 14 February 2023) was a New Zealand croquet player. He represented New Zealand over a period of 40 years, from 1963 to 2003, and was the first player to appear in 100 MacRobertson Shield matches. He won 37 New Zealand national croquet titles, and in 1970 became the first player to execute a sextuple peel in competition. He was inducted into the World Croquet Federation Hall of Fame in 2007.

Early life Born in Lower Hutt on 23 July 1945, Prince was the son of Stanley Graham Prince and Elsie Cecilia Drummond. He started playing croquet at the Naenae Croquet Club in Lower Hutt in 1959, and was initially coached by Ashley Heenan.

Croquet career

Playing career Prince was a surprise selection at the age of 17 in the New Zealand team for the 1963 MacRobertson International Croquet Shield where he beat John Solomon, regarded as the world's best player at the time, in the test match against England. Prince would go on to represent New Zealand in nine campaigns, the last time in 2003, and managed the team on another occasion. He captained the team on five occasions including two MacRobertson Shield wins in 1979 in New Zealand and in 1986 in Great Britain.

On 30 March 1970, Prince became the first player to complete a sextuple peel in a competition during the final of the Hawke's Bay Easter Invitation.

In the 2000 New Year Honours, Prince was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to croquet. He was inducted into the World Croquet Federation Hall of Fame in 2007,

Death and legacy Prince died on 14 February 2023, at the age of 77.