Jenny Clarke didn't think much of croquet when she first picked up the sport.
Studying a PhD in physics at Oxford University, she needed an alternative to cricket due to a back injury.
She would've been the last to guess that in the decades to come, the sport would take her around the globe, earn her several titles and lead her to meet her husband Chris.
But Jenny has plenty more to do, despite being ranked the top women for most of the last 15 years, and 20th in the world overall.
She wants more gold, and the world open singles later this month will be the perfect opportunity.
In a few weeks she's heading to Mauritius, an island about 2000 kilometres off the southeastern coast of East Africa, to defend her champion title.
Jenny Clarke, world champion croquet player, photographed at the Union Croquet Club at Hagley park in Christchurch. Photo: Eve Welch
