Annual Speed Croquet Tournament
GET READY FOR A GREAT TIME!!
NEW GEAR FOR THE 2025 TOURNAMENT!
People who are playing to win need at least good equipment to work with. Bellevue Sunrise Rotary is pleased to announce that we have made an investment in six brand-new Franklin Sports Expert 6-Player Croquet Sets for the 2025 Speed Croquet Tournament. These sets are heavy-duty and durable, and will be able to provide robust support to all players. We are aware that the field is challenging, and want to provide the best experience.
Every year, Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Club hosts a Speed Croquet Tournament to raise funds for the projects and causes we support. We meet with our guests on a Wednesday in the Summer at Marymoor Park in Redmond. It’s a day full of good-natured competition, socializing with family and friends, and bidding at auctions featuring really cool stuff, such as world renowned Village Theatre tickets, fine vintage wines, gourmet dining experiences, day trips and stays at beautiful hotels.
This version of Speed Croquet pits up to 20 teams against each other. Members of each team work together, to complete a round as quickly as possible. Each team plays two rounds. Six teams with the best recorded times advance to the championship round. While there are prizes, FUN is the main objective of the tournament, and everyone’s a winner.
This year’s event will be held on Wednesday afternoon, August 13, 2025.
Six referees from the Sea Scouts Ship 2451 keep the play of teams under control (ahem) at all times. Sea Scouts Commodore Bill Rahr is a member of Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Club.
In addition to the tournament, we hold a lively auction conducted by professional auctioneer and local television celebrity, Stephen Kilbreath of KING TV. Auction items are generously contributed by individuals and local business establishments. During the day, free snacks are provided at guest tables. In the early evening, a Dick’s food truck will be stationed nearby for grabbing a famous Dick’s cheeseburger and milkshake. [Dinner is hosted by Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Club.]
2024’s event raised over $66,000. Many thanks to all who enjoyed our annual fundraising event and generously donated. We really couldn’t have done it without you. Go to our Projects page to see how funds have been invested in our community.
Funds raised by the Croquet Tournament are donated to the Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Foundation, an IRS 501 (c) (3), which uses the funds to support local and international causes. The operations of Rotary International, of which Bellevue Sunrise is a member organization, are overseen by its Board of Directors.
The Rotary Foundation is organized as a public charity operated exclusively for charitable purposes and governed by a Board of Trustees. As of January 2023, for the 15th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator , an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
Winners of the 2024 Speed Croquet Tournament (for the 3rd year in a row!):
Y Nots (from Newcastle YMCA). Sponsored by Bellevue Sunrise Rotary Member, Andy Sharpe.
Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together on issues involving:
2024 Corporate Sponsors
Disease Prevention and Treatment is one of Rotary’s causes. This aligns well with the WSU College of Medicine. Their goal is to address challenging health care environments with a focus on rural communities, Tribal Nations, and people who have been historically marginalized. Our shared goal is to endow Rotary scholarships that will support four medical students every year, indefinitely.