April 15 (UPI) -- A New Zealand man who took up the game of croquet at the age of 79 was named the world's oldest player by Guinness World Records at 101.
The record-keeping organization said Neville Sandiford was 101 years and 262 days old when he participated in an 80+ Golf Croquet tournament in Paraparaumu, Wellington, in August 2025.
His participation in the event earned him the Guinness World Record for the oldest competitive croquet player (male).
Sandiford, who has three children, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, said he took up croquet at the age of 79 at the urging of his wife, Joan.
"[She] read an advertisement in the newspaper that the Wellington club was giving free lessons," he told Guinness World Records. "So we went along. As soon as I took hold of a mallet and hit one ball I knew that was for me. The game we played was Association Croquet and I found myself winning club competitions right from the very first year."
