Eastern Counties Champion of Champions 2009

On 10th May, Suffolk played hosts to the Eastern Champion of Champions, at Needham Market Community Centre, the Eastern Counties version of the National competition in June.

The first round of matches saw some mixed results. The most surprising, perhaps, that Cambridgeshire were unable to take any points. Essex, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk, meanwhile, had taken three of their four games, not a bad start.

It was clear that no team was going to have an easy day, and the next round saw Cambridgeshire come back, only losing their pairs game to a very determined Suffolk . Essex kept up their challenge, also dropping just the one game.

The third round resulted in a mixed bag for all accept Suffolk. Their Triples and Pairs teams remained unbeaten, and showing no sign of a defeat. The rinks competition was shaping up for a tight finish, and Cambridgeshire had finally started to show in the singles.

The fourth round finished with the Suffolk triple winning, they were now unable to be caught and wer therefore the Triples champions, with one round to go. Suffolk’s pair won their fourth game, and remained unbeaten, while the Cambridgeshire Single had a slight lead. The rinks was still very close, and nobody was prepared to predict the final outcome.

Into the last round, with the Triples already won, the Suffolk Pair needed not to loose against Norfolk, the only team able to catch them. Suffolk eventually coming out on top, to take the pairs trophy. The Cambridgeshire single was able to hold his nerve and fight off the challenge of both Essex and Suffolk, to win the singles title.

The most interesting finish took place in the Rinks. Four teams were in a position to win the championship, and they were playing each other. After some strange twists and turns, the Essex team came out victorious from a very good competition that could have been won by any team on show.

And finally, the team event was won by a Suffolk team that performed very consistently though out the day.

FOURS Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk Pts For Agst Pos BEDFORDSHIRE 6 - 11 7 - 9 10 - 6 5 - 7 8 - 12 2 36 45 6th CAMBRIDGESHIRE 11 - 6 6 - 6 5 - 8 4 - 6 16 - 4 5 42 30 3rd ESSEX 9 - 7 6 - 6 6 - 5 8 - 10 11 - 5 7 40 33 1st HERTFORDSHIRE 6 - 10 8 - 5 5 - 6 10 - 6 6 - 9 4 35 36 5th NORFOLK 7 - 5 6 - 4 10 - 8 6 - 10 6 - 6 7 35 33 2nd SUFFOLK 12 - 8 4 - 16 5 - 11 9 - 6 6 - 6 5 36 47 4th

TRIPLES Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk Pts For Agst Pos BEDFORDSHIRE 6 - 11 11 - 6 1 - 15 7 - 10 3 - 8 2 28 50 6th CAMBRIDGESHIRE 11 - 6 12 - 3 7 - 8 6 - 8 6 - 10 4 42 35 3rd ESSEX 6 - 11 3 - 12 12 - 3 8 - 5 2 - 12 4 31 43 5th HERTFORDSHIRE 15 - 1 8 - 7 3 - 12 6 - 5 5 - 10 6 37 35 2nd NORFOLK 10 - 7 8 - 6 5 - 8 5 - 6 8 - 9 4 36 36 4th SUFFOLK 8 - 3 10 - 6 12 - 2 10 - 5 9 - 8 10 49 24 1st

PAIRS Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk Pts For Agst Pos BEDFORDSHIRE 11 - 12 7 - 10 9 - 10 11 - 7 2 - 19 2 40 58 5th CAMBRIDGESHIRE 12 - 11 6 - 7 7 - 8 4 - 14 1 - 8 2 30 48 6th ESSEX 10 - 7 7 - 6 11 - 8 7 - 10 3 - 8 6 38 39 3rd HERTFORDSHIRE 10 - 9 8 - 7 8 - 11 2 - 14 8 - 13 4 36 54 4th NORFOLK 7 - 11 14 - 4 10 - 7 14 - 2 3 - 11 6 48 35 2nd SUFFOLK 19 - 2 8 - 1 8 - 3 13 - 8 11 - 3 10 59 17 1st

SINGLES Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk Pts For Agst Pos BEDFORDSHIRE 5 - 15 7 - 6 6 -14 9 - 9 3 - 12 3 30 56 5th CAMBRIDGESHIRE 15 - 5 5 - 7 14 - 8 7 - 6 8 - 7 8 49 33 1st ESSEX 6 - 7 7 - 5 10 - 7 6 - 5 3 - 11 6 32 35 3rd HERTFORDSHIRE 14 - 6 8 - 14 7 - 10 7 - 7 10 - 4 5 46 41 4th NORFOLK 9 - 9 6 - 7 5 - 6 7 - 7 5 - 10 2 32 39 6th SUFFOLK 12 - 3 7 - 8 11 - 3 4 - 10 10 - 5 6 44 29 2nd

OVERALL Singles Pairs Triples Fours Pts For Agst Pos BEDFORDSHIRE 3 2 2 2 9 134 209 6th CAMBRIDGESHIRE 8 2 4 5 19 163 146 3rd ESSEX 6 6 4 7 23 141 150 2nd HERTFORDSHIRE 5 4 6 4 19 154 166 4th NORFOLK 2 6 4 7 19 151 143 5th SUFFOLK 6 10 10 5 31 188 117 1st