National Championships
2009
The 2009 National Championships were held at the Norbreck Castle
Hotel, Blackpool, over the weekend of 14th - 15th November.
The event has each of the 10 competing
counties putting up 6 rinks (teams of 4). These rinks play one
rink from each of the other counties, three rinks at a time,
so that half of each county's team is playing at any one time.
There are 9 sessions on each of the 2 days.
The teams are awarded 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw.
Session 1
(Saturday)
Cambridgeshire's 5 point haul against Northumberland made them
the early leaders, with Durham, Sunderland, Suffolk and North
Tyneside just behind on 4 points.
Durham |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
2 - 4 |
Sunderland |
Norfolk |
2 - 4 |
Suffolk |
Cambridgeshire |
5 - 1 |
Northumberland |
South Tyneside |
2 - 4 |
North Tyneside |
|
Session 2
Cambridgeshire moved on to 11 points
(out of a possible 12) to extend their lead to 3 points, ahead
of Suffolk who were now in a clear 2nd place. Meanwhile, Durham,
North Tyneside, Sunderland, Hertfordshire, Essex and South Tyneside
were all tied for 3rd on 6 points.
Essex |
4 - 2 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
6 - 0 |
Norfolk |
South Tyneside |
4 - 2 |
Durham |
Hertfordshire |
4 - 2 |
North Tyneside |
Suffolk |
4 - 2 |
Sunderland |
|
Session 3
Cambridgeshire maintained their
3 point advantage, moving on to 15 points, still ahead of Suffolk.
Third place was now down to just Durham and Essex, each of whom
had 10 points, leaving them 5 points behind the leaders.
Suffolk |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
3 - 3 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
4 - 2 |
North Tyneside |
Durham |
4 - 2 |
Norfolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
|
Session 4
Cambridgeshire faltered for the
first time as they only managed to pick up 2 points against Suffolk,
despite that they still had a 1 point lead over Suffolk. Meanwhile
a perfect session for Sunderland saw them move up to third place
on 15 points, just 2 off the lead.
Essex |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
2 - 4 |
North Tyneside |
Suffolk |
4 - 2 |
Cambridgeshire |
Sunderland |
6 - 0 |
South Tyneside |
Norfolk |
2 - 4 |
Northumberland |
|
Session 5
It was a session which saw 4 teams
take maximum points, including Cambridgeshire, who were now on
23 points, Suffolk who were still 1 behind, and Essex who moved
back up to third, on 20 points. The session was also significant
for Norfolk who managed to double their points tally in one fell
swoop, moving off the bottom of the standings for the first time.
Cambridgeshire |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Norfolk |
6 - 0 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
2 - 4 |
Sunderland |
Suffolk |
6 - 0 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
6 - 0 |
Durham |
|
Session 6
Despite unexpectedly dropping 2
points to last placed South Tyneside, Cambridgeshire not only
maintained the top spot, but increased their lead back up to
3 points as Suffolk could only manage to take 2 points from Hertfordshire.
And despite only managing to get 2 points out of Durham, Sunderland
were able to resume their 3rd place. They were now on 21 points,
6 off the pace, thanks to another impressive performance from
Norfolk who took maximum points again, this time off Essex.
Durham |
4 - 2 |
Sunderland |
Suffolk |
2 - 4 |
Hertfordshire |
Northumberland |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Essex |
0 - 6 |
Norfolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
|
Session 7
Cambridgeshire's advantage was
once again cut back to a single point as Suffolk took a maximum
points haul against Durham. It was a better session for Sunderland
as they took 6 points to move on to 27 points, closing the gap
to the top to just 4 points. Fourth place now went to a Norfolk
team who had been languishing in 10th just 3 sessions ago. They
took 5 points from Hertfordshire making it 17 out of a possible
18 points from those 3 sessions.
Northumberland |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
1 - 5 |
Norfolk |
Essex |
2 - 4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Durham |
0 - 6 |
Suffolk |
Sunderland |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
|
Session 8
Despite taking 4 points from their
game with Durham, Cambridgeshire lost the top spot for the first
time, in Saturday's penultimate session. Suffolk now movedinto
a 1 point lead, on 36 points, having taken the maximum from North
Tyneside. Sunderland were now comfortably in third place, 5 points
beind the leaders, but 5 points clear of 4th placed Essex.
Norfolk |
2 - 4 |
Sunderland |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
Durham |
Suffolk |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
2 - 4 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
|
Session 9
The final session of Saturday's
play saw the top 4 teams playing amongst themselves. But despite
having the opportunity to overturn the points advantage that
the top 2 had held all day, the chasing teams were unable to
capitalise.
Suffolk finished the day on 40 points to
maintain their single point advantage over Cambridgeshire, the
same position in which the 2 teams had found themselves at that
same stage as last year's Championships.
Sunderland had slipped a little further
of the lead, but were still in a comfortable 3rd place on 33
points, while Norfolk were back up to 4th, on 29 points, finishing
the day 11 points off the lead, which was very creditable considering
they had already fallen that far behind after just the first
3 sessions.
Essex were fifth on 28 points, while Durham
and Northumberland were each on 24 points, just one ahead of
Hertfordshire. South Tyneside were in 9th on 16 points, while
North Tyneside took take some consolation from having picked
up 2 points against Norfolk, putting to end a miserable run of
4 sessions in which they had failed to gain a single point.
Hertfordshire |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
Essex |
2 - 4 |
Suffolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
Sunderland |
Norfolk |
4 - 2 |
North Tyneside |
Durham |
6 - 0 |
Northumberland |
|
Session 10
(Sunday)
Sunday's first session saw overnight leaders Suffolk increase
their lead to 3 points as they took 4 points against Norfolk,
while Cambridgeshire could only manage one from their three games
against Northumberland. Meanwhile the fight for 3rd was hotting
up as Essex took 5 of the 6 points on offer against rivals Sunderland
to reduce the game between the 2 teams to a single point.
Durham |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
5 - 1 |
Sunderland |
Norfolk |
2 - 4 |
Suffolk |
Cambridgeshire |
2 - 4 |
Northumberland |
South Tyneside |
2 - 4 |
North Tyneside |
|
Session 11
Having suffered at the hands of
Essex, Sunderland immediately hit back, taking all 6 points from
their games against erstwhile leaders Suffolk, who were now second,
still on 44 points, 3 points behind Cambridgeshire who had taken
maximum points to regain the lead. Meanwhile Sunderland were
on 40 points, just 7 off the lead.
Essex |
4 - 2 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
6 - 0 |
Norfolk |
South Tyneside |
5 - 1 |
Durham |
Hertfordshire |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Suffolk |
0 - 6 |
Sunderland |
|
Session 12
Four points for Cambridgeshire
saw them retain the lead as they moved on to 51 points, but the
gap had been cut to just 1 point as Suffolk took all 6 points
from their games. Sunderland took another 4 points to keep pace
with the leaders, but Essex were once again hot on their tales,
as another 6 points took them up to 43 points, just one off third
place
Suffolk |
6 - 0 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
4 - 2 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Durham |
0 - 6 |
Norfolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
|
Session 13
Once again the critical session
was the one between the two leaders and once again it was Suffolk
that came out on top, winning 2 out of 3 games against Cambridgeshire
and allowing them to once more leapfrog the former leaders, going
from 1 point behind, to 1 ahead. Another 4 points each for Suderland
and Essex saw them both keep pace with the top 2.
Essex |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
2 - 4 |
North Tyneside |
Suffolk |
4 - 2 |
Cambridgeshire |
Sunderland |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
Norfolk |
4 - 2 |
Northumberland |
|
Session 14
It was maximum points for all 3
front runners this time around. Suffolk were now on 60 points,
Cambridgeshire, 1 behind and Sunderland 6 behind, on 54 points.
Essex meanwhile could only manage 4 points and had slipped to
3 points behind third place.
Cambridgeshire |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Norfolk |
5 - 1 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
0 - 6 |
Sunderland |
Suffolk |
6 - 0 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
4 - 2 |
Durham |
|
Session 15
And it was a similar story in the
next round. Once again the top 3 were all matching each other
point for point. Although Suffolk dropped 2 points, so too did
their closest persuers. The leaders had now moved on to 64 points
with Cambridgeshire on 63. Sunderland were now on 58 points and
although time was running out for them to bridge the gap to the
top 2 teams, third place was at least looking more comfortable
as Essex faltered.
Durham |
2 - 4 |
Sunderland |
Suffolk |
4 - 2 |
Hertfordshire |
Northumberland |
2 - 4 |
North Tyneside |
Essex |
2 - 4 |
Norfolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
|
Session 16
Despite an impressive performance
against Essex, Cambridgeshire nevertheless lost ground to a Suffolk
team that picked up all 6 points against Durham to double their
tenuous lead to all of 2 points. Sunderland meanwhile lost further
ground and with just 2 sessions left and 8 points adrift of the
lead they were now all but out of the running. They were, however,
comfortably shead of what was once again a close battle for fourth.
Having been ahead of Essex at the start of the day, Norfolk had
fallen as much as 6 points behind, but were now tied with them
once again, on 54 points,
Northumberland |
2 - 4 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
2 - 4 |
Norfolk |
Essex |
1 - 5 |
Cambridgeshire |
Durham |
0 - 6 |
Suffolk |
Sunderland |
4 - 2 |
North Tyneside |
|
Session 17
It was maximum points all around
for Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Sunderland and Essex, in the penultimate
round of games, leaving them on 76, 74, 68 and 60 points respectively.
Suffolk's fate was in their own hands as their point and shot
advantage meant that 4 point from those last 3 games would all
but see them home. Only Cambridgeshire could now catch them,
although they themselves were not guaranteed second place as
Sunderland were 6 points behind and would be playing them in
the final session.
Norfolk |
0 - 6 |
Sunderland |
Cambridgeshire |
6 - 0 |
Durham |
Suffolk |
6 - 0 |
North Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
2 - 4 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
6 - 0 |
South Tyneside |
|
Session 18
Having finished in 10th spot last
year on just 15 points, South Tyneside showed the biggest year-on-year
improvement of any team as they finished on 34 points. It was
enough to enable them to finish ahead of local rivals North Tyneside
and, tantalisingly, they finished just a single point behind
8th place.
That 8th spot went to Durham, a disappointing
result from a team who are used to finishing much higher. In
fact overnight they had been in 6th place and were in amongst
the pack of teams that were just in behind the leading three.
However Sunday's play saw them only able to add 12 points to
Saturday's tally, leaving them well adrift of the teams they
had been fighting with after the first day's play.
Hertfordshire were able to improve one
place on last year, although their points tally was identical
to 2008, while Northumberland's 6th place was also an improvement
on last year's finishing position.
Fifth place went to Norfolk who finished
on 58 points, just 4 behind Essex with whom they had fought a
see-sawing battle all weekend. Both teams finished a spot lower
than they had the year before.
That was down to this year's biggest improvers
in terms of position. In 2008 Sunderland had finished in 6th
place on 58 points, this year they moved up to a very creditable
3rd place on 70 points, well clear of the teams that had spent
all weekend chasing them.
But, as had been the case last year, the
fight for the title came down to just two teams, Suffolk and
Cambridgeshire. In 2008 Suffolk had gone into the final set of
games holding a 1 point advantage and had been overhauled, this
year it was a 2 point lead and that turned out to be enough.
Cambridgeshire picked up 4 points from their games with Sunderland,
but Suffolk were able to match that against Essex to finish on
80 points against Cambridgeshire's final total of 78 points.
Hertfordshire |
4 - 2 |
South Tyneside |
Essex |
2 - 4 |
Suffolk |
Cambridgeshire |
4 - 2 |
Sunderland |
Norfolk |
4 - 2 |
North Tyneside |
Durham |
0 - 6 |
Northumberland |
|
|
Camb |
Durh |
Essex |
Herts |
Norfk |
Nland |
NTyne |
STyne |
Suffk |
Sund |
Pts |
For |
Agst |
Pos |
CAMBRIDGESHIRE |
|
10 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
8 - 4 |
12 - 0 |
7 - 5 |
12 - 0 |
8 - 4 |
4 - 8 |
8 - 4 |
78 |
623 |
429 |
2nd |
DURHAM |
2 - 10 |
|
2 - 10 |
8 - 4 |
4 - 8 |
6 - 6 |
4 - 8 |
3 - 9 |
0 - 12 |
6 - 6 |
35 |
472 |
551 |
8th |
ESSEX |
3 - 9 |
10 - 2 |
|
8 - 4 |
10 - 2 |
8 - 4 |
10 - 2 |
10 - 2 |
4 - 8 |
7 - 5 |
62 |
580 |
491 |
4th |
HERTFORDSHIRE |
4 - 8 |
4 - 8 |
4 - 8 |
3 - 9 |
3 - 9 |
4 - 8 |
10 - 2 |
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
2 - 10 |
45 |
473 |
578 |
7th |
NORFOLK |
0 - 12 |
8 - 4 |
10 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
|
6 - 6 |
8 - 4 |
11 - 1 |
4 - 8 |
2 - 10 |
58 |
545 |
537 |
5th |
NORTHUMBERLAND |
5 - 7 |
6 - 6 |
4 - 8 |
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
|
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
0 - 12 |
5 - 7 |
48 |
561 |
544 |
6th |
NORTH TYNESIDE |
0 - 12 |
8 - 4 |
2 - 10 |
2 - 10 |
4 - 8 |
4 - 8 |
|
8 - 4 |
0 - 12 |
2 - 10 |
30 |
408 |
693 |
10th |
SOUTH TYNESIDE |
4 - 8 |
9 - 3 |
2 - 10 |
4 - 8 |
1 - 11 |
6 - 6 |
4 - 8 |
|
2 - 10 |
2 - 10 |
34 |
456 |
618 |
9th |
SUFFOLK |
8 - 4 |
12 - 0 |
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
8 - 4 |
12 - 0 |
12 - 0 |
10 - 2 |
|
4 - 8 |
80 |
635 |
441 |
1st |
SUNDERLAND |
4 - 8 |
6 - 6 |
5 - 7 |
10 - 2 |
10 - 2 |
7 - 5 |
10 - 2 |
10 - 2 |
8 - 4 |
|
70 |
598 |
478 |
3rd |
|
Updated 24/11/09 |