National Championships
2010
The 2010 National Championships were held at the Norbreck Castle
Hotel, Blackpool, over the weekend of 13th - 14th November.
Session 1
(Saturday)
Cambridgeshire and Northumberland both made strong starts with
maximum points from the session, although Essex were just a point
behind the leading pair.
Durham |
1 |
5 |
Essex |
Sunderland |
2 |
4 |
Suffolk |
Norfolk |
0 |
6 |
Cambridgeshire |
Northumberland |
6 |
0 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
|
|
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|
Session 2
(Saturday)
Cambridgeshire's 4 points took them into a clear 2 point lead,
ahead of Northumberland, Suffolk and Sunderland.
Sunderland |
6 |
0 |
South Tyneside |
Cambridgeshire |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Durham |
6 |
0 |
Hertfordshire |
Suffolk |
4 |
2 |
Norfolk |
Essex |
|
|
|
|
Session 3
(Saturday)
Sunderland's second consecutive maximum points haul now gave
them the lead, one point ahead of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
Suffolk |
5 |
1 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
6 |
0 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
3 |
3 |
Cambridgeshire |
Durham |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Norfolk |
|
|
|
|
Session 4
(Saturday)
Maximum points for Cambridgeshire saw them climb back to the
top, on 19 points, now 3 points clear of Sunderlan and 4 ahead
of Durham .
Durham |
4 |
2 |
Sunderland |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
Norfolk |
5 |
1 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
6 |
0 |
South Tyneside |
Suffolk |
|
|
|
|
Session 5
(Saturday)
With Cambridgeshire not playing Sunderland took the opportunity
to take the lead, but only by a single point and having played
one session more . Durham and Suffolk were tied for third, 3
points off the lead.
Northumberland |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Suffolk |
Norfolk |
0 |
6 |
South Tyneside |
Essex |
2 |
4 |
Sunderland |
Cambridgeshire |
|
|
|
|
Session 6
(Saturday)
Maximum points again for Cambridgeshire, this time over their
nearest rivals, taking them into a4 point lead over Suffolk,
while Sunderland slipped to 5th.
Essex |
2 |
4 |
Suffolk |
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Norfolk |
South Tyneside |
0 |
6 |
Hertfordshire |
Sunderland |
0 |
6 |
Cambridgeshire |
Northumberland |
|
|
|
|
Session 7
(Saturday)
Cambridgeshire held their lead with a win over Durham, but Suffolk's
maximum over Hertfordshire reduced the defecit to just 2 points.
Sunderland won again, but could not close the gap to the leaders.
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Sunderland |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Norfolk |
Suffolk |
6 |
0 |
Hertfordshire |
South Tyneside |
|
|
|
|
Session 8
(Saturday)
In the clash between the top 2 teams it was Cambridgeshire who
came out on top, re-establishing a 4 point lead over Suffolk.
Suffolk |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Essex |
6 |
0 |
Northumberland |
Norfolk |
2 |
4 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
4 |
2 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
|
|
|
|
Session 9
(Saturday)
Saturday's final session saw a shock result as Hertfordshire
subjected Cambridgeshire to their first losing session of the
weekend. However with 35 points they still held the lead over
Suffolk, albeit one of only 2 points.
Sunderland had regained third place, with 28 points, from Essex
who missed out courtesy of another surprise result, falling to
a 6-0 defeat by South Tyneside.
Durham were in 5th, one point behind Essex, on 25 points. Meanwhile,
only 4 points seperated the bottom 4 teams. Northumberland were
on 19 points, Hertfordshire on 18, Norfolk on 17 and South Tyneside
on 15.
Sunderland |
4 |
2 |
Norfolk |
Suffolk |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
2 |
4 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
0 |
6 |
South Tyneside |
Durham |
|
|
|
|
Session 10
(Sunday)
Cambridgeshire maintained their slender 2 point lead over Suffolk,
while Essex and Sunderland were now tied for third, although
they were 9 points off the lead
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Essex |
Sunderland |
2 |
4 |
Suffolk |
Norfolk |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Northumberland |
2 |
4 |
South Tyneside |
Hertfordshire |
|
|
|
|
Session 11
(Sunday)
Suffolk's 5 point haul brought them to within a point of Cambridgeshire
while Sunderland were in a clear third spot.
Sunderland |
4 |
2 |
South Tyneside |
Cambridgeshire |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Durham |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
Suffolk |
5 |
1 |
Norfolk |
Essex |
|
|
|
|
Session 12
(Sunday)
Essex handed out Cambridgeshire's second losing session of the
event (making them the only county to have a winning record against
Cambridgeshire across the weekend). Sunderland could only manage
a draw and so could not close on the leaders.
Suffolk |
4 |
2 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
3 |
3 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Cambridgeshire |
Durham |
3 |
3 |
Northumberland |
Norfolk |
|
|
|
|
Session 13
(Sunday)
Cambridgeshire took advantage of Suffolk's missed session, taking
all 6 points to establish a 5 point lead.
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Sunderland |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
Norfolk |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
6 |
0 |
South Tyneside |
Suffolk |
|
|
|
|
Session 14
(Sunday)
Cambridgeshire's missed session should have been Suffolk's opportunity
catch up, but a 6-0 clean sweep by Durham meant that not only
did they remain 5 points back, but Sunderland overtook them.
Northumberland |
3 |
3 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
6 |
0 |
Suffolk |
Norfolk |
5 |
1 |
South Tyneside |
Essex |
0 |
6 |
Sunderland |
Cambridgeshire |
|
|
|
|
Session 15
(Sunday)
Of the top 3 only Cambridgeshire managed a winning session, taking
them to 55 points, six clear of Sunderland and 7 clear of Suffolk.
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Suffolk |
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Norfolk |
South Tyneside |
2 |
4 |
Hertfordshire |
Sunderland |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Northumberland |
|
|
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Session 16
(Sunday)
Cambridgeshire were now firmly in the driving seat. While Suffolk
and Sunderland were now level on points, the leaders had now
moved 7 points clear of them both.
Durham |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Sunderland |
3 |
3 |
Northumberland |
Essex |
2 |
4 |
Norfolk |
Suffolk |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
South Tyneside |
|
|
|
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Session 17
(Sunday)
The penultimate session saw this year's title decided. With Sunderland
taking their missed session tet were now level with Durham. Meanwhile
Suffolk had the chance to close to just 1 point behind the leaders
if they could take all 3 games from them. As it was Cambridgeshire
won 2 of the 3 games, giving them a 9 point lead and making the
final session immaterial.
Suffolk |
2 |
4 |
Cambridgeshire |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Norfolk |
6 |
0 |
Hertfordshire |
Durham |
6 |
0 |
South Tyneside |
Sunderland |
|
|
|
|
Session 18
(Sunday)
Having been out of the lead for just a single session across
the whole weekend Cambridgeshire finished as worthy winners on
67 points. Theirs was a dominant win in comparison to recent
years, finally winning by a margin of 9 points.
Suffolk held on to second place, 2 points clear of Sunderland.
Meanwhile a resurgent Durham just edged Essex by a matter of
only 5 shots, to take 4th place.
Norfolk's 6th place could have been much better if not for a
poor Saturday. Their 28 point haul on Sunday was only bettered
by Cambridgeshire.
Northumberland stayed ahead of Hertfordshire to take 7th spot,
while South Tyneside were unable to improve upon their overnight
position.
Sunderland |
4 |
2 |
Norfolk |
Suffolk |
4 |
2 |
Northumberland |
Cambridgeshire |
4 |
2 |
Hertfordshire |
Essex |
4 |
2 |
South Tyneside |
Durham |
|
|
|
|
|
Pts |
For |
Agst |
1 |
Cambridgeshire |
67 |
433 |
301 |
2 |
Suffolk |
58 |
464 |
345 |
3 |
Sunderland |
56 |
423 |
350 |
4 |
Durham |
52 |
391 |
376 |
5 |
Essex |
52 |
386 |
360 |
6 |
Norfolk |
45 |
403 |
355 |
7 |
Northumberland |
38 |
365 |
457 |
8 |
Hertfordshire |
36 |
369 |
458 |
9 |
South Tyneside |
28 |
300 |
532 |
|
|
Camb |
Durh |
Essex |
Herts |
Norfk |
Nland |
STyne |
Suffk |
Sund |
Pts |
For |
Agst |
Pos |
CAMBRIDGESHIRE |
|
8 - 4 |
5 - 7 |
6 - 6 |
10 - 2 |
8 - 4 |
12 - 0 |
8 - 4 |
10 - 2 |
67 |
433 |
301 |
1st |
DURHAM |
4 - 8 |
|
3 - 9 |
10 - 2 |
4 - 8 |
7 - 5 |
10 - 2 |
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
52 |
391 |
376 |
4th |
ESSEX |
7 - 5 |
9 - 3 |
|
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
10 - 2 |
4 - 8 |
6 - 6 |
2 - 10 |
52 |
386 |
360 |
5th |
HERTFORDSHIRE |
6 - 6 |
2 - 10 |
4 - 8 |
|
4 - 8 |
5 - 7 |
10 - 2 |
2 - 10 |
3 - 9 |
36 |
369 |
458 |
8th |
NORFOLK |
2 - 10 |
8 - 4 |
6 - 6 |
8 - 4 |
|
9 - 3 |
5 - 7 |
3 - 9 |
4 - 8 |
45 |
403 |
355 |
6th |
NORTHUMBERLAND |
4 - 8 |
5 - 7 |
2 - 10 |
7 - 5 |
3 - 9 |
|
8 - 4 |
4 - 8 |
5 - 7 |
38 |
365 |
457 |
7th |
SOUTH TYNESIDE |
0 - 12 |
2 - 10 |
8 - 4 |
2 - 10 |
7 - 5 |
4 - 8 |
|
3 - 9 |
2 - 10 |
28 |
300 |
532 |
9th |
SUFFOLK |
4 - 8 |
4 - 8 |
6 - 6 |
10 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
8 - 4 |
9 - 3 |
|
8 - 4 |
58 |
464 |
345 |
2nd |
SUNDERLAND |
2 - 10 |
6 - 6 |
10 - 2 |
9 - 3 |
8 - 4 |
7 - 5 |
10 - 2 |
4 - 8 |
|
56 |
423 |
350 |
3rd |
|
Chairman's Report
It is hard to believe that this was the
19th time we have held this event, for many years the event was
played at Seacroft in Hemsby.
We did hold the event at Scarborough on
one occasion but for the last five years we have been at the
Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool.
This is the highlight of the season for
county bowlers and the event where they get to play all of the
other counties.
The competitive part of the weekend started
on the Friday evening with the Inter County League match, this
was between Cambridgeshire representing the Southern league and
Durham representing the Northern league.
In a keenly contested match both counties
were level on points with five games completed, Durham needed
to win the last game as Cambridgeshire had a good shots for advantage
and a draw would have done for them.
This game was nip and tuck and could have
gone either way on the last end but Cambridgeshire held their
nerve and ran out winners for the third year in a row.
The Inter County match has only been contested
for 17 years and this was the seveth time Cambridgeshire have
won it.
The main event as always is the County
Championship and this started on the Saturday morning by the
end of play that day the usual front runners were in the frame
but there wasn't a huge gap between them and the following pack.
On Sunday it was all to play for but it
soon became clear that there were only four real contenders and
that was Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Durham and Sunderland. As the
afternoon wore on Cambridgeshire gradually moved ahead and had
already won the event before the last session started but there
was still pride at stake for the remaining counties and the battle
for the runner up spot became the focal point of the last session.
Suffolk had to play Northumberland and
could afford to lose one of the games because they had the shots
for advantage over Sunderland who really needed to win all of
their last three games against Norfolk.
Suffolk were struggling against a dogged
Northumberland side that were determined to finish on a high
and with two of the games completed Suffolk had only won one
and lost the other and Northumberland were two shots up with
just the last end to play in the remaining game.
Although Northumberland were lying shot
Suffolk had all of the back woods and with his last bowl of the
competition the Suffolk skip Neil Jolly took the jack back to
lie about five shots but the Northumberland skip Dave Gair still
had a bowl to play, when his bowl stopped it looked as though
he had done enough to get at least a draw but following a measure
it transpired that Suffolk had completed a great comeback in
that game and secured the runner up place in the County Championship.
Sunderland secured third place and are
becoming consistent challengers in this event.
Congratulations to Cambridgeshire for winning
this event for the 13th time and well done to all of the other
counties some of who we know struggle to get enough players to
compete we do appreciate the effort they put in every year.
Unfortunately we only had nine counties
competing as North Tyneside were unable to get enough players
to form a team, we hope that by next year they will be back with
us and it is possible that Bedfordshire could also have a team.
This event will be held at Potters Leisure
Resort in 2011 and we could potentially for the first time have
eleven counties competing.
Tony Cuthbert
Updated 8th
December 2010 |