12 Counties Championship 2018
We had a fantastic finale to the 12 Counties Champs on Saturday, which saw Yorkshire secure the title, and so retain the crown they won last year. It was a terrific team effort from Karen Mitchell, Di Hutchinson and the Yorkshire coaches to produce teams of such solid consistency all year. On Saturday the real battle was between Essex and Hertfordshire, who were playing to stay in the top division next year, with Bucks already demoted, and Yorkshire in an unassailable lead. It went down to the last boys match on court, which went to a match tie-break. Unfortunately for Herts, that result went the wrong way for them, but the right way for Essex. As such, the top division in 2018 will be Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Essex.
What an amazing achievement from the whole Leicestershire team this year! It is the first time in the history of the event that one County has won all 10 age groups in one season, scoring 40/40 points. Kate De Freja has pulled everything together in her first year in this position, and this will see Leics return to the top division next year where they will be joined by Cambridgeshire who won Division 2A. We don’t know who else will be up there with them, as Division 1 don’t play their final age group for another couple of weeks. As you will see from the attached table, Notts and Hereford & Worcestershire finished equal in second place on 24 points, with Beds finishing in 4th place.
A huge congratulations to Cambridgeshire and Sue Rich for securing promotion back into the top division for next season. This has been a really well-fought division this year, with Cheshire pushing them all the way into the last age group this weekend. Cambs won 6 of the 10 age groups, with Cheshire winning the other 4, but had Northants and Norfolk nibbling away as well.
Midlands Veterans Leagues 2018
Our final matches have been completed in this year's Midlands Veterans Leagues, and what a finale we had!
In the Mens 55+ age group, it was Northants, under captain Brian Perry who came through to retain their title. Despite suffering a loss to Beds during the campaign, Northants won the rest of their matches, so were drawn with new-comers Leicestershire on 4 wins each. So it came down to the Head to Head contest between them, which Northants managed to win 10-6. The squad included Neil Shorrock, Tony Pratt, Mark Meagrow, & Iain Wetherell. The addition of Bucks last year and Leics this year has helped improve both the level of the league, and also the number of matches, but we could still cater for another 2 teams, so if you hear anyone who might be interested in the 2018 league please give them my details.
In the Ladies 60+ age group, Lincs were dominant in every match, and also retained the title they won last year. The squad were made up from Mellony Milner, Sarah Mumby, Mary Goult, Josie Richmond, & Mandy Laurence. The most they dropped was 2 sets in any of their matches, and the ladies in this division could really do with some more teams to play against, so again please pass on my details if you know of anyone that might like to take part.
The Ladies 50+ League saw new winners in the form of Derbyshire, who took this title for the very first time. Captain Sue Grindle and her ladies saw off some terrific opposition, and in their last match of the season were up against the consistently strong Leics ladies, who were also undefeated going in to the final day of play. Captain Sue played with Jane Rushby, while Julie Guzder teamed up with Julia Burton and they managed to force home a
5-3 win to pick up the title. Other squad members that played included Sally Hargreaves, Anne Johnston, & Judith Ashcroft.
In our final age group, the Ladies 40+, we had one of the most exciting finishes to a season we have ever had in this competition. Last years winners Lincs, were undefeated all year, and faced last years runners up, Cambridgeshire. It was nip and tuck all the way, being drawn 2-2 after the first round, then 4-4 after the second round, it came down to a match tie-break shoot out. This was the first one that Cambs have been involved in since the rule was brought in a couple of years ago. Despite facing a match point down, the Cambs 1st pair of Fleur Clegg and Rachel Hill came through
13-11 to take the title, after almost 4 hours of play! A big congratulations to Captain Caroline Thornton, Karen Cross, Teresa Caitlin, Christine Sprowell, Emma Mills, Marketa Ullman.