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2023 ECBA RINKS

CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 English Rinks Championships
were hosted by Hertfordshire at Needham
Market Community Centre. There were 34
entrants on the day with representatives
from Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk, Cam-
bridgeshire, Norfolk, Durham & Sunderland.
The 34 teams were drawn into 7 groups of
five teams (one group with a bye). The
seven group winners and best runner up
progressed to the knockout stages.
In group 1, Claydon/Barking took con-
trol of the group by comfortably winning their
first three games 8-2, 13-1 and 11-0. Despite being beaten 9-3 in their final group game by
Belstead/Claydon team had already done enough to win the group on 6 points and 35 shots ahead
of Claydon (6 points 28 shots) and Belstead/Claydon (5 points 32 shots).In group 2, a clash of the
two Herts teams in the first group game saw C beat A 6-3. Herts C opened the group up by subse-
quently losing in their next match to Kenninghall 7-5. With the two Herts teams and Kenninghall con-
tinuing to win their matches it always looked like coming down to the final fixture between Herts A
and Kenninghall to decide the group. Herts C had played all their matches and were sat on top of
the group 6 points and 27 shots. However, it was impossible for them to stay there as no matter the
result between Herts A and Kenninghall one of them would move above them. It was Herts A that
did so by taking a close game 6-4. That left Herts A as group winners on 6 points and 37 shots ahead
of Herts C (6 points 27 shots) and Kenninghall (6 points 25 shots).
Group 3 proved to be the closest of all with no more than a four shot winning margin in any
one of the group games. Unfortunately for Hintlesham B they were on the wrong side of all four group
fixtures. There were just 2 points that separated the remaining four teams. Ellesmere having drawn
with Hunters earlier in the group kept their chances of progression alive in their penultimate game of
the group by beating West Bergholt 5-4, at the same time bringing West Bergholt’s chances to an
end Ellesmere would need just a draw in their final game to progress against Stanningfield, but they
fell to a 6-3 loss, which meant that Stanningfield leapfrogged them to take the group on 6 points and
25 shots. Hunters took second (5 points 22 shots) with Ellesmere in third (5 points 21 shots).
In group 4, three teams made the running, Soham/LVH, Suffolk/Sunderland and Lakeside).
The matches between the three teams looked like they would end up being decisive. The first of the
day saw Soham/LVH take a close 7-5 win over Lakeside. This made them the early front runners.
Lakeside kept themselves in the running with a 9-4 win over Suffolk/Sunderland.
The final group game would see Soham/LVH play Suffolk/Sunderland. Lakeside sat atop of
the table on 6 points and 37 shots but were reliant on Soham/LVH not winning to stay there.
Soham/LVH had drawn their penultimate group game with Barrow A 6-6, but a win would see them
progress.Suffolk/Sunderland, who were likely too far back to catch Lakeside on shots to win the
group, were looking for a victory to give themselves a chance to progress as best runner up. In the
end it was Suffolk/Sunderland that took a 7-1 victory. That left Lakeside top of the group on 6 points
and 37 shots. Suffolk/Sunderland took second on 6 points 30 shots, which was enough to see them
advance as best runner up by just two shots.
Nobody was pulling away in group 5. After two rounds of fixtures all five teams had
won 1 and lost 1.Hundon and Sewards End both won their 3rd games to put themselves in a good
position to advance through the group. Both teams were on 4 points and 19 shots, and it would come
down to who could score the most shots in their final group game against Reepham A. It was Sewards
End that played their match first. They did record a win but only by a score of 6-3. Hundon would
need a victory and at least 7 shots to ensure that they would progress. They managed to do so taking
the match 8-1. That left Hundon top of the group on 6 points and 27 shots just ahead of Sewards
End in 2nd (6 points 25 shots).