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National Carpet Bowls Championships
National Carpet Bowls Championships
Teams representing the nine member counties of the ECBA competed in the 28th Annual Na-
tional Championships, at Potters Resort. Each county is represented by 6 Rinks all of whom
play against their opposite number in each of the other counties, with an even spread of matches
across the Saturday and Sunday.
New rules were introduced this year enabled counties who were unable to get a full team,
to compete with less than the full squad of 24 players, so Cambridgeshire (22) and Hertfordshire
(21) were both playing short.

Session 1 - Essex had the best start, taking all 6 off Durham, Suffolk dropped just one point to
Sunderland and Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire each took 4 points off Norfolk and Northum-
berland respectively. Session 2 - Essex took maximum points again, this time from Bedford-
shire, as did Herts over Sunderland and Cambridgeshire over Essex, while Suffolk took 4 points
to Norfolk's 2. Essex were now 2 points clear of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, with Suffolk
a further point back.
Session 3 - Essex's perfect run was finished as Cambs won two of the three games, leaving
the two tied on 14 points. Suffolk lifted themselves above Hertfordshire by taking 4 of the 6
points, while Norfolk took a clean sweep over Bedfordshire and Durham got off the make with
4 points against Northumberland. Session 4 - A maximum 6 points for Suffolk over Bedfordshire
took them to the top as Essex sat out the session. Cambs just got the better of Herts 4-2 to
leave them just a point behind, and Norfolk, with a full house against Northumberland went third.
Meanwhile Durham beat Sunderland 4-2 win.
Session 5 - Suffolk and Cambridgeshire held station, taking 6 points off Durham and Beds
respectively. Herts moved up to 3rd as they won all 3 games against Norfolk and Sunderland at
last had a decent session, winning twice against Essex. Session 6 - Suffolk maintained their
push with 3 hard fought wins against early front runners Essex, but Cambridgeshire dropped
one game to Sunderland and fell back just a touch. Durham had a good session, taking 2 of the
3 games against Norfolk and at long last Bedfordshire were off the mark with 4 points against
Northumberland.