Page 12 - Spring 2020 final

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12 The under 14 rink competition was an eye opener with some incredible talent on
display despite the young ages and the nervousness of playing in such a venue
for the first time. This section saw Western Zone just pip North West while in the over
14 competition it was North West who took the trophy with a last bowl win over North
West.

Herefordshire’s First National Champions
Herefordshire’s
recent record
of gradual im-
provement in
performances at
the English
National Championships
has culminated in a first ever national
title being brought back to the county.
The 2020 National Mixed Fours
championship at Solihull was won by
Kate Williams (Ross), Shirley Cox,
John Mills (Woolhope) and Joe Loveys (Gorsley Chapel). Three of the four had equalled the
county’s best ever showing at the Nationals by reaching the semi-finals of this discipline in 2018
but they went all the way this time.
The Herefordshire four dominated their qualifying group, winning all 3 games to top the
group and progress to the knockout stages which would prove to be tense and exciting through-
out. Their first 3 knockout rounds all resulted in tied matches which had to be decided by an
extra end.
First up was Cheshire who almost ended the run before it had begun - leading Hereford-
shire by 3 shots going into the last end before a 3 from Herefordshire forced the extra end which
they won.
The situation was reversed in the next round as Herefordshire conceded a 3 to Dorset in
the final end before again winning the extra end. Herefordshire once again came from behind
against a Hampshire team in the quarter finals to force the extra end and match their previous
run to the semi-finals. Trailing again going into the last end in the semi-final against an Avon
four, Herefordshire held their nerve and scored 4 to win the game by a single shot and secure
their place in the final.
They started the final against the North Yorkshire team slowly and trailed 7-3 after 5 ends
but the match was turned on its head by Herefordshire scoring a magnificent 7 in the 6th end to
take a lead which they never surrendered, seeing the game out with a 12-10 victory to secure
the county’s historic first ever national title.