PREMIER TEAM EVENT
England have won the British Isles Premier Team Championship title for the first time since 2011. After clinching the title in their last game of the weekend against Scotland the England Manager Chris Willies, who plays for Norfolk club side Watton Expendables, commented that he was too emotional to talk but said that he was “really pleased” which must count as the understatement of the weekend. The key win for England was a 33-32 victory against Ireland on the second day of the championships. England finished with nine points from their six games with Ireland second on eight points and Wales third. It will count as a hugely disappointing weekend for the legendary Irish who have dominated the event year after year. Their disappointment will be deepened by their failure to lift any of the Premier Individual events. Ireland started the weekend in style beating England 44-23 in their opening match but a loss against Wales on the Saturday followed by the one shot defeat against England in their return match proved fatal to their chances.
PREMIER INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
England’s Matty Worden lifted the British Isles Premier Singles title with four points and +12 shots. Ireland’s Gary McNabb finished runner-up on four points and +12 while Andrew Hudson of Wales finished third. England also won the British Isles Premier Fours title with Stan Stanton, Jack Knight, Ben Riley & Emily Thomas finishing on five points with Ireland in second place and Wales third. England’s Adam Easthope, Craig Strong & Ross Dunkley were runners-up in the B.I Premier Triples which was won by the Welsh triple. Ireland were third. Sandy McDonald’s Scottish pair won the British Isles Premier Pairs with England’s Jason McLean & Ben Pay second. Ireland finished third.
“A” TEAM EVENT
Ireland won the British Isles “A” Team event with maximum points of twelve after winning all their six matches over the weekend. England finished a distant second on six points with Wales third on four points. Scotland failed to collect a point after losing all their six matches.
“A” TEAM INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
England finished in third place in all four British Isles “A” Team individual events. Wales won the B.I Singles title with Ireland second. Wales also won the Pairs title with Ireland again runners-up. Ireland won both the Triples and Fours titles with Wales second in both events.
England glory for Chris Willies in first year as Manager
A great England day for AJ Pye of Wymondham
Wymondham's Jack Pye was a star in England team
Bob Carter, Norfolk & England talent Gary Best