So why do we go to the National Championships? To do as well as we can, have
a good time, and get pissed for Katie’s Birthday, and that is largely what
we did!
The individual event was over quick, for the majority of us. Katie met Jackie Baker in the first round, I couldn’t keep focus losing two black ball games, and Tina and Julie both drew quality players who had the luck of the roll on their side! A well done goes to Wendy for making it through to the third round.
The individual event past, it was time for a drink, some cards, and a well earned boogie on the dance floor. I seem to remember Katie attracting a lot of attention and someone asking if I was a lap dancer!!!
Saturday Morning saw the start of the team event. It was simple, finish top of your group and go through to the last 16. Each match would be 14 frames, so a maximum of two frames per match for each player.
We
had to play the London Angels and Cheshire Ladies. We were up against the
London Angels first, we were nervous, expecting a good side, but we were
well-prepared
and with Katie adorned with a tiara and a large badge for her 30th
we were sure to agitate their ‘serious’ captain!
The match was neck and neck all the way through, we had several chances for the win but, largely due to the dodgy table we were on, had to settle for the draw. That was fine. The London Angels went on to lose (quite badly) against Cheshire so all we had to do to stay in was to beat Cheshire.
Things started badly, Lady Luck was nowhere to be seen and we soon found ourselves 6-1 down. This is when things started to get interesting!
I
had ‘won’ the frame in the first section (by tempting my opponent to take an
obvious in-off shot on the black) and was somehow holding it together well,
so was voted to start us off for the second section.
It got quickly tactical and thanks to the lovely nature of the foul snooker rule we won the frame. Our comeback had started, and swiftly continued, with us holding it together by singing ‘And tonight’s gonna be a good night..’, as we played.
Everyone pulled together as a team, it was fantastic, the Cheshire Ladies were looking very worried as we kept clawing the frames back! We made it all the way to 6-6, unfortunately, at this point, one of the Cheshire Ladies stepped up to secure their 7th frame and they went through.
We had yet again lost out by one frame, but we had played fantastic, worked
together as a team, and yet had crashed out early enough to make it into
town for a delicious curry at Planet Poppadom,
result!
The night didn’t stop there either. A brief detour in Yarmouth centre saw us return to our caravan to consume all the remaining alcohol.
Blackjack was played for shots and things quickly got messy. Katie definitely had a cracking 30th, Neil and Ali enjoyed our hospitality and Julie, well, she was so happy she would sleep anywhere!
A great end to an entertaining weekend, but lets break tradition and get that extra frame next year!
Charlie
X.
National Ladies Pool Championship/Knockout Cup
