On the weekend of 3rd-5th November I had a busy schedule ahead of me
playing in 3 tournaments. 2 singles events and a team event at the
Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth.
First up was the National Ladies Singles with 167 entries
(the largest ever). I had a 9:30 start against fellow Kent team mate
Mel Clements, I played really well and came through a 5-2 winner.
I continued my form into my next 3 matches with a 5-1 against Pauline
Almond (Preston), 5-2 against England International Amy Hallas (Barnsley)
and 5-2 again against Sue Ramsbottom, another England International
and former Anglo-welsh Champion. Just when I thought my form couldn’t
get any better, in the last 16 I faced Louise Ellis (Peterborough)
and won 5-0 setting me up for a match with current Home International
and former European Champion Lynette Horsburgh (Blackpool). Unfortunately,
in this match the pool gods were against me, as I experienced some
very unlucky run at key times. I narrowly lost 6-5 and was very disappointed
as I really felt I had the form to go all the way, but I guess it
wasn’t meant to be. Maybe next Year!! Lynette went on to lose
the final to Barbara Taylor 7-5.
Next was the National Ladies Champion of Champions, in which
I was defending champion. With the good form and table time gained
from the National Ladies Singles, I was feeling confident and expected
good things. In the qualifier I played Isle of Sheppey’s Lynette
Cross winning 5-0. Next was a match against Ann Middleton from Berkshire,
a player I had never seen before. I scraped through 5-4, admittedly
struggling a bit for concentration after a long day and the disappointment
in the National Ladies.
The close match gave me a bit of a wake up call and I found form
again in the next two rounds. I defeated Claire Moore 5-2, and followed
up with a 6-1 win over Irish International and former European Champion
Kim O’Brien. These victories took me into the semi-final for
a rematch with Lynette Horsburgh.
Unfortunately, I went on to lose the match 6-4. I felt I was fighting
the momentum a bit in the match, but no excuses, I still had chances
and simply didn’t take them and Lynette played well and took
her opportunities. She went on to win this tournament beating Debbie
Fowkes-Birchell 7-1 in the final.
Finally some success came my way in the National Ladies K.O. Cup
team event. I played in Kent’s Medway MeerKats team, which is
full of superstars, England Internationals Liesa Conlin (captain),
Jackie Baker and Barbara Taylor. As well as former England Internationals
and triallist’s Mel Clements, Jools Fane, Vanessa Ledger and
Karen Riches and last but not least Welsh International Sharon Dickson.
Medway MeerKats
We flew through our round robin group winning all 4 matches 8-1,
versus Bedford, Northants, Pilkey’s and Shrewsbury. These results
left us facing Preston X in the last 16 and again we came through
8-1 victors.
Suffolk
On the Sunday Morning we had a tougher match against West Yorkshire
Ladies but again won, only this time 8-5. In the semi’s we faced
part of the current National Intercounty Champions side (Staffordshire),
known as Alpha Ladies in this tournament, and we progressed to the
final with an 8-2 score line. In the final we also faced a Suffolk
team full of superstars and good friends of mine, Irish Internationals
Vikki Layton and Kim O’Brien as well England International Clare
Seaman. It was a battle but we defended our title for the third successive
year winning 8-5.
