We had a fantastic finale to the 12 Counties Champs on Saturday, which saw Yorkshire secure the title, and so retain the crown they won last year. It was a terrific team effort from Karen Mitchell, Di Hutchinson and the Yorkshire coaches to produce teams of such solid consistency all year. On Saturday the real battle was between Essex and Hertfordshire, who were playing to stay in the top division next year, with Bucks already demoted, and Yorkshire in an unassailable lead. It went down to the last boys match on court, which went to a match tie-break. Unfortunately for Herts, that result went the wrong way for them, but the right way for Essex. As such, the top division in 2018 will be Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Essex.

What an amazing achievement from the whole Leicestershire team this year! It is the first time in the history of the event that one County has won all 10 age groups in one season, scoring 40/40 points. Kate De Freja has pulled everything together in her first year in this position, and this will see Leics return to the top division next year where they will be joined by Cambridgeshire who won Division 2A. We don’t know who else will be up there with them, as Division 1 don’t play their final age group for another couple of weeks. As you will see from the attached table, Notts and Hereford & Worcestershire finished equal in second place on 24 points, with Beds finishing in 4^th place. 

A huge congratulations to Cambridgeshire and Sue Rich for securing promotion back into the top division for next season. This has been a really well-fought division this year, with Cheshire pushing them all the way into the last age group this weekend. Cambs won 6 of the 10 age groups, with Cheshire winning the other 4, but had Northants and Norfolk nibbling away as well." 

2018/19 Divisions:-

Div 1 – Yorks, Cambs, Leics & Essex

Div 2A – Chesh, H&W, Herts & Norfolk

Div 2B -  Notts, Northants, Bucks & Beds

Craig Haworth