Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June
Teams qualified via a regional event to take their place at the finals day for the International Women’s Day Ladies Doubles this year at Whitnash PC. 32 teams represented their regions at the Finals Day on June 7. Becky Edwins and Carolyn Edwins represented Kent.
A five round Swiss system was used as the format, carefully marshalled by Michelle Roe and Carol Woodward. There was no final as such, but with the perfect number of 32 entries it would mean that there would only be two teams on 4 wins going into the final round against each other. Round 5 saw the Chiltern Team of Sarah Huntley and Charlotte Huntley play Kent pair Becky and Carolyn, both on 4 wins. Torrential rain from 4pm onwards changed the pistes considerably, but the Chiltern pairing were always in control of the game and won comfortably. Melanie Williams and Eileen Solis, from Heart of England, finished third.
Kent ladies please consider playing in the qualifier next year as the more teams we have the more we can send to Finals day to represent Kent! Entry is free and you can win wine!
In the PE IWD Triples event on the Sunday, 12 teams played in leagues of fuour. The top two from each league plus the next best 2 teams would go through to the gold. The remaining teams would play in a silver event. Big congratulations to the winners Becky Edwins, Sarah Huntley and Alex Spillett who defeated Lori Wellden, Sabrina Seville and Janet Weaver in the final. This was the England team using the event as practice together before they travel to the Triples World Championships in France this October. At least the weather was an improvement on Saturday, with sunny spells and no rain!
Silver winners were local players Carol Woodward, Clare Revill and Jen Martin from Heart of England region.
With thanks again to organisers Michelle Roe, Carol Woodward and hosts Whitnash PC, and thanks to Pétanque England for the photos.
