Inter Counties GC Shield – Cheltenham – 21/22 August
Division 2 of the Inter Counties GC Shield was played at Cheltenham over the weekend of 21st and 22nd August and a CA “Select” team included North West players David Cornes (Crake Valley) and Jack Good (Bowdon) along with Michael Bilton (Gainsborough), Charles Sale (Ealing) and Eleanor Ross (Edgbaston).
The format was all play all with a doubles and 6 singles games against each County. After 7 games the Select had won 6 of them to win the tournament on the day.
During discussions during the weekend we found out that Eleanor is also eligible to play for Lancashire (along with David and Jack) so there seems a strong case to enter a team from the region in 2022 when it is held in Sussex.
From the CA Website:
Inter-County GC division 2 Championship 2021
by Ivor Brand at Cheltenham 25th August (GC – Championships)
Justice was done in more ways than one!!!
I will explain myself firstly with reference to last year’s final positions and the disappointment of the lack of promotion due to ‘Covid’ reasons. Fortunately, despite three teams having equal wins it was the same two counties that again qualified for promotion, albeit they could only be separated on who beat who, phew!!!
| GC Inter-County Championship Division 2 Matches | Tests | Games | Hoops | |||||
| Wins | Losses | Draws | Wins | Losses | For | Against | Net | |
| CA Select | 6 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 17 | 282 | 235 | 47 |
| Hertfordshire | 5 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 18 | 290 | 248 | 42 |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 18 | 287 | 248 | 39 |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 20 | 279 | 247 | 32 |
| Devon | 3 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 26 | 267 | 280 | -13 |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 30 | 250 | 264 | -14 |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 33 | 229 | 295 | -66 |
| Berkshire | 0 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 34 | 224 | 291 | -67 |
However, at this point I must explain my second point of justice, which was that the CA select team (my tip for winning by the way) finished at the top of the table and were recognised as deserved champions, despite not being able to be promoted as they were not a ‘county’ as the tournament conditions dictate. Congratulations to Michael Biliton who led his team of experience (Charles Sale & David Cornes) and youth (Jack Good & Ellie Ross) to victory.
I look forward to seeing ‘most’ of you again next year at ‘sunny’ Southwick where at least Oxfordshire will not be able to keep me from the pub by playing on till 8pm on the Saturday!!!