Stop 8 is this ? - I've lost count.... Anyway it was the World Cup Qualifier event organised by the PTBC in a new venue for the ranking circuit Banbury. Banbury is a lakeside bowl (though i'm sure it will be re-branded at some point after Garland's acquisition of the lakeside chain) and it was like any other Lakeside bowl - they are all identical. Skanky old wood lanes ... and as the WCQ event is always a marathon number of games the idea to lay a 47 foot pattern was a good one, and to make em kinda play friendly was also appreciated - especially as the actual World Cup Event always seems to be one where you need to score build and bang in big numbers. First round was an 8 game qualifying block with the men cutting to the top 24 and the ladies to the top 9. 40men and 13 ladies started round 1 - i would have thought this tournament would have attracted more. Its one of the few tournaments where the prize fund is added to by a sponsor, in this case Qubica AMF. It meant that in the men you only had to come in the top 15 to £100 - and as there was only 40 men it meant that nearly 1 in 3 would win their money back. Oh well- maybe it was because it was in Banbury... which to be fair aint really near anything or anyone. Plus the people spoke weird didn't they ! - they sounded like farmers.

Right round 1 was 8 games... In third place was james Tidd on 1853 a 231.62 average, In 2nd qualifying in the saturday squad was Matt Chamberlain on 1891 a 236.37 average. And out in front in with a massive score of 2019 including a showboat 300 in game 8 was Matt Miller - that's a 252 average for 8 games ! - see, read my last report where I gave Matt the yogi, and suggested his weight loss had put his timing out, but also suggesting that it won't be long till he's back on form. I was right ! - so I think I'm probably responsible for Matt's great performance and I should be given 10 extra points. The cut to the top 24 was the birthday boy Miles Corney on 1603 a 200 average

At this stage there were No YOGI's as all the usual suspects had made it through to round 2. I'm tempted to give it to Ian Hutchinson for wearing his shirt inside out, but that's a bit harsh.

The ladies ... round 1 leader was last years winner Lisa JohnS on 1763 a 220 average, then came the Hayley's. In 2nd was 'Twice a night' Hayley White on 1757 and in 3rd was 'rumpy pumpy' Hayley Rumkee on 1749 a 218 average. The cut to the 2nd round was Nikki Ainge on 1500 a 187.50 average.

The men had a 2nd round of 6 games - Miller stayed top though he's average slipped to a disappointing 243. Chamberlain was still in 2nd closing the gap slightly on Miller. And moving up to 3rd was only the wild child Leon Devlin 3185 a 227.5 average. So the top 2 were pulling away from the rest of the field. The cut to the final was again Miles Corney who put a great block together averaging 231 to finish 15th 2994 a 213.8 average. I was Mile's playing partner so again he probably only bowled well to impress me, so i think i deserve another 10 ranking points.

3rd round the women came back into the competition for a 4 game block . The decision not dress meant the scoring pace slowed and went a bit backwards. The lanes were toasted, they were fried - it was hooking at your feet. However in the men the top 3 remained the same - but now Chamberlain was only 20 pins behind Miller with Leon Devlin in 3rd - the cut to the top 10 was White Socks Damian Gray on 3926 a 218 average.

In the ladies it was Lisa Johns still at the top averaging 214, with Hayley Rumkee in 2nd on a 211 average in 3rd the old and grizzly war horse Kirsten Penny averaging 209. The cut to the final was Rebekah Hamlet on a 204 average.

Now into the round robins... It was hot, it was getting dark and we had  literally been there all day ! - it was trudge at times. At some point Chamberlain over took Matt Miller as leader. And there were only these two in it - everyone else were playing for the minor places or battling it out for the wooden spoon. Even the end wasn't exciting as there was no way for Miller to catch Chamberlain especially after losing his last game to the ever fresh and energetic Basher. Chamberlain won by 123 pins. Leon stayed in 3rd but was 396 pins behind the leader. I think that this tournament is at least 4 games to long. There's no reason to have a 3rd round for the men - I mean the gap between 10th and 1st was 727 pins. I also have to say Well bowled Matt Miller who's lowest game from 27 was 211 - and to off course Chambo who averaged 239 - that's pretty damn good

On to the ladies round robin. Jo Cundy put together a great string of games and put herself into real contention for the title – and more importantly it would have also given Jo the point she needs in the badass hall of fame to get to the magical 20 points and cement her place in the golden corridor of immortality (gone a b it over the top there) Jo had a last Game of 199, but another bowler and old bird was hanging on her coat tails. Kirsten Penny banged in a last game of 225 to win every matche in the round robin and to carried KP over the line to take the title. In third was Hayley Rumkee. KP is now on 19 points – and I reckon she pick up another point at some point this year.

*Editorial rant – not sure why this tournament is over so many games. Historically it used to be everyone qualified on the Saturday and only those that made the cut came back on the Sunday – And back then splitting the tournament over 2 days meant you could have this long format. But now do we really need a 3^rd round ? Personally I like the 3^rd round but I don’t think we need a 10 player round robin, why not a 8 or 6 men round robin ? – The saved lineage could go back into the prize fund. It’s a winner chicken dinner.