This weekend, we will see more thrilling action at Victoria Park with the culmination of the National Finals in the Men’s and Women’s Top Club. We will crown our 34th and 35th National champions for 2022.
Following glory for England at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games this summer, England’s junior squads will be competing in Belfast, Northern Ireland this weekend. Managers Stuart Thomas and Nicola Bowe with their 24 strong team aim to bring home the British Isles Junior International Series title.
British Isles Junior International Series
For the first time, the Junior Women’s and Junior Men’s International Series will take place together as Belmont BC, Belfast play host for 2022.
England will be represented by 12 men and 12 women to compete against Ireland, Scotland and Wales in a combined six-rink international series. Alongside the combined competition, there will also be separate competition for both the women and men.
Nicola Bowe, Women’s Junior Team Manager, said: “We have a tremendous record in the women’s junior series and our selected team rewards those who have served us so well in the past, together with providing opportunities for some of our younger players to continue to benefit from their experience.”
Stuart Thomas, Men’s Junior Team Manager, added: “We opted with the men’s side to select a team of players that were all under 25 at 1st April 2022, so not utilising the extended age limit. There are 15 counties represented within the men’s squad and this team gives us a fantastic blend of existing junior internationals and new caps that will benefit from a first taste of international experience. I’m confident this group of players will perform well in Belfast.”
England Team for BI Junior International Series
Top Club National Finals
The final stages of the Men’s and Women’s National Top Club will take place at Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa.
Kings BC, Devon will be looking to extend their reign as Women’s Top Club champions to a fourth consecutive year after winning in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
Also looking to secure the Women’s Top Club title are three-time winners Wigton BC, Cumbria. Kings BC and Wigton BC could potentially set up a semi-final clash that would promise to be a captivating clash.
Surrey’s Sutton BC have been runners-up twice in the Women’s Top Club (2008 and 2018). They will be vying to do the trick in 2022 and become winners.
Kent’s Appleyard BC will be feeling confident in the Men’s Top Club after they beat 2021 champions and fellow Kent club Bromley BC in the last 16. They will face Wellingborough BC, Northamptonshire for a place in the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, 2021 runners-up Culm Vale BC (Devon) go head-to-head against 2019 runners-up Gerrards Cross BC of Buckinghamshire in the quarter-finals. Both clubs will be hoping that they will be winners this year.
The quarter-finals of both events will take place on Saturday, with the semi-finals and finals being played on Sunday.
The quarter-finals of the Men’s Top Club will commence at 9:30am on Saturday with the women’s last eight starting at 1:30pm.
The semi-finals for both competitions will be at 9:30am on Sunday with the finals scheduled for 1:30pm.
Please note that this event is non-ticketed. No live scoring will be available but results from these matches will be uploaded to our Competitions Portal as soon as possible after all matches in the rounds have been played.