Stonking day of stoolball fun!

We are the Champions, We are the Champions,
No time for losers, coz we are the Champions of Sussex!

Sussex East have won this year’s Girlguiding inter-county stoolball competition beating Sussex Central and, champions last year, Sussex West.

The game of stoolball is a forerunner to cricket and is over 500 years old.  It is played in Sussex, Kent and Surrey and you can find out more information on the England Stoolball website.  This particular stoolball competition was launched last year, and has been so popular it looks set to become an annual tradition.

Dozens of women from across Sussex gathered at Wivelsfield Primary School on Sunday 18th September 2011 to take part in the day long competition.  The teams were made of up members from each of the Girlguiding Sussex Counties – Girlguiding Sussex Central covering Mid Sussex, Horsham and Crawley; Girlguiding Sussex East covering East Sussex and Brighton & Hove; and Girlguiding Sussex West, which covers the coast of West Sussex.

Girlguiding Sussex East’s team was made up of Jo Pennells (team captain and coach), Sue Maynard, Nikki Gray, Rosie Galpin, Denise Goldsmith, Louise Botting, Hazel Ediss, Karen Kemp, Helen Osborne, Sam Goldsmith, Carol Gray, Cassie Galpin, and Alison Edgar. Although this was only 13, our other team members Helen Emerson and Elizabeth Shelley hopefully will return to us next year, this was not unlucky for the team this year as they triumphed through and won.

The competition was fierce but good natured and everyone had a brilliant day, particularly as the forecast rain stayed away.  As well as the sport, spectators and competitors also enjoyed a ploughman’s lunch and a cream tea.

The opening match was between Sussex Central and Sussex East. Sussex East went into bat first and set the target of 130 to beat. Sussex Central were unable to chase this with Sussex East getting them all out for 27. The next game was between Sussex West and Sussex Central, this game was a little closer though Sussex West won through 95 to 34. It all came down to the last match. Sussex East lost the toss and went into bat first, but set a target of 117 runs to beat, Sussex West did not quite make it only scoring 79 runs in the twelve overs, ensuring a Sussex East win for the whole tournament

Helen Osborne, one of the event organisers said: “All involved had a great day, and it is really nice that the three counties come together in this way. Thanks must go to all those who took part and to the catering team who worked behind the scenes to ensure that all players were well fed and supplied with drinks. And here’s to another successful tournament next year.”