By Neil Goulding, English Lacrosse Press Officer (07813 859986)
TEAMS from across the country will descend on the historic city of Bath next weekend for the annual curtain-raiser to the new national lacrosse season (Sept 9/10).
The best north and south teams will locks horns at the annual Bath Eights competition, which this year celebrates it’s 21st anniversary of being staged at the picturesque Recreation Ground.
And back to defend their title, and hopefully make history at the same time, is reigning North of England League Premier Division champions Mellor.The Longhurst Lane club have won the title the last two seasons (2004 and 2005), and are confident of winning a history-making hat-trick of titles.
No other club, since the competition’s inception in 1986, has ever won three successive titles.
Timperley, Heaton Mersey, Wilmslow, Sheffield Low Profilers and Mellor – during the last two seasons – are the only five clubs to have won back-to-back titles, although none have gone on to win a third title. Mellor will be looking to break the trend.
It is Timperley and Low Profilers who have won the most Bath titles, with four each registered in the record books, while Wilmslow and Mersey have both won three crowns down the years.
More north interest comes in the shape of Northern Daily Telegraph Senior Flags winners Mersey, who will be looking to start the domestic campaign with a bang, as will fellow northern clubs Rochdale, Wilmslow, Brooklands Hulmeians and Cheadle, to name a few.
Last season’s South of England League Premier Division champions Hitchin will also be competing after their record-breaking season in 2005-2006, while arch-rivals Hampstead, last season’s Southern Senior Flags winners, will also be in action.
With 33 teams competing, the Eights is now the biggest lacrosse tournament in Europe. This summer’s World Cup in Ontario, Canada, attracted just 21 teams.
The 21st tournament held on the Recreation Ground on the 9th September 2006 (followed by the 5th mixed on the 10th) will start at 10.30 am.
And, because the tournament is so popular, it was fully booked six months in advance.
“It’s a real shame we have to turn people away, but the Recreation Ground is at capacity, at least the extra half hour allows 2 more clubs to compete,” revealed John Harrop, the tournament organiser and South of England head referee.
No fewer than 400 lacrosse players will be competing, including most of the England men’s squad back from the World Cup, where they moved up to fifth place in the world rankings.
This year’s tournament has also attracted it’s first Japanese referee. Takayuki Kondo, a lecturer at Exeter University, who will be part of a 15-strong officials team working at the tournament.
Other nationalities represented in the officiating team are Australia, Germany, Slovakia and the home countries.
Harrop added: “We always welcome referees from around the world. For some of them the Eights format is a real eye opener, especially because of the fast pace of the game.”
For further information about this year’s tournament, contact Jon Harrop on 01225-427993 (home); 01249-656836 (work) or Bath’s Nik Roberts on 07734 725258.Alternatively visit the Bath LC website - www.bathlacrosse.com
Teams competing this year: Bath, Hillcroft, Walcountian Blues, Swansea Hawks, Warwick University, Cheadle Veterans, Poynton, Penarth, Heaton Mersey, Hitchin, Bath Exiles, Croydon, Reading Wildcats, Mellor, Cheadle, Wilmslow, Rochdale, Brooklands Hulmeians, Bath University, Manchester Waconians, East Grinstead, Oldham and Werneth, Spencer, Ashton-under-Lyne, Timperley, Norbury and Hertfordshire Comets. More clubs to be added: Watch this space.
Roll of honour: 1986 - Low Profilers (Sheffield), 1987 - Stockport, 1988 - Low Profilers (Sheffield), 1989 - Heaton Mersey, 1990 - Low Profilers (Sheffield), 1991 - Low Profilers (Sheffield), 1992 - Cheadle, 1993 - Unknown, 1994 - Kenton, 1995 - Timperley, 1996 - Heaton Mersey, 1997 - Heaton Mersey, 1998 - Timperley, 1999 - Timperley, 2000 - Wilmslow, 2001 - Wilmslow, 2002 - Timperley, 2003 - Wilmslow, 2004 - Mellor, 2005 - Mellor 2006 - TBC.
