Over the weekend a 13-strong contingent from Auckland headed down to Ohakune for the National Champion of Champions Finals to take on players from Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Eastern, Central, Southland and Canterbury.  After plenty of tough matches, three Auckland players managed to take out national titles in their grade.  They were;

B Grade Men - Elijah Thomas (Eden Epsom)
C Grade Men - Ben Edwards (Devonport)
E Grade Men - Blake Richardson (Remuera)

The full list of title holders for 2017 are;

F GRADE
WOMEN Jaime Mitchinson Bay of Plenty
MEN Eddy Henry Central

E GRADE
WOMEN Paige Bently Eastern
MEN Blake Richardson Auckland

D GRADE
WOMEN Ruby Collins Northland
MEN Kahn Grayson Eastern

C GRADE
WOMEN Sarah Ratcliffe Central
MEN Ben Edwards Auckland

B GRADE
WOMEN Gina Bailey Central
MEN Elijah Thomas Auckland

A GRADE
WOMEN Courtney Trail Central
MEN Cameron Jamieson Eastern

As well as the individual titles there was also an overall district team trophy up for grabs for the first time which created an added level of interest.  The district team totals were close throughout the weekend, coming down to a three way battle on Sunday between Auckland, Central and Eastern eventually being decided by the result of the last match of the day where Central’s Courtney Trail beat Eastern’s Winona-Jo Joyce in the women’s A grade final to see Central snatch it from Eastern 37 point to 36 point with Auckland close behind on 32. 

Well done to all the Auckland players who headed down as the winners of the regional Auckland Graded Champs tournament held at Panmure in September, with a few of the runner-ups also able to claim spots in the nationals draw.