So it was decided that this years Extreme Boule World Champion would be crowned in the hills of the Peak District. No year long league table, no mini championships, just one weekend to decide it all. A Saturday match and a Sunday match. The winners of each to play off for the trophy. Of course if one player won both there could be no doubt.
Saturday, Edale.
The first part of the World Championship deciding weekend was a game in Edale.
This was an extreme game where the rules became twisted, where apples became boule, where animal masks were worn as spiritual guidance, where courage was tested and buck fast was consumed as a sailors breakfast. Some say the old spirits of extreme boule walked amongst the players, spiking their boule and their drinks. Woolridge moon pied, Charles hornblowered, Moss Collinsoned, Burrows concubined mistakenly and Wort was pure botchy boule. What of Waterman, the reigning Champion? Well, Waterman won with ease.
Someone mentioned that Waterman had the air of Gressier about him that Saturday morning. The omens looked bad for the other players.
Sunday, Kinder Downfall
The climb up
Charles boules with Kinder Downfall behind
After a trek and a wild camp the players awoke early to see Kinder Downfall flowing upwards - Nature was acting extreme and it was a perfect day to crown the Extreme Boule Champion. Play took place on the walk back to Edale, through peat bogs, rocky ravines, cliff ledges and some of the most extreme terrain available. This was Extreme Boule. Woolridge, Moss, Burrows, Wort and Charles have years of play under their belts and played with all their skills and determination. But it was was never going to be for these five as Waterman was on another level. As each round progressed each of his opponents considered calling Old Westminster - Waterman was so far superior in his play. Almost supernatural you might say.
Extreme Terrain
Burrows contemplates a difficult ravine shot
Waterman dominates another round
The peat bogs took no prisoners
As the players made the final descent into Edale after a long mornings play, the match was long since decided. Waterman was undoubtably the World Champion. No one can argue with that.
Waterman won both events and the 2014 World title
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