2013 World Champion

The 2013 Extreme Boule World Champion is...

RICHARD WATERMAN

Watch this space for the upcoming trophy giving ceremony!

This season 39 players tried to claim the World Championship with the final top 20 looking like this...

1. R. Waterman
2. C. Davies
3. P. Cox
4. G. Burrows
5. Mrs Charles
6. S. Charles
7. M. Wort
8. B. Martin
9. D. Woolridge
10.E. Martin
11.S. Murphy
12.B. Murphy
13.T. Wort
14.D. Murphy
15.F. Coursier
16.L. Waterman
17.J. Murray
18. G. Thomas
19. M. Hopkins
20. L. Charles

2013 Awards

World Champion: Richard Waterman

Game of the Season:
M. Wort claiming a victory in a hail storm  in the Peak District in a match in which no of her 4 opponents scored a single point.

Innovation Award:
D. Woolridge and T. Wort for pioneering the Boule through Ice shot - one of the best things ever done by a human.

True Spirit of Extreme Boule Award (traditionally awarded to the player who finishes 23rd): Mr Charles

Exclusive Interview with 2012 World Champion

"I'm good at aiming, throwing and I'm cool under pressure"

Mike Hopkins, Extreme Boule World Champion 2012. We sent an intrepid reporter to track down the new world champion to find out the secrets behind his success, the problems of fame and the truth about those rumoured port binges...

Mike, can you sum up the feeling of being the World Champion of 2012 in four words?
Pride, disbelief, euphoria, relief.

Most Extreme Boule World Champions end up addicted to port, missing or dead. What are your plans?
After a heavy Port binge in December I've gone cold turkey so am determined to keep that up. Plans for the immediate future are just to deal with all the press and media circus and then I'll try to get away for a bit so I can just enjoy it. Hopefully I will come back alive and then, well it's all to play for in 2013....

"Next year when I'm holding the trophy for a 2nd time I think we will all know the answer"

You won 60% of your games, beating 38 opponents along the way. What was the secret to your success?
I'm good at aiming, throwing and I'm cool under pressure. These 3 elements are the winning combination.

How will you handle the obvious stardom and adulation that will inevitably head your way?
Keep it real, stay positive, stay off Port, put something back into the community, never forget my roots.

In your opinion, where do you rank alongside the other world champions? The best? Second best? Third? Fourth? Worst?
Well obviously not the worst. I guess that's for you to figure out. It's all there in the stats as you know. Next year when I'm holding the trophy for a 2nd time I think we will all know the answer.

No one has ever won the World Championship twice? Can you?
Yes

The Hottest Game of the Season?

1. M. Hopkins
Runners up: D. Woolridge, B. Martin, A. Betts, T. Wort, J. Godden

Saturday 8th December
Location: In the Shadow of Slop Bog, Ferndown
Extreme Rating: * * * * *

Match Report: The tension before this match was sensational. Having escaped the Dessert Zone with all their crystals in tact so Messyrs Hopkins, Woolridge, Martin, Wort, Betts and Godden lined up for probably the hottest game of the year. THIS was the match most likely to decide this season's championship. The history between the players needs no elboration. Hopkins had it all to play for and the most to prove. Doubters were everywhere. Could Mike Hopkins really be this year's World Champion they whispered. The game employed a Jack God (a non competitor employed to place the jack in a series of extreme positions) and as the sun descended over Slop Bog and a ghost dog so play commenced. The end result? Hopkins smashed his opponents and all the doubts, to take the points. Whatsmore he reclaims the number one spot with only weeks remainng of the 2012 season. Can he hang on? We'll see.....

The 2011 World Champion - Exclusive Interview

2011 Extreme Boule World Champion Darren Woolridge, took some time out of his busy training regime to speak to our reporter. In this exclusive interview he gives us a glimpse into what life is like for a champion and the truth behind THAT match with Ben Martin.

How did it feel to win the 2011 title, narrowly beating B. Martin at the end?
It was a relief! All the steel-blisters and calluses were worth it. I've even cleared a space on the mantle for the World Champ Trophy (still not awarded)....

What's your view on the often talked about controversy that surrounded the deciding match between yourself and Martin?
I knew I won that match... the adjudicators both picked a winner apiece. 1 Woolridge 1 Martin... the man that picked Martin as the winner was topless with suspenders and his face was painted like a pigeon. The one that picked me as a winner may have been painted like a cow, but at least he was fully dressed. It's redundant now, regardless. I needed not win that match to take home the title. Needless to say, I had the last laugh...

How hard is it to maintain a normal life, when you are Extreme Boule World Champion?
It's more difficult than I'd imagined it would be... Port looks better to me, and I struggle to resist it. I also think that I need to buy the "Taste the Difference" prawns, which is crippling me, financially.

How do you respond to the suggestion that you've 'lost it' in 2012?
I had lost it... I'm BACK!

Which film character do you most associate yourself with?
The dog in You've got Mail.

Balance Boy is breaking out new styles for 2012, Moss is becoming the Media's bad boy... What's up your sleeve for 2012?
I'm currently in negotiations with Neil Young. We're developing a Boules glove. It has fur on the back, moss on the side and a Boule Squeegee laying across the thumb.

Finally, single stripes, double close together stripes or triple stripes?
Single stripes all the way. I can't imagine a better boule.