2014 World Champion - Rich Waterman

Waterman poses with the trophy and his lucky mermaid shell

World Championship 2014 - the deciding weekend

Extreme Boulers gather on Kinder Scout

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

If you have found any of the language used in  this article incomprehensible please consult the Terminology page. 

Player Profile - Darren Woolridge

In the build up the crowning of the 2014 World Champion we take a look at some of the key challengers.

Darren Woolridge

World Rankings

2011: 1st

2012: 5th

2013: 9th

2014: ?

Games Played: 79

% Win: 42

Career Points Total: 750
Opponents Defeated: 123

Woolridge has experienced every extreme boule emotion there is. The 2011 World Champion, who once held the Extreme Boule world in his hands, has seen his powers wain. 1^st in 2011, 5th in 2012, 9th in 2013 - a public decline like that is hard to take. And yet here he is again, ready to face the mermaid cup –the ultimate extreme boule tournament. His win ratio puts him in the elite category, his career points total is untouchable. One thing is for sure, Woolridge will write his own script – and he hasn’t got time for any bit part roles.

Odds to be 2014 World Champion: 18 to 1

Player Profile - Rich Waterman

In the build up the crowning of the 2014 World Champion we take a look at some of the key challengers.

Rich Waterman
The 2013 World Champion

World Rankings

2011: 4th

2012: 6th

2013:1st

2014: ?

Games Played: 23

% Win: 26
Total Career Points: 88
Opponents Beaten: 64

The most consistant bouler around. He IS the Wizard of Edale, charmer of mermaids and current world champion. Retaining the title would sit him among the Extreme Boule gods. But can he handle the pressure? The port addiction (an unfortunate by product of being world champion) is likely to have weakened his resolve but has he still got the magic?

Odds to be 2014 World Champion: 10 to 1

Player Profile - Stan Charles

In the build up the crowning of the 2014 World Champion we take a look at some of the key challengers.

Stan Charles

World Rankings

2011: 12th

2012: 26th

2013: 6th

2014: ?

Games Played: Lost in the mists of time

% Win: 29% (since 2011)
Total Career Points: 18 (since 2011)
Opponents Beaten: 15 (since 2011)

Pioneer, purist, touched by the extreme boule gods and unimaginably salty. He was there at the beginning of extreme boule and he will be there at the end, as civilizations crash into streams of larva, clutching a silver boule and aiming haphazardly at a jack.  The dreamers want him to take the world championship back home to the north, but reality is a cruel mistress. Death is as likely as a victory. Maybe it will be both.

Odds to be 2014 World Champion: 14 to 1

Player Profile - Seb Moss

In the build up the crowning of the 2014 World Champion we take a look at some of the key challengers.

Seb Moss

World Rankings

2011: 13th

2012: 12th

2013: 22nd

2014: ?

Games Played: 29

% Win: 17%
Total Career Points: 114
Opponents Beaten: 39

What is Seb Moss to extreme boule? He is the veal heart on the extreme boule menu – dark, alluring, primeval. The option you dare not pick. He is capable of moments of greatness – but these moments are ephemeral – wisps of cloud in a grey sky of extreme boule under achievement. Only 5 wins in his career. But can he be world champion? The Housewives Favourite is an outside bet, but my god what a bet!

Odds to be 2014 World Champion: 24 to 1

Player Profile - Geraint Burrows

In the build up the crowning of the 2014 World Champion we take a look at some of the key challengers.

Geraint Burrows

Geraint Burrows pictured centre alongside former World Champion Grandad John Gillard (left) and Stan Charles

World Rankings

2011: dnf

2012: 22nd

2013: 4th

2014: ?

Games Played: 4

% Win: 0%
Total Career Points: 7
Opponents Beaten: 6

Notorious. The trout killer of Kernow. He once played a boule game off a 100ft cliff. Or was it 400ft? Maybe 800ft? Burrows tip toes around the myths of the game, an inconsistent presence, a lurking owlman of the extreme boule world. His record is not worth a second glance. And yet... and yet.... It was actually 2460 ft and it was here  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/982454 ... Maybe it’s time for myths to become reality.

Odds to be 2014 World Champion: 8 to 1