Good morning world. Day off for the top seeds in the blocks, and a good thing too, as it is set to be another scorcher today - both in temperature (forecast top 20s to 30 C) - and with 24 scheduled matches and approximately 12 incomplete matches from earlier in the block stages (some possibly unstarted, others with one to two games completed). The scheduled matches see 2v7, with most 2's either through or playing their bottom seed to cement their places. Then with everything to play for in most blocks, we have the cusp matches of 3v6 and 4v5. Remember, top 4 are through, playoffs only for qualification - other positions are determined by matches, net games, net points.

We're just heading off to the lawns, but here's a starter - Chris's post from the Notts list with the current state of play in each block. We'll keep things updated on here as the matches progress. At 9.46, 46 mins into the day, Chris is predicting if we don't get moving there will be matches finished. I suspect he is being optimistic!

Current positions for final day (I'll update the block positions later this morning)
Block A: If Brenda beats Anne Brooks, then no play-offs unless Begona wins both her matches, otherwise potential 3 way play-off
Block B: Following Jane Pringle's win against Cheryl, this block has become very messy. Pat Anderton is probably kingmaker.
Block C: Still wide open, but likely to see the top 4 progress.
Block D: Bernie needs two wins, but if she gets them, she has good chances. Key match is between Donna and Bernie
Block E: Could easily end up with a 3 way play-off for 1 qualifying spot
Block F: Still wide open. It is looking like 2 wins won't be enough to get a play-off.
Block G: Winner of Tricia and Susan qualifies - no play-offs
Block H: Sonya will probably need to beat Virginia to keep her hopes alive. Moya Lewis could be kingmaker.

Block E Ok, we have a quick win in block E - Sandra Knuth of the USA has beaten Kath Burt of England. That has unfortunately eliminated Kath. In block E, Maram won all her matches 2-0 to take the block, Dallas has one scheduled match and one delayed match to finish and is currently on 3, so in a tight battle with Marwa to for second place.

On the front 4 lawns (other lawn is just having a hitup after Kath and Sandra finished their match)
Iman leads Anne Woodhouse 7-4 4-2
Sonya leads Virginia 5-3, but Virginia has her ball in the jaws of hoop 9
Dallas leads her Kate McLoughlin 5-4
Jane Stevens took the first 7-6 against Moya Lewis and they've just started the second.

Block H Wendy Dickson won the first 7-5, Marion Taylor won the second 7-4, they've just started the third. This game only counts for block positions for Wendy - Shadin has 4/5 wins with an unfinished match to complete later today. Wendy has 4/5 also, but 3 worse net games. Jayne Stevens is on 3 wins, and Virginia and Sonya on 2, but Virginia has two matches to play/finish.

Block E Marwa took the first against Nuran 7-5. Nuran needs this match to stay in contention. She has done well to get through as the 5th qualifier and now be in a position, albeit a difficult one, to get into a playoff. I might have overstated Marwa's position earlier - she is on 2/4 and Dallas is on 3/4 each with two matches to finish - one a contest between the two of them.

Just warming up on lawn 5 we have Karen Magee v Ann Sharp. Yesterday Karen's chances took a major blow when she tried to jump over Anna Miller's ball at 6-5 up while game down. The jump shot was unsuccessful in peeling Anna's ball, and planting Karen's on the wire of rover. It was a fault, but the balls were always going to stay where they were as the new rules mean points for oppo in a fault count if the balls aren't put back, and Anna got first play to hoop 13, with Karen only able to get one ball up there. As it was, Anna played a nice shot for decent, albeit angled, position - and then ran the hoop at the first opportunity.

And good morning/evening to the CA's International Development Officer, Alison Maugham - I'll try to keep this updated during the day and keep you awake! - going to be quite a while before I get some practice.

There are matches on in Marewa too, so we won't have any analysis on that until results come through also.

Questions/comments/requests for specific info on players, let me know: [email protected]

Speaking of which... a booking error with accommodation means we are homeless tonight - if anyone has a spare (double) bed - [email protected] (help!)

Amazing what you read in the paper - just learned that Amir, among his many impressive achievements, is also a lawyer! He's also a fantastic leader of the Egyptian and World croquet federations.

Time for an update - will check the lawns, as my reporter is off checking out of the accommodation...

Block C: Hanan has completed her sweep of the block against the really lovely Australian qualifier Anne Woodhouse. While Hanan has won the block, and it looks likely the top 4 will qualify, the order of the other 4 is not yet known.

Format for KO: top 4 from each block. it's block seniority, so all your 4 blockmates stay with you in the quarter, and Block A will be matched up against either G or H (decided by coin toss), Block D is in the second quarter matched against E or F (second coin toss), then in the other half you have B against G or H, and C against E or F. (good luck understanding that!)

Hopeless bit of non commentary there - it was of course Iman El Faransawy who beat Anne. Iman now on 3 wins. Should get through without a playoff, though there are some incomplete games that could cause problems.

Yesterday Iman led the decider with Hanan 6-4, but an amazing spinning shot from Hanan dislodged Iman from hoop 11 and put Hanan's ball in there and she ran away with the last three hoops.

Block H in one of the critical block H matches, local Sonya Sedgwick is game up against Virginia Arney, while
Block E Dallas Cooke leads Kate McLoughlin, taking the first 7-5. A win here would cement Dallas as a qualifier, and would probably mean her incomplete match against Marwa would decide the second/third finishing order.

Ok, bit of silence there as Aiken has popped in to say hi, and will be here for the week. And a count up of a guestimate of how many will qualify from each country (not naming names, as I might not be correct!):

Predicted countries in KO:

NZ: 7
Egypt: 13 (everyone!)
Australia: 8
USA: 2
England: 2
Spain still has a chance, but that's the current predictions.

Block H We think Wendy has just beaten Marion. Manager waiting on the score card. Big match of Lorna v Anna Miller on lawn 6 now. Lorna (Scotland) must win, Anna (Australia) can be well on the way to a non-playoff qualification

Gosh some of the people here are interesting - Judith Wembridge has been off diving doing marine research (think Marine is an ok word to describe it) in Timor - wow!

For Alison - first women's worlds - erm... heaps! Not sure exactly. My first worlds... erm... 2007, hadn't been playing GC very long actually, didn't expect anything much, played Iman El Faransawi in the semis - she's amazing - have loved meeting here over the years - still haven't beaten her, but we have awesome matches - the last being a block match in Mt Maunganui.

OK, I'm back - accommodation sorted - thank you very much to Begona and the Spanish contingent (not sure how to add hearts here)

Block D Huge result for Mona - beats Sally Cole 2-0, and has finished the block with 3 wins. Bernie would need to win both her matches today to force a big messy playoff, otherwise it's Soha (1), then Ellie, Donna and Mona in some order.

H block Jayne Stevens leaving 7-6, 6-4 against Moya Lewis that will put her through.

Block F Karen Magee up 5-4 in game 1 v Ann Sharp. I saw her have another go at a jump shot at hoop 4 - risky hoop for a long jump, but very creditable attempt - dislodged Ann, but not quite through

E block Dallas 7-5 and 1-2 against against Kate McLoughlin

Chris is back, so should have quicker updating now.

Block H Sonya looks like taking a vital match against Virginia Arney of Australia. She is currently 7-5, 4-1 up.

Block F Mervat leads Paz 3-1. Mervat needs this win, and Paz is unfortunately already in the plate.

Karen Magee v Ann Sharp 6-4 (game 1)

I've been asked for an update on Ann Brookes. Apart from the fact I can report she's a fantastic person, the only other fact to offer is that she's rather late in the draw for a match - probably about 9 matches to go.

Wendy Dickson came by before to visit and reported that she was 5-3 down in the third game against Marion Taylor - some good spirit to come back there and take the deciding hoop.

Block F Karen Magee has taken the first against Ann Sharp 7-4. A win for Karen would put her in good shape, and see Ann finish on 3 wins and looking like probably getting a playoff

H block Jayne Stevens has won, so Moya is out, and Jayne is through in the top 3 of the block (full order to be determined)

Bock E Dallas won the first, and is currently 3-1 down against Kate McLoughlin after peeling her through a hoop

Block E Marwa is through, having beaten Nuran. An interesting block where three wins gives outright qualification. Unlucky for Nuran who had 2 wins - but there is still a chance!!!. So the state of block E is:

Block E: Maram wins the block with 6 wins. Marwa and Dallas have three wins each - they have an unfinished match, and Dallas is currently game up and 1-3 against Kate McLoughlin. So Maram, Marwa and Dallas (the second two not necessarily in that order - that'll be decided when their match is completed).
4th place? If Kate wins, she qualifies. If Kate loses, we get a playoff of Kate/Sandra/Nuran for the final spot. I'll leave readers to check out the sports regs (or quote Chris if he turns up). There'll probably be a MAP ("Most advantageous position"), two people play off, the loser is out??, the winner goes into a best-of-three game up against the third person. Ok, I'll leave it to you to check the sports regs and see if I remember correctly. That could be three rounds!!!

ok, only 3 games. easy to get through. Chris says we have a LAP, not a MAP... Least Advantageous Position. Person with a bye has 25% chance to qualify, people who play are 37.5% to qualify (I checked that - the maths works)

Sonya leads 5-2 against Virginia

Chris going to check the regs for who gets the LAP - if it's on the miniblock results, it's Kate, if it's on straight out full block net points it's probably Sandra. Either way, hard to see the kiwi qualifier with the unlucky bye. Anyways, Kate still has qualification on her mallet, so that's all speculation now.

OK, if it's a tie in that group, Kate would get the unlucky bye.

Results streaming in now (from Marewa?):
Block D Kiwi teenager Ellie Ross is now on 4 after beating Aussie qualifier Geraldine Trivett in two

C block Local player Helen Reeves has also cemented her position with a 2-1 win against Aussie Rosemary Newsham

Also in C block Phyllis Young enters the plate, with a loss to Aussie Kate Logan

So where are we with the blocks?

Block qualification update

Block A: Jenny 1st, Judith and Perihan probably through, Brenda appears to be at Marewa, if she wins she's through, or we might have a playoff
Block B: Pauline 1st, Maha and Cheryl in good nick, Maha probably second, Cheryl v Janine and Jane Pringle v Pat Anderton huge matches
Block C: 4 qualifiers known: Hanan probably first, Kate Logan probably second, Iman likely third, Helen Reeves needs to win 2-0 with 7 net points advantage against Phyllis to come third, but definitely through in any case
Block D: Soha 1st, Ellie likely 2nd, Donna could overtake her but would need to beat Ellie and win both, Mona will be hoping Bernie doesn't have a good day, as Bernie has to win two (against Donna and Geraldine) to get a two-way playoff with Mona - unless Donna loses both her matches today - then it's a 3way playoff.
Block E: Maram 1st, Marwa and Dallas have an unfinished match for second place, Kath Burt is out, and this is the block that Kate losing has a three way playoff for 4th with Sandra and Nuran, or winning has her through 4th with no playoffs with a win over Dallas
Block F: Abeer is first with 5/6, 5 players on 2-3 wins, lots of unfinished matches, anyone's and it's in their own hands!
Block G: Alison Sharpe is 1st, Manal pretty good bet for second, Susan v Tricia is a playoff game - winner take all. If Ashley beats Rosemary she'll be third, and will in any case qualify probably 4th. Ashley definitely through though.
Block H: Shadin needs to beat Sonya to win, otherwise comes second. Wendy currently looking like being second. Jayne Stevens probably third, but definitely through. Sonya was leading Virginia when we last looked, and if she wins she'll be on 3 matches, Virginia will then have to beat Moya to have a playoff - unless Sonya wins the decider against Shadin. So quite a lot of options there.

Update from around the lawns

Lawn 1 Perihan is now 2-0 up against Begona (block A)
Lawn 2 Dallas in a battle for hoop 9 vs Kate McLoughlin, having pulled things back to 4-4. Kate had first play to hoop 9 and didn't get position, but has stayed in the point and now Dallas needs to hit a 7 yarder on black in front of the hoop (Block E)
Lawn 3 Mervat is 5-3 up against Paz
Lawn 4 It's 3 match points to Sonya at 6-3 in the second. There's a ref on, and my guess from the position of the balls when I came back in with Virginia in the jaws of 10 is that Sonya has just peeled her through to make it 6-4, but Virginia is still partly in the jaws and can't get to 11 easily. Yup - referee in attendance and she plays to a decent position north and a bit to the side of hoop 11. probs 2 yards back maybe.
Lawn 5: 3-2 to Ann after a brief battle for hoop 5, and Ann has good position to level the match... Karen shooting from in the jaws of hoop 5... very very close... misses everything, and Ann gently dribbles into the front of the jaws from angle.

Kate McLouglin takes the 9th - leads Dallas 5-4. Dallas has a very painful knee injury which has hampered her a bit, though her performance this week has been excellent so far.

Kate now leads 6-4. Looks like we're heading for a decider. Remember... Dallas is through, Kate is playing for outright qualification, as losing would force a 3way playoff

D block And Bernie has taken the first of her two-match qualification battle today - winning 2-0 against American Donna Dixon. She will be favourite against countrywoman Geraldine Trivett, so watch this space for a big playoff for 2-3 places in block D

Sonya has won her match in 2 against Virginia Arney. She is now on 3 wins and is waiting on Virginia's completed match against Moya. If Virginia wins she gets a playoff against... Sonya

Block A Perihan has popped in to freshen up having won the first 7-2 against Begona of Spain.

If Perihan wins this match she can avoid a potential pile-up on 3 match wins, and she must be favourite for this one.

Meanwhile on lawn 5, Ann Sharp v Karen Magee continues. Ann in bad nick at game down and 5-3 down.

A while ago Chris brought in some results... Anna Miller took the first against Lorna 7-5, but was 4-2 down in the second. Huge match that

Tricia Devlin in her block G playoff with Susan Cole - Tricia was game up and 0-3 down against the kiwi. I'll go and get an update on that one.

6-1 to Susan, so it looks like we'll have a decider there

It's now 29 degrees, so my phone has upgraded its forecast to 30. It's hot hot hot in the clubhouse, and last time I stepped outside the wind was up. Bring on the wind!!

Reports harder to get as not a lot happening fast, and Chris is sitting in my car using the aircon

All even out the back... Tricia Devlin and Susan Cole are game all, and Lorna Dewar and Ana Miller have just started the third, with Lorna running hoop 1

Lawn 5.. It's 6-6 in game 2 as Ann Sharp fights to save this game.

Ashley has just pointed out one of the 9am games is still going, there are two 11am games not on yet (11.22pm here!), and 8 incomplete games to play - with Phyllis's game having not started before abandonment

Ann has had a big bevel shooting hard at red, and I think that'll be that, as blue is pushed down towards hoop 12... Ann coming back up... nope, it's a tired bevel again. Karen for the match... and it's shake-hands time - Karen wins the match 7-4 7-6

Turns out Ann had another error of playing to a wrong hoop at hoop 9 when she approached a middle hoop. All I can say is that it's over 30 deg outside, and has been a long week.

F Block We'll that's still a big mess! Abeer through, Paz out, but of the remaining 5 competitors:
Mervat 2/4 with Paz to play (an expected win), and a delayed match with Karen Magee.
Karen is 3/5 (Mervat to play) - she is one up, 7-3, against Mervat.
Ann Sharp is finished on 3/6
Lorna Dewar is 2/5 and game all with Anna Miller
Anna Miller is 2/4 in the decider with Lorna, and with an incomplete match with Paz

Block F Mervat leads Paz 7-3 6-3

Dallas leads 3-1 in the 3rd, and has control at hoop 5 having middled a good clearance

There are readers online from Madrid, where it is now 1.30 in the morning. I wonder if Alison has gone the distance.

Checked outside quickly, got very hot, game back... Lorna leading her decider 4-3 and Sally leading in her decider 2-1, and it's way too hot to stay outside. Chris going back to the car - wish he'd bring the fan in.

While we have a moment, a word about the catering - I hope you're listening NZ...

Catering at Marewa and Heretaunga

The catering has been awesome!! Players contribute a daily clubhouse fee of $5 per person per day, which is substantial, and is meant to cover disposables, tea and coffee and food. The food has been excellent - loads of fruit and a generous mix of sweet and savoury. I expect the clubs to still make a decent profit, and they well deserve to, but also they are doing a fantastic job of very cheerfully supporting the players. I do miss the cheese, chutney and bickies of Dannevirke (who I should add were magnificent). Well done team - the positivity here from the local hosts is excellent and creating a very positive vibe in the clubhouse, despite the heat.

Back to the croquet

One more regularly scheduled match to go on: Manal Koudier vs Nicola Kelly of Ireland. That's a block G match that doesn't change anything - Manal is 2nd in her block no matter the outcome, while Nicola will be competing in the Plate event.

Results - we have results from Marewa!!

Block B: Janine McHardy beat Cheryl Bromley in a big 2-0 upset (not that surprising really, having seen Janine play this week), and Pat Anderton beat Jane Pringle. So block B is ... still a bit of a mess!

Block B First Pauline Salib, Egy.
Then:
Maha on 3 but has winless 7th seed Annie Henry to play, so should get to 4 and qualify
Janine is on 3 and still has a match to finish vs Pat - 4 wins qualifies outright
Pat is on 2 wins and has Janine to play. 3 gets a likely playoff.
Jane Pringle is unfortunately out, so that's our English ladies reduced to one runner in the main event
Cheryl is finished on 3.

Assuming Maha wins her match: If Pat wins, it's a 3way playoff for two places of Cheryl, Pat and Janine, if Janine wins she and Cheryl will qualify (so 3 wins will be qualfication outright)

Big News from Block F

Lorna Dewar has won a big match against Anna Miller, 5-7 7-5 7-5, I believe.

Paz seems to be putting up a fight in the second game against Mervat, but is likely 6-4 down at the moment. So if we still make that assumption to simplify things (though still hoping to see Paz take this to a third game (well the manager hopes not!):

Abeer through
Mervat 3/5
Karen 3/5 and 1-0 up vs Mervat
Ann Sharp 3/6
Lorna 3-6
Anna 2/5 with an unfinished match against Paz.
So 5 still in contention for three places.

Block E 4-4 in Dallas v Kate MCLoughlin decider.

Let's check in on our kiwi Sally...

argh - sorry - I can't even get names right... It's Susan Truman - sorry!! Still a kiwi.

Right - back online - when I went out there Susan was 4-2 up, but Tricia got into the jaws of hoop 7, and after a wee battle also won hoop 8.

Susan won hoop 9, and seemed to have some control at hoop 10, however when I went back after fetching my phone from the aircon'd car, it was still 5-4

Well, Mervat did beat Paz, but not without a fight - from 6-3, the Spaniard fought back to take it to the 13th hoop, but Mervat was the winner in the end. So we now have the delayed games going on. Helen v Phyllis is on 3, and Sonya v Shadin continues on lawn 2

Well, Mervat did beat Paz, but not without a fight - from 6-3, the Spaniard fought back to take it to the 13th hoop, but Mervat was the winner in the end. So we now have the delayed games going on. Helen v Phyllis is on 3, and Sonya v Shadin continues on lawn 2

Results pouring in again...

E block Dallas won a thriller 7-6 against Kate McLoughlin. Dallas now playing for positions in the block, she's game down, 7-4 to Marwa. Hopefully the manager (Dad!) will let her have a break before sending her back out into the roasty sun

Well, we have our three way tie. Sandra Knuth (USA), Nuran Melksham (NZ), Kate McLoughlin (Australia). all on 2 wins, so pretty lucky to have a second life. We expect it'll be Sandra v Nuran. Loser out, winner v Kate but the winner takes a 1-0 advantage into a best of three match against Kate.

Dallas has now got leave to check in with her physio, apparently everyone hit everything - it was a very competitive match.

Meanwhile. Ashley vs Rosemary Sanders-Robertson: Ashley is game up, but 5-3 down, with Rosemary playing first to hoop 9

This only affects block positions, as Ashley is through, and it's the big Tricia v Susan match to decide the 4th qualifier. Time for an update on that...

Another fantastic finish.

I joined the qualification KO decider at 6-6, with not much in prospect for either player. Susan had a poor attempted hoop stroke which caught the outside of the hoop leaving Tricia with the upper hand. With a decent ball in front Tricia blocked Susan's shot with red at black. All Susan had left was a 4-5 yard dribble, from about 45 degrees, to get into the jaws of hoop 13... she made it!!!

Tricia's first attempted jump was unsuccessful, Susan tried to dribble up to the next ball - didn't quite succeed, but the second jump didn't work either.

Kiwi 6th seed in block G has qualified for the knockout!!

The referee suggested that match took 4.5 hours. Pretty good to come up with a match-saving, and ultimately match-winning shot that good after that amount of time.

So Block G is now sewn up. Just places to play for. 1st is Alison Sharpe, Manal Koudier 2nd, Ashley Cook needs to win to be 3rd, or might squeeze third on net points, and Susan Truman is 4th (or might sneak up if Ashley loses)

Ashley has had yet another loss in her second game - tends to lose focus (by her own admission), and now needs to get her act together!

On the back lawn we have Manal Koudier against Nicola Kelly. Manal won the first 7-1, and is 5-0 up in the second.

In my block (A) Chris reports Begona is fighting in her match and currently leads 6-4 in the second, game down to Perihan

Sonya v Shadin - apparently it's a decider and it's 1-1. Sonya needs to win this or have Moya pull off an upset against Virginia to avoid a playoff of Sonya v Virginia

Aha - block D is starting to come together: Ellie Ross has won 2-0 against Donna Dixon.

Manal has completed her match against Nicole Kelly 2-0.

Block A Sue Roberts won the first 7-3 against Judith Wembridge, 4-4 in the second

Block C Phyllis is 2-1 down game 1 against Helen Reeves

Block B Maha has beaten Annie Henry pretty convincingly to claim a spot in the knockout. So now Pat needs to beat Janine (which is predicted on rankings, but i think is an even fight) to get a three way playoff for two spots between Pat, Janine and and Cheryl

Block A Begona fighting back - it's game each between Begona and Perihan. We could yet have a playoff for qualification in block A! Thankfully it doesn't involve me!

Block update

Block A - if Begona wins her two matches and Brenda wins hers, she could force a 3-way playoff for two spots between Begona, Perihan and Brenda
Block B - If Pat wins it's three for two of her, Cheryl and Janine. If Janine wins she and Cheryl go through, no playoffs
Block C - Hanan, Iman, Helen and Kate all through (top 4 seeds)
Block D - If Bernie wins it's three for two between Bernie, Mona and Donna, otherwise it's Soha, Ellie, Mona and Donna
Block E - Three way playoff for one spot: Kate McLoughlin, Sandra and Nuran (Kate has the least advantageous position)
Block F - still a bit messy for the last three places - let's check back when a result comes in!
Block G - Alison Sharpe, Manal, Ashley and Susan all through, no playoffs
Block H - Shadin, Wendy and Jane through, Virginia can force a playoff (with Sonya) if she beats Moya AND Sonya loses to Shadin

Quite a few of these key matches are at Marewa

update from Ashley's match: she has just made her first point in her match against Rosemary Sanders-Robertson - 1-5 in the decider. This won't affect qualification, but will matter for block positions

From the lawns:
Block A Judith Wembridge has just equalised 7-6 against Sue Roberts. That'll go the distance now.

Sounds like both players are a bit the worse for wear. Glad I'm inside...

Block H Shadin leads Sonya 4-2 in what we believe is the decider.

Ashley pulling herself together - now trails 3-5

4-5

Block H Shadin leads Sonya 5-2 - confirmed it is the decider.

Block A Begona has taken hoop 1 despite starting second

It's 3.30 am in Madrid, so maybe the Spaniards are sleeping, but you can't rely on that given the number of people who followed Jose Riva at the AC worlds

Block C Hanan 7-3 3-2 up against Ann Woodhouse

Block F Karen Magee leads Mervat 7-3 3-3

But we don't actually know if they played a game before the delay, and if that's the game... sigh - will go and check

Block G Ashley has just lost 7-5 in the decider - that'll have her finishing the block a bit carelessly low.

Yup, that's Ashley 4th in her block, and drawing a top seed, and Susan Truman will be shocked and hopefully very pleased to have come third in block G

By one net point :-)

Nope - I can't count - Ashley 3rd, Sue (not Susan :-) ) 4th - congratulations on qualifying!

I was looking at net games or something

Block H Shadin won 7-3, so that's Shadin through as block winner, and Sonya waiting on Virginia Arney v Moya Lewis. That match is about to recommence on lawn 5 at 1-1. If Virginia wins, she plays Sonya in a single game, if she doesn't Sonya goes through.

Mervat now up 5-4

Kiwi meter just went up - estimated 8 kiwis from 15, and 8 Aussies from 16, and just the one English

Block A Perihan v Begona - 4-2 to the Egyptian lady, and they seem to have stopped for a wee break

It's still 29 degrees, not much wind out there - who can blame them! (well, the manager, for a start...)

Update

Block A Wendy is 4-0 up in the decider against Sue Roberts, thereby looking to head off a messy potential tie

Block C Helen is 7-2, 3-2 up against Phyllis. There she's playing for position, and Phyllis is plate-bound

Results trickling in from Marewa...

Block A 1-1 Brenda v Ann Brookes - waiting for the third game score...

Anne Woodhouse 4-3 up (game down) against Hanan

Block F Mervat in trouble against Karen. Karen is game up, it's 1-1, and Karen has a ball in 11. Mervat is giving up the hoop, so Karen will take a 6-5 lead, and can play it down to hoop 12!

I'm off for a wee bit to watch!

But first...

Block A Brenda Wild beat Ann Brooks 2-1

Block A Perihan leads 5-2 in the decider

So that is Brenda on three and provided Perihan wins and Judy also wins (both leading comfortably and favourites in their respective matches) block A is sewn up with Jenny (1), Judy (prob 2), Perihan (prob 3) and Brenda (4) going through.

Well that was fun to watch.
Block C Anne Woodhouse won the second against Hanan Rashad 7-6. I arrived to see her run hoop 9 from the south boundary, but lose hoops 10 and 11. She leveled with hoop 12, and after a battle at hoop 13 she ran a very very long hoop 13 after Hanan failed her chance to take the match. They'll now go into a decider, but very well done Anne :)

Block A Perihan beat Begona 7-2 in the decider and progresses to the KO

Block F Karen Magee is into the decider against Mervat. She was game up, and hoop 13 was anyones - with Karen having two balls very close to the jaws at one point, but Mervat taking her chance to win the golden hoop.

Block B Janine has beaten Pat Anderton. That puts Janine and Cheryl through, and no playoff. Final block positions Pauline (1), Janine (2 - having been 6th seed!), Maha (3), Cheryl (4)

update on Block F Abeer on 5 wins, Mervat/Karen into the decider, one will progress on 4 wins, the other will be on 3 wins. Also on three wins Lorna, Ann Sharp, and Anna Miller can get there if she beats Paz to make a 4 way tie on 3 wins for 2 places, otherwise it's 3 for 2.

Reports from Marewa - it's incredibly dry, fast, and a bit random how the balls are rolling on the slightly patchy lawns. Still a bit slower than the Mac, but these players are by no means used to these conditions.

Block H In the decider, Virginia leads 4-2 against Moya Lewis

Block C Consolation for Rosemary Newsham who has beaten Kate Logan 2-1. Kate is still through, and Rosemary in the plate, but a good win in the all-Aussie clash

Block A Judy Wembridge has won 7-1 against Sue Roberts to finish up Block A (we're not sure the held-over match of Begona v Ann will be completed). Final placings: Jenny (1), Judy (2), Perihan (3), Brenda (4)

Block D Bernie has beaten Geraldine, and now is in a 3way tie for 2 places, with Mona and Donna. Here's a refresher on the sports regs of 3 for 2...

Mona gets the lucky bye. Bernie plays a game against Donna. The winner goes through. The loser goes into a best of three 1-0 down against Mona. Ok, not a strict best of three, as they toss twice, but effectively - if Mona wins the first game she qualifies, if Mona loses, Bernie needs to win again.

Much confusion.

While it's confusing, it's quite a good system, as it gives better percentages than other methods... Donna and Bernie have 62.5% chance to qualify, and Mona 75% based on her superior block performance (in the mini-block Bernie beat Donna who beat Mona who beat Bernie :-) )

Block H Virginia looking good for a rematch with Sonya - she's leading Moya 5-4 in their 3rd game

Back to this block D playoff: so.. Donna v Bernie - winner is through. Loser plays Mona and has to beat her in two games to qualify.
But then block positions?? - that's where we find who the two qualifiers are, and then we look back to their performance in the main blocks, and ignore the playoff games.

Block E That's three for one place. Nuran v Sandra - Sandra is 6-1 up. If she wins, Nuran is out, and Sandra plays Kate, with Kate having to win two consecutive games to take the final qualification place.

Block E sorry Virginia now 5-5 with a spirited Moya fightback. The referee is now on the lawn for discussions with Moya. Looks like a wrong ball, playing partner ball and the ball returned. Hard to see exactly what's going on from distance, and it looks odd, as it seemed they should have opted for Ball Swap. I'm too far away to know exactly what happened. Chris thinks yellow tried to run hoop 11 and failed it. Unclear what happened in discussions here.

Update:
Block A: Jenny, Judy, Perihan, Brenda (in that order)
Block B: Pauline, Janine, Maha, Cheryl (in that order)
Block C: Hanan 1, Helen/Kate Logan/Iman with positions to sort
Block D: Soha 1, Ellie 2, Mona/Bernie/Donna to sort 3/4
Block E: Maram 1, winner of Dallas/Marwa 2, loser 3, winner of Sandra v Kate (with Sandra having two lives) 4
Block F: Abeer 1, winner Mervat v Karen 2, then 3-4 people playing for 2 places
Block G: Alison Sharpe, Manal, Ashley, Sue Trueman (in that order)
Block H: Shadin 1, Wendy 2, Jayne 3, Sonya/Virginia 4

Marvellous - people trying to simultaneously understand a 3 for 2 and a 3 for 1 - Americans in both to add to the excitement of keeping track. Anyways, Sandra only has to win 1 against Kate and Kate has to win 2 against Sandra.

Forget that - let's see how Karen is getting on - she's trying to win to not be in the Block F playoff

That was worth visiting... Karen qualifies in Block F!

Having lost to Anna Miller yesterday putting Anna through hoop 12 and letting Anna get first to hoop 13 to then lose the match, Karen has been on the other end. Karen won the decider 7-6 after Mervat put Karen through hoop 12 in a jump. Exciting finish, and I think Karen did that with a jump.

Karen takes second position in block F, and Mervat is in a playoff with Ann Sharp, Lorna Dewar and possibly Anna Miller (if she beats Paz)

Lovely to see Alison Sharpe pop in. She's fantastic.

Looked away - Moya has finished... Chris queuing to find out what happened.

Virginia wins vs Moya

Block H It's a playoff between Virginia and Sonya. Single game, winner take all. (well, winner takes 4th position in the block, and qualifies). Virginia looks refreshed and ready to go. Almost ended up back on the lawn they came off, but averted

PART 2 - let's start a new commentary thread!...

commentary resuming in about 15 secs - wtih exciting updates!

go to next commentary thread...