The BSF has announced a record entry for its 2014 Single-Sex Slowpitch National Championships, to be held on the weekend of 12-13 July at Birmingham City University's Moor Lane Sports Ground in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.
All of the available 32 places have been filled, and the tournament will break the previous record of 31 teams, set in 2009 when the tournament was also held in Birmingham. With 16 women's teams signed up, this year's event will also break the record for the largest number of women's teams (previously 13 in 2010). And the fact that all the places were taken less than three weeks after entries opened is yet another first for this year's tournament.
Generally speaking, entries to the Single-Sex Nationals have fluctuated between 20 and 30 teams over the past decade, but the highest attendances have been when the tournament has been played in Birmingham, supporting the BSF's decision to move it from Farnham Park (where 22 teams played in 2013) back to the middle of the country.
Comp and Rec
Sixteen places are available for Men's Teams in the competition and 16 for Women's Teams, split 8:8 into Comp and Rec divisions.
According to BSF Tournaments Officer Liz Graham, never before have so many places for the Single-Sex Nationals been filled so early in the season.
Those teams that have confirmed their entry are:
Men's Competitive
Puppies (Defending Champions - London)
Blue Steel (London)
Bristol Men
Godzillas (London)
Guernsey
Teabags (Leeds)
Hogs (Manchester)
Rebels (London)
Women's Competitive
Besoms (Defending Champions - Scotland)
Bluebirds (Bristol)
No Balls (London)
Cupcakes (London)
Bunnies (East Midlands)
Hooters (Leeds)
Minx (Manchester)
Diamonds (Oxford)
Men's Recreational
Barbarians (Birmingham)
Bobcats (Birmingham)
Double Dunkers (Leeds)
Pulse (East Midlands)
Pyros (East Midlands)
Shafters (Solent)
Knights (London)
Gargoyles (Oxford)
Women's Recreational
Banshees (Birmingham)
Battling Divas (Leeds)
Bobcats (Birmingham)
Chavs (London)
Raiders (London)
Pink Ladies (East Midlands)
Pitchslap (Manchester)
Sheriffs (East Midlands)
Meanwhile, there are teams on a waiting list in some divisions – including the Defending Men's Recreational Champion Exiles from the East Midlands.