THE new Winter Leagues kicked off in grand style last Thursday with all but two of the 20 entrants congregating at three sites in the county to compete for the uniquely entitled Film, Literature and TV Tabletop.

The idea of combining these three topics looks to have paid off, given the level of participation, as it was felt this would have wider appeal.

In North Leigh, the Blue Boar Bees (Chipping Norton), absent for the summer but carrying on their excellent form of last winter when they lifted the North Division trophy, came top in a tight, albeit low-scoring, affair, edging out their hosts, the Woodman 126-121 with the Sun (Hook Norton) a point further back in third and the Chequers (also ‘Chippy’) a close fourth.

In a smashing evening at the Plough (Wolvercote), stablemates the Plough and the Ploughman’s Bunch! traded blows all night, the latter clinging on to their narrow advantage to eventually prevail by 154 to 153.

Given the margin of 13 points to third-placed outfit the North Oxford Conservative Club (Summertown), it was fairly assumed that the Bunch! would emerge as overall winners. How wrong one can be!

Ten of the competition’s protagonists assembled at the Green Road Club (Kidlington). The Black Swan (East Oxford), who experienced a very sorry end to their summer campaign, lifted their gloom somewhat by just getting the better of the home side to land third in this leg and fifth overall, while the King’s Arms (Wheatley), provided the surprise package of the event as they amassed 148, second here and good enough for a final standing of fourth. The silverware, however, went to the Royal Blenheim ‘A’ (Oxford City), joint top-scorers with 154 but champions courtesy of posting 61 in the last round as compared to the Bunch!’s 55. Well done to them.

This week sees the start of league fixtures with a slightly altered divisional structure. The Premiership remains intact, and the Blenheim ‘A’ will be hoping to build on their impressive opening and perhaps end the domination enjoyed in recent years by the Plough and the Bunch!, who, intriguingly, clash first up.

The North section is modified so that stalwarts Blue Boar Bees, Chequers, Sun and Woodman are joined by the Black’s Head (Bletchingdon). The Bees would be narrow, even money favourites to retain their crown but the Black’s Head had a good summer and travel well.

The Royal Sun (Begbroke) returns to the West to try to regain their championship but they now have the Green Road Club to contend with as well as the usual suspects: White Hart (Eynsham), Windrush Club (Witney) and Seacourt Bridge (Botley), plus a new-look Blenheim ‘B’.

The East was won comprehensively last time by the Green Dragon. Through the closure of that pub, the team has decamped to the Eight Bells (Long Crendon) from where they will conduct hostilities against stiffer opponents: King’s Arms, Gardener’s Arms (North Parade), Chandos Arms (Oakley), Black Swan and Con Club.