Rematch mooted as rounders is rained out
By Tony Grew @ayestotheright - 22nd July 2011
The eighth annual parliamentary rounders contest had to be abandoned yesterday afternoon due to torrential rain showers – but not after some excellent play from Labour, Lib Dem and Tory researchers.
The Labour team were hoping to retain the title they won in 2010, having thrashed the Tories 18 to 0.5 on that occasion.
Spirits were high on all three teams, despite the threat of showers, with the Tories beating both of their opponents in the opening rounds in Hyde Park.
While Plaid researchers boycotted the event, with one taking to Twitter to describe it as "a face-off between the unionist tribes", SNP and SDLP researchers braved the elements and turned up in Hyde Park to show their support.
Unfortunately the heavens opened, but Labour insisted that there had to be a final for there to be a winner, while the Tories claimed victory.
Play continued in frankly farcical conditions, with rounders becoming sliders as players found it increasingly difficult to stay upright as torrents of rain made the grass extra-slippery.
In the end, it was decided to abandon the tournament and retire to the pub where drinks were laid on by sponsors Fleishman-Hillard.
Catriona Rowen, the Tory team captain, said that she had agreed the rules with the Labour and Lib Dems beforehand and will stick by them – her team did not win.
While they "won on points", she said the final will have to be played to decide who takes home the trophy.
"I think it was a really good day and despite the weather everyone had a really good time," she told ePolitix.
Christie Rawlings, captain of the Labour team, was equally upbeat.
"It was great, it could have gone better - obviously the weather didn't help any of the teams," she said.
"We are hoping to hold a final in the next couple of weeks, depending on the weather, but we are not sure who will be umpiring this time, whether we will have Rounders England again or we may ask the Lib Dems to umpire."
Fleishman-Hillard's head of public affairs Nick Williams said: "To grievously misquote Carl Von Clausewitz, rounders is the continuation of politics by other means.
"I'm very pleased that Fleishman-Hillard was able to help the researchers of all political parties celebrate the end of a busy Parliamentary term.
"The annual Fleishman-Hillard rounders tournament is now a fixture on the Westminster political calendar, and deservedly so. Well done to all who took part!"
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