Ed Hill has been crowned the first official World Toads Singles Champion. In a midnight nail-biter he managed to fight back from 1-3 down to win 4-3 against Lewes League Winner and former team World Champion Dan Saunders. 

The tournament (not to be confused with the World Teams event in April) was held in early October in Lewes, after a deferment from the original choice venue in Falmer.

In all sixteen players vied for the prize, The Toadstone Trophy, with half of the competitors taking part being some of the most noted and decorated players in the game.

Tournament Report by Jonny Wills
So we held the first World Toads Singles Championship in Lewes on Friday October 7th 2002. After two months of organising and advertising, we kept the original 16 who wanted the event to happen, and found a new venue.
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In the end the choice of St Marys Supporter's Club was an inspired one, and a surprise to many in Lewes who hadn't even been there. It's a proper dedicated indoor games club.

​Advertised as the 'longest bar in Lewes' the organisers there couldn't have been more helpful. Personal thanks go out to Shirley, Kim and Julie. 

Tournament Rules
We kept to the standard rules that we all know, and allowed for match self-governing where Toadrunners would have final say, being one of the five specific areas I felt needed to be addressed for a level-playing field for all. In a short, in a largely non-humourous talk at the beginning I outlined the following guidelines:

1. Oche Line
Oche lines were up to the front edge and included the shoe, being the part of a balanced foot. I literally had to step in a couple of times for a couple of people, but only to make it fair for others; 

2. Sledging and Line of Sight
Players on the oche were to be respected, so there was no sledging during throws, nor other people in line-of-sight except motionless Toadrunners. All inevitable sledging to be kept friendly and non-personal.

3. Tournament Structure
The tournament itself was decided before to be a straight knockout (see picture above), but with a provision of best of 5 for early rounds, with best of 7 for the semis and the final. A request to move all matches to the front bar after Round 1 'for a better atmosphere' was granted. The quieter 'committee room' was liked by some, while others found it too quiet. The room was booked simply to cater for the number of matches and served its purpose for the first round.

4. New Match, New Table
A random choice of four tables were drawn out of the 'comedy plastic pot' for fairness so players weren't fixed on one table. 

The four tables:
1: Noel's rental table: Not dissimilar to other classic Wilkins' designs
2: St Marys: Long and lumpy, great fun
3: Wayne Saunder's table: Old school, great fun; but tricky for some
4: The Round Georges' 'Bunker Room' table, also made by Noel – easiest table of the night and host of the highest scores.

5. Nearest the Hole
Matches were to be started with the 'nearest the hole' rule, with a coin toss deciding who threw first to do this. In the event of a draw before a deciding game, another coin toss and nearest the hole was initiated.

Short Slideshow and Film
Before the games began, a short film was shown depicting the history behind the The Toadstone Trophy followed by a run through of all the players set to an overly dramatic, tongue in cheek, epic soundtrack.
You can watch the film exclusively at the Game of Toads Facebook page. 

Notable Players
The tournament itself had lots of nail-biters and Toad tension. Notable players on the night were newcomer Ben Robinson and Rodmell's Dan Saunders, who both put in some heroic shifts and deeply entertaining matches.

Claw-back by a Surprise Champion
The ultimate winner Ed Hill, who plays for the Round Georges in the Brighton League Division 2, was a popular one. Surprisingly, Ed was not even among the half-dozen favourites to take the title, but turned up on the night a deserved champ, clawing back from 1-3 down, not once but twice, in both the semi and the final, to win 4-3. 

The final game, taking place after a long night and many pints of Harveys Old plus numerous other beverages, commenced just after midnight and produced one the great highlights of the event with Ed whispering while handing Dan Saunders the coins: "I've see these missed..." with Dan replying before Ed's turn: "I've seen these missed as well!" to rapturous laughter from the audience. 

After it's engraving at Robert Brown in Hollingbury, and its second presentation to Ed at his local pub, The Toadstone Trophy can be seen on display at the Round Georges in Kemptown, Brighton. Its' "special bufonite properties" are designed to keep Ed safe from toxins for a year 🤣. 

Additionally, Loud Shirt Brewery have announced – to celebrate the occasion – they are to make a special annual beer called 'King of Toads', this year featuring Ed on the label.
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My personal thanks go to Mark and Fran Woolley at the Great Thatch Barn for bearing with us while our Toads community ummed and arred about whether they wanted to get involved.