WARWICKSHIRE Women clinched promotion to Group Three with a dramatic victory against closest rivals East of Scotland in County Week.
The county ladies returned to Group Three at the first attempt despite missing a number of players through injury in Cheltenham.
With promotion secured, the ladies then thrashed Norfolk on the final day to secure the Group Four title.
The squad of Holly Reid, Louise Kilshaw, Mary Hoggard, Giorgie Jones, Lucie Butler and Elizabeth Massie sealed an unlikely promotion.
Team captain, Lianne Candappa said: “I’m delighted at the way everyone played their hearts out to beat East of Scotland so narrowly, and looked really assured against Norfolk.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Lucie and Elizabeth managed to beat the very strong Scottish first pair.
“It was great that Louise loyally came back when so many people were injured and only fitting that she and Holly took the winning rubber in style.
“Giorgie and Mary have been a standout pair all week, and it’s a huge relief to win promotion – and win the Group Four Championship after what’s been a disappointing run of relegations over recent years.”
The women’s side claimed a clean sweep of wins against Essex, North Wales, Lincolnshire, East of Scotland and Norfolk.
Elsewhere, Warwickshire’s men’s side achieved a runners-up finish in the Elite Group One behind reigning champions Surrey at Eastbourne.
Playing in the top division for the first time since 2010, the Bears were level with Surrey on three match wins heading into the final fixture.
However, Surrey’s dominant win against South Wales ended Warwickshire’s title chances although the Bears still recorded their best finish since 1952.
The squad of Cameron Malik, Mason Recci, Luca Pow, Max Stewart, Jake Hersey, Oliver Plaskett and Richard Partridge secured a number of upset wins to finish in second place.
Warwickshire captain, Gavin Henderson said: “I am unbelievably proud of how the whole squad chased down every ball and battled away, coming so close to taking the title.
“Every single pair beat much higher ranked opposition, so no wonder we achieved our best result since 1952, the last time we won the title, and we certainly didn’t have the best team on paper.
“Two of our top teenage stars, Billy Moxon and Ferran Redza, who both played in the Wimbledon juniors, were away in Romania on international duty.
“Our fighting spirit and teamwork was second to none, and we finished on the same number of wins as Surrey who’ve won the Championship for the last three years.
“Dan Evans was playing a tournament in Washington but he massively contributed encouragement and advice on WhatsApp, which gave the side a real boost.
“I’m already talking to our players about their availability for next year, because if we can come this close with a depleted squad, there’s absolutely no reason why, with a stronger lineup to pick from, we shouldn’t go one better in 2026.”
The Bears claimed wins against North of Scotland, East of Scotland and Northamptonshire and only lost to eventual champions Surrey.
