We now have just one month remaining in the 2024 annual competition. There was no change in the podium positions this month, but the race got significantly tighter with Lysandra failing to improve on her weakest counting score. Meanwhile, Dave scored 75/80 to add 6 to his total and move to within 2 points of the lead, while Paul’s 71/80 added 3 points to his total to leave him 5 points behind. Going into the final month, the young Kiwi star also has an added 2-point cushion, as her weakest counting score is 69, whilst both Dave and Paul are looking to drop scores of 71.
With a 10-point gap separating the Top 10 from the chasing pack, for the third month running there was no movement into or out of that elite leading group. Brian moves up into a tie for fourth place with Stephen, and they are just 4 points off the podium. Paul Dubois scores 74/80 to move up a place into ninth spot. The leading nine players all have average scores of 73/80 or better.
Just out of the Top 10, there is plenty of juggling for places, with just 5 points separating 12th spot from 18th. There are now 18 players with a very impressive 9-month average score of 70/80 or better, so congratulations to everyone making the first page of the leader-board. Just outside the Top 25, there are eight players within 6 points of making it onto Page 1, so plenty still to play for in the final month of competition.
British players still dominate the Top 25 in terms of numbers, with eight representatives. There are four each from USA and New Zealand, two from India, and seven countries (Australia, Singapore and five from Europe) with one competitor in the Top 25. With neither Ian nor Babs playing this year, we have to look down to 29th place to find the leading Canadian. Kudos to all those who have proved themselves the most consistent bidder from their country over the course of the year.
The annual score is the total of the best 9 monthly scores over the year.
