Firstly, I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for taking part again this season. Obviously it wouldn’t exist without all of you making it what it is. Hopefully you have enjoyed it and I look forward to seeing you take part again next season. If you know of anyone who would like to take part next season, please feel free to spread to word. I will put up a poster for the new season in a few weeks where you can share with friends and family.

Just over a week has passed since Neil Aitchison won his first title in the Bezza League, dominating the field from early on. Massive congratulations to Neil. He led for 33 weeks of the season, the most in Bezza League history. Ian Gibson (3 weeks), Andrew Davison (1 week) and Alfie Adams (1 week) were the others to spend time at the league’s summit. Although this is his first win, Aitchison did come close on 2 previous attempts at silverware. A defeat in the final of the Shield in 21-22 and another defeat in the Cup final in 23-24. This is also the first time in his 9 seasons that Neil has finished in the top 10, with 4 appearances in the top 32. His tally of 51 correct scores was the highest in the league this season, and only the 12^th time anyone has broke the 50 barrier for correct scores in a season.

Kev Booth finished 2^nd this season and so close to taking the win in only his second season. Glenn Baker finished the season in 3^rd, his highest finish in his 11 year stint beating his 4^th place finish 3 seasons ago.

Congratulations also go to our cup competition winners as well…Sam Hardie (Cup), Stevie Docherty (Europe & Shield) and Aaron Nagra (Knockout). Tom Beck and Adam Campbell shared the pot in the first Eliminator, while Phil Ellis and Mark Johnson split the pot on the second Eliminator of the season.

Here are a few more facts and stats that may interest you from the season just gone…

• The most amount of correct scores were predicted by our league champion Neil Aitchison with 51. Kev Booth was 2nd on that list with 49, with former champion Dan Stewart, who finished 5^th in the league table, was 3^rd highest predicting 47 correct scores.
• Bezza Knockout runner-up Nathan Smillie finished 80th in the league but still managed to come out on top with the most amount of correct outcomes, predicting 154. Alex Hamilton, who was 47th in the league, was 2nd with 149 correct outcomes. Tim Simpson (6^th), Marc Jarvis (9^th), Adam Smith (11^th), Anthony Bosher (12^th), Jonny Halliday (39^th) and Kev Purves (66^th) were 3rd highest with 146 outcomes.
• The highest weekly score of the season was 21 points by Paul Maxwell on week 7. This was 3 points higher than last seasons top score. Graeme Golledge scored 18 points on week 28, while Barry Beck scored 17 points on the final week. Maxwell’s tally of 21 points was enough to see him go 2^nd on the all-time top scores list.
• Out of the 38 weeks, 48 people managed to end a week as top scorer, but only 7 of you experienced a weekly top spot finish on more than one occasion. Ben Burnip, Glenn Baker, Craig Rowell, Bert Chilvers, Kev Booth, Phil Ellis and Amanda Adams were all top scorers on 2 separate weeks.
• An average weekly score of 6.5 (247pts) was enough to qualify into next seasons Bezza Europe, the lowest since 2021. The tally of 260 points to make the top 10 was also down on previous seasons, 10 seasons in fact, and was the 3rd lowest tally for a 10th place finish in Bezza League history.
• It looks like the winners curse was at it again this season. Last seasons champion Harris Khan could only manage a 69^th place finish, his lowest since joining the Bezza League in 2013 and only the second time he is outside the top 32. Could Aitchison break this trend next season.
• 5 of our top 10 make it into the top 10 for the first time. Ian Holley (8^th) makes it in at the first time of asking. Kev Booth (2^nd) and Tim Simpson (6^th) both make it in at the second attempt. Marc Jarvis (9^th) and Colin Timney (10^th) also make the top 10 for the first time.
• Only 2 of our 20 newcomers this season made it into the top 32. Ian Holley (8th) and David Holley (13th) both qualify for Bezza Europe next year.
• Here is a look at how well our other former champions have fared this season…Rachel Baird (68th), Adam Cairns (46th), Paul Simpson (87th), Paul Ryder (90th), Rob Bosher Jnr (22nd), Simon Bowden (43rd), Tom Beck (37th), Kev Morrison (4th), Dan Stewart (5th), Chris Wood (30th) and Harris Khan (69th).