[<<] [>>] by Dave Kibble at Bristol
12-13 May 2001 (AC)

Dave Harrison-Wood triumphed at the Bristol Open Weekend, beating David Goacher in a 10 hour best of five final (-26 -19tp +3tp +17tp +15). At 2-0 up David Goacher failed a triple for the second time to loose the third game, which would have won him the match before tea finished. The final game would have gone to time but The Goat, knowing it was his last turn, took a suicide shot to allow DHW to finish "not on time". The crowd (of about 12) had watched the match from teatime to 8:35 PM, refreshed by Rosemary Gugan's tea and shortcake. The final was a high quality match with few errors until the last game. Both players shot well throughout until Goat's shots started missing by a few millimetres and DHW hit centre ball every time.

Ed Duckworth beat Dave Kibble +17 in a routine game to take the Swiss. Kibble was unlucky to end up just running 1 to roll back into the jaws by a fraction on each ball!

Surprise first round result was Louise Bradforth beating Ed Duckworth 26tp, but that was the only game she won in the weekend - she lost in the next round to doubles partner Dave Kibble in a scrappy game and failed rover having completed a triple on Roger Jenkins in the Swiss.

Terry Burge had Chris Patmore beaten 26tp in the first round (his first 5th turn triple) when his rush to peg hilled by at least 2 feet to gently nudge the peg - Patmore went on to win (+1).

Chris Williams lost in the first round to Frances Ransom (+4) but went on to complete 3 triples in the next 3 successive games (a personal first), his run came to a respectable end by losing to Ed Duckworth (17tp).

Conditions were fairly easy with "fast for the time of year" lawns and few hoops failed, despite being set to a loose 1/32". This was the first tournament played in Bristol using the new Omega adjustable hoops and it's clear that they are easier to run than others - something the tournament or equipment committee should look at.

Next year the format should be seeded and best of 3 from round 2 or 3

Results

Ed Duckworth lost to Louise Bradforth 26tp
Rodney Parkins lost to Dave Kibble 16
David Goacher beat Tony Doughty 25tp
Chris Williams lost to Frances Ransom 4
Don Gaunt beat Martin Murray 24
David Harrison Wood beat Roger Jenkins 22tp
Terry Burge lost to Chris Patmore 1
Rosemary Gugan lost to Lawrence Whittaker 4

Kibble beat Bradforth 12
Goacher beat Ransom 17
Harrison-Wood beat Gaunt 21tp
Patmore beat Whittaker 25

Goacher beat Kibble 14
Harrison-Wood beat Patmore 26tp

Harrison-Wood beat Goacher -26 -19tp +3tp +17tp +15 (not quite on time)