[<<] [>>] by Jeremy Dyer at Surbiton
14-16 Jun 2002 (AC - Championships)

An unusually dry and warm June weekend for the Surrey Championships saw plenty of good play, on easy slow lawns with triples in abundance. Last years pre-Worlds overseas players were obviously absent, but a good quality field lined up, headed by Mulliner.

The early rounds had a couple of surprises, notably the almost error free play of Southern and Noble, with Noble beating the seeded and shocked Duckworth. Lionel Tibble was playing consistently in his unique style and overcame Farthing in the quarters. In the other quarter finals, Mulliner had gone one down to Noble, before he took control, and Dyer also came back from one down to beat Cordingley; an in form Dawson had a comfortable win over Openshaw... Noble seizing the opportunity by putting money on Dawson with the resident bookmaker. Mulliner progressed to the final beating Dyer in the semis, his two immaculate 26tps came either side of his TPO, however Dyer finished comfortably from the contact leave. Tibble against Dawson went to the wire... well the wrong side of the wire for Tibble as he rushed a ball through rover to fractionally south of the hoop and failed to make rover from there; Dawson taking over and finishing with ease.

The final was won 3-0 by Dawson, in time for lunch and the Ireland - Spain game; Mulliner was not quite firing on all cylinders and Jeff was finding some excellent form. A top from Dawson in the first game was followed by an early mistake from Mulliner and Dawson finished soon after. After a straightforward 26tp in the second, Dawson took the third having initially failed a triple, had one of his balls pegged out by Mulliner, and finally winning on the 3-ball ending.

The Plate final was contested by Duckworth and Rutger Beijderwellen, who had each clinically disposed of all comers in previous rounds of the Swiss. A failed Duckworth TP followed Rutger's playing of the wrong ball... quality of play matched only by Irish penalty taking that was taking place at the same time. In the end, Rutger completed a triple that time after time he tried to fail, but could only manage to complete it much against his best efforts.

It was a poor weekend for the resident bookmaker Carter, paying out on the Dawson win to Noble, and on a double to Dyer for an England win/ Ireland draw.

First Round

Southern bt Carter +25,+19
Patmore bt Plummer +24tp,+5
Guest bt Castell +17,+4
Openshaw bt Patel -16,+17,+26tp
Bennett bt Dymock +3, -9, +8

Second Round

Noble bt Duckworth +17,+17
Tibble bt Hort -26tp, +17,+22
Farthing bt Southern +16,+3
Dawson bt Beijderwellen +18,-1,+11
Mulliner bt Guest +26tp, +17
Cordingley bt Patmore +3tp, +24
Dyer bt Bennett +25tp, +17tp
Openshaw bt Wilkins +26tp, -17tp, +26tp

Quarter Finals

Mulliner bt Noble, -23,+25,+26tp
Dawson bt Openshaw +11tp, +26tp
Tibble bt Farthing +8,+17
Dyer bt Cordingley -10tp, +26,+20

Semi Finals

Mulliner bt Dyer +26tp, -13otp, +26tp
Dawson bt Tibble -13tp,+10tp,+4tp

Final

Dawson bt Mulliner +13otp, +26tp,+14

3rd/4th Playoff

Dyer bt Tibble +14tp

Handicap Changes

Paul Castell 0 to -0.5
Rutger Beijderwellen -0.5 to -1