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Compton Open Weekend in Eastbourne hosted a strong field and, apart from a spell of heavy rain late on Saturday afternoon, managed to avoid the storms plaguing the rest of the UK.

Louise Bradforth produced the biggest upset on day 1 with a hard-fought victory over COWhorn holder Dave Kibble, only to fall victim to Phil Cordingley in the next round. David Openshaw, returning to Compton after a gap of many years, completed the only triples of the day on his way to a semi-final encounter with Phil. Meanwhile newcomer to the COWhorn, Rutger Beijderwellen had a narrow squeak with a +1 win over Jack Davies to gain his semi-final place against Ian Vincent.

The first games of the best-of-three semi-finals began in the pouring rain, but it soon stopped and the end of play for the day saw David and Rutger each one game up, and David with his third triple. So it continued on Sunday morning: each completing his win with the second game, David again with a triple.

The final began at midday and David won the first with his fifth triple, at 1330 still the only player to have completed a game with a peeling finish, despite the relatively easy pace of the lawns! It looked very much as if the second game was going to go the way of the first, but David's triple came to grief at rover when the peelee stuck in the jaws and his half-jump attempt was faulted. Rutger took full advantage and went out with his own triple in the next turn. The decider saw a number of unforced errors by both players with the innings changing hands many times.
Eventually, DKO hit the lift and left Rutger's 4-back ball slightly in the jaws of 2-back; both players were for 1 and 4-back. Rutger shot from corner 1 at the ball in the jaws and hit the narrow sliver on the hoop 1 side. Rutger steadied and finished with a clean, nerveless TP to win the tournament in fine style. In the picture, David Openshaw (left) congratulates Rutger.

Jack Davies was the only player to win all his Swiss games and duly won the COWbell. Sunday afternoon triples from Dave Kibble and Ian Vincent could not challenge David Openshaw's mastery and he was elevated to Ace Peeler amid general acclamation!

Knockout for the COWhorn

Round 1

D Kibble beat B Arliss +26
L Bradforth beat G Hopewell + 6
R Beijderwellen beat J Low +15
J Davies beat J Potter + 2

Round 2

D Openshaw beat D Mundy +17(TP)
T Wilkins beat T Weston +11
P Cordingley beat S Symonds +15
L Bradforth beat D Kibble + 6
R Beijderwellen beat J Davies + 1
P Miles beat F Low +10
I Vincent beat G Noble + 8
P Castell beat J Guest +15

Quarter-Finals

D Openshaw beat T Wilkins +15
P Cordingley beat L Bradforth +14
R Beijderwellen beat P Miles +12
I Vincent beat P Castell +23

Semi-Finals

D Openshaw beat P Cordingley +17(TP) +24(TP)
R Beijderwellen beat I Vincent +17 +24

Final

R BEIJDERWELLEN beat D Openshaw -17(TP) +4(TP) +17(TP)

3rd Place (Divided)

I Vincent beat P Cordingley +17(TP)
P Cordingley beat I Vincent +16

Swiss for the Cowbell

5 wins: J DAVIES
4 wins: P Castell, D Mundy
3 wins: G Hopewell, D Kibble, G Noble, T Weston
2 wins: L Bradforth, J Guest, J Low, J Potter, S Symonds
1 win: B Arliss, P Miles, T Wilkins

Ace Peeler

D.K.Openshaw