[<<] [>>] by Chris Dent
1st October 2002 (AC)

A full entry of twenty players were rewarded for entering the tournament with excellent weather, as well as the usual warm Southport welcome and excellent hospitality. Jenny Williams, in her debut in the role, was a very friendly and efficient manager. Entries this year came from as far afield as Reading and Edinburgh, as well as a number from the wrong side of the Pennines and the more local regulars.

The big shock on the first day was Ailsa Lines' victory against the hot favourite David Maugham. David went on to win the Swiss, completing a majestic sextuple against Dave Nicholson along the way. Due to some epic struggles on the first day, the semis did not start until Sunday morning, when Richard White won his +26 with a clinical triple against Ailsa. In the other, Peter Taylor eventually beat Chris Dent after divine intervention had handed the advantage back and forth on numerous occasions.

The highlight of the final was a thrilling second game. After Peter took the first +17 in a standard tale of hit and missed lifts, he looked well set for a quick win when he reached peg and 3-back against 1 and 2. Richard then hit, picked up a break and pegged Peter out. In the 3-ball ending , Peter hit a number of times, but could only reach Rover before his opponent finished. Peter's shooting was again deadly in game 3, and he reached peg and 4-back before in a freak error while finishing a leave he cannoned into one of his opponent's balls, leaving a 2 foot shot. Richard again pegged Peter out, but this time he finished from the contact to win the match 2-1.

Main Event

Played as a knockout with a best of three final

Round 1

Alan Pidcock bt Dean Bennison +15
Richard White bt John Moore +10
Jim Potter bt Peter Wardle +4
Chris Dent bt Peter McDermott +14

Round 2

David Maugham bt Chris Van Essen +26TP
Ailsa Lines bt Keith Roberts +21
Dave Nicholson bt Steve Woolnough+25
Richard White bt Alan Pidcock +10
Ian Lines bt Gordon Hopewell +16
Chris Dent bt Jim Potter +17
Jenny Williams bt Paul Heath +26TP
Peter Taylor bt Mike Sandler +17

Round 3

Ailsa Lines bt Dave Maugham +17
Richard White bt Dave Nicholson +25TP
Chris Dent bt Ian Lines +3
Peter Taylor bt Jenny Williams +14

Semi-Finals

Richard White bt Ailsa Lines +26TP
Peter Taylor bt Chris Dent +4

Final

Peter Taylor bt Richard White +17, -2, +9

Consolation Event

The consolation event was a very flexible Swiss, won by David Maugham with 7/8 wins. Results, in order of play:

Chris Van Essen bt Paul Heath +10
Steve Woolnough bt Mike Sandler +4
Dave Nicholson bt Peter Taylor +9
Jenny Williams bt John Moore +7
Peter McDermott bt Keith Roberts +5
Richard White bt Chris Dent +19
John Moore bt Paul Heath +25
Ian Lines bt Chris Van Essen +16
David Maugham bt Gordon Hopewell +13
Dean Bennison bt Peter Wardle +7
Mike Sandler bt Dave Nicholson +12
Ailsa Lines bt Steve Woolnough +22
Dave Maugham bt John Moore +26TP
Gordon Hopewell bt Paul Heath +26TP
Chris Van Essen bt Jim Potter +2
Peter McDermott bt Mike Sandler +12
John Moore bt Keith Roberts +10
David Maugham bt Alan Pidcock +13
Jenny Williams bt Steve Woolnough +11
John Moore bt Dean Bennison +3
Peter Wardle bt Steve Woolnough +6
Alan Pidcock bt Gordon Hopewell +10
Peter McDermott bt Ian Lines +12
Jim Potter bt Mike Sandler +11
Dave Nicholson bt Chris Van Essen +1
Dave Maugham bt Jenny Williams +17
Paul Heath bt Keith Roberts +23
Dave Maugham bt Paul Heath +17TP
Dave Nicholson bt Jenny Williams +15
Ian Lines bt John Moore +21TP
Steve Woolnough bt Dean Bennison +14
Chris Dent bt Ailsa Lines +16
Keith Roberts bt Mike Sandler +4
Dave Maugham bt Dave Nicholson +26SXP
Paul Heath bt Peter Wardle +8
Chris Dent bt John Moore +16TP
Dave Nicholson bt Ian Lines +20
Ailsa Lines bt Jenny Williams +17