SUSSEX OPEN
VII SUSSEX OPEN
VII
Sunday 4th June
2000
Peter Farrelly retains the title he won 12 months ago!
The
Pepsi Sussex Open was again played at the Inland
Revenue Club, in Worthing. Once again a strong field of 90 (including 9 from
Jersey) turned up to do battle.
Round
1. Top match (on paper) was probably that between Steve
Mariner and Gary Johnson, both past Open winners. Gary came out on top knocking
in a 17K break, which Steve couldn’t match. Ernie Jordan also stuck in a 16K
break to set an early target for the high break. The one big shock was Paul
Sainsbury going out to Tom Ellis-Rees.
Round
2. The match to watch was Keith Sheard v Kevin Clark.
Keith running out leg 1 with 17K. Kevin started well, but trying to pinch a 100
hole on the split, only managed to remove the right-hand pin and gift Keith the
break back. Kevin Tunstall was starting to play well, having a much easier win
over Gareth Lloyd then he could have expected. Sue Mariner was close to going
through against Paul Barnett. She knocked in an 8,310 break (which proved to be
the best for a lady on the day), to lead by 9K after leg 1. Paul wasn’t about
to give in though, and a gutsy 10K saw him through.
Round
3. Keith Sheard marched on with a big win over Barry
Holt. Alison Shilling was having a good day, at the expense of Alan Duffell. A
Sussex name from days gone by, Dave France, was an unlikely winner over England
player, Mark Brewster. Stu Mepham was ‘cock-a-hoop’ after seeing off Jim
Millward. Les Green and Peter Farrelly were now on a collision course after big
victories. Roger Taylor put up the highest break by a Sussex player with 15K.
Round
4. Keith Sheard finally allowed Alison Shilling
(furthest lady) the chance to concentrate on the drinking rather then the
playing. Nigel Senior and Graham Bisson were quietly going about their business.
Paul Barnett was up against it playing Phil Hawkins, but came through showing
some true bottle. Les Green narrowly beat Mark Turner.
Q-Finals.
Not many people had their money on Nigel Senior beating Keith Sheard. Even less
were betting on him when Keith went 15K up, but Nigel came through with a
faultless 16,850 break. The current Brighton singles champion, he’s one to
watch. Paul Wing has had some rough times against Jersey players and this was no
exception, as Greham Bisson plugged on. Paul Barnett finally succumbed to Kevin
Tunstall. Perer Farrelly, not to be out-done by Nigel Senior’s audience
grabbing win over Keith Sheard, sent Les Green home with a last ball down the
100-hole for victory.
Semi
Finals. It was last years final all over again,
Kevin against Peter. Facing a target of 16K Peter came to the table for leg 2
seemingly unconcerned, and bravely put away a 17K reply. Nigel’s fun and games
were finally over, losing 4K early in leg 1, he returned to the table in leg 2
finding himself 13K down with 10 minutes left, that wasn't going to be long
enough. Remarkable as it may seem, Graham Bisson from Jersey, a virgin to this
tournament, was in the
final.
The
Final itself was a low key affair, Graham
seemed happy with his achievements (as he should, finalist, furthest Jersey and
senior player), the table was on the slow side and not to his liking. Peter
however was not going to let the title slip through his hands, and two breaks of
5K and 6K were enough to secure his second Sussex Open title...
The
Plate was won by Steve Mariner, beating Geoff
Jukes.
Ruffian
of the weekend: well who else, Les ‘the vandal’
Green, for breaking the table…
Quote
of the weekend: goes to Tony Lewis. Steve Mariner noting
the big names taking part in the up coming series, i.e. Paul Sainsbury, Kevin
Tunstall, Keith Sheard, Kevin Clark, Steve & Sue Mariner, Jim Millward
etc… Tony replied, “yeh, Charlie Guildersleve, that’s a big name!!!”