ANDY Colebrooke went agonisingly close to winning a second Clarrie Dunbar Open Singles title in three seasons last weekend, writes DAVE EATON.

The host’s club’s star performer was narrowly beaten in the final by Exonia (Devon) player Jamie Chestney, an England international, who recently competed in the men’s world indoor singles championship at Potters in Norfolk1, 5-0.5 (7-6, 5-5).

Colebrooke twice saw his hopes thwarted by Chestney on the last end in both the first and second set despite going into those last ends leading on both occasions.

On the seventh and last end of the first set, Chestney came from 6-4 down picking up a three with three bowls within six inches of the jack to take the set from Colebrooke’s grasp.

Then on the last end of the second set Colebrooke again led, this time 5-4, but Chestney played a bowl to perfection delicately drawing the jack off for shot to tie the set 5-5 and take the title.

Colebrooke had the consolation of taking the runners-up cheque for £500 while Chestney pocketed the first prize of £1,000.

“Obviously I am disappointed to have lost but it was a great final,” said Colebrooke after having time to reflect on his weekend fortunes.

“It was the last bowl in both sets pipped me which I couldn't reply to so I can't do more than that.

“If you make a world class opponent have to bowl that well to beat you you know you're doing something right,” he added.

Colebrooke opened with a 1.5-0.5 victory over Steve Remington (Westlecot) 6-4 and 7-7 and then defeated Tom Warner (Five Rivers, Salisbury) convincingly 2-0 (11-5, 7-3).

In round three he gained a 1.5-0.5 victory over Christie Miller’s Andy Moore winning the first set 9-5 and drawing the second 4-4.

In the quarter and semi-finals Colebrooke recorded 2-0 wins over Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) 8-1, 7-5 and Dale Taylor (Clarrie Dunbar) 6-2, 7-0 respectively.

Chestney beat local Andy Taylor 2-0 (7-1, 7-3) then Sean Gingell (Egham) 2-0 (8-3, 7-3), winner of the recent Loddon Vale (Basingstoke) OSC open singles tournament.

In round three he needed a tie-breaker and come from behind to shake-off Billy MacJack (Palmerston, Fareham) 2-1 (4-8, 8-2, 2-0), but then recorded 2-0 quarter-final and semi-final wins over Steve Broome (Bromsgrove, Worcs) 10-3, 9-2 and Michael Knight (Whiteknights, Reading) 8-3, 7-2 respectively.

Besides the exploits of Colebrooke, local player Dale Taylor played well to reach the semi-finals while Dunbar veteran John Freeman reached the quarter-finals and Christie Miller’s Andy Moore round three.

Chestney’s win and Colebrooke’s second spot lift both players up in the OSC rankings to 34th and 38th respectively.

If both stay in the top 48 they will qualify to play in the Grand Final tournament for the overall Open Singles Circuit title later this year in October in Northampton.

"The Open weekend (the third) was a great success with players travelling from all over the country to play,” said club manager Brian Hawkins.

“It was a fantastic weekend with great atmosphere and extremely well supported again and we had a top-class final between Jamie Chestney and our own Andy Colebrooke to cap a great weekend “I would also like to say a big thanks to all the markers, helpers, spectators and of course umpires who made the tournament run smoothly.”

RESULTS

Last 16: John Freeman (Clarrie Dunbar) beat Graham Shadwell (CD) 2-1 (2-10, 7-5, 2-0); Dale Taylor (CD) beat Craig Hadfield-Doughty 2-0 (5-4, 8-4); Steve Broome (Bromsgrove) beat Russell Francis (CD) 2-0 (8-5, 7-5); Michael Knight (Whiteknights, Reading) beat Pete Bryan (Welford-on-Avon) 2-1 (6-5, 4-7, 2-0); Mike Titcombe (Westlecot) beat Paul Reynolds (Herga, Harrow, Middx) 2-1 (8-1, 4-9, 2-1); Andy Colebrooke (CD) beat Andy Moore (Christie Miller) 1.5-0.5 (9-5, 4-4); Jamie Chestney (Exonia, Exeter) beat Bill MacJack (Palmerston, Fareham, Hants) 2-1 (4-8, 8-2, 2-0); Steve Tuohy (Egham, Surrey) beat Shaun Jones (Malvern Hills, Worcs) 2-0 (5-2, 6-2).

Quarter-finals: Knight bt Tuohy 2-0 (9-4, 7-6); Chestney bt Broome 2-0 (10-3, 9-2); Colebrooke bt Titcombe 2-0 (8-1, 7-5); Taylor bt Freeman 1.5-0.5 (8-4, 6-6).

Semi-finals: Chestney bt Knight 2-0 (8-3, 7-2); Colebooke bt Taylor 2-0 (6-2, 7-0).

FINAL: Jamie Chestney bt Andy Colebrooke 1.5-0.5 (7-5, 5-5).