IAN Jenkins, from Surrey club Egham, won the sixth annual North Wilts Open Singles tournament staged at the indoor club at Westcroft in Chippenham last weekend.

He came from a set down to defeat Swindon Westlecot’s Phil Gregory in the final, clinching the title on a third-end tie-breaker (5-7, 8-3, 2-1) to pocket the £1,000 prize.

The 100 ranking points gained saw Jenkins leap up the Open Singles Circuit (OSC) rankings to 11th and gives him every chance of finishing in the top 32 at the end of April to qualify for the 2019 Grand Final in late November.

Jenkins’ victory also saw him become the second player after Islwyn’s Martin Selway to complete a North Wilts Open double, having also won the title in 2015.

Jenkins had to battle hard for his success, being taken to tie-breakers in five of his six matches.

He opened his campaign by eliminating club colleague Steve Tuohy (5-6, 9-4, 2-1), then Westlecot’s Neil Smith in round two (5-4, 4-8, 2-1) and Andy McIntyre (7-3, 3-6, 2-0) in the last 16.

The quarter-finals saw Jenkins defeating Torquay United’s Danny Denison (4-4, 6-4).

In the semi-finals, Jenkins beat rankings leader Pat Briscoe (Betteshanger, Deal, Kent) in a tie-breaker (5-3, 6-9, 2-0) to book a place in the final.

Last year’s winner, Andy Moore, now representing North Wilts, saw his bid to retain the title ended when losing to Gregory in the semi-finals (8-3 and 7-4).

Moore went the furthest of local players in action, with Andy Bradfield the next best as he reached the last 16 before falling to Egham’s Sean Gingell (8-1, 6-4).

Tournament director Dave Williams said: “It was very successful, with lots of spectators on both days.

“There was some excellent bowling and we can confirm that we’re back next year for the seventh time on the OSC.

“We started with 72 players from all over the country and some of the higher ranked circuit leaders.

“It was an excellent performance from Ian Jenkins, who had several tough games but bowled extremely well over the two days to end up winning the final.”

Williams added: “A big thank you must go to our sponsors, Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, Bowlamania, Corsham Print, Beezer Electrical Services, FW Jones & Son and Martin Clark, who have all helped to boost our prize fund to £2,300, and of course to all the helpers, markers and umpires that helped to make it a successful weekend again.”

The OSC moves to Bristol this weekend for tournament number 22 out of 28 this season.