Bretel finally opens his account

PETER BRETEL has claimed his first open tournament. The Island Games bronze medallist, for all his promise and some fine performances in a Guernsey shirt, had yet to record a top-level tournament victory, mainly due to the presence of Phil Ogier and Mark Pipet.

But at the annual Spot for Sport open tournament at the Guernsey indoor bowling centre and against a healthy entry which included several of the island's promising juniors, Bretel broke his duck.

Ogier and Pipet were competing, but the latter lost in the quarter-finals, in the shock of the evening, to Kay Chivers, who continued her recent impressive form by beating him in five sets 4-11, 11-9, 12-10, 4-11, 11-9.

Ogier had looked in good form earlier in the tournament, winning a potentially tough quarter-final against Martin Sarre 11-6, 11-4, 11-5.

In the semi-final he came up against Bretel.

The latter won the first two games 11-5, 11-6, but when Ogier held on to pinch the third 13-11, the spectators were expecting another dramatic Ogier comeback.

When he dominated the fourth leg, winning 11-4, it was thought that he would take his place in the final.

Bretel had other ideas and in a gripping final leg, he displayed excellent calm and determination to play his shots, elements that saw him home 11-9.

The other semi saw Chivers up against Pipet's teammate Phil Hunkin.

The latter won the first leg 11-5, the second went to Chivers, also 11-5, and when Chivers took the lead in the third set, a shock repeat was on the cards.

Hunkin remained calm and held on to pinch the third 11-8 and played out the fourth 11-7 to take his place against Bretel in the final.

The latter, full of confidence, was not really tested by his opponent.

The former produced a fine all-round attacking display and outgunned a subdued Hunkin 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 with something to spare.