Hunkin shocks Ogier

PHIL OGIER'S long run as island men's singles champion has come to an end. Ogier, the top seed and champion for the last five seasons, lost in the deciding seventh set to Phil Hunkin, who described his form coming into the championships as 'very poor'.

And to cap an evening of shocks, Mark Pipet, the former title-holder and runner-up in the last five years, crashed out at the semi-final stage to an inspired Peter Bretel.

Tomorrow's historic first championship finals night at the Guernsey Bowls Stadium will be the first in more than a decade not to feature either Ogier or Pipet in the blue-riband main event.

Ogier, now 30, won the first two sets of the semi-final, but ultimately lost in the deciding seventh 9-11.

He had no complaints.

'Phil was playing particularly well. He hadn't played well all week, but for this one he was well tuned in. His tactics were good and he was very consistent,' said the finalist for the past decade.

'I've had a poor season and didn't come into the tournament with a lot of confidence,' admitted the defeated champion.

'I don't know where that came from,' said Hunkin, champion as long ago as 1990 when he beat Pipet in the final.

'I've had a poor second half of the season,' added the fifth seed.

Pipet was stunned by the performance of Bretel, the third seed.

'I couldn't cope with his speed; his raw speed was catching me out,' said Pipet, the veteran and many people's favourite.

Kay Chivers and Dawn Morgan will again contest the women's singles showdown, while the likes of Scott Romeril will be particularly busy, having reached several finals.

GTTA president Derek Webb is delighted so many entered the nine-day event.

'We've topped the entries gain and we are 30 up on last year's record number.'