Pitschou and Merrien regain their island titles

GARY PITSCHOU overcame triple disappointment to win the Elliott Singles crown on Sunday. It was the fourth time in five years that Pitschou has been crowned island men's champion and he achieved this particular success with a convincing 21-10 final victory over Matt Le Ber.

The winner never trailed throughout the match and a run of 12 unanswered shots over seven ends established a 16-4 lead from which it proved too much for Le Ber to recover.

However, his Elliott victory was the only one in four finals for Pitschou at Beau Sejour over the weekend.

Le Ber beat him in their other individual encounter for the Press Singles title and when the pair of them joined forces along with Matt's father Len and Garry Collins in the Sandeman Fours, they lost 20-10 to Kneebenders - Geoff Savident, Phil Schofield, Paul Sargeant and Ricky Brehaut.

The same Kneebenders team minus Schofield also triumphed over Pitschou, Len Le Ber and Dave Lucas in the Tostevin Triples decider.

Brehaut, who enjoyed an exceptional weekend, made it three from three by winning the Nicolle Mixed Pairs with wife Anna.

Meanwhile, Ali Merrien regained the island women's title as she overcame Ann Simon in the De Putron Singles final.

The Commonwealth Games star had raced into an early 10-1 lead but Simon battled on bravely and managed to reduce the deficit to two shots at 16-14 after 16 ends.

However, Merrien responded and picked up the necessary five shots for victory over the next two ends.

'Fiji here I come,' said Merrien in reaction to gaining a spot at next year's World Champion of Champions event to be held on the Pacific island.