BRIGHTON FINALS NIGHT @ ROMANS, 25th April 2007

MENS SINGLES : CHRIS TUPPER (DYKE) v KEVIN TUNSTALL (THREE HORSESHOES) 10pm, Table 1

Kevin Tunstall won the Brighton Singles at his first attempt by beating 1992 champ Chris Tupper. The first leg was a run out by Kevin for just over 16k. Chris stepped up in leg 2 and made a solid 6,500 before leaving both balls up on the split. However, it was not to be enough for Chris who watched Kevin knock a winning 8k break after a successful second attempt to get the balls back.

LADIES SINGLES : GINA SHERRATT (WINDMILL) V KIM HURLEY (ROMANS) 10pm, Table 2

Gina won her 5th ladies title to add to wins in 1973, 1975, 1980 & 2004. Gina beat Kim Hurley, who was making her debut in a final. The games were a bit scrappy as the scores would suggest, but Gina won't mind, and is a fully deserving champion after beating Jean Over and Bella Stoner on the way to the title.

MENS PLATE : KEVIN SIMMONS (DYKE) V MARC CHIPMAN (BREWERY TAP) 9pm, Table 2

Marc Chipman adds his second plate to the one he won in 2003. In the closest final of the evening (and the only one to go to three legs), Kev Simmons went a leg up even though he only started with 450. Marc then made it one apiece with a nice 4k break at the end of the second leg. Kevin Simmons went first in the decider and again only went off with 450, Marc responded with around 3k, but didn't score much more in the rest of the game as Kev tried to close the gap. Kev had two more goes at the break, but a missed straight pot on the 50 hole effectively ended his hopes of his second plate win.

LOWER DIVISION SINGLES : GARY MECHAN (MONTREAL) V ROY CHUTER (DUKE OF WELLINGTON) 8pm, Table 2

Young Gary, from the Montreal, admitted to having the shakes for his first Brighton final, and it was the experience of Roy Chuter, landlord of the Duke of Wellington, which won through easier than he could have expected. The first game should have been a lot closer but Gary missed a ball over the 50 pocket to lose a 2k break. Roy built a steady lead in leg 2, and the game was effectively over as a contest when Gary had a black peg near the end of the leg.

OPEN DOUBLES : DAVE REEVES & CHRIS REEVES (DYKE/B TAP) v JEAN OVER & BELLA STONER (ALBION) 9pm, Table 3

In repeat of last years final, Chris and Dave were happy to replicate last years result. I think it is fair to say Chris did most of the work, as although he opened with only 2k in leg 1, he followed it with 7k to make the score 1-0. Jean looked to kick off with a big score in leg 2, as she did last year, and looked odds on to do so, getting to 5,500 with ease. However, one mistake let Chris in for a 9k match winning break. This is father & son's 3rd title in just 4 years.

MIXED DOUBLES : TERRY MOLLOY & BELLA STONER (ALBION) V GLENN CHUBB & CAROLINE RETFALVI (DYKE/ALBION) 8pm, Table 1

Terry & Bella were yet again unable to clinch this title together. They have now lost SIX out of the last NINE finals. Glenn & Caroline will not be feeling sorry for the Albion pair, in what Glenn insists will be his last Brighton competition, they clinched their first mixed doubles crown.

LANDLORDS : GARETH CORNFIELD (WINDMILL) V ROY CHUTER (DUKE OF WELLINGTON) 9pm, Table 1

Gareth failed to score his hat-trick of titles, after winning the last 2 in 2005 & 2006. Roy was the victor, and added the landlords title to the lower division one that he had won barely 20 minutes before the start of this final. He looked exhausted by his efforts at the end, maybe due to winning the first leg by just 110. Once a leg up though, he dominated the second to win 2-0.

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