A HIGH-QUALITY field headed by world number two Robert Paxton (Taunton) has been assembled to contest this weekend’s annual Westlecot Indoor Open Singles Tournament, returned to a 64-player format.

The Open Singles will be held at the Old Town Club on both Saturday and Sunday and carries a top prize of £1,000 for the winner and £500 to the runner-up in a prize pot of over £2,200.

This year’s tournament has attracted world ranked players Paxton, world number 14 Mark Royal (Mid-Suffolk) and number 20, Danny Denison (Torquay United). That is not to overlook the remaining high-quality field, including several England internationals.

Amongst those entrants are are a number of past Westlecot Open winners Denison, Royal and 2012 winner Brian Lees (Welford-on-Avon) plus Boston 2013/14 Grand Prix winner Shaun Jones (Malvern Hills) who beat Neil Smith (Westlecot) in an epic final that went to a last end tie breaker.

“It is a very good field again for our annual Open Singles Tournament,” said Westlecot indoor chairman Jeff Nichols.

“The club are looking forward to hosting this prestigious event once and would like to thank all of the firms who are supporting the Westlecot Open Tournament as without them it would not be possible to hold such a prestigious event,” he added.

Besides the visiting players a number of local players are also competing in the Westlecot tournament including Smith, Ian Jefferies, Dave Snell, Mike Titcombe, Kyle and John Anderson and Gary Jackson, while Denis Holborow has drawn the short straw and faces Paxton on Saturday evening.

The 64 players taking part are divided into two groups A and B with games in each played down to a last four. The eight remaining players on Sunday then go into an open draw for the quarter and semi-finals.

All matches are played are the best of two sets of seven ends with a best of three ends tie breaker if necessary to decide the winner.

Play starts at 8.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday with the final scheduled for 6.15pm on Sunday.

Full details of the Westlecot Open Singles draw can be viewed on the planetbowls.com website.

Spectators are welcome and admission is free on both days of the tournament with full bar and catering facilities available.

Westlecot Open Draw
Saturday, December 13
Section A Round 1: Neil Brereton v Keith Bailey; Mike Prosser v Andy Moore; Dan Holmes v Michael Birch; Ian Jeferries v Thelma Bailey; Kyle Anderson v Paul Sharman; Bill McJack v Vince Wilks; Leigh Prince v Tony Kirby; Neil Smith v Barry Williams; Shaun Jones v Tony Parsons; Norman Coad v Brian Hawkins; Tony Marshment v Mike Titcombe; Mark Jones v B J Byles; Gary Jackson v Tom Bishop; Andy Colebrooke v Simon Davies; Dave Snell v Peter Morgan; Arthur Thompson v Steve Broome.
Round 2: Four rinks. 
Round 3: Four rinks.
Four winners through to quarter final at 2.45pm Sunday.
Section B
Round 1: Gary Fountain v Martin Shepherd; Danny Denison v Stephen Johnson; Matt Hyde v Sam Watts; Steve Remington v Ian Honnor. Four winners play again at 8.30pm.
Late session:  Alex Jacobs v James Birch; Mark Royal v Paul Pope; Rob Paxton v Denis Holborow; Ian Jenkins v Barry Barry
Section B Round 2: Four rinks.
Four winners through to quarter final at 2.45pm Sunday.
Saturday, December 14
Section C Round 1: Russell Francis v Chris Wilkins; Ryan Atkins v Scott Edwards; James Bruder v Chris Brereton; Dave Matthews v Rob Palser; Steve Roberts v Phil Carpenter; John Anderson v Mark Atkins; John Thomas v Ben Paulley; James Shillingford v Tommy Nutt.
Round 2: Four rinks between 8 winners from Sunday sessions. 
Round 3: 1pm
Quarter finals: 2.45pm
Semi finals: 4.30pm
Final: 6.15pm