BARRY Jenkins was a surprise but worthy winner of the ninth annual Westlecot Open Singles tournament staged at the Old Town indoor club last weekend.

The Egham (Surrey) player, a regular on the Open Singles Circuit beat Kingsthorpe IBC (Northampton) player and 2018 world championship outdoor bronze medallist Jamie Walker in the final.

Jenkins lost the first set 7-2, but bounced back to take the second 7-4 and then the tie-break 2-0 to lift the title for a first time and pocket the £1,000 top prize.

Walker had the consolation of collecting the runners-up prize of £500.

Westlecot’s annual Open Singles event, their ninth, was again sponsored by local firms Only Bungalows and Hillier Funeral Services.

It carried a total prize pot of £2,400 and was event number eight out of 28 on this season’s Potters Leisure Resort-supported nationwide Open Singles Circuit.

The victorious Jenkins began with a big scalp by beating world number Les Gillett (Melton, Leics) in a tight game decided by a tie-break (4-5, 7-3, 2-1), and beat home player Ian Farragher in round two (6-5, 8-2).

Jenkins collected another big name in round three, Malvern Hills’ England international Shaun Jones (6-4, 7-3).

In the quarter-finals, Jenkins beat Salisbury’s Tom Warner (Five Rivers, Salisbury) 10-2, 8-3, but in the semi-final and final was taken to tie-breakers again.

In the semis, he eliminated Egham club-mate Steve Tuohy (5-4, 4-8, 2-0) before defeating favourite Walker in the final.

Walker had began his own campaign in style, eliminating world number seven Jamie Chestney (Exonia, Devon) in round one (11-2, 6-8, 2-1).

Walker then had an easy passage to the final as in round two, he thrashed Kylie Hampton (Egham) 10-1, 7-0, and followed it with another straight sets win over Wayne Snook (Clarrie Dunbar).

North Wilts player Rich Ellis then felt the full power of Walker’s game, losing 11-1, 11-1 in the quarter-finals, while England international Andy Knapper fared little better, losing 7-2, 6-5 in the semis.

Practically all of the local players in action went out in the opening two rounds.

Westlecot’s Kyle Anderson was the highest placed local before losing in the quarter-finals.

Tournament director Neil Smith said: “The weekend was a huge success and ran well.

"There were some cracking games for the spectators to watch as well as top quality bowling.

“We would obviously like to thank our sponsors Hillier Funeral Services and Only Bungalows for their support or else we could not have staged such a prestigious tournament and attracted a top class field with four of the top players in the world taking part.

“Thanks is due as well to all of the organising committee for all their hard work and of course the umpires and markers.”