Stuart M Smith retains the Dorset Open GC Championship

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Louise Smith (Plate) and Stuart M Smith (Main Event) with their prizes (Photo: Jonathan Powe)

Congratulations to Stuart M Smith from Budleigh, who won the Dorset Open GC Championship (20-21 Jul) at East Dorset for the second year running.

Stuart was certainly the best player throughout the event and thoroughly deserved the win. But it wasn't all plain sailing. Andy Loakes (Camerton & Peasedown) had beaten Stuart 7-4 in the block and performed well in his quarter- and semi-finals, so he came to the final with a degree of confidence. He gave Stuart an early scare, taking the first game 7-3 having jawsed a number of hoops, which tested Stuart's jumping abilities. But Stuart returned strongly in games 2 & 3 with some excellent clearances and long-range hoop running, which put Andy under considerable pressure.

Key results:

Plate Final: Louise Smith (Budleigh) beat Lynn Pearcy (Roehampton) 7-4, 7-1

QF1: Stuart M Smith beat Richard Gardiner (Dowlish Wake) 7-5, 7-2

QF2: Steve Leonard (East Dorset) beat David Goacher (Bristol) 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 (in 4.5 hours!)

QF3: Andy Loakes beat Andy Dochniak (East Dorset) 7-3, 6-7, 7-0

QF4: Martin French (Bude) beat Jeff Dawson (East Dorset) 4-7, 7-6, 7-6

5^th/6^th Playoff (Bowl Final): Jeff Dawson beat David Goacher 10-6

SF1: Stuart M Smith beat Steve Leonard 7-5, 4-7, 7-2

SF2: Andy Loakes beat Martin French 6-7, 7-5, 7-2

3^rd/4^th Playoff: Steve Leonard beat Martin French (w/o)

Championship Final: Stuart M Smith beat Andy Loakes 3-7, 7-3, 7-3

All the results can be seen here: https://croquetscores.com/2024/gc/dorset-open-championship-open-series