Enjoyable drive up to Canberra and only have to play 2 games on day 1. In the first game got all three peels done and then bombed 4back. Overall playing very well a little surprising given the lawns in Wagga.
Day 2. Won 3 games from 3 played today. Have attempted triples in 4 out of the 5 games and only lost control in one. Very close with a long peg out and attempted bombard. In between games had a bit of a wait and so took the opportunity to go to the National Gallery and have a look at the Canning Stock Route exhibition with Trish Devlin.
Day 3. Won 2 from 3 today losing to Ken Edwards after deciding to peg him off with him at 4back and me for 1 and peg. I ended up breaking down at hoop 3, Ken hitting the 15 yarder fair in the middle. The loss had no bearing on the outcome of the block which I won. Will be playing Ian Bassett in the quarter-final.
The first game against Ian was a very close encounter and had to hit across the lawn, time then called, and went on to make hoops and to eventually win 25-23 after 3 1/2 hours. I must have warn Ian out in the first game as I won the second game 26-0.
Playing against the Martyn Prins in the semi-final was able to get one peel done in the first game and three peels down in the second game, but failed a jump shot at Rover. Eventually won in two games. (Played the wrong ball at the end of the first game and then Martyn played the wrong ball at the beginning of the second so we had a good laugh – well I the last laugh)
An Australia Day final versus Ken Edwards in 37° heat. In the first game was peg & peg versus 1 & 4back and decided to keep a dolly rush on the lawn for the peg out. Ken hit and eventually got around to win 26-24. In games 2 & 3 I was hitting well and made less errors which made all the difference, winning 26 – 1 and 26 – 3 in a good tick over six hours.
Happy 2011 Canberra Open Winner
