It's a beautiful sunny day for the Canberra Open Final. This is Alan Honey's first Canberra Open final, it is my (Tim Murphy) third.

Alan has won the toss. I have elected black & blue.

The crowd is getting restless as warm up has not started and its 5 minutes after schedule. Oh that's right there is no crowd, just Alan & I.

Alan Yellow & Red
Tim Black (K) & Blue

1. Y very short anti duffer.
2. K just south of C2.
3. R misses Y from A baulk.
4. B misses R from C3 into C4.
5. R attempts to rush Y to H1 but R climbs back of Y. Take off for behind B in C4 goes out.
6. B makes hoop 1 and reception ball in C2 :-) Plays several croquet shots that do not find their mark, fails to get in front of H2, wide join in C2.
7. R to C1.
8. B rolls to H2 off K, misses 2 yard hoop.
9. Y misses R.
10. B misses 10 yarder on K.
11. R is going around. Good control, now approaching 6.

Still waiting for a crowd :-)

12. Perfect diagonal spread. Just south of maximum distance.

R 4B
Y, B & K H1

13. K lifted from near West boundary to C3. Awful shot finishes 4 yards south of Y.
14. Y hits K, rough load to H2 but gets good rush on R to H1. Balls are in good position for on time triple.

Today's final in on Court 2 with Quadway hoops set in holes created on Thursday. The new hoop holes had some sting in them on Friday, Alan is coping with them easily today. That's a comment more on his play than the hoops or hoop holes.

14 cont'd. R jawed after H3. Poor hoop stroke at H4 runs the hoop but doesn't get desired backward rush.

14 cont'd. Y failed 3b.

No need for Super Advanced rules. A lot of interaction occurred.

Alan 26 beat Tim 7,

Alan leads 1 - 0 in Best of 3

Game 2

Alan R & Y
Tim B & K (Black)

1. K supershot. Mid way between H5 & Peg.
2. Y 2 yards south of peg, 4 yards west of East boundary.
3. From end of B baulk B misses Y to near C4.
4. From end of A baulk R softly and Y and hits. Has made H2 without touching B. 2-3 yards sideish approach to H3 is good. Gets rush to B. Now it should be an easy turn to 4b.

Time to sit and enjoy the sun. Maybe a couple of Zs.

Elizabeth Mountain has just arrived to start the crowd count. Another thing I've got wrong today, I had my money on Tony Hall starting the crowd :-)

4 cont'd. Another very good diagonal.
5. K lifted from near West boundary, Poor shot at R to near C4.
6. Y runs away from H1.

Game 2 got very scrappy.

Alan went to the peg early with other clip on H4. I think I was H1 & H6. Eventually I put a break together to peg Alan out. 1b & peg vs H4 and box.

I had a break to finish the game but missed hampered shot after penult. Alan hit but failed h5. I hit with peg ball and peg out. Alan hit to make 5 & 6. I finished two shot later.

1 all

Game 3 starting at 1:24pm.

During game 2 we reached a crowd high of 5 humans and 2 border collies.

Game 3

Alan R & Y
Tim B & K

1. Y anti duffer
2. K standard tice
3. R missed Y from A baulk
4. B from C1 misses K to outside C2.
5. R rushes Y to end of A baulk. Take off to B near C2. Take off to K at tice position. Don't think R got a rush. R runs long hoop 1, then long hoop 2 to have 3 ball break with Y near end of A baulk. Should be round to 4b.

5. cont'd. R failed H3 from I think from very close range.
6. K has easy tap on. Failed H1 from 9 inches.
7. Y has easy start with all 4 balls. Has made 4 and should make its way to 4b.

The wind is picking up enough to require a bit more care. Certainly picked up enough that I won't be riding home :-) Oh and the fact that I'm very tired.

We have erred on the side of caution and set a 4 hour clock. This coincides with sunset.

The crowd left at the end of game 2. Hope someone comes along! Alan is under control after 1b. Time for me to focus on the lift shot - I've all previous attempts so this one for sure.

7 cont'd. Y to 4b. Leave was a mix of DSL & OSL. K & B for the DSL. K 4 ft from peg, B west side of H1 to H2 line. R & Y yard balls east boundary near C4.
8. K to near end of A baulk missed B to near C2.
9. R gets going but goes out after 6 going yo K near C2.
10. K fails H1.
11. R hits 6 yarder, fails 1b.
12. K missed 6 yarder.
13. Y hits R.

Clips

R 1b
Y 4b
B & K 1.

13 cont'd Y has run 4b. Has a fair bit of work to do to create leave. Time to focus.

... more crap play by both.

Alan has hit 18-19 yarder with rover ball. Other clip for peg. This should be it for the match - but I have thought that before.

Alan finished off without drama.

Congratulations.

Alan Honey, Canberra Open Champion