Alan Spicer and Brian McGivern spent the weekend competing in the Short Mat Players Tour (SMPT) UK Open at Chelmsford.

With an entry of 186 singles bowlers from 12 different countries a lot rides on the draw and Alan got a horrible one.  In a group of five including three players in the World top 100, he was never overwhelmed losing three group games by narrow margins and drawing his final game.  Alan progressed to the last 32 of the Shield Knockout, losing in a last end decider.

The fixtures computer (well at least the organisers who draw the numbers out of a bag) was kinder to Brian who was matched against three other debutants to SMPT singles including a player from the United Arab Emirates.  Brian was the best of the first timers winning 3 games and losing narrowly (11-9 both times) to the ranked players in his group.  His best result came in the Plate Knockout First Round before he was brought back to earth in the Second Round.