Team exceeds expectation

Harry's pool team, of Queenstown,  (from left) Andy Campbell, Simon Singleton, Ciaran Hayes and...
Harry's pool team, of Queenstown, (from left) Andy Campbell, Simon Singleton, Ciaran Hayes and Daniel Orlowski, represented Queenstown in Auckland at the New Zealand Pool open. Photo by Olivia Caldwell.
Harry's Pool Team, of Queenstown, reached the doubles semifinals and singles final at the New Zealand Open Pool Championships last weekend.

The team of four, Andy Campbell, Ciaran Hayes, Simon Singleton and Daniel Orlowski, entered the Auckland tournament for the first time and exceeded even their own expectations.

Singleton was the pick of the Queenstown bunch, as he went all the way to the final when he and 80 other competitors completed 14 hours of pool on Sunday.

After losing his first two games, the full-time ski technician won 10 of his 14 matches, and reached the semifinal to play Glen Coutts, who is regarded as New Zealand's No 1.

Singleton won 3-2, and was matched against English international, Baydon Jackson for the title, losing 4-3.

"It was quite tense. We both had our fan clubs cheering us on, we both played really well and he just edged it."

"Overall I am extremely happy and proud of all the boys. I didn't really know what to expect going up there. The standard was very high."

Singleton's efforts won him a prize total of $1200 and a trophy to take home.

"Although I got to the final, I couldn't help being really disappointed at not winning it.

"I had my chances and didn't take them. I made two mistakes in the match and got punished, as you would expect at the level of competition."

He and pool partner Campbell also outdid themselves in the doubles tournament, played the day before with 47 other pairings.

The two Queenstown men lost 4-1 in the semifinal, while Hayes and Orlowski were beaten in the last 16, 4-1.

The four men hope to enter the tournament again now they know what to expect.

"There were so many positives to take from the weekend," Singleton said.

The four will compete at the 2012 New Zealand national pool championships, in Christchurch in October.

 

 

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