Sussex No.1 Ritchie Venner retained his Hollington Open title with an 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 final round victory over Paul Barry.

Barry, seven times champion of Hastings, created havoc on his way to the final. The No. 5 seed defeated Andy Walker in round two and Peter Bartram in the semi-finals.

In the other semi-final, Venner out-gunned Welsh player Neil Wright.

Rose Rainton lived up to her favourite billing with victory in the ladies' competition.

She defeated Sara Coggon (Hastings) 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-4 in the final.

Rainton stiffled a strong challenge from Teresa Bennett (Eastbourne) in the semi-finals, while Coggon eliminated Arundel hard-hitter Sarah Stedman.

Bartram and Walker gained some consolation by winning the men's doubles. The losing finalists were Wright and Chris Pickard, from Middlesex.

Plans to run a fifth Sussex veterans' team in the County Championships have been dropped because the county face a loss of around £1,000 this season. The veterans will continue to run four teams. The fourth team can compete in the over-60s event if they wish.