A NARROW miss, twice, at securing trips to play at tournaments in Europe was as good as it got for Stuart Kellett at the weekend.

The Northwich thrower came to within a win of sealing a spot at the International Open in September during a qualifier at Barnsley on Friday, but was edged out 6-2 by Darren Webster.

He saw off Rhys Jackson (6-1) and Robert Owen (6-3) to reach the second round.

Kellett fell at the final hurdle again when attention turned to the European Trophy later the same evening, when he was whitewashed by South African star Devon Peterson.

That followed a 6-4 win against Billy Holmes in his opener before he ended Jonny Clayton’s run.

The 34-year-old fared little better in two Players’ Championship events that followed at the same venue, exiting in the first round of both.

Mark Barilli, an opponent he has never beaten, sent him packing 6-1 on Saturday.

Kellett improved on Sunday though, taking 24th seed Brendan Dolan to a deciding leg.

However the Irishman avenged a defeat at a Players’ Championship at Crawley in May when he secured a slender 6-5 win.

Results

International Open

UK qualifier

Friday, July 1

Preliminary round: Stuart Kellett 6-1 Rhys Jackson

First round: Stuart Kellett 6-3 Robert Owen

Second round: Darren Webster 6-2 Stuart Kellett

European Trophy

UK qualifier

Preliminary round: Stuart Kellett 6-4 Billy Holmes

First round: Stuart Kellett 6-3 Jonny Clayton

Second round: Devon Peterson 6-0 Stuart Kellett

Players’ Championship 10

Saturday, July 2

First round: Mark Barilli 6-1 Stuart Kellett

Players’ Championship 11

Sunday, July 3

First round: Brendan Dolan 6-5 Stuart Kellett