Jack Pye (pictured) of Wymondham is Norfolk’s only competitor in the SMPT Norwegian Open in Skien Fritidspark this weekend. He has been drawn in Group 2 and will face Paul Seaman of England at 9am on Saturday morning in his opening game. He then has an 11.30am date with Norway’s Lisa Kristin Frantzen before playing Sweden’s Bente Dahlgren at 2pm. Pye will complete his day’s games against David Ryste of Norway at 4.30pm. His final group game is scheduled for 9am on Sunday morning against Norway’s Sten Jensen and if the group’s results go by the formbook Jack Pye will secure a top two place in his group and qualify for the knockout rounds. Defending champion Stephen Proctor of England opens his campaign at 9.30am on Saturday morning against Norway’s Leif Ramstad. But his bigger concerns in Group 12 are likely to be Belgium’s Jonathan Payne and Ireland’s Pauline Beattie who are both contenders. Others in Proctor’s group are Jerry Nilsson of Sweden and Freddy Forland of Norway. That old Northants warrior Chris Hopkins is in Group 20 where Ireland’s Nathan Haire & Andrew Cockcroft will be eager to deny the 2014 ESMBA Four’s Champion a top two finish. Group 1 looks likely to provide a dogfight between Glenn Harvey of Ireland, Mitchell Young of England and Tommy Dahlgren of Sweden. Other Irish stars to watch are P.J Gallagher in Group 21, Joseph Beattie in Group 19 and Mark Beattie in Group 9. James Trott & Edward Sawbridge of England are also expected to do well as will Sweden’s Jonas Hagar.
