Crawley ace Ritchie Venner is a confident mood as he bids for his seventh title at the All-Sussex Championships at the Newman School, Hove, on Sunday.

After losing in the final of the Brighton Newman Two-star Grand Prix last week, Venner said; "I'm still going for Roger Chandler's record of ten Sussex crowns."

Venner is seeded to meet England No.1 veteran Nigel Eckersley (Uckfield), who is playing in the tournament for the first time since transferring his allegiance from Cheshire. The other two seeds are Andy Walker (No.3) and Crawley's Mayur Majithia (No. 4).

Four other players have been given positions in the draw away from the top four. They are Peter Bartram, Paul Elphick, Andy Meades and Barry Gilbert.

The women's singles is expected to be an easy run for Rose Rainton who is after her fourth title in the absence of England No.15 Sally Weston, away skiing.

Last Sunday, Venner was well beaten in the final by the former Lithuania champion Lorestes Trumpauskas, who triumphed 21-19, 21-15. Venner said: "He is an exceptionally strong player."

The women's singles final was an all-Sussex affair as Rose Rainton defeated Sheila King 21-17, 16-21, 21-12.

The biggest shock came when Worthing's Peter Bartram was eliminated in round two by David Wakefield (Kent) whose England ranking is 735, against Bartram at 81.

But Bartram hit back when he won the men's doubles with Trumpauskas 21-15, 27-25 against Venner and Paul Elphick, who earlier lifted the Band One trophy by stopping Sussex rival Bartram.

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