McGrath Bounces Back to Claim Open Two Glory in Leicestershire

The UK Cornhole League’s fourth season rolled into the historic Ashby School in Leicestershire on Saturday, October 11th, where London’s Liam McGrath produced a statement performance to take victory at the second Open of the campaign. After a narrow defeat in the final at the season opener, McGrath arrived with a point to prove and he delivered emphatically.

With 56 entrants and ten lanes in play, the stage was set for a long and competitive day. The opening qualifying rounds began promptly at 9:30 a.m., with every point proving crucial in determining which players would advance to the elite Tier 1 bracket. The final spots were fiercely contested, with a single game point separating Solent’s Dave Morey from Snipers’ Lewis Wildman for the final Tier 1 place, evidence of just how tight the field has become this season.

By the close of qualifying, just four players—Jon Stynes (Featherstone), Charlie Lomax (Ashby), Liam McGrath (Wandsworth), and Danny Goodier (Manchester) had managed to go unbeaten at 4-0, securing favourable draws for the knockout stage.

From there, McGrath was relentless. He powered through the bracket undefeated, booking his place in the “King’s Seat” playoff while the rest of the field battled it out for the right to challenge him. The Quarter-finals featured a lineup with two Bury Baggers and two Ashby Baggers. In the end, Ashby’s Charlie Lomax advanced after defeating teammate Nick Pettitt and then toppling Bury’s Joshua Hiser, setting up a mouthwatering semi-final showdown against Alex Bowers.

Lomax dominated his semi-final against Bury’s the Bury Bagger 21-3, leaving Bowers to settle for a commendable third-place finish.

The final, however, was far from straightforward. With McGrath yet to lose in bracket play, Lomax faced the daunting task of needing to win twice in a “double dip” situation. In the first game,  Lomax stormed to a 13-3 lead after ten rounds, and despite McGrath’s trademark grit bringing the score level at 18-18, then taking the lead to a tantalising 20-18 but the Ashby man snatched the three points needed in the following round to win 21-20 and force a decisive second game.

Fatigue would prove decisive. McGrath, having played just five games en route to the final and enjoying a lengthy rest, looked sharp and composed. Lomax, by contrast, had been on court for eight consecutive matches. The difference showed as McGrath took control early and never looked back, sealing the title with a 21-7 victory.

It was a champions performance from McGrath, who now reclaims the top spot in the Season 4 Championship standings after adding maximum points to his runner-up finish in the London season opener.

Lomax’s performance, meanwhile, underlined his rise as one of the league’s most consistent threats. With form and confidence on his side, few would bet against him lifting a winner’s trophy before the season is out.

Final Tier 1 Standings:

Winner: Liam McGrath

Runner-Up: Charlie Lomax

Third Place: Alex Bowers

Fourth Place: Joshua Hiser

Joint Fifth: Jonathan Chivers & Nick Pettitt

McGrath’s victory at Ashby reaffirms his status as the man to beat in British cornhole—but with challengers like Lomax closing in, the race for the Season 4 crown is far from over.

Allen Triumphs in All-Ashby Tier Two Showdown

If anyone still believes Tier Two in the UK Cornhole League lacks intensity, the action at Ashby School on Saturday will have changed their minds. The so-called “second tier” produced drama, precision, and passion in equal measure, with every player battling not just for pride, but for crucial league points and the chance to push toward the top echelon of competition.

Two players quickly set the tone for the day. Local favourite Adam Knight and Canadian-born, UK-based Adam Fisher-Titus both tore through the field to reach the coveted “King’s Seat” match. Their clash was a nail-biter from start to finish, going the full 15 rounds before Knight edged out Fisher-Titus 21–19 to claim the upper-hand position in the double-elimination bracket.

Elsewhere, the losers’ bracket was equally fierce. Having suffered earlier losses, Tom Allen and Lewis Wildman found themselves taking the long way round for a shot at glory. The battle between the two was a hard-fought affair, but it was Allen who emerged victorious, booking a semi-final spot against Fisher-Titus while Wildman had to settle for a respectable fourth-place finish.

In the semi-final, Allen wasted no time asserting his dominance. Although Fisher-Titus turned the tide to take the lead by the eighth round, Allen responded with authority, closing out a commanding 21–9 win to secure his place in the final against club mate Knight. For Fisher-Titus, it was still a day to remember, his performance earning him a well-deserved first UK podium finish in third.

The final was an all-Ashby showdown, with Knight entering undefeated and Allen needing back-to-back wins to steal the title. Game one saw Allen hit top form, coming back from an early deficit to a commanding 21–7 victory and forcing the decisive second game.

In the final decider, Knight looked poised to close the deal, holding a 17–10 lead after a steady display. But Allen wasn’t done. Two powerful late rounds turned the tide completely as he stormed back to take the win 21–17 after 16 rounds, holding his nerve to seal victory and steal the Tier Two crown and his first title victory in the UK league.

It was a fitting finish to a day that showcased the depth of talent within the UKCL ranks.

Final Tier 2 Standings:

Winner: Tom Allen

Runner-Up: Adam Knight

Third Place: Adam Fisher-Titus

Fourth Place: Lewis Wildman

Joint Fifth: Lorraine Gedney & Micah Davis

Allen’s victory not only delivered local glory for Ashby but also underlined that in Tier Two, the standard is anything but second-best.

It wasn’t just the main event that delivered standout performances at Ashby School on Saturday, several competitors made their mark in the women’s and junior categories, proving once again that the depth of talent across the UK Cornhole League continues to grow.

In the women’s division, Lincoln’s Vikki Biddulph continued her impressive run of form, securing back-to-back Tier 1 appearances—a feat that highlights her growing consistency at the top level. She was followed by Solent’s Lorraine Gedney, who celebrated her best finish to date, and Ashby’s Pauline Pettitt, who rounded out the trio of top-performing ladies on the day.

Among the juniors, competition was equally fierce. The highest-ranked Juniors in the main draw were Ashby’s Austin Pettitt and Solent’s Keiran Gedney, who finished tied for top spot after battling against seasoned adult opponents throughout the day. They were closely followed by a three-way tie between Lily Farmer (Solent), Cooper Davis (Bury), and Charlotte Coates (Whitley Bay), all of whom impressed with their growing skills on the boards.

With the younger players spending most of the event competing against experienced adults, including some of the UK’s best, which is a challenging but invaluable learning experience and special mention goes out to Chris and Charlotte Coates of the Whitley Bay Ducks, who organised an all-Juniors competition, exclusively for the sport’s next generation. Austin Pettitt claimed victory ahead of Cooper Davis in second, followed by Keiran Gedney, Lily Farmer and Charlotte Coates and a shout out to Sebastian, Logan and Charlie for having a throw too.

The Future is Bright - Great shooting kids..... keep it up!

Our next event takes place on November 15th when we will return to the Ashby Leisure Centre. Keep an eye on our social media for updates but you can find out all the details  via the Season 4 Events web page or just click HERE to register.

We look forward to seeing you there.

In the meantime take in all the action from court 1.