Oxfordshire's hopes of success in the Speedy Hire UK Open were dashed at the first-round stage.

All four players, who had fought through the Rileys regional qualifying rounds, fell at the first hurdle at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

County player Jon Jukes, who won the Oxford round, went down 4-1 to Dave Prins, from County Durham.

Witney plasterer Ian Moss was up against Jamie Ellam, from Lincoln, and also found the going tough.

Moss, winner of the Reading qualifier, succumbed 4-2.

The two Banbury representatives, Stuart White and Martin Perring, also failed to make the second round.

White went down 4-2 to Devon Petersen, the 25-year-old South African champion.

Perring put up a brave battle against the experienced Steve Maish, from Southend.

Perring lost 4-3 to the 38-year-old Essex man, who went on to lose 9-6 to twice World Championship runner-up Ronnie Baxter in the second round.

In fact none of the players who knocked out their Oxfordshire opponents made it through to the next stage as the competition, which included such famous names at Phi Taylor and Ray van Barneveld.

Kirk Shepherd, who represents Oxfordshire, reached the fourth round before losing to Colin Osborne, the 2009 UK Open runner-up.

The event was won by James Wade, beating fellow Englishman Wes Newton 11-8.