WEEKLY UPDATE 30th MAY 2024

The 2023/24 season concluded this week with the Individual Snooker Final - the Billiards Pairs and Individual finals having been played the previous week, at a well attended event which included presentation of prizes to all this seasons winners. Thanks are due to Gt Horton Conservative Club for allowing us to use their excellent billiard room on both occasions, and to the League Chairman Trevor Kershaw who presented the prizes.

It was not possible to play all three finals on the same night, as Chris Jarvis had qualified for all of them, the first time, as far as I know, that this has ever happened - not only that but Chris's opponent in both Individual finals was Richard Bowes.

The Individual Billiards started with Richard Bowes on minus 50 and Chris Jarvis on minus 10, but two early 20 breaks saw Richard in front by the time both players had passed zero. A little later, a 44 break saw Richard lead 80-35 and as Chris continued to struggle with the table (at least by comparison to his opponent) Richard seemed to score 20 every time Chris scored 10. With little change as the game progressed, Richard was a worthy winner 200 - 107.

This week's Snooker final between the same pair proved to be a much closer run thing. Chris started 7 in front on handicap in each frame, and the first one was a very cagey affair, featuring some excellent safety shots and some even better escapes. Any sort of break was in short supply but Richard potted green to pink for a best break of 18 and a 40 - 32 frame victory. The second frame started equally cautiously but Chris got into his stride this time, and led throughout, eventually taking brown, blue and pink for a 63-25 win. The third frame was more open and provided a very close finish where luck played it's part. Chris pulled away again to lead 44-12 but Richard quickly pulled back to just a dozen behind. However, with just the colours left on the table, he trailed by 28  and was needing a snooker. Having potted yellow and green he laid an excellent snooker on the brown, from which Chris failed to escape, and when he then fluked the brown, with the last 3 colours all close to the pockets, a Richard win looked likely. Unfortunately, however, in potting the pink for position on black, the cue ball ran on and on until it eventually dropped into the opposite corner pocket. After a few shots for both players, at the re-spotted pink, Chris potted it to win 64-40. Congratulations to him

I didn't see much of the first half of the pairs final the previous week, due to refereeing duties on the other table, but Gareth Kershaw started 55 in front of Mick Cockcroft, and held on to 20 of them to win 200-180. Mick as usual was off to a flying start, but Gareth must have got going, because the scores were called 150-143 in his favour. The game remained close from then on, but Gareth got the last few points for a valuable first leg win. Chris Jarvis had switched tables after the individual billiards final and with handicaps on started 50 behind Trevor Kershaw. Chris, however, showed no hangover from his heavy loss in the earlier game, and three early breaks in the 20's saw the scores more or less level. In an attempt to slow down his opponent Trevor initiated a spell of safety play, after which scoring opportunities were very limited for both players with the scores remaining close. Chris eventually broke out of it a bit, but there were no significant breaks for either player as Chris eventually got home by 400-340.

Two good evenings to end the season (unless of course you were not a winner on the night or through the season) and we look forward to seeing you all again come September

The Annual General Meeting is on Wednesday 10th July and the next post will give more details of that meeting nearer the time

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 17th MAY 2024

It was the billiards pairs semi finals this week, with two Deaf Centre pairs both drawn at home to visitors from Princeville. Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford took on Chris Jarvis and Mick Cockcroft, while Ihjaz Hussain and Brian Robinson took on Trevor and Gareth Kershaw, and it was the Princeville pair who came out on top in both matches.

The pairing of Ian Ford and Mick Cockcroft started their game first, with Ian starting 65 ahead on handicap. When I arrived about 10 minutes in, I was told Mick had already had two runs in the 20's, but Ian had clearly also been scoring because he was still over 40 in front, and it remained that way for quite a while, as scoring was fairly evenly matched. Mick eventually started scoring more heavily and was level around the 140 mark, but not for long, as Ian almost immediately had a break of 20 to take him back in front. In a close finish Mick was just first to 200 (actually 201) to Ian's 190.

On the other table Brain Robinson started 5 ahead of Gareth Kershaw, and for a long time there was never more than 20 in it, although mostly with Gareth in front, until he extended his lead at 160--120. For a while Brian seemed unable to prevent him from extending this lead further but eventually Brian mounted a late surge, although it proved to be too little too late as Gareth got home 201 - 172. With handicaps on, his Dad Trevor trailed Ihjaz Hussain 212 - 191 but two early runs in the 20's saw the scores level at 241. Two more 20's established a lead of 342 - 302 and then a 32 break saw Trevor 379-312 in front and apparently heading for a comfortable victory. But Ihjaz responded immediately with a break of 23, and then mounted a charge for the line, which Trevor only managed to interrupt with an unfinished break of 12, to win 400-381.

Back on the other table, and with handicaps on, Jeremy Dixon led 206 - 161 against Chris Jarvis, but an early break of 41 from Chris saw the scores level at 210, and a later 29 saw him 268-247 in front. Chris's scoring remained consistent, as I noted the scores at 356-306, and he eventually won by a similar margin by 400 - 355.

So the pairs final will be an all Princeville affair, with current holders Chris Jarvis and Mick Cockcroft meeting Trevor and Gareth Kershaw. Chris is having a storming end to the season, as a month or so ago he led Princeville D to victory in the play off final and has also reached both the Individual Billiards and Snooker finals. Clearly it will not be possible for him to play in all three matches at the Presentation evening this coming week, and so the Individual Snooker final will be held over to a later date, leaving Individual Billiards and Pairs finals taking place at Gt Horton Conservative Club on Tuesday (21st May) ahead of the presentation of prizes. In the Individual Billiards final (and also the Individual Snooker final ) Chris's opponent will be Pudsey's Richard Bowes 

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEEKLY UPDATE 10th MAY 2023

Individual Billiards and Snooker semi finals this week, and with two players in the semi finals of both competitions there was an an early start to the billiards at Princeville, to enable Chris Jarvis to get off in good time for his snooker match at the Deaf Centre.

His opponent in the billiards at Princeville was Dave Howarth, who summed up the game in one word 'outclassed', as Chris ran in breaks of  38, 31, 30 and 30 unfinished to win 200-127. Dave also mentioned that the 30 unfinished was actually 32, the last shot being a 15th hazard. So very well done to Chris. Richard Bowes and I were playing on the other table, with Richard starting 40 behind on handicap. I failed to make the most of some early chances, and a break of 32 allowed Richard to draw close. A break of 30 got me away again until Richard's 31 got him just in front around the 150 mark, from where he soon seemed to get to 200, leaving me on 158. So Chris Jarvis v Richard Bowes in the billiards final

Chris headed off to the Deaf Centre for his snooker match, against Jeremy Dixon, and Richard swapped tables for a snooker semi final against Mick Cockcroft. Richard started 21 behind, in each frame of this one, and was soon into his stride, reaching nearly 50 while Mick potted just the one red. At this point Richard fouled the green with the rest, which seemed to get Mick going, and the scores were even with all the colours remaining. Mick took yellow, green and brown, and looked like he might steal the frame, but then went in off the blue, leaving Richard to quickly take the blue and pink for the frame. The second frame got off to a scrappy start with a plethora of fouls on both sides and then a touching ball, all of which left Mick leading 46-16 with plenty of reds still on the table. Richard then got going, and with one red left both players were in the 40's. In among a bit of cat and mouse, the colours only disappeared slowly before Richard again took blue and pink for the frame.

At the Deaf Centre Chris Jarvis's good form appears to have continued. A close first frame just went his way 54-42, but he says he potted better in the second frame to win 59-23 with the last 3 colours still on the table. Ian Ford's comment was 'eyes like a hawk'. So the snooker final is also Richard Bowes v Chris Jarvis

As far as I am aware, this is the first time in the league's history that the same two players will have appeared in both finals in the same season - although there have been multiple instances of one players in both finals . I'm pretty certain it has not happened since I first entered in 1962, so if it has happened, it must have been in the 10 years or so before that, as the Snooker competition only started in 1950. Well done to both players, who should provide a good spectacle for the finals at the presentation evening on Tuesday 21st May at Gt Horton Conservative Club

On Wednesday, at Princeville, Richard Bowes won the H Kershaw Memorial Trophy - his fifth success in this competition. As the lowest handicap player in the league, he probably started as favourite in this scratch competition, but the story of the night was  the other finalist Mick Cockcroft, who only came into the competition as a late replacement for Jeremy Dixon. He beat Paul Devitt and Chris Jarvis, in what they described as the 'Eastbrook group', to set up a final against Richard who appeared to justify his favourite tag with a break of 50 at this first scoring visit, but Mick struck to the task and with a 31 break of his own was on level terms at 82. From then on Richard pulled ahead to win 172-114 in the 40 minute game. Well done to both players

This coming week is the semi finals of the billiards pairs and both matches are drawn at the Deaf Centre. Jeremy Dixon and Ian Ford take on  Chris Jarvis and Mick Cockcroft, while Ihjaz Hussain and Brain Robinson meet Trevor and Gareth Kershaw,  all of which promises another good evening of billiards for players and spectators alike. 

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary

 WEKLY UPDATE 3rd MAY 2024

Four matches this week in the Quarter Finals of the Billiards Pairs

I was at the Deaf Centre, where one match started promptly, while the other match was delayed by Brian Robinson's late arrival. One might have expected that the rush to get there could have adversely affect his performance, but the reverse seemed to be the case. He comfortably won the string off and when Edward Lawson's break off left the red ball over the middle pocket he quickly made inroads into the 20 point handicap deficit - and then sped along to a 200-160 victory. With handicaps on, I started on 120 to Ihjaz Hussain's 241 - a tough ask. A couple of early runs in the 20's offered hope, but after a spell of safety play the points dried up and Ihjaz was soon back to near 100 in front. A final score of 400-302 made it a disappointing night for the visitors.

On the other table, an in form, Ian Ford enhanced Sid Ash's billiards education, and it was only a late break into the 20's that enables Sid to get to 173. With only 15 in the handicaps his partner John Allan started 42 behind Jeremy Dixon, and while he was always chasing the home man, he was in the hunt throughout the game, until Jeremy claimed another home victory by 400-380.

There was also a close finish at Princeville, where Trevor and Gareth Kershaw took on serial winners of this competition, Ralph Allan and Richard Bowes. Gareth must have played pretty well to defeat Ralph by 200-178 which enhanced his Dad's handicap advantage of 70 over Richard. The reports I've have don't indicate any significant breaks for either player but Richard certainly ran it close, just missing out 388 - 400.

On the other table Peter Allan held off Mick Cockcroft 200-197, in another close finish, but in the only match where a first half deficit was turned round, Chris Jarvis had a beak in the 50's and another in the 30's to see off Dave Howarth 400 - 342

The two Deaf Centre pairs have both been drawn at home again  in the semi finals, with Dixon and Ford meeting Jarvis and Cockcroft while Hussain and Robinson meet the Kershaw's. These matches will be played on Tuesday 14th May

Meanwhile, this coming week (7th May) the Individual semi finals will be played. It is hoped there will be an early start at Princeville (possibly as early as 6.30) as two of the billiards players are in action at Snooker as well. Chris Jarvis and Dave Howarth are certainly aiming for an early start to enable Chris to head off to the Deaf Centre to play Snooker against Jeremy Dixon probably sometime after 8.00. Richard Bowes will only need to travel across the room at Princeville, as he will be playing me at Billiards before crossing swords with Mick Cockcroft at Snooker

The finals of all three competitions will be at Gt Horton Conservative Club on Tuesday 21st May, when all the seasons trophies will also be presented

Before that, on Wednesday of this week (May 8th), the H Kershaw Memorial Trophy will be played for at Princeville with a 7.15 start. The exact line up is still to be finalised but confirmed players are Richard Bowes, Chris Jarvis, Stephen Kershaw, Trevor Kershaw and Paul Devitt. Spectators will be welcome

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary