WEEKLY UPDATE 4 MAY 2025

There were 4 games scheduled to be played this week, in the Individual Snooker quarter finals, three of which were due to be played at Princeville. As things turned out the only game played on Tuesday at Princeville was the one not scheduled for that venue!! However, I must give full marks to all 8 players for making sure that all 4 games were completed by the due date.

The action started the previous Thursday when Brian Robinson and Gareth Kershaw (both on holiday this week) played Mick Cockcroft and the league secretary respectively. On Tuesday John Bedford chose to forgo home advantage against Richard Bowes, while Ralph Allan asked to play his game against Chris Jarvis at Princeville - presumably to avoid a clash with bowls fixtures at Littlemoor.

John Bedford's decision looked like the most risky of the four, but all turned out well for him as he recorded a 2 - 0 victory. The game at Princeville on Tuesday was a close, one with Chris Jarvis (the current trophy holder) edging out Ralph Allan 2 - 1. Chris's resume of the game is as follows:

Ralph played very well in the first frame, taking it very easily by a huge margin. I then took the second frame fairly comfortably . The third frame looked like it might go Ralph's way but I just managed to sneak it by taking the pink and black

The previous Thursday, Gareth Kershaw had a 21 point lead on handicap and whilst I kept reducing it in the first frame, I was not in front until the colours and it took a blue and pink to secure the frame. In the second frame my first score was a break of 26 (nose bleed territory for me at snooker) and from then on I was able to steadily increase my lead for a more comfortable win

On the other table Brian Robinson had a 7 point handicap advantage on Mick Cockcroft and the first frame appeared to be quite tight. Mick took brown and blue to lead by 4 leaving himself what was in his words 'an easy cut on the pink'. (An easy cut at snooker is something I could never imagine!!). However, he missed it, and with a bit of good fortune Brian took pink and black for the frame. The second frame was all Brian, with Mick never getting going and this frame was over by the time it got to the colours.

This coming week both Pairs semi finals should be played at Pudsey, on Tuesday, but both have been moved, to avoid a clash with the bowls (and Gareth's holidays). Dave Howarth and Peter Allan will host myself and Edward Lawson on Friday (9th), while John Allan and Sid Ash will not play Trevor and Gareth Kershaw until sometime the following week

Also that week (13th May) is also the semi finals of both the Individual Billiards and Snooker competitions, all of which will be played at Princeville, as the Deaf Centre is still not available. Jeremy Dixon will take on Sid Ash, while Gareth Kershaw plays John Bedford. John is then in action again at Snooker (against the League Secretary), while Chris Jarvis is hoping to sneak in his game with Brian Robinson this week, before he goes on holiday (on the 9th) and after Brian returns from holiday on the 3rd. Another great effort at getting games played on time

It's not been quite so easy to find a date for the H Kershaw Memorial Trophy Competition and so it has been decided to postpone it until September, ahead of the new season. Lessons have also been learned about avoiding this situation in future years

Finally just a reminder that the Finals Night and Prize Presentation will be at Gt Horton Conservative Club on Tuesday 20th May

Stephen Kershaw

Secretary