The Cleveland & District branch of the CIU concluded their summer league activities with Acklam Garden City winning the team billiards section. Their formidable team of Paul Bennett, Darren Kell and Geoff Charville finished well clear of the opposition, even with Paul taking two weeks out to compete in Australia. Paul additional took the prize for the most games won, being successful in all the games he played, although his absence in Australia meant that he had to share the honours with team-mate Darren Kell. Making a clean sweep of the honours, Paul also recorded the highest break of the season in the 120 up games, with 110. This was made in the very first week of the season, The following week he made a break of 108, but fortunately for his opponents, failed to maintain this standard in subsequent matches.
Persistent rumours that the billiards section of the Middlesbrough Friendly League would see a change in format next season, have been denied by League Secretary Keith Mallen. With 50 teams in four divisions currently playing non-handicap games of 120 up, the Friendly League is widely regarded as having the highest calibre of players in the region. It had been suggested that the millennium would have seen the first division matches extended to 150 up, but Mr. Mallen denied that the League had any plans in this direction. Of the other leagues in the area, the Redcar & District and the Cleveland League—which are both handicapped—play 200 and 150 up respectively. The other scratch leagues, comprising CIU, Southfield and Stockton, all currently play 120 up.