Lee Lagan bettered his own high break of 213 in the Redcar League, putting together a run of 218 unfinished when visiting Redcar WMC. Lagan represents North Ormesby Institute in the League and plays from a handicap of -100 in the 200 up games. On 8th February he then equalled this break on his home table, playing against John Hartley of Eston Institute. Darren Kell, who plays from the same handicap as Lagan, also had a good break of 155 while representing Beechwood & Easterside during a league match against the St. Mary's Club. Lee Lagan (-200) took the Redcar League Individual Championship in an excellent final match against Jeff McKeown (-20) at the Eston Institute on 29th March. McKeown held onto his handicap advantage for much of the game, at one time extending his lead to over 250 points. But breaks of 54, 58, 71 and 117 within the space of six visits, brought Lagan back within striking distance, and in a final flourish, with McKeown just 43 points from game, Lagan aided by a 72 break collected the 110 points he needed to win in his last three visits.
In the Teesside Friendly League, Robin Wilson now playing in the senior League for "B" Division team Ormesby Institute, produced a fine achievement when he made a break of 119 unfinished to win his game 120-0.
Priory player, Mark Graham, must be wondering what he has to do to win a game against the Hemlington team. Last season we reported his loss to Lee Lagan after making a break of 108. This year, he made a break of 66 against Mark Hatton, but still finished on the losing side, as the Hemlington player put together a break of 95 to win 120-72.
Ironopolis virtually ensured that they would finish on top of the "A" Division when they entertained their nearest rivals, Hemlington, and put up a superb performance to win 10-0. In the first game, Ironopolis player Geoff Charville was put under pressure when Mark Hatton produced an early run of 35, but he responded magnificently to win the game with a 91 break. Darren Kell then produced breaks of 49 and 65 to give Martin Shutt no chance. Hemlington's Lee Lagan broke off in the last game looking to salvage some points from the match, but Paul Boden, playing with a borrowed cue, took the advantage with a break of 46. A break of 11 from Lagan proved to be his last chance as Boden wrapped up the game at his second visit with an unfinished run of 74.
Robin Wilson was the star performer for Ormesby Institute as they won the Team Knock-Out Cup for the third time in four years, defeating holder's Elm Tree in the final. Robin made breaks of 106 and 43 unfinished to win his 30 minute game 292-34, the huge aggregate difference setting his team on the winning path. This was the first century break of the season in League competitions.
Robin Wilson (Ormesby) joined an elite group of players when he completed a "perfect" game in the Southfield League, scoring his required 120 points in a single visit. Unfortunately, some of the gloss was taken off his achievement by the local newspaper which, under banner headlines, credited the performance to "Robin Williams". In the early rounds of the Individual Billiards competition, which is 150 up, Lee Lagan ran to game with an unfinished break at his very first visit to the table. His opponent, Mick Fiddes, is a hundred break player at both billiards and snooker, but on this occasion he was given only the opportunity to break off!
Richard Beckham (Redcar WMC) became the Cleveland League's Individual Billiards Champion when he defeated Ricky Warrior (Ennis Square) at Carlin How WMC on 23rd March. Beckham overcame his handicap of -135 to take the League's first billiard title of the millennium. His win included a top break of 67.
Simon Snee (Old Thornaby) defeated team-mate Davy Weatherall to win the League's Individual Billiards Championship. The final was played at the Thornaby National Reserve Club in March.