INDIVIDUAL BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP

- Final -

Oatlands Mount SC, Harrogate (28th April 2001)

There was a good turn-out of some sixty people to watch the conclusion of the CIU National Championships at the Oatland Mount Club in Harrogate, and they were rewarded by a pulsating match between two of the England's best amateur exponents. Strangely, despite their status in the game, neither player had won this event before, Peter Shelley having reached the final at his first attempt in 1990 and again in 1993, while Lagan was runner-up in 1999. With both players laying claim to personal best breaks in excess of 500, a good match was anticipated and this was certainly delivered.

Lagan started so well that he threatened to run away with the game. Early breaks of 57 and 100 opened up a sizable lead and with Shelley struggling to put two shots together, he established an advantage of almost 400 points after an hour's play, helped by additional contributions of 68 and 144. Shelley's initial poor showing may have been due to being delayed by traffic on his journey from Stoke which caused him to arrive at the club just minutes before the scheduled start, barely leaving time to change into formal dress before being called into action. However, when Shelley did manage to find his touch, he closed on Lagan with impressive speed. Starting with a break of 76 he added runs of 62, 80 and 118 unfinished in quick succession, the latter taking him into the mid-match interval with his deficit reduced to just 56 points. During this 30 minute spell he had added 357 points against just 17 by Lagan!

Lee Lagan receives the winners trophy from CIU representative Colin Wright.

Resuming after the interval, Shelley took his unfinished break to 139 which ended in a miscue when still in good position at top of the table. Lagan took advantage of the good leave to make 71 and following immediately with a 57 seemed to be back in control of the match. Shelley, however, had other ideas, and with his next three visits producing breaks of 92, 58 and 67, he swept into the lead for the first time. Two more useful contributions of 47 and 48 extended his advantage to 128 points with 40 minutes of the match remaining. Now facing the very realistic possibility of defeat, Lagan put together his highest break of the match—176—made almost entirely at the top of the table. He broke down at a long loser from hand when in sight of the competition high break of 183 which had been set by Tony Mackinder in the first round. Nevertheless, this magnificent effort had put him right back in the match with a narrow advantage of 48 points. This was immediately cancelled out by Shelley with a break of exactly that amount and with 15 minutes remaining there was nothing to choose between the two players. A period of tactical safety was ended by Lagan who succeeded with a difficult cushion cannon and held the table to make a determined all-round break of 101 without ever managing to secure his favoured top-of-the- table position. With just 4 minutes of the match remaining, he terminated the break with a pot white and double-baulk leaving Shelley neither the time nor opportunity to recover, finishing the winner of an exciting match by 962-886. Lagan thereby achieved the “double” of winning both major Championships this year and Teesside continued its stranglehold on the CIU competition with the trophy returning to the area for tenth time in the last eleven years. The closing ceremony was conducted by Colin Wright on behalf of the CIU, presenting Lagan with a cheque for £500 and Shelley one for £300. Tony Mackinder's break of 183 earned him the high break prize of £100. The match referee was Colin Pattimore who also had a successful day, turning in a faultless performance.

Lee Lagan and Peter Shelley pose with match referee Colin Pattimore.

Notes from Harrogate ...

¨ Shortly after the start of the match, play was halted for several minutes while Lee Lagan searched for his chalk pouch which had mysteriously disappeared from his belt. Assisted by the referee the area around and under the table was thoroughly searched without success. The offending item was eventually found lodged in the netting of the centre pocket where it must have fallen when Lagan was stretching over the table on a previous shot. It had to be delicately extracted to avoid contact with the yellow ball which was hanging on the brink of that pocket.

¨ Lagan, who is an owner of racing greyhounds and a keen follower of this sport, is now being sponsored in his billiards career by Joe Atkinson who runs Easington Greyhound Stadium. Joe will be helping Lee with his travelling expenses, which for a player looking to compete in all the National events, can become quite a sizable outlay.

¨ There were plenty of kicks and "dull" contacts from the Aramith match balls affecting both players. Lagan in particular kept the referee busy with frequent requests for ball cleaning.