WEST COUNTRY NEWS
Exeter League Billiards
Sidwell Snooker Club 'B' took the Exeter & District Billiards League title by just three points ahead of Sidwell 'A' with the rest trailing in their wake. However, there was not a Sidwell team in sight in the final of the KO cup which was contested by Pinhoe 'A' and City Transport the former running out clear winners. Top youth snooker player Mike King (Sidwell 'B') came top of the season's averages with 87% but it was Robert Marshall (Sidwell 'A') who posted most centuries with seven, the best being 133.
Best in the West
Former snooker professional Robert Marshall (Devon) won the inaugural West of England Five Counties Closed Billiards Championship defeating Chris Mitchell (Cornwall) 384-235 in the final. Mitchell's best break of 83 came in the final, but Marshall countered with a 149, the best of the day. In the semi-final Mitchell beat English International Bill Andress (Devon) 314-258 while Marshall defeated Derek White (Cornwall) 356-209. The competition was hosted by Sidwell Snooker Club, Exeter and sponsored by Beer Sellers. There were a total of 18 entries which included most of the best players in the West Country. Games where played over 1 hour throughout the competition—Steve Canniford
Marshall turns on the style
Robert Marshall (Exeter) hot from his success in wining the West of England Five Counties continued his outstanding run of form by successfully defending his Devon Open Billiards title. Marshall's opponent on this occasion was local International Bill Andress of Bradninch. Marshall won the match in convincing style by 750 points to 322 and in doing so gave a wonderful exhibition of potting and top- of-the-table play. The match lasted under two hours, Marshall keeping his opponent off the table for long periods.
Top Cue Tournament
The fifth Top Cue Tournament took place at Wincanton's Mill Street Social Club on Sunday 29th April with a total of 28 players taking part. With only four tables available at the main venue, some of the preliminary matches where held at the nearby the Sherborne Club. The format was again changed this year, mainly to accommodate the seven extra trophies given to the event, most of which by Norman Dagley's wife Nita who so sadly passed away last October.
The final pairings were played over 40 minutes to allow for the other timetabled events. The winner of Group A for the Top Cue Trophy was Bill Andress who defeated M. Allen 254-195. Allen won the high break trophy with a 64 in an earlier round.
Results
The amateur tournament was followed by a 2 hour exhibition match by Roxton Chapman in which he played an hour with each Carroll Walters and Bill Andress. Although not reaching his best form he did make breaks of 101 and 140. These games were followed by 20 minutes or so of trick shots which were greatly appreciated by the audience.
Sandford on Top
As a curtain-raiser to the weekend's activities at the Mill St. Club, Sandford Orcas hosted Dove Valley (Staffs) for their 11th inter- league encounter on 28th April.
The visitors were somewhat overwhelmed due to Sandford's fielding of a strong team and the recurring problem facing away teams; namely that of getting the best players to travel the long distances involved and staying away for 2 or 3 days. In the event Sandford retained the Black Pudding/Scrumpy trophy with a 5-1 win and Dove Valley will have to wait until the autumn for a chance to redeem themselves.
Orcas again
The Bath League rounded off their season with a home match against the Sandford Orcas League. The result went to the Orcas by five games to four with the match between Eddie Pitts (Bath) and Steve Warren being tied at 321 each after 75 minutes. Eddie had won the Senior Individual title in the Bath Billiards League this season when he defeated David Lord 500-448. He also recorded the highest break in the League with a run of 108.
White is Wessex Champion
Twenty entries for the Wessex Billiards Championship allowed four groups with the winners qualifying for the semi-finals. Dick Watts had an excellent day winning all four of his group matches. Carrol Walters scraped through by pipping Justin Blake on aggregate after both players had won three games.. Michael White coasted through his group, but the big shock came with Roy Foster defeating Brian Harvey on the way to qualifying from his group.
In the semi-finals, Michael White comfortably defeated Dick Watts 600-283, including a break of 71 while Carol Walter emerged the victor 600-585 from a close match with Roy Foster. The final saw both players struggling to find any rhythm, but a break of 106 from Michael White turned the match in his favour and he finished a 750-545 winner.
Taunton League
The Taunton Individual Billiards Championship was won by Brian Harvey who defeated Dick Watts 500-249 in the final. Harvey also won the handicap competition playing from -365 he defeated team mate Justin Cole 150-105, conceding him 80 points start.