CIU INDIVIDUAL BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

North Ormesby Institute Middlesbrough (Saturday 6th July 2002)

Lee Lagan completed his involvement in Amateur Championships on a high note, by retaining the CIU title at his local club, North Ormesby Institute, on Saturday 6th July. It was not a classic performance by Lagan, but with his opponent, Tony Mackinder, unable to reproduce anything approaching his best form, he was allowed to cruise to a comfortable win.

The victory must have been particularly satisfying for Lagan in that it reversed his defeat in the 2000 CIU Championship at the hands of the same player.

As it was for their last meeting, the impressive Burroughes & Watts match-table belonging to the local firm of Burns Bros; had been specially erected in the club's large function room. This historic table had been supplied to the Western Club for the 1978 English Amateur Championship and was the one on which Norman Dagley made his World Record break of 862. On this occasion the audience of about 35 people, including professional players Peter Gilchrist and David Causier, would be treated to a more modest exhibition.

Tony Mackinder followed his break-off shot with a run of 34 and looked to have settled into his game straight away, but as it transpired, this would be his highest contribution until the end of the first session when he produced a 57 unfinished. In the interim Lagan had also struggled, breaks of 59, 82 and 76 being the few bright spots of the first 90 minutes. Even so, Lagan had built up a 550-251 advantage and Mackinder was faced with an uphill battle to redress the balance. Disappointingly, he failed to add to his unfinished break, but runs of 72 and 43 helped him to pull back to within 200 points at one stage. Lagan, who had started the second session as slowly as the first, at last began to put together some useful runs with 57 and 79 restoring his advantage to almost 300 points. Embarked on his reply, Mackinder had compiled 30, and was in perfect position at the top, when he suffered a massive kick which gifted the position to Lagan. From this Lagan made 121, the highest break of the day, which effectively settled the match. By the end Lagan had drawn further away, the final bell seeing him almost 500 points ahead at 1,131-636. The win was worth £500 to Lagan and the match was capably officiated by John Rhodes (referee) and Geoff Charlton (marker).