NORTH-EAST PRO-AM HANDICAP

Sunday 12th May, 2002 (Tables Snooker Club, Thornaby, Teesside)

Teesside has two established Pro-Am events which are held annually as invitation tournaments, but there has, until now, been no competition open to all-comers. This was changed on 12th May when 34 players gathered at Tables in Thornaby for a one-day Open handicap promoted and organised by John Hartley. The total entry included an encouraging response from the Juniors who made up almost half the field. The competitors were almost exclusively from Teesside with only professional player Andrew Sage travelling from outside the region. He was joined by three other local professionals, Peter Gilchrist, David Causier and Lee Lagan.

But the day would not belong to the professionals, with Sage failing to survive the Preliminary Round and the remaining three—all in the same quarter of the draw—were destined to eliminate each other. Peter Gilchrist emerged the better of this trio but was then comprehensively defeated in the semi-finals by Robin Wilson, who hardly needed his 140 points start as he romped to a 589-206 victory.

In the final Wilson came up against local League player Anthony Bishop and simply continued on from his devastating performance against Gilchrist. Breaks of 71 and 59 at his first two scoring visits recovered the 60 points he was conceding and thereafter Wilson made sizable contributions at almost every visit, rounding off the match with a run of 111 and an impressive average of 34.8.

The best overall break was 257 by Peter Gilchrist in his second round match against Lee Lagan, which ironically had begun with a fluke! Robin Wilson made the highest by an Amateur with 191, also in the second round, against Mark Hatton. Another notable performance came from 13 year-old Dominic Mulhall, who, when trailing Richard Beckham by 106 points in his opening match, recorded his first competitive century with a run of 103. Unfortunately this did not prove to be enough to win the game, but nevertheless gave an indication that perhaps we were watching another Teesside billiards star in the making.

In all, the day was considered a great success, and hopes were high that this could become a regular event. This was certainly the wish of the Promoter, John Hartley, who has received backing from the management of Tables SC who would be happy to see a series of such contests at their Club. With the six tournaments comprising the Amateur Billiard Circuit reaching no further North than Bradford, there certainly seems to be a demand for such an event in Teesside.

Main Competition (one hour games)