The 1996/97 series saw 4 tournaments played involving 39 different players, drawn from 7 counties, being involved a total of 63 times.
Sponsorship of £360 was provided by the EABA and with an income of £342 from entry fees a 'profit' of £105 being made after expenditure of £597.
Thanks must be recorded to the venue proprietors who provided their facilities for the events, to the referees who provided their services and Phil Welham, Mark Mytton and Paul Bavister for their administrative efforts.
English Amateur Champion Paul Bennett was an emphatic series ranking winner having been unbeaten in all tournaments. Dean Bavister was runner up while Matt Willard, David Nichols and Matthew Sutton were separated by only 2 points for the minor placings.
The series highest break was 133 and made by Paul Bennett.
Australian Ken Keehan has been in touch asking if we can help him with information about a cue in his possession.
The cue carries 2 plates, the first indicates it is a George Gray champion cue registering a record break of 2196 and manufactured by J Riley. The 2nd plate indicates on 2 different lines N.C.B.L. and K.W season 1926/27.
Mr. Keehan understands the first abbreviation may relate to a North Cumbrian Billiards League and the second a potential champion for that year. Did (or does) that league exist? Who was K.W?
I would be grateful of any information that anyone might have to assist Mr. Keehan in confirming the history of his cue.
It has been announced that the EASB has obtained sponsorship from Datum Business Supplies and Waterfall Holdings Plc for the forthcoming season.
Datum Business Supplies, official stationery supplier to the English Association for Snooker and Billiards are to sponsor the English under 17's Snooker Championship, providing the prize fund of £500 Mark Dallin, director of Datum Business Supplies said: "We are delighted to be involved with the EASB and the Under 17's Snooker Championship this season. The future of snooker lies in the young players and that is why we are thrilled to be sponsoring the event. I am sure that the 1997/98 English Under 17's Snooker Championship will continue the proud tradition of providing top class snooker and a fine, young winner".
Waterfall Holdings Plc, owners of 36 Snooker/Pool sports Bar throughout the country, are to sponsor £500 prize money for the English Under 21 's Snooker Championship.
Mukesh Parmar, General Manager of Breaks Snooker Club, Aldershot, said "I firmly believe that with the recent positive changes at Bristol, there is an exciting new era for the sport. We at Waterfall believe that working closely with the amateur and professional bodies, that together we can resurrect the interest and enthusiasm at the grass roots level which has disintegrated in recent time. By guaranteeing the prize money for this event, but also with vision of sponsoring many more tournaments in the future, we hope that we can help regenerate the interest and rebuild the sport, returning it to its rightful status".
The ECBL has started off it's new seasons activity with a highest ever entry of 13 teams. Organisers look to further expand next year.
Interim Division 'A' Results see Newmarket 'A' top the league on points scored after victories over Peterborough and Norfolk though Cambridge put themselves into strong contention with a win over Newmarket.
Highest scorer's are Philip Welham 618 and Dennis McGuigan 539 while Ian Chambers 89 has the highest break.
David Nichols heads the division 2A listings with a 436 score and an 87 break while David Ellis has the highest score in 2B with 384.