1998 ENGLISH AMATEUR BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP

Regional Qualifying Matches

Tyne & Wear, Durham & Cleveland

Gateshead Snooker Centre: 4th January 1998

Darren Kell made the highest break of this section with 175 in qualifying from Group B. The only other century came from Alf Nolan who made a fine break of 102 in the same group. Reigning champion Paul Bennett had a scare in his deciding game of Group A before narrowly defeating fellow Teessider Lee Lagan by just 25 points to qualify for the next stage. Favourite for Group C, John Sinclair, was narrowly defeated in the opening game by Steve Best, who went on to secure the third qualifying place.

Yorkshire

Cuedos Snooker Club, Bradford: 10th-11th January 1998

Mark Hirst dominated Group A with a series of 50+ breaks in winning his two games. Steve Crosland put together the highest break of the section in his game against Bill Mount, and went on to qualify with a good win against exile Teessider, Paul Anderton. The other qualifiers were Terry Ward, (finalist for the last two years), Derick Townend, and Richard Lodge who went through as the best runner-up.

Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire & Staffordshire

Liverpool Billiards & Snooker Centre: 25th January 1998

Group A was reduced to three players by the absence of Richard Ingram, but after a narrow win against Tony Keeling, Peter Shelley made sure of his place in the next stage with an easy victory over David Rees. Tony Done made the only century break in this section with 112 in his victory over Norman Routledge. However, an earlier defeat against Paul Dunning meant that it was Paul who qualified.

The other group winner was Jim McCann and Dennis Marr also qualified as the best runner-up.

Humberside, Lines; Notts; & Norfolk

Breaks Snooker Club, Lincoln: 25th January 1998

Phil Welham cruised through Group A, but the absence of Arthur Reeve resulted in a single match decider for Group B. This went Fos Wilson who secured a narrow victory by just 8 points.

Dennis and Dave Nichols won the other two groups, while Branson Hoole took the fifth qualifying place as best runner-up.

Berks; Warwickshire, Northants; Cambs; Oxon

Newmarket Snooker Centre: 11th January 1998

Neal Rewhorn and Jack Hedley qualified from their groups, both putting together century breaks with runs of 159 and 137 respectively.

With the absence of Ellis Lloyd coming as a sad shock to competitors, his group was reduced to a one-match decider which was won by Ivan Chambers. Terry Colby cruised through the other group and Richie Evans also qualified as the best runner-up.

Middlesex, Kent, Surrey & Hampshire

Woking Snooker Centre on 18th January 1998

Chris Ross qualified from Group A, opening proceedings with a break of 80, which proved to be the best in this section. John O'Neil, who put up such a good performance in last year's championship, again qualified for the final stages with two easy victories, as did Jerry Conba. Ernest Shorney took Group C on aggregate points, while Robert Shanks took the final place as best runner-up.

Chris Ross 426 Jock McGregor 200 80. Robert Shanks 402 Jock McGregor 204 Chris Ross 457 Robert Shanks 351

Cornwall, Devon, Somerset & Dorset

Sidwell Snooker Centre. Exeter: 18th January 1998

Keith Olver made sure of his place in the next round by defeating Brian Harvey, who in his previous match, had put together a break of 133. Brian still managed to book his place in the draw by qualifying as the best runner-up. With Chris Mitchell being absent, Bill Andress only needed to defeat Michael White to win his group. Charlie Gay dominated his group with two easy wins, and Phil Davis was the other qualifier.

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