The Strachan U.K

Mike Russell Retains Title

The Strachan UK took place at the Marlon Hotel & Country Club, Cleveland from March 4th-8th where Mike Russell retained the Title. No-one gave John Murphy much chance before the event, but, in the event, he did very well indeed to get to the Final - his best Professional performance to date.

Notable for some great play by Fred Davis and some inexplicably awful form from Geet Sethi. Amateur Champion David Edwards won his first match as a professional. There was a remarkable match between Murphy and Jack Karnehm, Karnehm in play with 82* at the bell had tied the scores, the first time ever that a tie has been recorded in a Championship match. Murphy held on in extra time to win by a mere 8 points.

(* After an extra half hour)

There was not a lot in the Russell/Wildman encounter. Fred Davis found it hard going against Williamson. Clive Everton seems to be making a habit of beating Robby Foldvari and did it for the third time running in a curious match in which neither player reached 400 and yet both had an average in the mid-thirties. Norman Dagley appeared to be coasting against Murphy when the young Middlesbrough Pro, in the last half-hour, scored 401 points in three visits to the table, exit Norman.

Murphy was again the man of the moment beating the experienced Bob Close who had a poor game. Ian Williamson was expected to beat Edmonds but lost a low-scoring game.

Russell was in sparkling form scoring 978 at an average of 42.5. and taking a lead of 619 at the interval. Gilchrist did much better in the evening; unfortunately for him, so did Russell being only 5 points short of 1000 for the session. It is a complete mystery as to why Gilchrist was seeded as low as 7 for this event, behind Williamson, Foldvari, Edmonds and Close, who have not won a thing between them for two or three seasons. It would have seemed more logical to have seeded for a Russell/Gilchrist final.

Murphy scored well to take a useful interval lead of 299. Edmonds came back strongly in the evening session making two centuries whilst Murphy could manage only a best of 67. But the Middlesbrough man had done enough and overcame his far more experienced opponent - World Champion in 1985 - by just 76 points.

Russell wins; Murphy beaten in last half hour

Russell started as just about the hottest favourite to win a match since Norman Dagley in his Amateur days.but it was Murphy who made the early running with breaks of 92, 68 and smaller efforts to lead by 132 after an hour. Play at this stage was poor, Murphy was maybe over-anxious whilst Russell, for whatever reason, was unable to score in his usual uninhibited fashion. He visited the table 16 times for a mere 119 points until his fourth last visit when, clearly deciding that something had to be done, he made a break of 160, and followed with 128 missing a pot from the spot. Murphy thus having escaped a Russell avalanche found himself just 119 in arrears at the interval.

Play continued in a rather desultorily fashion, Russell added breaks of 95 and 97 missing easy shots. It was not until with three-quarters -of-an-hour to go that the game burst into life and the spectators were roused from thoughts of whatever they were thinking about. Murphy made a brilliant break of 179 to be less than 100 behind, and with Russell failing was immediately in again at the top. Another big break and a real upset would have been on the cards but a controversial decision turned the game. Murphy claimed a cannon with the finest of touches but the referee said, "o." There was comment but no spectator was in a position to make a judgement whilst Murphy and the referee were right over the balls. It was the young Hartlepool Professional's last chance. Russell finally showed some form and with 520 points in his last 15 visits retained the Title by 420 in a much closer finish than expected. Murphy had exceeded all expectations and this Final will have done his confidence no harm whatsoever.

(Russell: £3,000, Murphy: £l,500)

Representatives of Strachan, Mr. John Giles and Mr. Brian Pegler, presented the prizes and announced that Strachan would continue their support for the U.K. They would also support Junior competitions to be held during the mornings of the Championship. This is a wonderful boost for the Junior game. Would that there were more Strachans about.