Mini-Prix 1990/91

9th Event: 17th February, 1991

Huntingdo, 147 Snooker Centre

Always a popular event as the turnout shows. Club owner Bill Brokenshire is a great enthusiast and a generous sponsor. Playing conditions are good, and there are invariably big breaks made at the, "147."

Mini-Prix Lady scares Des

Snooker Champion Karen Corr, still the Mini-Prix's only lady player, did very well against Des Heald to lose by only ten points. If Karen continues to improve her game she is likely to gain some notable victories. Tony Done is in good form and had a convincing win over Norwich winner Steve Hardcastle. The match of the round was that between Norman Dagley and Peter Gilchrist. The Middlesbrough man had two centuries to Dagley's one in a 69 point victory. Terry Colby made a 156 but lost to Arthur Reeve who replied with 96 and 67. Bill Brokenshire - a century break snooker player - showed that he also knows a bit about billiards. There was the usual crop of close results the closest being a 2 point win by Norman Unwin over Mick Mytton. Russell and Crosland were drawn together yet again but there was no upset this time. John Murphy and Dick Watts had centuries but the best effort came from young professional Roxton Chapman of Peterborough with a 158.

Century for Done

Tony Done had a century and other good breaks in a comfortable win over Derek Townend - no mean opponent. John Murphy was expected to beat Brian Cousen but was well beaten whilst father Jim did well to get through in a tough match with Branson Hoole. Tom Terry should have beaten Brian Harvey but failed to make the best of a good run. The teacher-pupil encounter between Mark Wildman and Roxton Chapman resulted in a win for the master this time.

Harvey by One

Brian Harvey beat David Rees by one point in a scrambled finish in which the Derby man thought he had done enough but it proved not to be so. Bill Andress had his second century of the day whilst Mark Wildman's century was not enough to get him past Russell

Triple for Andress and Russell

Triple for Bill in the sense of his third century of the day (He got past Tony Done by a mere 20) triple for Russell in the sense of, "all in one go." Mike arrived at the 300 mark with a simple tap-in pot red to leave a cross-loser which he promptly missed when in the kind of rhythm which makes the spectators think he will never break down. Dennis McGuigan had had a good tournament but was outclassed by an in-form Peter Gilchrist.

The last Russell/Gilchrist semi (Norwich) saw Russell on the rampage, this time it was Gilchrist's turn to monopolise the table. The Andress/Harvey West country Derby match resulted in an excellent win for the Bridgwater man.

Harvey's astonishing win

Brian Harvey is a very good amateur billiards player and one of the most successful on the Mini-Prix circuit. Peter Gilchrist has won the Amateur Championship, has twice won The British Open, was runner-up in the last World Professional Championship, was a semi-finalist in this year's Strachan U.K., and is the leading player in the current Mini-Prix series. It is hardly surprising that he was a firm favourite to take the Huntingdon Title. Brian Harvey made an awful opening shot from which the Middlesbrough professional scored 97. Gilchrist followed with 8.36, and 100 to lead by 241 - 46 after 4 visits. Harvey possibly looking just a little worried by thoughts of being totally annihilated threw all caution to the winds and had a go. The result was a good break of 104 which contained some very good pots. Gilchrist could not make any effective reply and two visits later the Bridgwater man got in again and scored a break of 151. He followed with 5 and left a double baulk; getting a leave from this and playing like a man inspired, he ran up another century and left another double baulk. Almost unbelievably this was not the end, Harvey got in yet again and made a fifty break to complete what must be the most astonishing final in the whole history of Mini-Prix. In his last seven visits to the table Harvey scored 419 points to his professional opponent's 74. Gilchrist's average for the match was 28.8 which would satisfy most players, but Harvey averaged 42.3 and he can never have played better.

Huntingdon Plate

Dagley saves his Bacon

Norman Dagley does not consider it beneath him to play in the secondary competition and graced the plate with his illustrious presence. He was involved in a tight finish with Roy Bacon. There was an even tighter finish in the Hardcastle - Townend match as the Harrogate professional scraped home by just 5.

A lesson for Karen

Ladies snooker champion Karen Corr faced Dagley, played well enough and will no doubt have learned something from the experience. Paul Dunning did well to beat Steve Crosland. Malcolm Pilkington lost to Mark Hirst by 6 points and should perhaps have won.

Second Century for Colby

Terry Colby made his second century of the day, the first one saw him a loser but he won this one. Steve Hardcastle was involved in another close finish this time as a loser - by 6. Dave Runsam didn't get a look-in against Dagley.

Great win for Dunning

Though there were but 10 points in it, Dunning's win over Dagley was a great performance. Anybody who beats Dagley has done well even if the game was only half-an-hour. It was a case of who got in first in the other game and this time it was Mark Hirst.

Dunning by a mile

Plates are often decided on the basis of who gets the early running. This time it was Paul Dunning who had a leave or two and took full advantage. Hirst is a difficult man to beat and Dunning deserves full marks as he swept to his best result for some time.

Huntingdon is a good day out from every point of view and when the weather is fine, as it was, a pleasant place for a walk during games. Someone (Usually Russell ) invariably makes a big break there and this event was no exception. A good venue and an event to remember - and to look forward to.

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