Mini-Prix 1991-92

4th Event: 26th April, 1992

Thorne Snooker Centre

Sponsored by "Sooner Snacks"

The Thorne Snooker Centre was the second new venue of the season for the Mini-Prix - the first being Scarborough. That the event took place was due to the enthusiasm and initiative of club-owner Branson Hoole. Branson had been looking forward to the event with a great deal of pleasure and local billiards players were delighted at the prospect of seeing such stars as Russell and Dagley. In the event the proceedings were overshadowed by a personal tragedy suffered by the Hoole family only a few days before the tournament. Knowing how difficult it would be to cancel at such short notice, Branson courageously decided to let the event go ahead. All players extend their sympathy to Mr and Mrs Hoole and their daughter.

Thorne Snooker Centre is a good venue with a nice bar area and generally good playing conditions. The turnout was rather on the low side, surprising in view of the nearness of Sheffield, Bradford, and Leeds, but there had been Amateur Championship and C.I.U. matches the day before and there were one or two competing snooker tournaments.

Surprise defeats for Dagley and Gilchrist

Two centuries for Foldvari

Tony Mackinder and Des Heald surprisingly defeated respectively Ex World Champion Norman Dagley and current No.2 Peter Gilchrist. Mackinder started with an excellent century and though Dagley immediately responded with a 76 he was eventually well beaten. Gilchrist seemed quite out of touch against Heald and the Peterborough man took full advantage to gain one of his best wins. Merseyside champion Tony Done could do little against Robby Foldvari as the U.K. Champion ran up two centuries.

Excellent win for Dunning

Paul Dunning followed his excellent win over Mark Hirst in the preliminary with an equally good one over Bill Andress though there were only four points in it. Russell started his tournament with a century whilst a mere 7 points robbed Foldvari of three as he made breaks of 113,98, and 95.

Highest of the day for Foldvari

Robby Foldvari scored what proved to be the highest break of the day - 194, whilst Russell ran riot with a string of good breaks and a total of 623. Both Steven Whiteley and Arthur Johnson had good wins in the previous round but neither could make further progress in the face of top class professional opposition. Des Heald's run came to an end as John Murphy rattled up a century whilst Tony Mackinder toppled his second ex World Champion - Mark Wildman.

A Close game as Foldvari goes

Foldvari made yet another century but it was not quite enough to get him past Bob Close who hung on to win by just 50. Mackinder and Lodge fell to professional opposition, Jim McCann being the only amateur to survive.

Close and Russell through

John Murphy had played well all day. He had a century against Russell but this was nowhere near enough as the champion had two. Jim McCann gave Bob Close a run for his money losing by only 49.

A Good Match to Watch

Neither player produced of their very best but the game was nevertheless interesting for the spectators. Russell drew first blood with a 66 Close following with 58. Both men missed some quite easy shots and with about ten minutes to go the score was called 258 - 259 to Russell. The Champion then got going at the spot end and looked set to play out time until a slightly misjudged cross-loser left a long in-off which he missed. Close made a 40 and followed with a 65 to take the first prize by 58 points. A very good game to watch as neither player could gain total domination.

Thorne Plate

Dagley beaten

The surprise result was that in which Norman Dagley was beaten by Spalding's Andy Reeve. Andy is a good amateur player but is hardly in Dagley's class and this result must be one of Andy's best ever. It is long odds against the ex World Champion having ever before exited a Mini-Prix in the first round of both main competition and plate. Harrogate professional Steve Hardcastle also gained this dubious distinction by losing comfortably to Gordon Ridlington. 200 is a good score in a half-hour match. Bill Andress reached that figure but Peter Gilchrist reached 300 despite his opponent scoring 114.

Hard Luck for Ivan Stevenage

That great sportsman and enthusiast Ivan Stevenage put up a real good show against Welsh professional Howard Griffiths and was a trifle unfortunate to lose by just two points. Andy Reeve was presumably still in a state of shock from his win over Dagley and offered little resistance to Tom Terry.

Good Scoring

Every player but one scored over 100 which is not a bad score in half-an-hour especially when one's opponent also tops three figures. The exception was that of Derby Professional David Rees who could manage only 97!

Gilchrist's great score

In the quarter final of the December 1990 Widnes event, Peter Gilchrist scored 321 with breaks of 112 and 89. This was almost certainly a Mini-Prix record. Here he bettered this with a half-hour 392 and a break of 184 - and still left Howard Griffiths enough time to knock up 84 points. Bill Andress's score of 211 looks quite ordinary by comparison.

Gilchrist - but by not so many

In an entertaining match Bill Andress led for most of the way and looked to be heading for victory until the last few minutes when Gilchrist got in to make a rapid 87 to take the plate prize by just 16 points. The Middlesbrough professional thus scored 1273 points in 5 half-hour games. This is remarkable scoring but is still short of his Widnes 5 plate games total of 1401.

5th Event: 10th May, 1992

Spondon Snooker Centre, Derby

Sponsored by Rees Bros, Ltd. Derby

The season's fifth event took the Mini-Prix circuit to Spondon near Derby - the second consecutive new venue. A very nice club indeed with first class facilities and generally good playing conditions. Club Manager Dennis Burton has recently been not too well but he, and his staff, provided an excellent service. Spondon is handily placed in The Midlands and easy of access. Some players had problems arriving as the event coincided with the Derby marathon, locally known as the, "amathon," Geddit?) One or two of them got mixed in with the runners but Eric Hodgkinson juggled the starting times with his usual expertise so that the late arrivals were not disadvantaged. That the tournament took place was thanks to Rees Bros of Derby who provided generous sponsorship - not forgetting, of course, the club management for providing the venue and tables. All players will hope that Spondon will be on the agenda again next year.

Century for Mackinder - two for Wildman

Des Heald and Mark Wildman have known each other for a long time, it was not a good draw for Des as Wildman knocked up a couple of centuries. Tony Mackinder seems to be making a habit of starting off with a hundred break repeating his feat against Dagley at Thorne, this time against Spalding's Arthur Reeve. David White did well to get past Dick Watts - the Taunton veteran is no pushover. Ctd.

Big break from Dagley

The draw brought together old rivals Mark Wildman and Norman Dagley. Dagley was well on top this time with a fine break of 173 followed by a 98 in his characteristically relaxed style. Gilchrist and Goodwill started the campaign with a century whilst Foldvari started with two. The closest game was that in which Gordon Ridlington was a shade unlucky to lose to first round century-maker Mackinder by just one point.

Good win for Everton

Clive Everton did well to get past Dagley. After operations on his back and leg, Everton has obvious problems in making a stance, indeed he docs well to play at all, and a win over Dagley is always something to remember. Peterborough professional Roxton Chapman started with a century against Gilchrist but was well beaten as the Middlesbrough man replied with a 198. David Causier put out Martin Goodwill and must have thought that this augured well for the forthcoming amateur championships. Russell struggled against Tony Mackinder, only a late workmanlike red-ball break of 58 seeing him through. Close and Foldvari -inevitably - had centuries.

Everton's run continued with a good win over that more-than-capable amateur Jim McCann from Darley Dale. Bob Close succumbed to Robby Foldvari, playing the Australian, and U.K. Champion. has been described as the billiards equivalent of a visit to the dentist. It is not something to look forward to and can be quite painful.

Russell finds his form

It is not a very common occurrence for a player of Gilchrist's class to start an hour's game with a break of 61, follow with a forty, get a hundred in front - and finish up losing by 300. When Russell is struggling there is nothing like a game against his old rival from Teesside - Peter Gilchrist - to provide the stimulation for a revival. Gilchrist certainly started well but just not well enough as the World Champion made a 202, followed with 166, and added smaller items to win by exactly 300. Albert Salisbury's run came to an end Causier out-pointing him by more than two to one.

Foldvari contains Russell

Mike Russell scored 106 points in one hour! He had only one good chance and broke down at a pot from the spot.

Otherwise he showed exemplary self-control as Foldvari methodically ground out a succession of smallish breaks taking not the slightest risk and playing safe, or double baulking, at the least sign of danger. The Australian had come to Spondon to win but he was in no hurry to do so. It was not a very pretty sight.

Clive Everton held Causier for half the game until the young Middlesbrough player reeled off a series of medium sized breaks to finish a comfortable winner.

Foldvari all the way

It was as if Causier were not there. Foldvari played with that air of detachment from the proceedings that is becoming his hallmark. David Causier is a good player, as subsequent events were to show, but he was simply not in the same class as his technically almost perfect opponent. Foldvari, when speeding his game up a little is an attractive player to watch and after an initial 115 had put him well in front, a second century - 124 - provided the spectators with an exhibition of how the game should be played. Causier played in his usual dashing manner but the Australian is well able to handle that kind of thing and appeared to take absolutely no notice whatever of the several quite brilliant strokes that the teenager brought off. Some spectators were left with the feeling that whilst Causier should not take too many leaves from the Australian's book (Heaven forbid) he might be well advised to slow down just a little.

Spondon Plate

Close Games

Brian Hoole beat Phil Davis by two and Chris Hudson beat Jock McGregor by five. The other matches were not quite so close.

Remarkable Result

There were no great upsets but there was one quite remarkable result - that in which the B.Q.R. Editor beat the veteran Dick Watts. Watts is a pretty good player and the result can only be explained by the fact that though Tom Terry played very badly, on this occasion Dick was even worse. Newcomer Ian Birch, a practice partner of Peter Shelley, did well to get past the experienced Des Heald.

Good win for Derek Townend

Derek Townend played well to beat Gordon Ridlington, Ridlington is a hard man to beat in plate competitions and has a good record. Howard Griffiths had had two very good scores but was on the losing end of a good score this time.

Comfortable for Rees and Crosland

David Rees and Steve Crosland both had good wins Crosland having the tougher match. Norman Routledge is a great enthusiast for the game, very rarely appears at the Mini-Prix, and had done very well to get to the plate semi.

Wrong Ending for the Sponsor

David Rees sponsored the event, arrived at the Plate final, and must have hoped that the Gods would smile on the occasion. It would have been nice if the Derby man could have been a winner. A pity that no-one told Crosland. The Yorkshireman made the most of every opportunity and won by a mile. Crosland played exceptionally well and David will not be too disappointed.

A good day at a good club. Hope we can be there again next year.

6th Event: 31st May, 1992

Middlesbrough Potters Snooker Club

Sponsored by Aughton, Ltd (By courtesy of Mr Arthur Johnson)

Disappointing Turnout

The season's sixth and final even, held at the Potters Club Middlesbrough, was notable for some excellent billiards and a very poor turnout Last year's event at the Potters attracted 51 entries (two Indians) as against only 30 this year. It has become something of a tradition that the Teesside Open Championships are held on the Saturday, and the Mini-Prix on the Sunday, of the last weekend in May. Aughton has sponsored the Mini-Prix which has been always been publicised as being in conjunction with the Teesside Boys league. Only two of the Boys League players turned out. This was something of a blow to co-organiser Albert Hanson whose disappointment was evident. The Potters is a good venue with excellent catering. Playing conditions vary but there are plenty of tables which cuts down waiting time to a minimum. The event will almost certainly not take place next year as Aughton has withdrawn the sponsorship.

Jim Murphy's ousts U.K. Champion

"Is it a bird, is it a plane? - It's SuperRob"

Flying Australians are usually doctors. This time it was a billiards player and none less than Robby Foldvari who flew round the table in his attempt to beat Hartlepool amateur Jim Murphy and failed by a single point. This was the match of the round, of the event, of the series, possibly of all time. Jim Murphy is a good amateur player, he took full advantage of a decent run of the balls and, aided by some judicious safety play and a double-baulk or two, he kept the Australian very quiet. The fact that Foldvari was trailing attracted quite a crowd and the time remaining for play was known to the second. With exactly three minutes left, Foldvari - who had not scored for several visits - at last got in and showed just what he can do when the occasion demands. The U.K. Champion quite literally ran round the table in an attempt to snatch the game. He was 59 behind and his break reached 58 as the bell rang leaving Murphy the winner by 1. It was an exciting game, well done Jim. None of the other 14 matches seemed to matter very much. The closest were those in which Derick Townend beat 16-year-old Paul Bennett by 2, and Arthur Johnson beat Trevor Gent also by 2. Phil Johnson did very well to hold Derby professional David Rees to only 10 points.

Close for Causier. Big Break for Gilchrist

David Causier made it to the quarters but by only 12 against Tony Mackinder. Peter Gilchrist had a double century, 204, against sponsor Arthur Johnson, which proved to be the highest of the day. Jim Murphy v Brian Hoole was something of an anti-climax for the Hartlepool man as he was well beaten by Brian Hoole.

Causier crushes Close

Bob Close has had many successes in the Mini-Prix and might have thought himself well on the way to more success here. But Causier, playing with great confidence, was very consistent, made a century, and was a worthy winner this time. Peter Gilchrist, when well in front of David Rees, indulged himself in a few fancy shots. The Derby man was not amused. Brian Hoole was within 18 points of sending Murphy junior the way of Murphy senior.

Two centuries for Gilchrist

A Gilchrist/Russell clash generally brings the best from the world champion - as it did at Spondon. Not this time. The Middlesbrough professional was on good form and his two centuries were enough to take him to the final. Murphy fought hard but could not contain the dashing Causier.

Gilchrist's remarkable win

Remarkable indeed. Gilchrist had played all day as if he could not miss. Now he could hardly score at all. His young amateur opponent went off like a house on fire scoring freely and with breaks of 71,48,37 and 53 built up a substantial lead. With just over twenty minutes to go, and after 11 visits, the scores stood at 269 - 54 in Causier's favour Gilchrist's highest break to this point being 11. The Middlesbrough professional finally got going with a 69 which he followed with a 76. Causier missed out on a couple of opportunities and had to watch as Gilchrist rattled up a rapid 133. There was still nothing in it as Causier added 18 and 32 to lead by 36. The climax came as, after a very good cannon, Gilchrist, in attempting a pot red missed - only to score a fluke cannon via a middle pocket jaw. He seized his opportunity to play out time with 43 unfinished to take the first prize by just 7 points. And so the new Amateur Champion still awaits his first Mini-Prix title.

Middlesbrough Plate

Foldvari strikes back

Foldvari is a good sportsman and does not consider it beneath his dignity to play in the plate. He declared that he would do his best to win the secondary competition and try to make the highest break. He scored 258 with a break of 162 unfinished in his first game against very capable opposition in Howard Griffiths. That's not bad for someone who is supposed to be a slow player.

There were no upsets. The Teesside boys clash saw Bennett make a good win over Shutt.

Andress makes a fight of it

The U.K. Professional Champion did not have it all his own way against Bill Andress though there was little doubt as to who would be the winner. Tom Hodby in only his third Mini-Prix did well to make it to the final.

Foldvari with a century

Foldvari scored fluently, had a good century break, and quite outclassed his amateur opponent. Tom Hodby tried his best and was not disgraced in this, his first Mini-Prix final.

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