Snooker Season Review 2012-13.

Snooker Season Review 2012-13.

I'm pleased to say that the Wallingford Comrades Club has enjoyed a VERY successful season in snooker competitions this year.

The annual Gilbert Shepherd Final was contested between Jon Hawkins & Tom Williams & was a quality hard fought match with Jon eventually triumphing to win it for the first time. Gavin Twigg won the inaugural 'Amateur' trophy!

In the house competitions the Veterans Final was won by Dave Greathead who beat Hugh Baker. The Billiards Final was won by Rob House who beat Pete Billingham. The Doubles was won by 'new boys' Dave Rowe & Nigel Woods who beat Simon Ellam & Rob House. Dave Rowe made it a 'double' by winning the Singles event as well, beating Pete Billingham. I don't think some of the handicaps will be quite so generous next year, but thank you to the Secretary, Brian Orton for arranging all the house competitions.

In the League, the A Team were Runners Up in the Premier Division to Abingdon Con A & the B Team were Runners Up in Division 1 (for the second year in succession) & Dave Rowe also got the equal High Break in the 1st Division.

In the Cups, the A Team played Abingdon Con A in the John Evans Final & were Runners Up.

In the Jim Taylor Final the A Team played Challow C & it went to the wire with the A Team triumphing 3-2!

In Pairs & Individual League Competitions, Kev Higgs & Pete Billingham got as far as the Semi Finals of the Doubles & 2 Man Team before bowing out.

Tom Williams won the Novices Title (in his first year in the D&DS&BL!) beating Aaron Tame. A fantastic achievement!

In the Over 50s defending Champion Dave Greathead lost to Ian Barnes 3-1.

In the Blue Ribband Singles event, Tom Williams defeated defending Champion Ian 'Sid' Barnes in the semi finals (to make it 2 individual Finals!) & Pete Billingham beat Ollie Hoeblyn in the other semi final.
That meant that for the first time since 1995 (when Stuart Mogford beat Pete Billingham) the Final was contested by 2 Wallingford players!
The Final was played at a neutral venue (table 4!) & Tom came back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 but Pete scrambled over the line to win the last frame & take the title (& hopefully make his late Father Bill proud!).
This is the first time since 1996 (when Nigel Prior won it for the 2nd time) that the title has come to the Club! And an unprecedented season of having 3 individual title holders in the same team (well for 1 week only before Dave succumbed to Ian Barnes in the Over 50s Final).

The Comrades will be collecting no less than 10 League Trophies at the D&DS&BL AGM & Presentation! A cracking year!

I would like to thank Kev Pickworth for all his hard work as B Team Captain & ALL the snooker players for their efforts & enthusiasm throughout the year!

The snooker players wish to thank the club & Committee for investing & maintaining the fabulous facilities-the addition of slip on cue extensions for each of the tables (thank u Brian) & upgrading the lighting on ALL 4 tables!

Also huge thanks to John Beardsley for his tireless high quality maintenance of the tables. The club hosted the Presidents Cup Final & the quality of the tables has been commented on during the season by several players from other clubs who are envious of the excellent facilities here!

Also a huge Thank You to Will Spinner who as you know set up the Wallingford Comrades Club Website. Will also set up the Snooker Link & a 'technology 4 idiots' e-mail address that makes the Club Snooker Reps job sooooo easy! Thank u Will!

A point to note was that duing the season the Club Rep received a very nice Thank You e-mail from Kennington Secretary Martin Clements. Kennington came over for a Cup match & all the team stated how hospitable their players found the club, staff & members.

Lastly a huge Thank You to Oz & Lucy & their bar staff for the consistently high quality of the food & their hospitality extended to the away teams-again we have a reputation for our snooker suppers that has been continued to a very high standard. Thank you.

Thanks to all the blog readers! Have a great summer & see you in September when it all starts again!

Comrades Snooker Rep & A Team Captain, Pete Billingham.