21 players were entered split in to 3 groups of 7. It was a great turn out, especially during late holiday season & great to see so many players both new & old faces, some local & some not so local!
After the Group stages, the top 2 from each Group automatically progressed through to the Knockout Stages, plus the 2 best Third place players from the 3 Groups. Now this always causes the organiser (Andy Rance) a few headaches with some 'heated discussions' over who should go through! Thankfully, there were no arguments this year as there were 2 stand-out 3rd places, plus a couple of drop outs which made selection easy.
So the knockout line-up was Rob House v Pete Billingham, Gavin Twigg v Phil Hall, Dave Greathead v Pete Beaumont & Dave Rowe v Kev Higgs. Pete, Phil, Dave & Dave all went through (some fairly straightforward 2-0, some got their money's worth of the free light, 2-1).
Gavin Twigg bowed out but took the Best Non-League player award plus cash prize!
The Semi Final line-up was the 'Battle of the Daves', Dave Rowe v Dave Greathead & the 'Battle of the A Team Captains', Phil Hall (ex) v Pete Billingham (current).
Dave Greathead & Pete Billingham both bowed out, but took Semi Finalists cash prize, with Dave adding the Group Stage High Break Prize with a very respectable 45.
So Dave Rowe & Phil Hall both went through to the Final & Dave potted some superb colours to win the 1st frame. Phil dug in & battled back in the second to level it at 1-1 & the pair, both looking a little jaded after a marathon 14 hours of play, kicked off the 3rd & deciding frame AT MIDNIGHT! With both players showing signs of understandable fatigue, it was a close run frame with Dave sealing his maiden Greene King Title on the pink. Just to boost his Winners cash prize, he also picked up the Knockout Stage High Break Prize with a nice 31. Congratulations Bud!
Thanks to:
Andy Rance for organising & running the whole event, Good job mate!
John Beardsley for his immaculate table preparation, bless him, he even came back in to prep the tables for the latter stages!
Russ Hawkswell for the lovely green (how appropriate!) Greene King Shields.
Big thanks to our sponsors, Greene King for subsidising the event, making the prize money even more lucrative!
Oz, Lucy & Eric for all their hard work keeping us watered & fed throughout the day & especially for their patience & understanding to allow us to finish at... silly o'clock!
Without all these, the event wouldn't happen, so thank you all!
Club Rep, Pete.
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