Snooker Review 2015-16 Season.
I'm very pleased to report that the Wallingford Comrades Club has enjoyed another fabulous, successful season in snooker competitions this season.
Club Summary –
The Tanner Trophy for Players Player of the Season was proudly received again by Dave Rowe after successfully defending his Club Singles Title for a record making 3rd year, winning the 2014 Greene King tournament & winning the League Singles.
The annual end of season all-day Gilbert Shepherd Memorial Shield Tournament Final was held for its 20th year & the Final was contested between Dave Rowe of the B Team & Kev 'Cuz' Higgs of the A Team. Dave eventually won, 2-1 on a re-spotted black in the deciding frame at just past closing time!
The annual pre-season all-day Greene King tournament was won by Tom Hamilton-Williams who beat the previous holder, Dave Rowe to lift the Trophy for the first time. Tom played superbly well, knocking in several breaks including a highest (in the Final!) of 52.
In House competitions, the Veterans Final was won by Dave Greathead who beat Alan Wells to retain the Title – 65 years young & still eager for more Titles!
The Billiards Final was won by Jon Hawkins who beat Rob House, despite a noteworthy 61 break by Rob. It was a cracking Final which was locked at 243 each before Jon sealed the win, scampering to 250 to win for the first time.
The Doubles was won by Dave Rowe & Nigel Woods who proved too strong for Hugh Baker & Alan Wells. They won 2-0 with Dave knocking in a 67 break!
The Singles was won for the first time & on his first entry to the Competition by Jon Hawkins, who beat Tom Hamilton-Williams to make it a double gold leaf year... well, triple if you include the Darts Title!
Thank you to the Secretary, Brian Orton for organising all of the house competitions & Russ Hawkswell for the lovely trophies.
League Summary -
The A Team successfully defended the Premier Division Championship Title for a 3rd consecutive year - a feat not accomplished since the days of Oracle A back in the 2007-08 season! Captain Pete 'Billy' Billingham was able to draw from a quality squad with great strength in depth, consisting of Kev 'Cuz' Higgs as his Vice Captain, ever-green Dave 'Anchorman' Greathead, Jon 'Hawkinator' Hawkins, Tom Hamilton-Williams (THW/Sheba), a coup 'Summer Signing' of ex-Fairmile Legend, Phil 'Bar Billiards ex-World Champion' Collins plus ever-keen Super Sub Nigel 'OGS' Woods who put in some superb performances & played far more than he usually has done in past seasons & took some notable scalps!
The B Team sadly finished in the 'wooden spoon' position in the Premier Division, although they may well avoid the drop if more teams drop out & there is further reorganisation of the remaining 3 Leagues by the D&DB&SL Committee during the Summer. Captain Andy was ably supported in the B Team by Dave Rowe, Brian Orton, Rob House, Craig Mace, Simon Ellam, Olly Walker & 'new boy' Soheil Meskini who was snapped up after a great performance in the Gilbert Shepherd.
After a mid season surge & fabulous results, the C Team were a respectable 3rd in Division 2. Captain Kev was ably supported & regularly deputised by Adam Beasley & Alan Wells, plus Hugh Baker, Erik Cawthorne, Joey Edwards, debut boy Jon Fanstone, Dave Glaves, new signing Alan Milton & a certain 'Father of Craig', Geoff Mace!
In the Presidents Cup the C Team had a fantastic run & made it to the Final where they faced 2nd Division Champions, RAF Benson. Having been one of the only teams to beat RAF Benson in the League (away!), the C Team duly obliged in delivering more silverware for the Comrades by winning 3-2 in a nail biting final frame decider! No less than they deserved after a concerted 'push' in the second half of the League campaign to top off an 'interesting' season. Well done C's!
In the John Evans Cup the A Team bowed out at the Quarter Final Stage, but the B Team survived for a further round, getting knocked out by Abingdon Con A in the Semi Finals.
In the Jim Taylor Cup both the A & B made it to the Semi Finals & sadly drew each other. To add to the irony, Andy was drawn first & played his Club Doubles & Practice Partner Jon, Brain drew Dave (like they've never been drawn together!), Dave Rowe played Pete, Craig v Cuz & Rob v Phil. The Premiership Champions were in very uncharitable mood & sealed their Final place with a 5-0 to face Marlborough A at RAF Benson. They were in similar uncharitable mood v the 1st Division side & won, 5-0 to make it a successful defence of the Jim Taylor Cup to go with the Premiership - a Double Double!
The Bill Billingham High Break Trophy for Highest Break in match-play was won by Dave Rowe for his superb 67 in the Club Doubles Final.
In the Under 23s Craig Mace was a valiant Runner Up to Ben Rowland from Abingdon Con who won 3-0 at Didcot Con.
In the Novices Cup Jon Fanstone made it to the Final in his first season of playing & faced Aaron Downey of Abingdon RBL at the same Club. Aaron proving too strong for the valiant C Team star in his debut season, winning 3-0, though no doubt Jon has gained ample & valuable experience for the future.
In the Billiards we were guaranteed a Wallingford Winner with all four Semi Finalists being from our Club! Rob House & Pete Billingham didn't make the cut & the Final was contested between Jon Hawkins & Tom Hamilton-Williams. Jon added to his long list of season titles & won this as well.
In the Captains Cup Pete Billingham successfully defended the Title with a 3-1 win over Simon Perkins from RAF Benson.
In the Over 50s Andy Rance faced Paul Archer from Abingdon RBL in the Final, but sadly for 'Cap 'B, it was to be Runners Up slot.
In the 2 Man Team, Jon Fanstone & Adam Beasley made the Semi/Finals night as did the defending Champions, Pete Billingham & Kev Higgs. The C Team duo of Adam & Jon played superb v Dave Williams & Phil Hall from the Premiership Challow A side & progressed to the Final in their first year of competition! They faced Pete & Kev who beat Harwell RBL pairing of Simon & Richard Saunders. Sadly for Adam & Jon it wasn't to be the Fairy Tale ending as Pete & Kev successfully defended & retained the Title for a second year.
In the Doubles the last Wallingford pairing & defending Champions, Kev Higgs & Pete Billingham bowed out in the Semi Finals.
In the Singles we were guaranteed a Wallingford Finalist with Jon Hawkins & Pete Billingham being drawn together (by Colin Dalton!). Jon came back from 0-1 to win 2-1 & faced Paul Robinson from Challow in the Final at RAF Benson. Despite recently upgrading his cue to a handmade Parris (courtesy of a very generous Christmas present from his lovely girlfriend, Lynn), Jon had been putting in the hours on the practice table & it certainly showed in the Final. Jon won convincingly, 3-0 playing solid match-play, great opening pots & perfect weight safety. Jon is the 5th Comrade to lift the prestigious Singles Title, following Stu Mogford, Nigel Prior, Pete Billingham & Dave Rowe - Welcome to the 'Club' Jon-Boy, very well deserved & hearty congratulations!
The Snooker Comrades will be collecting no less than 7 prestigious Winners & 5 Runners Up trophies at this years AGM & Presentation at the Marlborough Club on 10th May.
I would like to thank Andy Rance as B Team Captain & All Day Tournaments Organiser. Kev Pickworth as C Team Captain & League Competition Secretary. They put in tireless hours & much thankless hard work as Team Captains. I know just how much you do & what time, effort & organisational skills (& stress) it takes!
I would also like to thank ALL the snooker players for their efforts & enthusiasm throughout the year. Without you guys, I wouldn't have anything to waffle on about or litter FaceBook & the Snooker Blog with!
The club hosted Semi Finals of the League Singles & Final of the Captains Cup & the quality of the tables was commented on during the season by several players from visiting clubs who are envious of the excellent facilities here.
The snooker players would like to thank the Club & Committee for their continued investment in the fabulous facilities by re-clothing 3 tables & a new set of balls for Table 1. The new Scoreboard & Notice Board lights have also helped with the ageing eye-sights & they will hopefully last a lot longer as well as being 'green'. It is fair to say that this has all helped in seeing a great return in revenue & the facilities here are, without doubt the best in the League! When compared with similar sized Clubs, this Club is in an enviable position of having a plethora of players who all have a healthy appetite for competition & dedication & loyalty to the Club. This is to be commended & encouraged as hopefully this enthusiasm (& success) will entice more new members, snooker players & hopefully teams.
A huge Thank You to John Beardsley for his tireless high quality maintenance & preparation of the tables - No job is too big (or small) & without him the Snooker Tables would not be kept to such a consistent high quality!
Thank You to Oz & Lucy & their bar staff for the consistently high quality of the food & their hospitality extended to the away teams – once again we have a reputation for our snooker suppers that has been continued to a very high standard!
Finally, thank you to all of the Social media Snooker readers - the Club now has a Snooker FaceBook page in addition to the existing Blog & it has proved very successful & popular in its maiden season with lots of healthy banter & comments. At the time of writing this review the Snooker Blog had just cleared 16,678 all time page views of the 455 posts over the past 4 seasons! This is a monumental amount & indicative of the interest of & passion for snooker in this club... & lets me know that what I'm doing is worthwhile!
Have a great summer & see you in September when we start it all over again!
Comrades Snooker Rep & A Team Captain, Pete Billingham.
