So, on a cold & frosty morning, where else would we rather be?
Playing for the 2017 Greene King All Day Autumn Snooker Tournament.
After the obligatory Dolphin Breakfast Club had finished, it was straight to the warmth of the Comrades for event organiser, Andy Rance's briefing & Order of Play for the Group Stages.
Play started fairly promptly & with a few notable absences due to family commitments (gents, you know who you are, our thoughts are with you & you were missed), the Group Stages were completed quite quickly with 2 lastminutedotcom withdrawals meaning 10 less matches to play.
So including an Oz's Special Winter Warmer Chilli lunch, the Group results were finalised very early in the day.
It was around this point that Quote of the Day was heard from our newest Comrade, Grant Weber nearing the end of the Group Stages, 'I really hope I go through' - don't well all mate, don't we all! Lol!
Best Non League Player came from the 'usual suspects' quartet who have consistently been stalwarts of supporting these events & this time was claimed by Ian Pearce. Well done mate - decided by his first frame win of the day... against Gavin Twigg! 💪. Bragging rights til the GSMS then. 😉
The Knockout Stage was determined by the traditional Winner & Runner Ups from the Groups.
With the knockouts being best of 3, only one match went the distance which was the mouthwatering tie of Jon ('Hawks') v Phil ('World Champion'), which Phil took 2-1.
That wasn't the only all A Team tie as Rowey faced Cap A, which was a close match, with Cap A winning 2-0.
Stu Foley played Alan Milton & MILF (who was spotted in the Club all afternoon Friday getting 'sharp') won 2-0.
Table 2 saw Grant from the C Team face B Team Anchorman, Dave & it was a 'no quarter asked or given' as Dave showed his experience to progress 2-0 to the Semis.
That gave a Semi Final line-up of Dave v Alan & Phil v Pete. Alan & Phil both progressed 2-0 to then face each other in the Final.
Dave Greathead receiving his Semi Final 'cheque' from his Captain & Event Organiser, Andy Rance.
Cap B presenting Cap A with his Semi Finalist 'cheque' - subsequently spent on a Chinese for Supper!
It was a cracking final as Alan took the first frame on the black. Phil responded in the second, knocking in a 45 break in the process. With the math poised at 1-1 & tiredness taking its toll, both players missed chances in the decider before Phil ran out a 64-37 win to take the trophy (all done by 9.10pm - is that a record Phil Hall?).
Phil receiving the 2018 Greene King Trophy, Shield & Winners Cheque (also promptly spent of a Chinese Supper!).
Alan receiving his Runner Up Shield & 'cheque'
Phil also bagged both High Breaks (48 in the Group Stages & 71 in the Knockout).
Special mention for 'Turnaround of the day' which has to go to Stuart Foley who said on the lead up to the event, 'I'm not drinking this time & gonna give it a proper go', yet somehow managed to run up a £70+ Bar tab?! Quite impressive as he qualified as Runner Up in his Group, only losing in the knockout stages to eventual Runner Up, Alan. Warning, do not go drinking with this 'experienced' man - he reckons it's his Irish heritage?!
Thanks go to -
Event Organiser, Andy Rance for all his hard work preparing, printing, running & stressing about handicaps. Thanks mate, you are a star!
John Beardsley for his table preparations- they were, as always, immaculate, thank you.
Oz & Lucy & their staff for feeding & watering us throughout the day - hope you enjoyed 'investing' your drink money!
Russ & Liz for providing & engraving the lovely Greene King glass shields. Top work, thank you both.
Greene King brewery for their sponsorship of the event to keep our running costs affordable.
And lastly Gents, to all of you guys who regularly keep turning up to these events to make them the success that they are. Without you we wouldn't be able to run these tournaments, so thank you one & all.
We will be back for the next All Day Tournament, the 2018 Gilbert Shepherd Memorial Shield next year, so keep your eyes peeled on the Snooker Notice Board, Snooker Blog & our FaceBook page.
Next main event is Club Finals night on Friday 8th December.
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