Snooker: April 2018

Snooker Review 2017-18 Season.

I'm very pleased to report that the Wallingford Comrades Club has enjoyed another successful year in snooker competitions this season.

Club Summary

The Tanner Trophy for Players Player of the Season was proudly received by Hugh Baker. Hugh's dedication to the game, competitive nature & support to his fellow Club members is unwavering. He is a guaranteed fixture along with Referees at any Semis or Finals involving Club players & this prestigious award was richly deserved.

The annual end of season all-day Gilbert Shepherd Memorial Shield tournament was won by Phil Collins with Pete Billingham as Runner Up.

The annual Greene King all day tournament has now become more Autumn than Pre-Season & was also won by Phil Collins with Alan Milton as Runner Up.

The Bill Billingham High Break Trophy for Highest Break in match-play was won by Phil Collins for his fabulous 92 in a League match.

House competitions

The Veterans Final was won for the first time by Rob House who beat fellow B Team mate Dave Greathead.

The Billiards Final was won by Phil Collins who beat Rob House to get his name in gold leaf on the hallowed Winners Boards for the first time.

The Doubles was won & retained by Pete Billingham & Jon Hawkins who beat fellow A Team mates Kevin Higgs & Tom Hamilton-Williams.

The inaugural Drawn Pairs was won by Phil Collins & Alan Milton who beat Jon Hawkins & Soheil Meskini.

The Singles was won for the first time & on his first entry to the Competition as a fully paid Club Member by Phil Collins who beat Stu Foley for a Double Gold Leaf Year.

Thank you to the Secretary, Brian Orton for organising all of the house competitions & Russ Hawkswell & Liz Nixey for obtaining & engraving all the lovely trophy shields.

League Summary

The A Team won the Premier Division, retaining the Title for a Comrades best of 5 consecutive years.

The B Team kept the A Team honest throughout the League campaign, heading the table for much of the early part of the League. They finished in Runners Up in the Premier, testament again to their longevity.

The C Team finished 3rd in Division 1, missing out on Runners Up by a single point.

In the Presidents Cup the C Team bowed out at the Semi Final stage.

In the John Evans Cup the A Team were Runners Up to Wantage who won 3-2.

In the Jim Taylor Cup the A Team were Runners Up to Abingdon RBL who won 3-1.

The Premier Division High Break Trophy was won by Phil Collins for his aforementioned fabulous 92.

In the One Frame Shoot Out Pete Billingham was Runner Up to Paul Robinson of Wantage Comrades.

In the Captains Cup Pete Billingham was Runner Up to Laurence Harvey of Marlborough A.

In the Billiards Rob House won his first League solo Title, coming from behind to beat multiple winner Nigel Winney of Fawley.

In the inaugural Doubles Shoot Out Pete Billingham & Kev Higgs beat Hugh Baker & Phil Collins in the Final, hosted by Wallingford Comrades.

In the Over 50s Pete Billingham was Runner Up to Ian Barnes of Wantage.

In the Novices Cup Rob House was Runner Up to Chris Rose of Wantage.

In the 2 Man Team Phil Collins & Tom Hamilton-Williams retained the Title beating team-mates Pete Billingham & Kev Higgs in the Final, also held at Wallingford Comrades.

In the Doubles last Comrades Pairings standing were Stuart Foley/Dave Greathead & Kevin Higgs/Pete Billingham who both sadly bowed out in the Semi Finals.

In the Singles Kev Higgs was the last Comrade standing & came Runner Up to Ian Barnes of Wantage in a thrilling battle, having lead twice, losing when Sid cleared Blue to Black to win in the deciding frame.

Wallingford Comrades Snooker Players will be collecting no less than 15 trophies this year, consisting of 5 prestigious Winners & 10 valiant Runners Up trophies at the AGM & Presentation at the Marlborough Club on 2nd May.

Acknowledgements

I would like to offer thanks to Kev Higgs as A Team Vice Captain, Andy Rance as B Team Captain & All Day Tournaments Organiser, Adam Beasley as C Team Captain plus his able deputy, Vice Captain Baz Alexander. They all put in tireless hours & much thankless hard work - I know just how much you all have done & what time, effort & organisational skills (& stress!) is involved.

I would also like to thank ALL of the snooker players for their efforts & enthusiasm throughout the year. Without you guys there wouldn't be competitions & I'd have nothing to post on the Snooker Blog or FaceBook!

The club hosted Semi Finals of the Chairman's Cup, Doubles Shoot Out, Doubles & Singles Finals & 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 facilities, although the match tables are now due for recovering as they have seen their best. These facilities have seen another good return in revenue & continue to attract the all important next generation of Club players. Compared with other Clubs we are 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 & our continued successes will entice even more new members, snooker players & ultimately teams to bolster the D&DB&SL.

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 our wonderful Club Stewards Oz & Lucy & their bar staff for their hospitality extended to the away teams & consistently high quality of the food. We have always had a good reputation for our snooker suppers & this has been continued to a high standard, thank you.

Finally, thank you to all of the Social Media Snooker readers - the Club runs Snooker on FaceBook & the Comrades Snooker Blog & both prove very popular with lots of healthy banter & comments.

Have a great summer break & see you all In September when we start the 2018-19 Season & enter the Clubs momentous Centenary year! Keep yours eyes peeled for numerous special posts & events to be announced on Notice Boards, Snooker Blog or Facebook. Read & comment - it's your Club, get involved!

Comrades Snooker Rep & A Team Captain, Pete Billingham.