Tournament News

Halls & Westwood Storm To Memorial Cup Victory In Final Round Thriller

www.snooker-league.org

Sunday 24 November 2013 saw the Memorial Cup Tournament held at Saffron Snooker Club with a new and exciting format, Scotch Doubles.

With 16 entrants on the day, the 8 doubles pairings played 7 round robin matches of one frame, with the winner of the group taking the title.  To ensure the rounds flowed, all frames started at the same time and a 30 minute time limit was put on each frame which added to the tension as the minutes ticked by towards the end of each round.  Normal doubles handicaps were used for each pairing but due to the reduced potential scoring ability of the format they were halved which gave everyone a fair chance of competing on a level playing field.

Going into the final round, Halls & Westwood had 5 points, closely followed by Saville & Turner, Rule & Gibson and Spackman & Cooper all on 4 points.  With the final round already pre-drawn at the start of the day, Saville & Turner played Rule & Gibson for a potential 5 points total hoping that Halls & Westwood lost their final round, but in a twist, they were playing Spackman & Cooper who were also on contention for the title.  In a potential winner takes all for Halls & Westwood or face a three way play off, they continued the consistent form shown throughout the day and pulled another frame win out the bag storming to victory over Spackman & Cooper and took the title winning 6 out of 7 frames during the tournament.  Rule & Gibson finished runners up with 5 points by beating Saville & Turner in the final round.

The high break prize went to Saville & Turner who clicked into gear with an excellent 37, no mean feat when taking alternate shots!

The new format was a roaring success on the day with everyone enjoying the tournament.  The Committee hope for continued support from league players next season so we can continue this new tournament format and build on the success.  If you weren’t able to come along on Sunday, get 4 players together and try it in your own club the next time you are looking for something different to do!

Many thanks to all those that turned up on the day to support the tournament, and a special thank you to Des and Mark Cooper for kindly hosting at Saffron Snooker Club.  The tournament was run by Peter Saville, assisted by Stuart Turner and Mark Cooper.

The winners, Mark Halls and Ben Westwood kindly donated their prize money to the Christmas Charity Raffle so stand a chance of winning one of the two pairs of afternoon/evening session tickets available to see The Masters Snooker Tournament at Alexandra Palace in January. Lucky numbers for the raffle can be bought at Saffron Snooker Club at £2 each.  Each pair of snooker tickets is worth £90 so well worth a flutter given also that all proceeds will be donated to a charity which will be chosen by the winners of the Memorial Cup Mark and Ben.

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Scratch Plus Singles and Scratch Singles – Last Chance To Enter!

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With the first rounds of the Scratch Plus Singles and Scratch Singles not due to commence until January 2014, the deadline for entries has been extended until Monday 30 December 2013.

Should you wish to play in either or both of these tournaments, please confirm your entry via text to Adam Ingram or via email to the league email address swdsl@live.co.uk

Entry fee is £2.00 per player and all rounds are best of five frames, apart from the Scratch Final which is best of seven frames.

The conditions of entry and rules for both tournaments are detailed on the Tournament Entry Form previously posted on the league website.

Memorial Cup Tournament – Sunday 24 November 2013

www.snooker-league.org

Please see Memorial Cup Poster attached for details.  To make it fair, the tournament will be based upon league handicaps.  If you could confirm your entry via text to Adam Ingram prior to the day it would be appreciated so we can have an idea of likely numbers.

Please come along and show your support…this tournament is held to remember all those players that are sadly no longer with us and don’t forget that all proceeds are to be donated to charity.Image

League Tournaments Update…

www.snooker-league.org

Dear League Member,

FINAL REMINDER!  We have to date had a very slow response (only 3 teams out of 22) to those wishing to enter the league’s Annual Snooker Tournaments that we run during the season (i.e. Handicap Singles, Handicap Doubles, Scratch Singl es and Scratch Plus).  Please could all Captains liaise with their players and ensure that the Tournament Entry Form for their team is completed and received by the Tournament Secretary Adam Ingram no later than 5.30pm next Monday, the 30 September 2013 as the draws for all four tournaments will take place at The Dunmow Club at 7.30pm on the same day.  All league members are welcome to attend and watch the draws being made if they so wish.  The Tournament Entry Form is available to download from the league website, no entries will be accepted after the deadline.

Could all those players that are still in possession of a Tournament Main Trophy please return it to Saffron Snooker Club as soon as possible as they all need to be sent away for engraving.  Please ensure returned trophies are in a clean condition.

The following dates are detailed on the Season Calendar on the league website but please note for your diary the following;
Memorial Cup – Sunday 24 November 2013 (format to be confirmed following the Committee Meeting next week)
President’s Cup – Sunday 26 January 2014
Both are to be held at Saffron Snooker Club and run during the day.

Yours in sport,
The Committee

REMINDER : League Tournaments Entries Are Now Due…

www.snooker-league.org

Just a reminder to all league players that the Tournament Entry Sheet is available to download from the league website http://www.swdsl.co.uk for those wishing to enter the Handicap Singles, Handicap Doubles, Scratch Singles and the Scratch Plus Singles.

All forms must be received by the Tournament Secretary, Adam Ingram no later than Monday 30 September 2013.

Memorial Cup Format – Your Vote Please

www.snooker-league.org

Dear League Member,

In recent seasons the Memorial Cup hasn’t been very well supported, and last year it had to be cancelled altogether due to the lack of teams entering.  Given the importance of this tournament and what it stands for, to remember past snooker players who are sadly no longer with us, the Committee were asked at the AGM in June this year to review alternative options and to request members vote on their preference in a bid to reinvorgate interest. The format of the Memorial Cup has always been a 3 Man Team playing round robin in groups, with the winners of each group qualifying for the knockout stage.

Accordingly, we would be grateful to receive your vote via the league email address with your preferred option from the following, no later than Friday 20th September 2013.  The League Secretary, Peter Saville will collate all responses for discussion at the next Committee Meeting when a format will be agreed by the Committee.  For your diary, the Memorial Cup is scheduled to take place at Saffron Snooker Club on Sunday 24th November 2013.

1.  3 Man Team (current format)
2.  Scotch Doubles (like normal doubles but players take alternate shots, ie if one pots a red, the other is then on a colour)
3.  Pairs (2 players pair up and each play one frame of singles against another pair. the winning pair has the highest accumulated score from the two frames)
4.  Captain’s Cup (handicap singles tournament for team captains only)

We look forward to receiving your vote at your earliest opportunity.  If you have any questions regarding the above options then please do not hesitate to contact Peter Saville.

This is your opportunity to have a say in the way your tournaments are run, please use your vote!

Yours in sport,
The Committee

EASB Club Player Championship Semi Final….Ingram v Cushion Part 2!!

www.snooker-league.org

The EASB Club Players Championship Semi Final between Adam Ingram and Michael Cushion will be played at WTs in Cambridge on Sunday 9th June 2013 at 11:00.   As both players play in the DMC Leisure Saffron Walden & District Snooker League please come along and support them if you are able to.  This is a repeat of the recent Scratch Final held at Saffron Snooker Club which Ingram won 4-0 so no doubt Cushion will be seeking revenge!  The winner will be playing in the EASB Club Players Championship Final at “The Star Academy” in Sheffield over the weekend of 15-16th June 2013 (EASB Finals Weekend).

Seventh Heaven for Ingram at Trophy Presentation / Finals Evening – Saturday 18 May 2013

www.snooker-league.org

The 51st snooker season of the DMC Leisure Saffron Walden & District Snooker League concluded on the evening of Saturday 18 May 2013 with the finals of the Handicap Singles and Scratch Singles being played and the presentation of the trophies won during the season.

At 4.45pm the Handicap Singles final kicked off with Pat Manley (Newport Ex Cons) taking on Peter Saville (Dunmow Club).  With Pat having a handicap of -6 and Peter -1, the match was virtually a scratch affair.  Both players have pedigree in the tournament with Pat a previous winner in the 1991/92 season, and Peter a runner up in 1996/97 and 1998/99.  In frame one, Peter struggled to find the sort of form which saw him reach his third final and with Pat finding his range early on, he soon eased to a 1-0 advantage.  In frame two Peter found his range and secured the frame with a double on the pink.  Peter started well in frame three but Pat eased ahead to take a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five match and needed just one frame for victory.  Peter led in frame four but after being snookered twice by Pat, he gave away 28 points in fouls with the miss rule being called.  Despite this with both players needing blue and pink, Peter had first chance but in missing a chance on the blue handed the advantage back to Pat who calmly secured victory by potting the blue and pink.

At 8.15pm, the Scratch Singles final took centre stage with Adam Ingram aiming for a 7th title, and last years runner up, Michael Cushion looking to go one better and secure his first Scratch Singles title.  In the first frame, Michael started well with a good opening break but a rattled missed black ball allowed Adam to score enough points to draw level and continue to secure the first frame.  Adam dominated the play in frames two and three and at the interval look ominously comfortable with a 3-0 lead.  Adam continued well in frame four and although Michael looked as if he could start a comeback as Adam missed a straight forward pot on the pink for the match, but after a short safety exchange and snookers,  Adam slotted in the pink and black to secure a 4-0 victory and pick up an incredible 7th Scratch Singles title.

Following the conclusion of the Scratch Singles final, the trophy presentations took place.  Our Life President, Dan Lewis compered and Des Cooper of DMC Leisure, our league sponsor presented the trophies to the various winners.

To make a snooker season a success involves a lot of people giving up their free time to make it work, and this year the Committee are due a big thank you namely Dan Lewis (Life President), Cathy O’Neill (League Secretary), Adam Ingram (Tournament Secretary), Peter Saville (Vice Chairman/Treasurer/Website Administrator), Stuart Turner (Assistant Tournament Secretary), Mark Cooper, Stewart Hart and Bob Lovell.

In addition to the Committee, without the support of Saffron Snooker Club and DMC Leisure, the league would not be able to hold events such as the President’s Cup and the Trophy Presentation / Finals Evening.  We must also thank all the league venues who provided snooker tables for all the semi finals and finals this season, and to those individuals who gave up their time to referee and score the various matches.  Finally, without the support of  local businesses through sponsorship of our tournaments, we would not be able to offer the level of prize money and the quality of trophies that we have all come to expect, so again a big thank you to our sponsors Bullet Brickwork (UK) Ltd, Bushwood Accountants, Binder Loams, Tees Solicitors, GJM Plumbing Repairs, Hexagon Consulting and DMC Leisure.

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President’s Cup Success For Mark Halls And Joe Fanthorpe

www.snooker-league.org

The President’s Cup, sponsored by Bullet Brickwork UK Ltd was held on Sunday 28 April 2013.  A strong field of 34 descended on Saffron Snooker Club and before the tournament got underway a one minute silence was held in respect of John Monk who had sadly passed away a few days earlier.

The tournament on the day was run by Tournament Secretary Adam Ingram, who was assisted by Stuart Turner.  The first round draw threw up a couple of exciting matches and it soon became clear that one half contained the majority of the minus handicapped players, with the other half mainly plus.  With Adam Ingram being in the half with the plus players and with the 85 maximum start rule in play, Adam seemed favourite to progress well through the field but crashed out in the first round leaving the draw wide open.

The Quarter Finals shaped up with Pat Manley v Peter Saville, Stuart Turner v Micky Cushion, Richard Livings v Phil Chapman and Mark Halls v Neil Winter.  With all matches being won 2-0, Manley took on Turner in the first semi final whilst Halls took on Chapman.  Whilst both Turner and Chapman had chances, the two in form players on the day, Pat Manley and Mark Halls came through to meet in the final.  Both players have shown good form either in the league or in tournaments this season but it was Mark Halls who battled through to win the President’s Cup 2-1 and collect the £75 first prize, with Pat receiving a consolation of £40 Runners Up prize.

Those players who got knocked out in their first playing round got a free entry in the Plate Tournament with one frame being played in each round including the final. The semi finals lined up with Adam Ingram taking on Michael Spackman, and Brendan Marling taking on Joe Fanthorpe.  Both Michael and Joe made it through to the final and Joe continued a fantastic run of form on the day by beating Michael to win his first tournament and collect the £20 first prize.

Trophies will be presented at Presentation Evening on Saturday 18th May 2013 at Saffron Snooker Club.

Recorded breaks over 25 :

Peter Saville 28, Kevin Starr 37, Pat Manley 42, Stuart Turner 48, Adam Ingram 79 and 100.

Adam’s century break secured him the £10 High Break Prize.

The Committee of the DMC Leisure Saffron Walden and District Snooker League would like to thank Bullet Brickwork UK Ltd for their continued sponsorship of our flagship day tournament, Saffron Snooker Club for providing the venue, Mark Cooper for preparing the tables and refereeing the final, and finally Adam Ingram and Stuart Turner for running the event.

Link to sponsors website :
http://www.bullet-brickwork.co.uk

League Tournaments Update – April 2013

www.snooker-league.org

As you will no doubt be aware, this seasons snooker tournaments are now drawing to a conclusion with all of them being at least at the Semi Final stage apart from the Scratch Singles which is at the Quarter Final stage.  Here is a brief summary of which players and teams are featuring in the latter stages of the various tournaments and when and where they will be played.  All tournaments have run very smoothly this season and the Committee would like to thank the Tournament Secretary Adam Ingram and his assistant Stuart Turner for all their hard work to date.  Please go along and support those taking part if you can.  Venues and dates may be subject to last minute changes so please double check the league website which will publish any changes.

Handicap Singles Semi Finals  – Tuesday 14th May 2013;

Bishop’s Stortford SC – Peter Saville v Adam Ingram / Sawbridgeworth USC – Steve Gabriel v Pat Manley

Handicap Doubles Semi Finals – Wednesday 8th May 2013;

Takeley SSC – Stalley/Winter v Barker/Tedman

Dunmow Club – Patmore/Sawyer v Hunt/Kidman

Scratch Plus Singles Semi Finals – Monday 13th May 2013;

Sawbridgeworth USC – Spencer Hewitt v Peter Saville / Saffron SC – Mark Patmore v Steve Parradine

League Cup Final – Tuesday 7th May 2013, to be held at Dunmow Club;

Whittlesford SC v Sawbo Bandits

For the drawsheets of all league tournaments, please visit the league website

http://www.swdsl.co.uk

BS & District Snooker League secure BS Challenge title with solid performance….

www.snooker-league.org

The Bishop’s Stortford Challenge, sponsored by Tees Law was held at Old Harlow War Memorial Club on Sunday 14 April 2013.

This year, both the Saffron Walden & District Snooker League and the Bishop’s Stortford & District Snooker League each entered a team consisting of six players, three league handicapped between -10 and -1, and three between scratch and +10.  Saffron Walden was represented by Sam Duce, Kevin Starr (Captain), Peter Saville, Mark Halls, Phil Chapman and John Jay.  In each round, the minus players played two frames against each other and the plus players did the same.  Following the three rounds, a fourth round took place which mixed up the order with the minus players taking on the plus players.

BS raced into an early lead after two rounds and whilst SW started to win more frames in rounds three and four, the damage had been done early on and BS ran out worthy winners securing the title 31-17.  Player of the Tournament was Matt Gardiner, representing BS who won 7 out of 8 frames.

Bishops Stortford players:-
Kevin Goodenough won 6/8, Nobby Clarke won 6/8, Mick Westby won 4/8, Daniel Brace won 5/8, Matt Gardiner won 7/8 and Alex Dellow won 3/8.

Saffron Walden players:-
Sam Duce won 5/8, Kevin Starr won 4/8, Peter Saville won 3/8, Mark Halls won 1/8, John Jay won 1/8 and Phil Chapman won 3/8.

The Committee of the Saffron Walden & District Snooker League would like to take this opportunity to thank Marc Ridout and Malcolm Springham for organising and running the tournament which was played with a competitive but friendly spirit.  Thanks also to Keith Brown of Old Harlow War Memorial Club for allowing us to use the snooker tables for this tournament and for laying on a buffet feast which was enjoyed by all the players, and finally many thanks to our tournament sponsors, Tees Law.

Link to sponsors website : http://www.teeslaw.co.uk

Bishop’s Stortford Challenge – Sunday 14 April 2013

www.snooker-league.org

The Bishop’s Stortford Challenge, sponsored by Tees Law will be held on Sunday 14 April 2013 at Old Harlow War Memorial. This year, the format will be such that both leagues will enter a team consisting of six players, three of which are handicapped between -10 and -1, and three between scratch and +10. A draw will be undertaken on the day to see who plays who.

Saffron Walden & District Snooker League Team – Kevin Starr (Captain), Sam Duce, Peter Saville, Mark Halls, John Jay and Phil Chapman.

Play commences at 11am and all spectators are welcome to come along on the day and support our players.

The Saffron Walden & District Snooker League Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank Marc Ridout for all his hard work in organising this event and our tournament sponsor Tees Law.

Link to sponsors website : http://www.teeslaw.co.uk

President’s Cup – Sunday 28 April 2013

www.snooker-league.org

The President’s Cup, sponsored by Bullet Brickwork (UK) Ltd will be held on Sunday 28 April 2013 at Saffron Snooker Club.  Registration is from 10.30am with the draw taking place at 11.00am sharp.  The entry fee as previous seasons is £10 which includes your table light all day, and a free entry into the Plate Tournament for the First Round losers.  All rounds of the main tournament are best of three frames, with the Plate being one frame throughout including the final.

The event is once again being kindly sponsored by Bullet Brickwork (UK ) Ltd.  Prize money and trophies are available and a raffle will also be held on the day.  If any members or clubs would like to donate a prize for the raffle then please feel free to bring along, all will be very much appreciated.  This year, the raffle will be raising money for the Ethan Linwood Memorial Fund (see also http://wp.me/p3lb7F-H for further details).

Please text Adam Ingram prior to the day to reserve your place.

Link to sponsors website : http://www.bullet-brickwork.co.uk

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