PRESENTATION NIGHT 7th April 2004
The final of the Team Knockout Snooker sompetition sponsored by Kutter's & Shannon is traditionally held after the main presentations are made. This year produced something special.
Heworth A played Bootham B in the final with Neil Wood opening the game for Heworth against Bootham's John Wortley. Wortley broke off and went in-off leaving Wood a chance to score. Wood potted a good opener and overcame a number of challenges to record a total clearance of 139. The break eclipsed the previous record (a 111 clearance by Clive Whyte in 1999). It began with 5 reds and blacks before Wood opted to go up for blue. In attampting to go into the pack Wood failed to land on his next red. However, he produced a great double to continue his break and added the blue to make it 52. Another 5 reds and blacks followed (including a great black to green pocket when on 77) to make it 92, before Wood added red, blue, red to reach 99.
Neil reached his century by playing a well judged blue to centre to gain perfect position on the final red. After potting this tricky last red to the middle pocket, Wood faced the choice of just rolling in the black to ensure he took the league record break or playing a tough positional shot with the green obscuring the yellow ball to its' pocket in order to attempt the total clearance. True to his class, Wood produced a great final black with pace and running side to get inch perfect position on the yellow. He duly potted yellow, green and brown before adding blue to the corner pocket and a straight-forward pink and black to complete the memorable 139 clearance.
I have had the privilidge of being in the audience to see two 147 breaks in the space of a fortnight made by Stephen Hendry. This break by Neil Wood was every bit as good and is unlikely to ever be beaten, except perhaps by himself! Anyone who wants to beat it must pot all 15 reds with high scoring colours before adding the final 6 colours - a tough ask even by professional standards. I am sure all will agree, Wood is a class act - in my opinion the best player York has ever seen and will ever see in the future.
Heworth A (below left) went on to win the final 4-0. Clive Whyte added the second frame with victory over Bootham B captain Ian Robinson. Steve Burdett then beat stand-in Pete Mills, who usually plays for Bootham A but has not played this season. Keith Lawrence completed the 4-0 win with victory against Paul Mohanty. The win meant Heworth A completed a third consecutive League & Cup double. They had previously achieved this between 1997 and 1999. It was their sixth Cup victory in seven years to add to their nine consecutive League titles and confirms their dominance of the league.
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It was a good season for Heworth Conservative Club, with Heworth B (above right) taking the B Team Cup title by 3 points from Fulford B. Heworth also challenged well in the Faber Shield Billiards competition after not entering a team for the past few seasons. Defending champions Fulford (pictured below) collected the Faber Shield Billiards title, their third win in the past four seasons.
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From left to right (above left) are Colin Neal, Brian Bickerstaff, John Anderson, Wayne Puleston, Alan Reed (captain), Phil Oliver and Richard Stroughair. The team is virtually unchanged from last season (above right) with just newcomer John Anderson replacing the retired Roger Gibson (second left). Brian Bickerstaff (below left) also picked up a prize in recognition of his years of participation in the leagues. He became the eight winner of the Dedicated Player Award decided by Chairman, Colin Robinson. Further success for Fulford came with Richard Stroughair and Sam England's Turnbull-Mazda Pairs win over Heworth's Steve Burdett and Keith Lawrence.
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The full end of season report can be found in the reports section.
