INTER-COUNTY TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Qualifying Rounds

The Inter-County Championship was first established as a national
competition back in 1905, but over recent years has been held only
intermittently. The 1996 event, which had been the first since 1990,
was replaced last year by a national team championships (open to any
team of players). However, this was not well supported, and this season
the EABA reverted once more to the County format. The event attracted
an entry of 16 teams nominated by various Associations.
Three regional centres were selected to determine the teams who would
contest semi-final and final. The three-man teams all competed on
Sunday 6th December in games of one hour duration, the result to be
decided on aggregate score.

South West

Exeter

Brian Harvey an Michael White both made century breaks to steer
their Wessex side past the first hurdle of Cornwall “B”. The Cornwall
“A” side had a much closer struggle against Devon with Charlie Gay
eventually holding off the challenge of Bill Andress to see them through
by just 14 points.

In the qualifying game, it was the form of Cornwall´s David White
who effectively secured their place in the semi-final line-up by a 298
point victory. This gave Charlie Gay a 246 point advantage going into
the final game against Brian Harvey, which the Wessex player was
unable to reduce sufficiently.

South East

Newmarket

Norfolk qualified as the representative for the South East with Phil
Welham producing the best performances for his team, setting them
off to a comfortable lead in both of their matches. Fosse Wilson and
David Nichols were only required to consolidate this position, and
both performed this task competently.

Albert Salisbury made the highest break of the day with 102 for
Cambridge in their first match against Kent.

North

Bradford

The larger entry from the Northern area determined that two teams
would progress to the semi-finals from this section. Cleveland, who
have been without an Association for some years, where obliged to
form one in order to send two teams to this event. A formidable “A”
side was supported by a relatively weak “B” team, fired more by
enthusiasm than expectations.

However, Cleveland “B” gave some idea of the depth of talent on
Teesside when they completed a first round victory over Cheshire. Lee
Connor provided the pivotal game when he compiled a rapid-fire break
of 123 in the closing minutes to give them an aggregate advantage of
68 points. Simon Snee included a break of 86 to fend off the challenge
of Paul Dunning and provide his team with an unexpected victory.
Centuries were also made in the opening round by Merseyside´s Gerry
Dickson (102) and Peter Shelley (114) who was in the combined team
of Staffordshire and West Midlands.

If Cleveland “B” were inspired by their performance against Cheshire,
they were quickly put in their place in the next round by Cleveland
“A” who provided an awesome display to crush their junior side. A
string of big breaks came from the cues of Messrs. Kell, Bennett and
Lagan to confirm their position as competition favourites.

The second qualifying place was a much closer contest as an 180 point
advantage for Staffs/West Midlands was cancelled out by Gerry Dickson
for Merseyside, leaving Peter Shelley and Dennis Marr to determine
the outcome of the match. Despite a magnificent break of 130 by Marr,
it was Peter Shelley who emerged victorious, putting Staffs/West
Midlands into the Semi Finals.