YORKSHIRE NEWS

Yorkshire Billiards Championship

The format of the Yorkshire Championship was changed this year in
that the earlier rounds were played on a one-day basis down to the
semi-finals and the draw was open, with no seeding. Steve Crosland
and Richard Lodge were the two players most fancied to win the title
with Tony Clegg from Huddersfield and Bob Patterson from Leeds
seen as the most dangerous outsiders. As fate would have it Crosland
and Lodge were paired in the first round with Lodge triumphing over a
90 minute timed game.

From the 16 entries, the four semi-finalists were Richard Lodge vs.
Paul Aldcroft, and Tony Clegg vs. Bob Patterson. This was Aldcroft’s
first attempt at the Championship and although favoured by the draw,
he still did very well to reach this stage.

The semi-finals reverted to the customary 600 up and the Lodge v
Aldcroft match turned out to be a one-sided affair with the England
International having far too much knowledge and skill for the newcomer.
Lodge’s margin of victory was almost 400 points.

The other semi was much closer with the lead changing hands several
times. Clegg seemed to have the game won but Patterson is a very good
competitor and took his chance with grit and determination when let
off the hook, winning 600-545.

The experienced Lodge was the favourite in the final but most pundits
gave Patterson a good outside chance. As it turned out Lodge scored
consistently from a succession of good openings and Patterson struggled
to get going with his customary deadly potting even letting him down.
Final scores Lodge 600 Patterson 385. The competition was once more
kindly sponsored by the Northern Snooker Centre and the Yorkshire
Billiards & Snooker Association are extremely grateful.

Yorkshire Billiards Handicap

The YB&SA are very the grateful to the Victoria Institute in
Flamborough for once again sponsoring the Yorkshire Billiards Handicap.
The competition attracted an entry of 40 and this year 16 qualifiers
travelled to Flamborough and played down to a winner in what turned
out to be a full and enjoyable day’s billiards.

All matches were 300 up with the maximum handicap allowed being
175. The completion of two rounds produced the four semi-finalists
with Geoff Horton of Hull against Brian Watson of Bradford and Dean
Patterson of Leeds against Brian Cousen of Huddersfield. Horton met
Cousen (a previous winner) in the final and the Hull player triumphed
to take the first prize of £150 and the prestigious Lesley Driffield
Trophy.