ENGLISH GRAND MASTERS

Atack Snooker Club, Nuneaton. Sunday 23rd March 2003

The Final stages of the 2003 Grand Masters were played at
The Atack Centre, Nuneaton on Sunday 23rd March by
kind permission of Bob Coales and his team. Regional
competitions had determined the eight players who would
compete on a straight knockout basis with all matches officiated
by members of the EABA Referees’ Section.

The main shock of the Quarter-Finals was the defeat of twice
previous Champion Steve Crosland at the hands of Yorkshire
team-mate Tony Clegg. Tony has proved already this season in
the County Team Championship, and the odd ABC, to be a
dangerous opponent on his day. Last year’s runner-up Jim
McCann recorded an excellent win over David Burgess aided
by four 50+ breaks which ensured occupation of the table.

Macclesfield’s Norman Routledge compiled a fine century break
in his huge win over Gareth Wakeford.

The semi-finals brought comfortable victories for Jim McCann
and Richard Lodge over Tony Clegg and Norman Routledge
respectively. Jim registering the highest break of the day—a
beautiful visit of 141—along with three other runs over fifty.

Richard showed very solid form, putting together breaks of 85,
66 & 59 in his 300 point success.

As has been reported many times previously, Finals are there
to be won no matter how you play and both players were
probably disappointed in their performance. In tight games
such as this one, the run of the ball can be all important and it
would be fair to say that Richard enjoyed no luck in this
department. That having been said, perhaps it was fitting that
Jim should emerge victorious following his narrow reverse in
last year’s Final against Peter Shelley.