SHOOTOUT NIGHT IS A ROARING SUCCESS ONCE AGAIN

RICKI SLACK retained the Alan Hopkinson Trophy

THE 8th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOOTOUT NIGHT was held this year at Belper Strutt Club for the first time and an excellent turnout of 13 competitors enjoyed another thoroughly enjoyable night of fast paced snooker with winners both old and new appearing on the rostrum.
The Alan Hopkinson Trophy for the six red snooker handicap went for the second year running to Bolehill Institute's Ricki Slack, who turned on his best form of the evening in the final to defeat Matlock Golf Club's Ian McKay.
The pivotal moment came in the semi final, with opponent Mark Newby 13 ahead with just pink and black remaining but Slack took both to force the re-spot and then sunk it despite chances for the Strutt man.
He had earlier come through contests with Keith Robertson and Gordon Critchlow en route to success.

STEVE HAWKINS and MARK NEWBY ... George Mills Trophy winners

Newby was also involved at the business end of the six red scotch doubles handicap event for George Mills Trophy.
He and partner Steve Hawkins (Hartington RBL) came through rounds with Chris Parker and Pete Davenport and Keith Robertson and John Moore to contest the final against Steve Bullock and Rob Devenport.
And this time he went all the way as Hawkins sunk the blue to leave their opponents requiring snookers which were not forthcoming.

CHARLIE HODGKINSON...speed king

Most of the thrills and spills come in the shape of the Eddie Lomas Trophy, a speed snooker event which features players on adjacent tables clearing the colours, with balls added or taken away according to the official handicaps.
And there was a popular winner as Charlie Hodgkinson of Matlock Golf Club showed all those years around the fairways have maintained his athleticism down to a tee as he proved conclusively to be the fastest cueman either side of Derby and Chesterfield.
He overcame Belper Strutt Club's Wayne Shooter. who had been similarly impressive in reaching the final, to lift the trophy after previous victories over Rob Devenport and Steve Hawkins.
Alan Hopkinson Trophy (six red snooker handicap): winner, Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute 1); runner-up, Ian McKay (Matlock Golf Club).
George Mills Trophy (six red snooker scotch doubles handicap); winners, Steve Hawkins (Hartington RBL) and Mark Newby (Belper Strutt Club); runners-up, Steve Bullock  and Rob Devenport (both of Belper Strutt Club).
Eddie Lomas Trophy (speed snooker handicap): winner, Charlie Hodgkinson (Matlock Golf Club); runner-up, Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt Club).