THE EVENT SPECIALISTS REIGN SUPREME ONCE MORE!

SEAN DOBNEY 

THE POPULAR Christmas Snooker Shootout night produced its usual laughs, thrills and spills along with some hard fought competitive snooker as a field of eighteen turned out as the event made its first appareance at Matlock's Edgefold Club.

The Alan Hopkinson Trophy started proceedings and it was the Edgefold No 1's very own Sean Dobney who snaffled the trophy following up previous wins in the event in 2014 and 2015 when held at Jaxx Q Club.
Sean came through a tough section, also playing in the preliminary round to see off Paul Jarrett (via a fluke on the black!), Des Smith, Andrew Haggarty and Mark Newby before taking on Alfreton No 3's up and coming Jack Lowe in the final.
A run of 24 put the home player well on route to his third win, and despite a red-pink riposte from Lowe, the early colours went Dobney's way to secure his success.

ANDREW HAGGARTY

Andrew Haggarty has pretty much made the Eddie Lomas Speed Snooker Trophy his own in recent years, and it was no exception here as he proved he has all it takes for this unique event once again, making it a fourth win in six seasons overall.
With little table time under his belt this season due to work commitments, there were signs of rustiness in Andy's first clash with Rob Mulliss which he sneaked through before gradually getting into gear in his favourite format.
Victories over team-mate John Smith and Jack Lowe ensued before he saw off Belper Strutt Club's Wayne Shooter in the final in a repeat of the 2016 showdown. Wayne was also a runner-up in the event in 2018 and came through the most exciting match of the event with Roy Taylor when his black ball was adjudged to enter the pocket a milli-second before that of his opponent, who had actually  gotten his shot away first but at a more delicate pace.
Also noteworthy in the event were two miraculous comebacks from Mark Newby, who had looked down and out before a couple of incredible rescue acts, though ultimately it was Shooter, another well suited by this discipline, who ended his run.
Unluckiest player was undoubtedly Duncan Harwood who ended up snookered after playing for the next colour only to find the referee had made an error and not replaced the previous ball on time which then left him cruelly snookered having originally gained what looked a good position so we can only apologise (wasn't me this time though, still remember forgetting to give Charlie the rest a few years ago!!)

WAYNE SHOOTER and ANDREW HAGGARTY

The George Mills Scotch Doubles Trophy completed the night's programme, and again it was Haggarty who was triumphant at the end as he teamed up with his fellow speed finalist Shooter to edge out Ady Lowe and Sean Dobney on the blue. This was Wayne's third win in the event, all with different partners where pairings are drawn out of a hat.

Thanks to all the players who attended, the Edgefold Club for hosting for the first time, and also to James Travis and his associates who took care of the catering side. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Alan Hopkinson Trophy (six reds snooker handicap): winner, Sean Dobney (Edgefold No 1); runner up, Jack Lowe (Alfreton PM No 3).
Eddie Lomas Trophy (speed snoooker, clearing colours, handicap): winner, Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM No 1); runner-up, Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt Club).
George Mills Trophy (six reds scotch doubles handicap): winners, Andrew Haggarty (Alfreton PM No 1) and Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt Club): runners-up, Sean Dobney (Edgefold No 1) and Ady Lowe (Alfreton PM No 3).
Breaks: S Dobney 24 (in singles final).