THRILLING FINISHES ABOUND ON THIRD SHOOTOUT NIGHT

IAN PEACOCK, Alan Hopkinson Trophy winner, in action at Jaxx Q Club

AN EXCELLENT turnout of 17 players contested Shootout Night number three with especially large contingents from Matlock Conservative Club and Bolehill Institute to contest three rapid fire events played in their entirety on one night.
And it was fitting that the main event the Alan Hopkinson Memorial Trophy should go to a Bolehill player as, after a tight battle throughout the final, Ian Peacock edged out Richard Deakin by clipping the pink into the middle pocket to secure the silverware.

Ian had previously defeated Charlie Hodgkinson, Chris Drabble and Simon Zoppi on a night where new names appeared on the winners roster of all three competitions.

George Mills Trophy winners MARTIN FORSTER and HANNAH JONES

The scotch doubles event for the George Mills Trophy went to Martin Forster (who is actually Ian's brother) and resident Jaxx Q Club lady cueist Hannah Jones after an even closer deciding contest which went to the final black against Bolehill pair Simon Zoppi and Mick Bunting.

With the pairing showing great teamwork throughout, it fell to Hannah to seal the deal as she calmly executed a long range cut into a baulk pocket to bring home the bacon.

They had previously emerged successful from matches with Ricki Slack and Chris Drabble, Jimmy Gratton and Keith Robertson and Steve Bullock and Nick Kay en route.


NICK KAY led his rivals a merry dance to lift the Eddie Lomas Trophy.

That left the Eddie Lomas Speed Snooker Challenge Trophy to be decided, which involves clearing the colours head to head on adjacent tables, and the fastest man on the block proved to be Matlock Conservative Club's Nick Kay, who pipped Mick Bunting in the final by a couple of balls, having previously seen off team mates Chris Drabble and Jack Lynch along with Ricki Slack.

Thanks to all who attended for another highly enjoyable evening and hope to see those of you who couldn't make it next time around.

In the meantime A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone connected with the Darley Dale and District Snooker and Billiards Leagues.

Christmas Six-Red Individual Handicap for the Alan Hopkinson Memorial Trophy: winner, Ian Peacock (Bolehill Inst No 2); runner-up, Richard Deakin (Matlock Cons).

Christmas Six-Red Scotch Doubles Handicap for the George Mills Trophy: winners, Martin Forster (Bolehill Inst No 2) and Hannah Jones (Jaxx Q Club); runners-up, Simon Zoppi (Bolehill Inst No 1) and Mick Bunting (Bolehill Inst No 2).

Christmas Speed Snooker Shootout Handicap for the Eddie Lomas Trophy: winner, Nick Kay (Matlock Cons); runner-up, Mick Bunting (Bolehill Inst No 2).

Extracurricular awards:

Best victory jig during match: Nick Kay (v team mate Chris Drabble, luckily for him he did pot the black afterwards!)

Best sledging during match: Nick Kay (v team mate Jack Lynch)

Worst rest handover: Ricki Slack to Charlie Hodgkinson during speed shootout, safe to say we won't be appearing in the 400m relay anytime soon, (OK sorry I will try and remember to watch the table nearest to me next time!)

"On deaf ears" complaint: Ricki "I wasn't ready" Slack v Nick Kay when the claxon sounded (OK it was Mick shouting "go", what happened to "ready steady"?) I think Charlie had secretly had a word with him beforehand.

Dedication award: Chris Parker who flew in from Denmark the same afternoon especially for the event (possibly!) tie-ing with Jimmy who found his way down from the bar, both sterling efforts.

Quality food awards: Jaxx Q Club for the mouth watering grub on the night, thanks fellas!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR!

Now open to all past and present Darley Dale & District League players!

DON'T MISS OUT on one of the highlights of the League calendar, its fun, fun, fun all the way with three quickfire competitions all played to their conclusion on the night in the festive spirit... all events handicapped so all abilities welcome... featuring The Alan Hopkinson Memorial Trophy, The Eddie Lomas Speed Snooker Challenge and The George Mills Scotch Doubles Trophy (£5 on the night gets you into all three!) Plus food and refreshments, what more could you ever want!!

Come and give it a go if you haven't done so already, the more the merrier!

NEW HANDICAP RATINGS

THE latest handicap adjustments are as follows:
Paul Jarrett (Belper Strutt No 1) goes from -5 to -10
Jack Lynch (Matlock Cons) goes from Scratch to -5

The above players have reached the trigger percentages for moving up or down a bracket so the new ratings will come into play with immediate effect (for any remaining competitions left to play).

If you wish to print out the full list of up to date handicap ratings, please click on the link on the right hand side of the webpage, thanks.

LEADING PAIR MAKE A BREAK BUT ITS STILL WIDE OPEN

CLEAR daylight emerged at the top of the Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division for the first time this season as the top two teams made a break at the half way stage but with the teams immediately below having a game in hand there's still all to play for.
Leaders Bolehill Institute No 1 moved onto 29 points courtesy of a 5-0 home win over Matlock Club.

The scoreline may have been slightly flattering however as Ricki Slack took the opener on the pink, Simon Zoppi the third frame on the black and Ian Birks the fourth on a re-spotted black.

COLIN MARCHINGTON ... no sweat

Colin Marchington did not have to sweat quite so much as he won his singles and double frames (partnered by Andrew Brough in the latter) with a little more to spare.

Matlock Cons are a point behind, enhancing their already impressive home record with a 4-1 success over fellow challengers Belper Strutt Club No 1.

Jack Lynch and Nick Kay were undefeated in both frames they contested, with Charlie Hodgkinson striking the decisive blow whilst Paul Jarrett continued his good form to register the sole point for the visitors.

Belper Strutt No 2 edged out Edgefold Club 3-2 with Chris Stubbs and Neil Parkinson contesting the frame of the match, each compiling a break of 28 before Chris secured a 65-57 win.

It again came down to Stubbs and Dave Needham to secure victory in the concluding doubles after Needham had been pipped on the black earlier in the night by Richard Ferguson.

Elsewhere, Ricki Slack and Paul Ogden were invited to be part of a dozen-strong Derbyshire "B" team that saw off Nottinghamshire "B" 78-66 in Sneinton last week, with Ricki notching 8 wins and Paul an excellent 48 break. The event also saw ex league player Wade Morley remain undefeated with 12 straight wins.

League week 10 results: Bolehill Inst No 1 5, Matlock Club 0; Matlock Cons 4, Belper Strutt No 1 1; Belper Strutt No 2 3, Edgefold Matlock 2.
OMYA Cup Indiv Scr 3rd round: R Slack 2, I Peacock 0; M Gwynne-Jones 2,
C Marchington 0.
Breaks: R Slack 39; C Stubbs 28,25; N Parkinson 28; D Needham 20.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       9        8       1       29
Matlock Cons                   9        6       3       28
Edgefold Matlock             8        5       3       22
Belper Strutt No 1            8        4       4       22
Belper Strutt No 2            9        4       5       21
Bolehill Institute No 2       8        2       6       17
Matlock Club                    9        1       8       11
Leading breaks: M Taylor 50, C Parker 45.
Leading wins: R Slack 8; J Lynch & P Jarrett 7.

CHRIS 'n' DAVE SECURE BLACK BALL DERBY DECISION

CHRIS STUBBS helped steer the No 2 team to a thrilling  3-2 Strutt derby success.

THE latest round of  Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division fixtures saw the title race tighten up even further if that was possible with the Belper Strutt Club derby producing the most fireworks.
Mark Newby (22 break) and Paul Jarrett put the No 1 team on the cusp of victory by taking the opening two frames but a superb fight-back saw Dave Needham and then Chris Stubbs (breaks of 23 and 22) take their singles frames to level matters at 2-2.

And the latter pair then combined for a tense doubles frame success with Needham sinking the final black as they defeated Jarrett and Wayne Shooter 78-66.

Meanwhile Matlock Cons drew level with Bolehill Institute No 1 at the top by maintaining their unbeaten home record with a 3-2 win to inflict the first defeat of the season on the visitors.

Nick Kay, Charlie Hodgkinson and Richard Deakin sealed the deal before Ian Birks took both singles and doubles frames he was involved in to reduce the deficit.

MICK BUNTING of BOLEHILL No 2 compiled the weeks top break of 32.

Bolehill No 2 enjoyed a better fate as they scored a 4-1 success at Matlock Club, highlighted by a break of 32 from Mick Bunting in his 82-26 frame scoreline after Graeme Wood had set the home team on the right path in the opener.

League week 9 results: Belper Strutt No 1 2, Belper Strutt No 2 3; Matlock Cons 3, Bolehill Inst No 1 2; Matlock Club 1, Bolehill Inst No 2 4.
Breaks: M Bunting 32; R Slack 25; C Stubbs 23,22; M Newby 22; I Peacock 20.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       8        7       1       24
Matlock Cons                   8        5       3       24
Belper Strutt No 1            7        4       3       21
Edgefold Matlock             7        5       2       20
Belper Strutt No 2            8        3       5       18
Bolehill Institute No 2       8        2       6       17
Matlock Club                    8        1       7       11
Leading breaks: M Taylor 50, C Parker 45.
Leading wins: R Slack 7; J Lynch & P Jarrett 6.

NEW HANDICAP RATINGS

THE latest handicap adjustments are as follows:
Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute No 1) goes from -20 to -25
Paul Ogden (Belper Strutt No 2) goes from -10 to -5
Graeme Wood (Matlock Club) goes from +5 to +10
Paul Bryan (Matlock Club) goes from +5 to +10

The above players have reached the trigger percentages for moving up or down a bracket so the new ratings will come into play with immediate effect (for any remaining competitions left to play).

If you wish to print out the full list of up to date handicap ratings, please click on the link on the right hand side of the webpage, thanks.

DALE ROAD DERBY SEES MATLOCK CLUB OFF THE MARK

PAUL HOLMES .... starring role for MATLOCK CLUB

IN A KEENLY contested  derby match between the two teams based on Dale Road, Matlock Club edged out Matlock Conservative Club 3-2 to register their opening strike in this seasons Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division.
Jack Lynch shaded the first on the black for the visitors to earn his sixth straight victory before Mick McFall produced a confident display to equalise.

Richard Deakin re-affirmed the advantage in the next but Paul Holmes made it 2-2 by defeating danger man Chris Parker 69-48 and then, partnered by Paul Bryan, secured a hard fought doubles frame to earn his team the spoils.

Bolehill Institute No 1 moved narrowly back to the top courtesy of yet another 3-2 win (their sixth in seven games) at home to Belper Strutt Club No 2.

The highest quality contest of the night saw Andrew Brough defeat Chris Stubbs on the pink after an excellent display of potting from both players.

Ian Birks (25 break) took the fourth frame with a twice-across double on the black to make the game safe before Paul Ogden took blue, pink and black in the concluding doubles frame to reduce the deficit after a marathon battle which swung to and fro.

Edgefold Club remain hot on the leaders' heels, also triumphing by the minimum margin in their game at Bolehill No 2.

Robert Muxlow and Duncan Harwood won both their singles and doubles events for the visitors while Martin Forster and Mick Bunting were on target for the hosts.

League week 8 results: Matlock Club 3, Matlock Cons 2; Bolehill Inst No 1 3, Belper Strutt No 2 2; Bolehill Inst No 2 2, Edgefold Matlock 3.
Breaks: I Birks 25.

Highfields Farm Butchers Premier Division
                                         P      W      L      Pts
Bolehill Institute No 1       7        7       0       22
Matlock Cons                   7       4       3        21
Edgefold Matlock             7        5       2       20
Belper Strutt No 1            6        4       2       19
Belper Strutt No 2            7        2       5       15
Bolehill Institute No 2       7        1       6       13
Matlock Club                    7        1       6       10
Leading breaks: M Taylor 50, C Parker 45.
Leading wins: R Slack 7; J Lynch 6; M Taylor & P Jarrett 5.