BUMPER TURN OUT SEES SEAN SCORE DEBUT SUCCESS

CHRISTMAS singles champion SEAN DOBNEY (Edgefold No 2)

THE fourth Christmas shootout night saw new winners all round on the honours board with players from Bolehill Institute No 1, Edgefold No 2 and Jaxx Q Club of Belper all playing prominent roles.
The turnout of 18 matched the best yet of a couple of seasons ago and made for a competitive evening of light hearted yet keenly contested quickfire snooker with the six red formats.

The Alan Hopkinson Memorial Trophy (6 reds individual handicap) went to Edgefold's Sean Dobney, who with breaks of 31 in the semi final against team mate Jodie McLarkey and 24 in the final against Jaxx's Ben Turner, triumphed on his Christmas competition debut.
Martyn Taylor made the evening's top break of 39 in the second round to see off last season's champion Ian Peacock.

SHAUN SMITH (Jaxx Q Club) and ANDREW BROUGH (Bolehill No 1) scotch doubles winners

Turner also went close in the George Mills Trophy competition (6 reds scotch doubles handicap) as he and partner Wayne Shooter of Strutt No 1 fell at the final hurdle, this time to Andrew Brough (Bolehill 1) and Shaun Smith (Jaxx).
Yellow, green and brown put the latter pair 19 in front with 18 on and that was enough to see them home after Brough's fluke on the black had earlier put out Kevin Holmes and Chris Drabble in their opening match, also culminating in a 22 clearance.

SIMON ZOPPI (Bolehill No 1) was top speedster pictured with Martyn Taylor runner up.

Simon Zoppi (Bolehill 1) lifted the Eddie Lomas Speed Snooker Challenge Trophy (fastest to clear the colours), as a switch of tables seemed to de-rail final opponent Martyn Taylor, having had to come from well adrift in the semi final to see off  Jodie McLarkey whose attempts to toy with his team-mate backfired in spectacular style at the end!

Kevin Holmes gave an interesting "slow is fast" approach to the event, which nearly paid off in a tortoise-and-hare type style against Wayne Shooter but generally the key to victory was to pot the balls cleanly and leave the ideal position as ever.

Zoppi had a very quick eye for this all evening, having earlier seen off Shak Mirza, Chris Drabble and Wayne Shooter en route to success and afterwards revealed he is proposing a shot clock rule be introduced for the rest of the season as well as being lined up as the exclusive figurehead for a leading brand of sportswear trainers in the Belper area.

The leading scotch doubles break for the Presidents Cup remains in the hands of the Alfreton father of son pairing of Jamie and Kevin Rowland (26) with now just the semi finals and final left in the Bob McCartin Six Red Cup for it to be overhauled.

Thanks to everyone for turning out and to Jaxx Q Club for providing the venue for an excellent night of entertainment with some superb grub to boot.

It just remains to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all players and supporters of the Snooker and Billiards Leagues and matches re-commence the week beginning Monday, January 5th.

Christmas Six-Red Individual Handicap for the Alan Hopkinson Memorial Trophy: winner, Sean Dobney (Edgefold Matlock No 2); runner-up, Ben Turner (Jaxx Q Club Belper).

Christmas Six-Red Scotch Doubles Handicap for the George Mills Trophy: winners, Andrew Brough (Bolehill Institute No 1) and Shaun Smith (Jaxx Q Club Belper); runners-up, Wayne Shooter (Belper Strutt No 1) and B Turner (Jaxx Q Club Belper).

Christmas Speed Snooker Shootout Handicap for the Eddie Lomas Trophy: winner, Simon Zoppi (Bolehill Institute No 1); runner-up, Martyn Taylor (Edgefold Matlock No 2).

Breaks: M Taylor 39,30; S Dobney 31,24; A Brough / S Smith 22 (scotch dbles).