JIMMY AND HANNAH IN FINAL DESPITE KEITH'S HEROICS

THE Hartshorne Cup 2-man team final has been delayed due to illness so will now probably be played in June, as it was already behind schedule prior to that due to the semi final being cancelled twice previously.

KEITH MANLOVE won both his singles frames but couldn't quite tip the scales.

Jimmy Gratton and Hannah Jones will play Ben Monk and Andrew Gratton in the showdown to the event after they defeated Keith Manlove and Paul Holmes 3-2.
Keith won both his frames, while Hannah and Jimmy won one each, with the latter notching a 31 break to boot.

And in the deciding frame, the Jaxx duo clicked superbly to notch a match-winning contribution of 63 in the scotch doubles to put them in line to lift the Presidents Cup, the old pairs trophy which was recovered this year to be presented to the top break winners after being presumed lost for so long.

Hartshorne Cup 2-man team semi final: Jimmy Gratton / Hannah Jones (Jaxx) 3, Keith Manlove / Paul Holmes (Matlock Club) 2.
Breaks: J Gratton / H Jones 63 (scotch dbls); J Gratton 31.

MEETING AT MATLOCK CONS CLUB THURSDAY MAY 30th

END OF SEASON MEETING will be held at MATLOCK CONSERVATIVE CLUB on THURSDAY, MAY 30th @ 7.45pm. Please can club representatives try to attend if possible, business of meeting: to discuss any matters relevant to the past season and for next season, also end of season stats if required (also available at leaguesnooker.co.uk, see links at top of page).

EDGEFOLD COME UP TRUMPS TO LIFT JAEGER TROPHY AND INTER LEAGUE MATCH ENDS IN A THRILLING WIN

THE last of the regular team competitions was up for grabs this week, namely the Champion of Champions play off final for the prestigious Jaeger Trophy, held at Matlock Golf Club.
Belper Strutt Club No 1 had confirmed their top ranking in B Division by qualifying for the showdown while A Division No 4 seeds Edgefold Club had produced the goods when it matters by defeating  Marehay and Bolehill No 1, both higher ranked teams along the way.

The opening frame saw Belper captain Steve Bullock taking on the unbeaten Jason Ankers, who came into the Matlock team late in the season but to good effect.

Steve started well, and despite sustaining an injury to his back when bridging over a ball early in the frame, looked set to take the spoils when potting the brown to seemingly give him a lead of 26pts with just 18 remaining.

Unfortunately though, the cue ball had other ideas and disappeared into an adjoining pocket which left the game back in the balance and Jason eventually took full advantage by taking blue, pink and black in one visit to complete a massive turnaround.

Robert Muxlow held off a late rally from Wayne Shooter in the next, eventually taking it on the pink for 2-0 before Mark Newby and Duncan Harwood's frame rested on the final black in the third.

And Duncan showed ice cool resolve to trickle the deciding ball right down the side cushion into the bottom pocket at dead weight speed to pull off the shot of the match and ensure Edgefold the cup before Paul Jarrett scored an academic win in frame four.

STEVE HAWKINS (left) and BEN MONK before the Inter League Cup final frame showdown
as CHRIS PARKER who just prior to that had made it 6-6 looks on in the background.

Meanwhile, Darley Dale and District played their first Inter League match for 22 years with a trip to Eyam Institute to take on a Hope Valley and Buxton select squad.

The team comprised of Ben Monk and Andrew Gratton, Ricki Slack, Dave Gastrell, Chris Parker and Chris Stubbs and things were looking rosy as the line-up raced into an early 4-1 lead.

The hosts fought back strongly to level at 4-4 however (Steven Blanchon potting a storming final black to take one of them) before Andrew Gratton nudged Darley Dale ahead again in the ninth.

Danny Homer and then a black ball win from Steve Hawkins put the home side ahead for the first time at 6-5 before Chris Parker turned on the style to level with breaks of 46 and 26 in the twelfth when the pressure was on.

And with both teams pulling balls out of the hat for the final frame decider, Darley Dale were more than happy to see Ben Monk's name come to the top of the pile and he didn't disappoint, knocking in breaks of 33 and 27 to take the spoils against Steve Hawkins for a 7-6 win.

Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions play off final: Edgefold Matlock 3, Belper Strutt No 1 1 (at Matlock Golf Club).
Inter League Challenge Cup: Hope Valley & Buxton 6, Darley Dale & District 7 (at Eyam Mechanics Institute): D Homer 18 B Monk 80 (39) (0-1);
S Blanchon 72 (28) D Gastrell 29 (20) (1-1); S Blanchon 21 R Slack 63 (1-2);
C Andrews 58 D Gastrell 71 (1-3); D Homer 42 A Gratton 76 (30) (1-4);
S Hawkins 66 C Parker 33 (2-4); S Blanchon 49 B Monk 48 (20) (3-4);
C Andrews 52 C Stubbs 38 (4-4); S Hawkins 27 A Gratton 52 (4-5); D Homer 65 R Slack 44 (5-5); S Hawkins 48 C Stubbs 46 (6-5); C Andrews 15 C Parker 76 (46,26) (6-6); S Hawkins 32 B Monk 81 (33,27) (6-7).
Hope Valley & Buxton: S Blanchon 2/3; S Hawkins 2/4; D Homer 1/3;
C Andrews 1/3.
Darley Dale & District: A Gratton 2/2; B Monk 2/3; C Parker 1/2; R Slack 1/2;
D Gastrell 1/2; C Stubbs 0/2.
(Hope Valley & Buxton used 4 players playing 3 frames each; Darley Dale & District used 6 players playing 2 frames each, excluding final frame decider, players drawn from hat).

INTER-LEAGUE MATCH IS REVIVED AT EYAM THIS WEEK AND A POTTED HISTORY OF PAST ENCOUNTERS

DARLEY DALE & District League play their first inter-league match for over 22 years this Wednesday 22nd (7pm) with a trip to Eyam Mechanics Institute to take on a combined Hope Valley and Buxton League team.
The players have been selected from a points ranking system derived from the handicap marks and the end of season individual stats so the current team is as follows if everyone makes the date:
Ben Monk and Andrew Gratton (Marehay Miners Welfare); Ricki Slack (Bolehill Institute); Chris Parker (Matlock Golf Club); Dave Gastrell (Gladiators Social Club) and Chris Stubbs (Belper Strutt Club).

Graham Jones and first reserve Troy Brett were unavailable, we will carry on down the list if any vacancies appear.

Two tables will be used and 12 frames will be played, so our players will play 2 frames apiece, probably against a different opponent (we may decide on a one frame play off if tied at the end or else use an overall aggregate points system, as we have obtained an Inter League Challenge Cup to play for).
The home team may possibly be using 4 players playing 3 frames each though that is to be confirmed.

We thank the hosts for taking the place of the originally mooted match versus Derby League which with their committee currently in transition, was likely to prove difficult to put into action.

The matches with the Derby Institutes League date back as far as 1931-32 judging from the record books, when bus fares to and fro appear on the balance sheets, and after lapsing in the mid 70s (Derby having almost always held the upper hand snooker-wise), were revived in the late 80s.

On Sunday December 17th 1989 at Georges Snooker Centre, Belper; we fielded 16 players at snooker and six at billiards, obtaining a highly creditable 8-8 draw at snooker whilst losing 5-1 at the three ball game.

SCOTT COONEY was a fixture in the last two Darley Dale League representative teams.

The 17 strong squad for the snooker (one must have been reserve) was: S Fox, P Waldron, P Fowell, R Slack, M Walker, R McCartin, P Harrison, M Goodwin, J Walsh, J Collins, I Doe, E Farnsworth, D Beattie, M Hill, I Hamilton, G Shirley and S Cooney.
Turning out for the billiards men were: J McCann, E Gratton, G Bell, D Annable, L Cooke and D Rogers.

The next meeting came at the Corn Exchange Club, Derby on January 20th 1991, with Derby winning 11-4 at snooker and 5-0 at billiards.

The original teams selected were:
Snooker: M Goodwin, S Cooney, C Parker, S Mellor, D Beattie, R McCartin, S Fox, P Waldron, P Fowell, W Slater, R Slack, J Rogerson, M Hill, D Lane, M Vaughan, N Parkinson and I Doe. Reserves: I Hamilton, P Hicking, G Shirley.
Billiards: J McCann, M Gregory, D Annable, L Cooke and D Rogers.
Reserves: K Holmes, R Allsop.

Apparently this event ran into problems when several players from the above lists did not turn up as scheduled, and reserves had to be drafted into play at the eleventh hour.

The next year the match was again due to be hosted at Georges in Belper but with the facilities in the club taking a downturn, it was agreed upon inspection that the venue was unsuitable for such an event and the Derby League were asked if they would host.

The answer was in the affirmative so long as guarantees could be made about bringing a full team, but when feelers were put out, the response was rather muted.

Hence, the match was cancelled and a smaller team event was proposed for the following season, as it was thought 20 players was pushing the boat out somewhat.

However, as the secretaries changed over in the interim period, it appears it was not discussed at any meeting during the next few seasons and hence all fell quiet again until now that is!!
Heres to a brand new era of representative games whoever our opponents may be!

No 2's ARE IN THE PINK AFTER WIN OVER STRUTT RIVALS

BELPER STRUTT CLUB No 2 with the Jimmy Harper Plate Trophy.
L-R: Chris Stubbs, Adam Winson, Steve Buckley and Dave Needham.

THREE finals took centre stage this week, one of which saw the two teams from Belper Strutt Club contesting a cliff-hanger in the conclusion of the Jimmy Harper Team Plate aggregate competition.
Dave Needham struck a significant blow for the No 2 team with a 73-21 win over Paul Jarrett in the opener and things looked even bleaker for the B Division champions when Steve Buckley edged out Mark Newby 58-38 to leave a 72pts margin after just two frames.

But Wayne Shooter defeated Adam Winson 63-38 and then Steve Bullock with a 68-35 win over Chris Stubbs brought the game back to the brink as just 14pts separated the teams going into the final doubles.

And it remained nip and tuck until eventually Steve Buckley potted the decisive pink to give the No 2 outfit a hard fought success.

The Individual Handicap final, also at Strutt, saw Kevin Holmes going for a quickfire double after lifting the "B" handicap last week, and he was in pole position here receiving 40pts per frame.

KEVIN HOLMES (left) with eventual winner ANDREW GRATTON before the
Open Individual Handicap final.

But his opponent Andrew Gratton was in no mood to make things easy and soon clawed back the deficit in the opener before powering on ahead. Kevin had a chance on the colours but a missed pink proved his downfall and the Marehay ace made no mistake.

A scrappy frame went to Kevin to make it 1-1 but from thereon Andrew notched a string of quality breaks to run out a 4-1 victor, 25 in the third, 35 and 20 in the fourth and 22 in the fifth to name but a few.

The beleaguered Jaxx player cried enough at this stage even though he held a slight lead in the frame at the time, citing his lack of form on the evening as being an insurmountable burden.

DENIS MORTON Pairs finalists L-R: Jimmy Gratton and Hannah Jones with winners
Troy Brett and Dwayne Martin.

Also taking place was the Pairs Handicap final for the Denis Morton Trophy, played at Matlock Club. Jimmy Gratton and Hannah Jones were off to a flyer here, soon racing 2-0 ahead before opponents Troy Brett and Dwayne Martin found their feet, instigated by a 53 break from Troy, with three straight frames of their own.

Jimmy struck back with a 56 break to equalise before Dwayne potted the match winning blue in the final frame for a thrilling 4-3 triumph.

Jimmy Harper Team Plate final: Belper Strutt No 1 244, Belper Strutt No 2 264.
Individual Handicap final: Andrew Gratton (Marehay) 4, Kevin Holmes (Jaxx) 1.
Denis Morton Pairs Handicap final: Dwayne Martin / Troy Brett (Gladiators) 4,
Jimmy Gratton / Hannah Jones (Jaxx) 3.
Breaks: J Gratton 56,27,23; T Brett 53,24; A Gratton 35,25,22,20; D Needham 21.

JIMMY AND KEVIN MAKE IT A JAXX DOUBLE IN FINALS

JIMMY GRATTON (winner) and BEN MONK contest the OMYA Cup final at Marehay.

THE first two individual finals of the season took place with firstly prolific league winner Ben Monk taking on Derbyshire renowned Jaxx player Jimmy Gratton in a much anticipated OMYA Cup clash played at Marehay Miners Welfare.
Jimmy was out of the blocks the fastest in the opener with a 22 break putting him into the lead but Ben struck back quickly with 38 before the Jaxx man chiselled his way back into the frame to eventually take it on the blue.

Monk came back strongly to take the next 81-18 but this inspired Jimmy to go 2-1 up straight afterwards with the aid of a 57 break.

The next saw Ben knock in 37 but it was nip and tuck near the end, Ben missing what for him would normally be a routine pink for the frame and Jimmy stepping in to snatch it thanks to a storming long pot from the length of the table on the black.

That was probably the turning point and Jim pressed the accelerator again in what proved to be the final frame to see off one last challenge by 58-36 to take the match by a 4-1 margin.

MARTIN FORSTER and KEVIN HOLMES (winner) before the B Individual final at Bolehill.

Meanwhile, the B Individual Handicap competition was won by Kevin Holmes, also of Jaxx, who defeated Martin Forster of Bolehill No 2 3-0.

Kevin took the first 62-41 on the blue and then aided by breaks of 25 in the next and 24 in the third frame, quickly sealed the deal to lift the trophy.

Elsewhere it was semi final time in the Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions team event and Edgefold Club, fresh from ousting the No 1 seeds Marehay the previous week, repeated the dose against No 2 seeds Bolehill No 1.

Andrew Brough got the visitors off to a flying start, but from thereon the hosts bossed proceedings, Rob Muxlow and Duncan Harwood enjoyed wide margin victories before Jason Ankers took yellow to blue to put the game beyond reach as they eventually ran out 4-1 victors.

Belper Strutt Club No 1 also ran out convincing winners against Gladiators Social Club with Mark Newby, Steve Bullock and Justin Weller, the latter on the black, all on the mark en route to the final with a 5-0 success.

Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions play offs semi finals: Edgefold Matlock 4, Bolehill Inst No 1 1; Belper Strutt No 1 5, Gladiators SC Matlock 0.
OMYA Cup Indiv Scratch final: Jimmy Gratton (Jaxx) 4, Ben Monk (Marehay) 1.
B Indiv Handicap final: Kevin Holmes (Jaxx) 3, Martin Forster (Bolehill 2) 0.
Breaks: J Gratton 57,22,20; B Monk 38,37,24; K Holmes 25,24.

TOP SEEDS ARE TOPPLED IN A DIVISION PLAY OFFS

NUMBER 4 seeds Edgefold Club of Matlock shocked top seeds Marehay Miners Welfare with a 3-2 success in the opening round of matches in the Champion of Champions play offs for the prestigious Jaeger Trophy.
Marehay, with home advantage due to finishing top of the table in the regular season, edged the opener with Ben Monk delivering a black ball verdict over Richard Ferguson.

ROB MUXLOW helped Edgefold Club to success at Marehay Miners Welfare.

But the visitors hit back with three frames without reply to secure home advantage in the next stages, firstly Duncan Harwood equalising with a win over Andrew Gratton before Rob Muxlow and Neil Parkinson sealed the deal.

Not to be deterred, Ben Monk notched a fine 53 break in the concluding doubles frame but not enough to stop the holders from bowing out.

The other A Division play off saw Bolehill Institute No 1 defeat Matlock Golf Club 4-1 with Ricki Slack and Ian Birks joint top scoring before Chris Parker and Charlie Hodgkinson replied with a comfortable success in the doubles frame.

The B Division top seeds Belper Strutt Club No 1 also came through 4-1 over Bolehill Institute No 2, this time taking the first three frames to progress.

Paul Jarrett's black ball win over Ian Peacock in the second frame was supplemented by successes from Mark Newby and Steve Bullock whilst Keith Robertson was on the mark for the away team.

Gladiators Social Club received a bye with Belper Strutt Club No 2 unable to raise a team with no suitable alternative dates free at this late stage of the season.

Jaeger Trophy Champion of Champions 1st round results: Marehay MW / PJ'z 2, Edgefold Matlock 3; Bolehill Inst No 1 4, Matlock Golf Club 1; Belper Strutt No 1 4, Bolehill Inst No 1; Gladiators SC Matlock w/o Belper Strutt No 2 scr.
Breaks: B Monk 53; C Parker 24.