County Doubles 09'- by Joe Bell

Sunday 8th February 2009

Sixteen teams gathered to contest the county doubles championship, which has become a date that cueists from around the county look forward to, as it is always a great day of snooker and chat.

Ron and Mary Wilson provided the venue as always at the Portland Club as well as providing refreshments for the day, and my personal thanks go out to them as they are extremely good supporters of the County Association.

The draw was made by County secretary Joe Bell and Robert Sim.

P O’Hagan/S O’Hagan v J Bell/A Sharpe, B Johnston/N Henderson v S Shepperd/R Henry, J Thwaites/V Peet v S Little/ B Collins, A Armstrong/M Lancaster v R Sim/K Basnett, M Dawson/M Park v P Mostyn/C Newton, S Garroway/P Graham v R Ismay v V Shippley, P Killingley/S Hodgson v T Mattinson/C Rule, N Harrison/P Wright v C D’leny/A Austin

Some great matches were fought out during the day, but it was the first round draw that provided the fist shock of the day, reining Doubles Champions Kevin Basnett and Robert Sim were eliminated by Carlisle pairing of A Armstrong and Mally Lancaster.

Other first round results

P O’Hagan S O’Hagan  beat  J Bell A Sharpe  3-1, S Shepperd R Henry beat B Johnston N Henderson 3-0, J ThwaitesV Peet beat S Little B Collins 3-0, M Dawson M Park beat P Mostyn C Newton 3-1, S Garroway P Graham beat R Ismay V Shippley 3-1, P Killingley S Hodgson beat T Mattinson C Rule, N Harrison P Wright beat  C D’leny A Austin 3-2.

Second Round Results

P O’Hagan/S O’Hagan beat S Shepherd R Henry, A Armstrong M Lancaster beat J Thwaites V Peet , S Garroway and P Graham beat M Dawson M Park, N Harrison and Paul Wright beat P Killingley S Hodgson.

Semi Finals

The O’Hagan brothers continued their assault on the championship with a straight 3 frame result over Carlisle pairing A Armstrong and Mally Lancaster

In the other semi final game between Graham and Garroway and the second Carlisle pairing of Harrrison and Wright saw the Workington pair going through to the final.

The Final

Peter O’Hagan Stephen O’Hagan      v              Steve Garroway Paul Graham

After a couple of exchanges between the players it was Graham and Garroway that took  an early attack with a well constructed 23, but the O’Hagans hit straight back with their contribution to level the scores, but after a couple of safety exchanges it was Peter who  produced a frame winning break of 68, failing to clear the last three balls. Frame score 91-23

Frame two saw both teams playing some great shots and it was nip and tuck all the way until Stephen O’Hagan produced another frame winning break of 39 to take the second frame 77-31

In the third frame and what turned out to be the last frame saw both teams exchanging shots, but it was Garroway and Graham the slowly built up a lead and at one point were 28 points in front, but the O’Hagans steadly reduced the points deficit, then going into the colours it was Peter who cleared green to pink and take the frame 61-43.

Winners: O'Hagan brothers Stephen & Peter

Ironically the only frame that the O’Hagan dropped through out the championship was against Bell and Sharpe in the first round.

Presentations were made by County Official Joe Bell