The League Pairs Championship was held at eight venues with one pair from each moving to the next stage.

The winners from Spennymoor Ashtree were Stephen Webb and Peter Mernor of Henknowle Manor House; Ferryhill Greyhound winners were Paul Willey and Michael Hoggart of Bishop Auckland Snooker Club; Toft Hill Three Tuns winners were Ronnie McAloon and Paul Biddle of Spennymoor Ashtree; the winners from Spennymoor Weardale were Shane Casen and Lou Cooper of Spennymoor Weardale; the winners from Bishop Auckland Snooker Club were Lee Scott and Steve Hall of Crook Coach and Horses; the winners from Tow Law Station were David Craggs and Lee Cullinan of the Station; the winners from the Crook Coach and Horses were Les Scott and Neil Campbell of the Coach; the winners from Crook Olde Horse Shoe were Stephen Liddle and Dave Walker of the Olde Horse Shoe.

Tow Law Pool League

Tow Law Dan's Castle B celebrated their second victory of the season when they beat the visiting Hamilton Row Black Horse in the decider. The Castle went ahead in the singles with wins from Angela Suddes, David Murray, Frank Armstrong and Alison Hopps, whilst Jim Christalow and Doc Metcalfe scored for the visitors. The Horse took the first two doubles to square the match but then David and Paul Murray took the Castle to victory by beating Barry Sims and John Henderson.

Tow Law Dan's Castle A now only need a couple of points to clinch their first ever championship win from their two remaining matches after winning two games. In the first they won away at Sunniside Comedian by three points and then won the re-arranged match against the visiting Lanchester King's Head by five points. Tow Law New Market B are in second place with a nine points advantage over Tow Law Football Club.

Results

Esh Winning Football Club 6 Tow Law New Market A 3; Tow Law Cattle Mart 5 Tow Law North Point 4; Tow Law New Market B 6 Tow Law Football Club 3; Sunniside Comedian 3 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 6; Tow Law New Market B 6 Lanchester King's Head 3; Tow Law Rose and Crown 5 Tow Law Football Club 4; Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7 Lanchester King's Head 2; Tow Law Dan's Castle B 5 Hamilton Row Black Horse 4.

Bishop Auckland Area Pool League

After a big defeat last week Bishop Auckland Bay Horse hosted Spennymoor Victoria and were hoping to turn things around. They got off to a good start with Wilson Harrison and Tony Lambert winning the opening singles games. Chris Jayne then pulled one back for the visitors before the home side took over, winning the next six games. Garry Lamb and Michael Wright taking two apiece and Andy Henning and Chris Ball the other two leaving the score standing at 8-1. Steven Hodgson took the final singles game for the Victoria and they then won the first doubles game with Ian Hubbard and Marcus Jayne claiming the point. Lee Harker and Michael Wright won the second doubles match to give Michael his third point of the night before Steven Hodgson won his second with a victory in the captains to leave the final score 9-4.

Two of the teams who have had good starts to the season met when Bishop Auckland King's Head visited Ferryhill Station Eldon Arms and although the home side got off to a good start when Steve Webster took the first frame it was the visitors winning six in a row who took the lead in style. Kevin Watson won the first and last of the six with the other games being won by David Jacomb, Steven West, Steve Bainbridge and Malcolm Parry. The home side replied with wins for Dave Bromley, Terry Wray and Steve Wray. They continued their winning streak into the doubles too with the first game falling to John Mason with Steve Webster and the second to Steve and Terry Wray leaving the score tied at 6-6 overall. The deciding captains game was won by Dave Bromley to give the home side a narrow 7-6 victory.

Results (singles scores in brackets)

Spennymoor Voltigeur 11 (8) Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 2 (2); Bishop Auckland Derby 5 (4) Henknowle Manor 8 (6); Ferryhill Station Eldon Arms 7 (4) Bishop Auckland Kings Head 6 (6); Bishop Auckland Green Tree 4 (3) Bishop Auckland Grand B 9 (7); Bishop Auckland Bay Horse 9 (8) Spennymoor Victoria 4 (2).

Willington Pool League

Willington Black Horse Tavern moved up to share the top spot with Hunwick Club after they beat the visiting Hunwick Quarry Burn for the loss of only three points. The Tavern made a great start by taking the first four singles through Neville Ridley, Anthony Stewart, Tommy Parkin and Eddie Haig. However the visitors replied with wins from Dave Robson and Alan McClurg. The Tavern completed their victory by taking two of the three doubles.

Willington Brewer's Droop A moved a point behind the leaders after winning in the deciding doubles at Willington Lion and Unicorn. The home side had singles wins from Paul Williams and Kevin Hill, whilst the visitors went ahead with wins from Alan Atkinson, Steve Wayman, Stephen Britton and Colin Lee. However the Lion and Unicorn set up the decider by taking the first two doubles but their luck ran out when Stephen Britton and Alan Atkinson won the decider.

A decision taken at the league meeting means that the game between Willington Cottles A and Hunwick Quarry Burn has to be replayed as neither side had a full team.

Results

Willington Lion & Unicorn 4 Willington Brewer's Droop A 5; Prospect Club 5 Willington Cottles B 4; Willington Brewer's Droop B 5 Willington Commercial 4; Willington Black Horse Tavern 6 Hunwick Quarry Burn 3; Willington Cottles A 5 Sunnybrow Brown Trout 4; Prospect Club 7 Willington Commercial 2.

C.I.U. Team Pool

The draw for the First Round is Fencehouses Comrades A v Crowtrees; West Auckland v Fencehouses Comrades B; Osbourne A v Shotton Comrades; Quarrington Hill B v Consett Station; Grange Villa A v Whitehill Park Tenants; Southwick v Grange Villa B; Ferryhill B v Osbourne B; Thornley v Quarrington Hill A. Results to be into the Branch Office by November 2.