Middlesbrough and District League

Louise Etherington is this year's years singles champion of Middlesbrough after coming through some tough matches.

In the quarter finals Louise, playing from the Red Lion, defeated Jacky Stephenson from the Green Tree 3-0. In the other quarter-finals matches Aitch McCormack was defeated by Marie Waite in a close fought match with Marie just winning 3-2. Last years champion Heather Morton defeated Joanne Starling from the Smithy. Ann Louise Eaton was a 3-1 winner over Sharon Roper.

In the semi-finals Louise Etherington was leading Marie Warre 2-0 Marie came back to win the next two frames for 2-2 but Louise went on to win the last frame for a excellent 3-2 win. in the other semi-final Ann Louise Eaton defeated Heather Morton 3-2 for a place in the final. In the final Louise went 1 -0 up then 2-1 up Ann Louise came back to level the match at 2-2 in the last frame which could have gone either way. Louise Etherington just held on to win the frame for a 3-2 victory to claw the singles title.

In the league the Cleveland in their first 7-0 whitewash for eight years against the Brambles Farm SC. All the Cleveland players put in man of the match performances. Marty Smith won the first frame then wins from Alan Hutchinson D Storey, Sye Wilkinson, Adross Ahmed, Lee Sheekey and Rob Vary rounded of this brilliant result for the Cleveland.

the Captain Cook 8s were also 7-0 winners at the Speedway with wins from Paul Burke, Michael Gray, Lee Wray, Lee Ward, Alan Stevenson, Steve Woodier, and magic Mark Fisher.

League leaders tables were up against last seasons Division Two champions the Royal George but found the going tough against the reigning Division One champions. Stuart Richardson won the first frame for the tables to take his averages to seven wins from seven played. D Paleski had a chance to win his frame after Simon Holmes missed the black but Simon got a second chance and won the frame for 2-0. Terry Allan was in the driving seat against D Beattie but lost track of the frame and let in Beattie who went on to win the frame for 2-1.

Chris Gladwin made his return to playing pool a winning one with some excellent pots to put Tables 3-1 up. Kevin Pigott came close to losing their unbeaten run against Darren Jones with tee frame nip and tuck. Darren got the first chance and went on to clear the table but missed a fairly easy black to let in Kev who coolly cleared his last four reds to win the frame to takes his tally to 12 wins from 12 played. Captain Dave Robinson hit an impressive clearance to defeat Dave Kilburn for 5-1 then in the final frame Buck Shaw defeated Kevin King for a 6-1 win.

The Yellow Rose kept up their recent good form against the Red Rose with Darren Wardle keeping up his unbeaten run since joining the team defeating M Edwards to put the Yellow Rose 1-0 up, Paul Thornton made it 2-0, P McGee won the third frame for 2-1 Mark Devlin and Mick Peacock won the next two then Dave Thompson won ms first game for the Yellow Rose to round off a 5-2 win to the Yellow Rose.

The Captain Cook had an excellent shock win over one of the time contenders the Jovial Monk. The Monk went in front when Tony Wells defeated Shaun Price, Paul Myers played excellent in his frame to defeat the experienced Brian Good for 1-1. Darren Britain put the Cook 2-1 in front when he defeated Andrew Woodier. Then Michael Quinn won frame four to give the cook a 3-1 lead Alan Foster pulled one back for the Monk. Gary Stephenson then won the match for the Cook after defeating G Wilson P Peter Appleton won the last frame for the monk for a 4-3 win in favour of the Cook.

Yarm and District League

The Beckfields B needed a victory at hone to the third placed Griffin to keep up the pressure for top spot in the league, things went bad for the Beckfields, they were beaten 5-2 at home to the Griffin, this meant that their challenge had ended with only one game to go.

The Eaglescliffe/Bar won well at home defeating the Yorkshire Dragoon B 6-1 to put themselves 13 points clear and out of reach of the Beckfields B to take the title for a third year in a row. Winners for the Eaglescliffe/Bar were T Wells, B Good, I Wells, I Moran, A Woodier, and man of the match Andy Merritt.

The Beckfields a had another impressive result beating the Eagle 5-2 away. Yorkshire Dragoon A put up a good performance to beat an inform Jockers 4-3 at home.

Queen Vic a won 4-3 at home against the Layfield A.

The Oddfellows put the performance of the night defeating the Layfield B 6-1 away. The only winner for the Layfield B was Allen Duffy.

Queen Vic B got back to winning ways coming away 4-3 winners at the Pavillion.

The other team to do well was the Eaglescliffe a who hammered the Blue Bell 6-1 away. H Nevison grabbed the first frame for the eagles followed by good wins for A Beddard. I Stewart, S Pickard, N Magson who got man of the match for an excellent 7* ball clearance, and Davy Ford rounded off a brilliant for the Eaglescliffe A.

Redcar and District League

Arriva (Vauxhall) Shield

The big shock of the Arriva Shields was in the match between First Division Bookmakers and second division Lobster. K McCormack put the Lobster 1-0 up, R Smith then made it 1-1. This turned out to be the Bookies last point. D Truss, A Whittle, R O'Hagan and M McCormack put the Lobster into the next round. The Cleveland were at home to the Barns B in a good team performance, they came back after last week's 8-1 loss. They went on to win this game with A Hartshorn, D Richardson, C Evans, S Calvert, R Morley and S Murphy winning. After an opening frame lasting over half an hour Yorkshire Lass went one up through deadly Doug Arbron.. M Watson levelled the game before P Windras, J Henderson and C Windrass put the Lass 4-1 up. G Parker made an excellent clearance to make it 4-2. Vals then won the next frame, John the Hurricane then made an excellent clearance to win the match 5-3 for the Lass. The Clarey B were at home to the Kingey C, T Flanaghan and S Palferman put the Kingey 3-0 up. N Bottomley and C McCarthy made it 2-2. M McDonald and S Christian put the Kingey 4-2 up then they won the first doubles to win the match 5-3. The George were away to Vals B and in a good game the singles were share 3-3, Vals then won the first two doubles for a 5-3 win. O Wallace, m Smallwood, and S Buckton put the Kingey 3-0 up in their home game with New Marske SC. G Hearfield made it 3-1. A Moore than pout the Kingey 4-1 up. A day made it 4-2, NMSC then won the first doubles. The Kingey then won the next to win the match. 5-3.

Durham Ranking Tournament

The fourth Ranking Tournament of the Year was held at Durham Snooker Club with Michael Rhodes maintaining his excellent form with another victory, although Andy Seal stretched him in the final. Rhodes took the winners purse of £60, whilst Seal won £30.

The beaten semi-finalists, Ian Bertram, who lost 4-1 to Rhodes, and David Jackson, who lost 4-3 to Seal, took £10 each.

The results of the last sixteen were Michael Rhodes 3 Alan McCluskey 0; John Mavin 1 Lee Holdsworth 3; Steven Armstrong 2 Ian Bertram 3; Tim Aberdeen 2 Nick Veuger 3; Colin Hutchinson 1 Gary Carr 3; Lee Mavin 1 David Jackson 3; Andy Seal 3 Ian Dinsdale 2; Darren Grainger 1 David Lowery 3.

The Quarter Finals results were Michael Rhodes 3 Lee Holdsworth 0; Ian Bertram 3 Nick Veuger 0; Gary Carr 1 David Jackson 3; Andy Seal 3 David Lowery 1.

In the Plate competition, Alan McCluskey took £18 as the winner, whilst Ian Dinsdale was rewarded with £6 for taking the runners-up spot.

The next Ranking Tournament will be held at Durham Snooker Club on Sunday, 19 May with advance information available on 0191 3869339.

Bishop Auckland and District League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who have many Championship wins behind them, were taken to the final frame before they edged through to an odd point win at Bishop Auckland Football Club. The footballers had two points from Tony Lambert and one each from Lee Diaz, Craig Lumley and Carl Neilson, whilst the Shoe levelled with two points from Cliff Owen and one each from Steve Hunter, Gavin Witton and Stephen Liddle. The visitors took the doubles through Steve Hunter and Cliff Owen but Lee Taylor took the first captain's point to level. In the decider Gavin Witton took revenge on Taylor to take the Shoe to victory.

Tow Law Station, who started so well as newcomers, dropped valuable points when they visited Toft Hill Three Tuns. The home side had singles point from Peter Carnigan, Barry Thexton, Andrew Wilson and Jack Carr, whilst the Station went ahead with two points from David Craggs and one each from Shaun Umpelby, Lee Cullinan, Andrew Burrows and Malcolm Umpelby. The Tuns took the doubles through John Harvey and Graham Cummings and levelled when Vince Hunt took the first captain's game. However David Craggs came back to take the second for an odd point victory.

Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B hold a one point lead at the top over Spennymoor Ashtree, who are three points ahead of the Olde Horse Shoe.

Results: Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 1 Spennymoor Ashtree 12; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 11 Ferryhill Greyhound 2; Spennymoor Weardale 9 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 4; Toft Hill Three Tuns 6 Tow Law Station 7; Bishop Auckland Football Club 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7; Bishop Auckland RAFA Club 5 Henknowle Manor House 8; Bishop Auckland Derby 3 Crook Coach and Horses 10; Bishop Auckland King's Head 9 Witton Park Rose and Crown 4.

Willington League

The League Singles Championship qualifying round was held at four venues with the winner from each moving forward to the play-off on Finals Night. The winner form the Willington Brewer's Droop was Derek Peacock of the Prospect Club. The winner from Hunwick Quarry Burn was Dale Wilson of Willington Black Horse Tavern. The winner from Willington Commercial was Phil Blyth of the Prospect Club. The winner from the Prospect Club was Ian Richardson of Hunwick Club.

Crook Pool League

League leaders, Crook Travellers Rest B went down to their first defeat of the season when the visiting Crook Belle Vue won by four points. The home side had singles points from Michael Burke, Neil Campbell and Jimmy Singlewood with two from Jim Ainsley, whilst the Club went to victory with two points each from Peter Samson, Paul Morgan and George Pakes with John Warriner adding one. The Club also took both doubles through John Warriner with Peter Samson and Ian Hodkinson with Paul Morgan.

In the top of the table clash in the Second Division, Willington Market entertained Crook Jelly's Bar A and made a six points victory. Gary Trow scored two singles for the Market with Ian Moore, Syd Trow, Paul Lauder, Stuart Shillan, Stuart Wayman and Micky Toward adding one each. They then added both doubles through Ian Moore with Paul Briddick and Syd Trow with Micky Toward. Andy Palmer scored two for Jelly's with Michael Jewitt and Andrew Heyes adding one each.

At the top of the First Division Crook Travellers rest B's lead was cut to two points, with Crook Olde Horse Shoe A seven points ahead of Crook Coach and Horses A. Willington Market lead the Second Division by five points from Jelly's bar A, who are four ahead of Crook White Swan.

Results: Crook Spitfire Club 8 Crook Surtees 6; Crook Travellers Rest B 5 Crook Belle Vue 9; Crook Coach and Horses A 5 Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 9; Crook Royal Sun A 9 Crook Travellers Rest A 5; Crook Mill House 8 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 6; Crook Jelly's Bar B 5 Crook Golden Fleece 9; Crook Queen's Head B 7 Crook Royal Sun B 7; Crook White Swan 8 Crook Coach and Horses B 6; Willington Market 10 Crook Jelly's Bar A 4. Croft Social Club v Crook Queen's Head A - no result.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Football Club A did very well in their home match against title contenders, Spennymoor Quinn's Inn to earn a draw. The footballers looked as if they were in line for a big win when they took four of the five singles through S. Wall, T. Cairns, B. McAloon and G Brown. The Quinns only singles point came from J. Fox.

From then on the footballers never scored the point that would have given them victory as the Quinn's took both doubles through K. Ellis with J. Fox and K. Jones with S. Lynn. D. Elliott forced the draw for the Quinn's when he beat B. McAloon in the captain's game.

Spennymoor Black Horse lead the table by seven points from the Quinn's Inn, who have a match in hand and hold a two points lead over the third placed Voltigeur.

Results: Coxhoe Red Lion 3 Spennymoor Football Club B 5; Spennymoor Black Horse 5 Spennymoor Half Moon 3; Spennymoor Salvin Arms 4 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 4; Spennymoor Voltigeur 6 Spennymoor Hillingdon 2; Spennymoor Football Club A 4 Spennymoor Quinn's Inn 4; Spennymoor Ash Tree 3 Spennymoor Railway 5. Spennymoor Victoria v Spennymoor Penny Gill no result, the home side lose two points.