National PSV Championships

The Stagecoach bus company won the national championship after some excellent results.

Stagecoach also play in the Middlesbrough league from the Yellow Rose.

The competition was played to a North South area divide and Stagecoach first won the Northern area final, having some excellent wins on the way.

They defeated Newcastle Go Ahead, Sunderland, Hull B team and in the Northern final they defeated Hull A team to set up a national final against West Brom played at Leicester's 147 snooker club.

In the final, Tony Goodsell gave Stagecoach a 1-0 lead after escaping several snookers to go on to win the frame.

Mick Peacock, who is having his best season so far, won the second frame for a 2-0 lead and Stagecoach then went 3-0 up when Brian Craggs and Paul Thornton were both outstanding to win the doubles game.

The next two singles games went to West Brom for 3-2 then Stagecoach won the match after Captain Dave Barnes and Mark Devlin won the doubles frame for a 4-2 lead and then Dave Barnes sealed the championship for the Cleveland team when he won the seventh frame for a 5-2 victory.

In their singles knock-out Mick Peacock had an excellent competition, just losing out in the final finishing runner up.

The doubles knock-out Dave Barnes and Mark Devlin were in the final and just lost 2-1 to opponents from Birmingham, the match should have been the best of seven frames but the Stagecoach pairing ran out of time due to the driver keeping in with Stagecoach driving regulations.

Bishop Auckland and District League

Bishop Auckland Football Club pulled off a good odd point victory over the Crook Coach and Horses when Lee Taylor pulled them back from the brink of defeat by beating Les Scott in both captain's games.

The Football Club had two singles wins from Tony Lambert and Lee Taylor and one from Craig Lumley, whilst the Coach replied with two wins from Michael Burke and Lee Scott with Les Scott adding one. The Coach took the doubles through Lee Scott and Michael Burke.

Bishop Auckland Derby put up a good show at home to Tow Law Station and recovered to only lose by the odd point. The Derby had singles points from Paul Stewart, Michael Richardson, Stephen Lowther and Colin Gash, whilst the Station went ahead with two points from David Craggs and one each from Tommy Sloan, Stephen Turner, Malcolm Umpelby and Shaun Umpelby. Anthony Hird and Steven Maughan clinched the Station's victory by winning the doubles, but Andrew Delve made the score respectable when he beat David Craggs in both captain's games.

Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B lead the table by one point from Crook Olde Horse Shoe with Spennymoor Ashtree a further two points adrift.

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

Willington League

The league was deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of popular player, Jimmy Bainbridge of Howden Australian. Jimmy was a very good player and a gentleman. The league's officials and players are joined by those from the Crook League and the Durham County Super League, where Jimmy also played in the past, in expressing their condolences to his family.

In the only two league matches played The Prospect Club grabbed the runners-up spot be beating the visiting Willington Commercial in all nine frames, whilst the Australian struggled to beat the visiting Hunwick Quarry Burn by the odd point and so finished one point behind the Prospect.

The Australian went ahead in the singles when they had wins from Steven Young, John Allott, Michael Lee and Ray Newton, with Dave Robson and Dave Edmundson taking points for the Quarry Burn. Stephen Burke and Michael combined to take the vital doubles to give the Aussie victory.

The draw for the Singles Championship to be held at four venues on Wednesday, 1 May is - Brewer's Droop: S. Burke, N. Laws, R. Lee, K. Dufton, A. Irwin, G. Moffatt, T. Parkin and D. Peacock.

Commercial: S. Peacock, S. Britton, N. Ridley, P. Maddison, D. Young, R. Johnson, P. Blyth and A. Binks.

Quarry Burn: D. Robson, A. Carr, D. Hawkins, A. Peacock, J. Flemming, D. Wilson and M. O'Brien.

Prospect Club: M. Pickles, S. Poole, B. Parkin, I. Richardson, S. Pardew, K. Bake, M. Davis and L. Sample.

Crook League

Crook Jelly's Bar A moved to the top of the Second Division following their win in the re-arranged match at fellow title contenders, Crook Queen's Head A. The home side had two points from John Howarth and one each from Peter Genner, Dougie Smailes, Tommy Longstaff and Neil Harker. Jelly's replied with two points from Kevin Carter and one each from Andrew Heyes, Andy Palmer, John Gibson and Stephen Russ. Jelly's completed their victory when Michael Jewitt with Jason Gibson and Andy Palmer with Kevin Carter took both doubles points.

This win puts Jelly's A one point ahead of Willington Market, who now lead the Queen's A by five points. In the First Division Crook Travellers rest B are five points ahead of Crook Olde Horse Shoe A, with Crook Coach and Horses A a further five adrift.

Results: Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 9 Crook Travellers Rest A 5; Crook Queen's Head A 6 Crook Jelly's Bar A 8.

Spennymoor League

Spennymoor Black Horse strengthened their grip on the top of the table spot after they beat their hosts at Spennymoor Football Club A by two points. The footballers had singles points from T. Cairns and B. McAlloon, whilst the Horse replied with wins from R. Turner, G. porter and D. Miller. The visitors increased their lead when they both doubles through J. McIver with G. Porter and R. Turner with J. Oliver. The footballers closed the gap when B. McAloon beat D. Miller in the captain's game.

The Black Horse now lead the table by eight points but the second placed, Spennymoor Quinns Inn have a match in hand. Spennymoor Victoria are in thirds place, one point behind the Quinns.

Results: Spennymoor Voltigeur 2 Spennymoor Quinns Inn 2; Spennymoor Railway 4 Spennymoor Pit Laddie 4; Coxhoe Red Lion 6 Spennymoor Penny Gill 2; Spennymoor Victoria 7 Spennymoor Half Moon 1; Spennymoor FCA 3 Spennymoor Black Horse 5; Spennymoor Salvin Arms 4 Spennymoor Hillingdon 4; Spennymoor Ash Tree 3 Spennymoor FCB 5.

Bishop Auckland

Area League

It is with great sadness that players heard of the passing of John Searle who died last week. John has been an active member of this and other leagues for years and made a big contribution to pool in the area. The officials and players would like to pass on their condolences to his family. He will be greatly missed.

When the Hillingdon travelled to the Wheatsheaf Kenny Smith got the visitors off to a good start, winning the first game and Steve Jones continued the trend by taking the second. Kelvin Anderson and Steve Horner both then won for the home side to level the score. In the final singles game Kenny Taylor took the point to give the Hillingdon a 3-2 lead. The doubles games were shared with Steve Horner and Gary Brown taking the first for the Wheatsheaf and John Geldard with Ben Smith winning the second for the Hillingdon. With the score standing at 3-4 Andy Mole won the captains game to level the scores.

Results: Spennymoor Wheatsheaf 4 Spennymoor Hillingdon 4; Spennymoor Voltigeur 4 Bishop Auckland King's Head 4.

Tow Law League

The new season opens on Wednesday, 1 May with the following fixtures.

Sunniside Comedian v Tow Law North Point; Tow Law New Market A v Tow Law Dan's Castle A; Hamilton Row Black Horse v Tow Law Station; Tow Law Cattle Mart v Tow Law Rose and Crown; Lanchester King's Head v Tow Law Black Horse; Tow Law Dan's Castle A v Tow Law New Market B; Esh Football Club v Tow Law Football Club.