Worthington CIU Winter League - The highest break for this season in both the First and Third Divisions was lifted last week. In the top bracket Michael Pratt of Old Shildon put in an 81 break to lift the mark up from Spennymoor A's Paul Biddle's 71.

Meanwhile in the Third Division Paul Vickers of West Auckland top mark of 44 was lifted to 59 by Frank Nicholson of Coundon.

Michael Pratt's effort was backed up solidly by his Old Shildon teammates, who whitewashed their hosts at Witton Gilbert to move eight points clear of the second placed Wheatley Hill A. The other point scorers for Old Shildon were Jossie Aldworth, Billy Goggins, Stephen Bennett and Charlie Blake.

Wheatley Hill A got away to a winning start at Newton Aycliffe when they took the first three frames through Dave Walker, Dennis Clish and Dean Bryden. However the home side fought back to close the gap with Peter Brown and Marc Howe, with a 34 break, winning the last two frames.

Shotton Palms were able to move one point behind Wheatley Hill A after their odd point victory at Brandon. The Palms went two up through Barry Hall and Jimmy Evans before Graham Jackson pulled one back for the home side. John Armstrong clinched the visitors victory with Colin Goodrick closing the gap by winning for Brandon.

Cockton Hill were in top form when they entertained Ferryhill and went through to win by a maximum. The Hill's winners were Kevin Mordica, Harold Lomax, Andrew Aisbitt, with a 53 break, Lee Taylor and George Chapman with a 44 break.

Spennymoor A were never headed when they visited Fishburn A. Dennis Dodd put the Moors ahead with John Carter levelling. Paul Biddle restored the visitors' lead only to see John Griffin level. In the decider John Wilson of Spennymoor A beat Brian Quest.

Meadowfield's sole occupancy of the top spot in the Second Division only lasted one week after they went down by the odd point at Stanley Central and now have to share the leadership with Langley Park. Harold Grimes and Walter Cornell moved the Central ahead but Malcolm Hughes opened the visitors' account with a 39 break. However Jim Dufton stepped up to grab the decisive third point for the home side but Norman Smith kept Meadowfield's promotion hopes bright when he took the final frame.

Langley Park moved up to share top spot with Meadowfield after winning by the odd point at Wheatley Hill B. The Hill had wins from Dave Blyth and Tony Ellison whilst the Park's points came from Peter Morgan, Paul Nord and Kevin Keers.

Hunwick A are just one point behind Meadowfield and Langley Park after they came back from a two nil home deficit against Belmont. Chris Morley and Steven Armstrong put the visitors ahead but Paul Atkinson, with a 38 break, and Neville Blenkinsopp levelled. In the decider Ian Richardson took Hunwick to victory by beating Bill McGrath.

Wingate's improvement continued and dented the chance of their hosts at Sherburn Village getting back among the leaders. Scott Mallaburn and John Bower put the Village ahead only to see Steve Allen and Geoff Howe level. In the decider, Wingate's Dave Hammond beat Alan Greener.

Spennymoor B came back twice to beat the visiting Newhouse in the decider. Ian Dinsdale put the visitors ahead with Wayne Parry equalising. Jimmy Hassen restored the Newhouse lead but Kevin Riley again levelled. In the decider the Moors, Karl McCormack beat Keith Mann.

Bearpark moved three points clear at the top of the Third Division when they beat the visiting Crook Belle Vue. John Warriner put the visitors ahead before Glen Morton and Shaun Easter scored for the home side. Arnold Fleming levelled the match but then Bearpark's David Jackson beat Ken Rider in the decider.

Frank Nicholson's 59 break for Coundon was helped by a win from Mike McKerry but the visiting Hunwick B went to victory with wins from Trevor Cook, Dave Penman and Barry Fleming. This moved Hunwick B up to third place, four points behind West Auckland, who have a match in hand.

Tow Law recorded their first maximum victory for over a year when they never dropped a point at Leeholme B. The Lawyers points came from Tommy Williams, Bill McCluskey, Doug Watson, Charlie Donaghy and Alan Spence.

Sacriston made a winning start against the visiting Fishburn B with points from Steve Bradley, Kevin Laing and Alan Richardson. The visitors closed the gap with wins from Michael Bell and George Whitelock.

Durham City's hopes of bouncing straight back into the Second Division took a set-back when they went down in the decider at home to Leeholme A. The home side went two up through Michael Pratt and Gary Ward only to see Barry Shaw and Carl Brown level. In the decider Leeholme's Tony Clish beat Brian Dunn.

Results: Leeholme B 0 Tow Law 5; Brandon 2 Shotton Palms 3; Stanley Central 3 Meadowfield 2; Durham City 2 Leeholme A 3; Wheatley Hill B 2 Langley Park 3; Newton Aycliffe 2 Wheatley Hill A 3; Sacriston 3 Fishburn B 2; Spennymoor B 3 Newhouse 2; Witton Gilbert 0 Old Shildon 5; Coundon 2 Hunwick B 3; Sherburn Village 2 Wingate 3; Cockton Hill 5 Ferryhill 0; Bearpark 3 Crook Belle Vue 2; Hunwick A 3 Belmont 2; Fishburn A 2 Spennymoor A 3.

Worthington CIU Summer League

Eforms will be handed out for the Summer League at the annual meeting to be held in Meadowfield Club on Thursday, February 28 (7.30pm). There are vacancies for new teams from CIU Affiliated premises and advance information can be obtained from the secretary on (01388) 730444.

The League runs three divisions, a team Knock Out Cup, singles and doubles championships, a handicap singles competition and a billiards championship. The League will run from the end of April until the end of September.

Worthington CIU Handicap Singles

Fourth round draw: is John Bower 18 (Sherburn Village) v Jimmy Evans 7 (Shotton Palms); Lawrence Jones 24 (Witton Gilbert) v Kevin Sample 18 (Brandon); Scott Mallaburn 14 (Sherburn Village) v Paul Atkinson Sc (Hunwick); David Blyth 20 (Wheatley Hill B) v Raymond Coates 24 (Langley Park); Michael Pratt Sc (Old Shildon) v Eddie Rhodes 5 (Spennymoor); Ian Dinsdale 24 (Newhouse) v Keith McLauchlan 18 (Crowtrees); Andrew Aisbitt Sc (Cockton Hill) v Dean Bryden 21 (Wheatley Hill A); Andrew Sugden 14 (West Auckland) v Anthony Forster 50 (Leeholme A). Results to be in by 10.30pm on February 25.

SWD Association

The annual meeting of the South-West Durham Snooker Association will be held in Old Shildon Club (7.30pm) on Wednesday, February 27. All teams must be represented, with further details available from the secretary, Jossie Saldworth on (01388) 777362.

Crook League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A landed the Championship with a great home win over the second placed, Crook Travellers Rest B. The Travellers made a very good start when they went two up with singles wins from Jim Ainsley and Neil Campbell. However from that point the Shoe took over and had singles wins from David Stephenson, Gavin Witton, Gerald Parkin and Brian Johnson. They completed their win when Alan Moses and Brian Johnson won the doubles.

Crook Spitfire Club took the Second Division title when they won in the deciding doubles at Crook Surtees. The home side had singles wins from John Uren, Chris Bainbridge and Howard Trotter, whilst the Spitfire levelled with wins from Eddie Phillipson, John Palmer and Ossie McCabe. David Sneath and Joanne Moore won the deciding doubles for the Spitfire.

Crook Travellers Rest B take the runners-up trophies for the First Division with an 11 point advantage over Crook Belle Vue, whilst Willington Market are in second place in the Second Division six points ahead of Crook White Swan.

Results: Crook Mill House 6 Crook Queen's Head A 1; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 5 Crook Travellers Rest B 2; Crook Travellers Rest A 4 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 3; Crook Coach and Horses A 4 Crook Belle Vue 3; Crook Surtees 3 Crook Spitfire Club 4; Crook Queen's Head B 2 Crook Coach and Hoses B 5; Willington Market 5 Crook Golden Fleece 3; Crook Queen's Head A 2 Crook Coach and Horses A 5. Outstanding results: Crook Queen's Head 2 Crook Coach and Head A 5; Crook White Swan 7 Crook Queen's B 1.

Worthington CIU Singles Championship

Fourth round draw: Owen Howarth (Brandon) v Eddie Rhodes (Spennymoor); Jeremy Martin (Willington) v Michael Pratt (Durham City); Gary Ward (Durham City) v Frank Nicholson (Coundon); Barry Shaw (Leeholme A) v David Walker (Wheatley Hill A); Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees) v Kevin Sample (Brandon); Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert) v Michael Pratt (Old Shildon); Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village) v Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill); David Jackson (Bearpark) v Alan Hall (Wheatley Hill A). Games to be played on or before Monday, February 25.