Crook League - The normally reliable Gavin Witton of Crook Olde Horse Shoe became the unluckiest player on Finals Night at Crook Spitfire Club when he lost in all three finals.

In the League Singles Championship he went down 3-2 against Adam Martin of Crook Coach and Horses. In the Team Champions Championship Gavin was whitewashed by Neil Campbell of Crook Travellers Rest. Things did not improve in the Doubles Championship for Gavin was joined by Brian Johnson but they lost 3-1 to Ian Bibby and Alan Saville of Crook Mill House.

The Final of the Three Man Team Championship went down to the final frame, where Richard Walker of Crook Olde Horse Shoe beat Scott Weston of Crook Travellers Rest. The Olde Horse Shoe team was Cliff Owens, Dave Walker, Stephen Liddle and Ricard Walker, whilst the Travellers team was Colin Howe, Tony Storey, Stephen Todd and Scott Weston.

Willington League

Tony Atkinson of Willington Football Club became the League Singles Champion when he beat Tony Leighton of Oakenshaw Club 2-1 in the Final played at the Prospect Club. In the semi-finals Atkinson beat Dale Wilson of Oakenshaw Club, whilst Leighton beat John Bolam of Willington Brewer's Droop.

In the Final of the League Doubles Championship Paul Williams and Alan Lee senior beat Nevilles Ridley and Tommy Parkin of Willington Black Horse Tavern.

Brandon and

Byshottles League

Brandon Ridge were hosts to the Prince Bishop for a nail-biting match during which each team scored alternative points. R James, W Williams, and A Sillett took the first, third, and fifth frames for the home side, shadowed by M Grieves, I Stidwell, and G Holmes replying for the Bishop. The pattern of play changed at the start of the pairs when the Ridge dropped a point to A Curl and partner M Grieves.

The match was levelled by W Williamson / K Cooper, while S Morland / G Holmes regained the lead for the Bishop. It was left to A Sillett of Brandon Ridge to take the final captains game to level the match.

Results: Brandon Ridge 5, Prince Bishop 5; Brandon Football Club 6, LMHFC 4; Brancepeth B 6, Dog & Gun 4; Langley Moor Hotel 4, Brancepeth A 6.

Durham Ranking Tournament

the penultimate tournament will be held on Sunday, September 23 at Durham Snooker Club

Rankings: 1st Michael Rhodes 44 ranking points, 103 merit points; 2 Chris Bowran 34, 74; 3 Colin Hutchinson 32, 59; 4 Alan McCluskey 32, 54; 5 Andy Seal 32, 51; 6 Darren Grainger 25, 36; 7 Gavin West 24, 42; 8 David Jackson 24, 32; 9 Wayne Watson 23, 27; 10 Paul Brockway 22, 38; 11 Ian Bertram 22, 31; 12 Terry Barker 21, 31; 13 Gavin Hudspith 20, 18; 14 Dave Harrop 19, 38; 15 Andrew Morley 18, 28; 16 John Mavin 18, 16; 17 Dave Harrison 17, 19; 18 Shahin Hussain 17, 19; 19 Dave Lowery 17, 8; 20 Leigh Mavin 16, 18; 21 Helen Littlewood 15, 14; 22 Gee Cheng 14, 25; 23 Dave Wilkinson 14, 23; 24 Fraser Powell 14, 18; 25 Adrian Kavanagh 14, 16; 26 Johnny Roland 14, 3; 27 Kevin Allison 13, 12; 28 Jim Bainbridge 11, 16; 29 Sue Seal 11, 12; 30 Peter Jackson 9, 8; 31 equal Leigh Patterson and Alice Rhodes 9, 3 each; 33 Claire Tritton 9, 0; 34 Jason Johnson 8, 10; 35 Eddie Rhodes 8, 9; 36 Michael Burke 6, 11; 37 Stephen Jones 6, 10; 38 Matt Hiller 6, 4; 39 equal Aaron Cowan and Brian Dunn 5, 3 each; 41 Kevin Wilkinson 4, 2; 42 Paul Dalziel 3, 5; 43 equal Dave Baines and Shaun Smith 3, 3 each; 45 equal Mark Szczypka and Paul Szczypka 3, 0 each; 47 equal Steven Armstrong, Steven Dawson and Ankur Nangpal 2, 2 each; 50 equal J. P. Clarke, Martin Mann and B. Smith 2, 1 each; 53 equal D. Anderson, A. Grant, Adam Grantham, Gary Henderson, Ian King, Dave Laws, J. Owens, Nichole Pate, T. Snowden and Nick Veuger 2, 0 each; 63 Neil Campbell 1, 1; 64 equal Gary Emerson and Derek Perry 1, 0 each.

In the final two tournaments the players are trying to get into the top 32 so that they will qualify for the big money tournament at the end of the year. Even those unable to qualify can still win good prize money in each of the two remaining events. Further information can be obtained on the remaining events on 0191 3831333 and asking for the organiser at Durham Snooker Club.

Bishop Auckland League

Spennymoor Ashtree made a positive move up the table to fourth place when they beat their hosts at the Bishop Auckland King's Head, who share the second place with Bishop Auckland Derby. However both the Derby and the Ashtree have two games in hand over the King's. Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the table by 31 points.

Kevin Watson, John Searle and Andrew Tuesday scored one point each for the King's whilst the Ashtree had two singles points from Paul Biddle and Stephen Jones with Tony Biddle, Alan Jones and Stephen Robinson adding one each. The King's took the doubles through John Searle and Andrew Tuesday before Paul Biddle beat Kevin Watson in both captain's games.

Spennymoor Weardale made a good home win over Witton Park Rose and Crown by three points. The home side had two points from Shane Casen and Stephen Newall with Martin Short and Robert Grayson adding one each. The Rose and Crown had two points from Dean Hodgson with Paul Frame and Shaun Burke scoring one each. Jeff Maughan and Dean Hodgson took the doubles for the Rose and Crown, but then Shane Casen capped the home win by taking both captains points against Paul Frame.

Results: St. Helens Wheatsheaf 0 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 13; Bishop Auckland Football Club 3 Henknowle Manor House 10; Spennymoor Hillingdon 10 Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 3; Spennymoor Weardale 8 Witton Park Rose and Crown 5; Bishop Auckland King's Head 4 Spennymoor Ashtree 9. Re-arranged - Bishop Auckland King's Head 9 Witton Park Rose and Crown 4; Witton Park Rose and Crown 3 Spennymoor Hillingdon 10.

Tow Law League

Tow Law New Market B travelled to Billy Row Royal George for the only match to be played as all others were postponed for players to see the England football match. The Market certainly benefited from their trip for they recorded a maximum win with Ray Weir, David Spencer, Robert Hopps, Alan Henderson, Ian Turner and Colin Armstrong taking the singles and then completing victory by taking all three doubles points.

Results: Billy Row Royal George 0 Tow Law New Market A 9. Postponed: Tow Law Station v Sunniside Comedian; Tow Law Rose and Crown v Tow Law Black Horse A; Lanchester King's Head v Hamilton Row Black Horse; Tow Law Black Horse B v Tow Law Football Club; Esh Football Club v Tow Law New Market A.

P W L Pts

Tow Law Station 14 13 1 90

Tow Law New Market B 14 11 3 79

Tow Law Black Horse A 14 11 3 74

Lanchester King's Head 13 7 6 67

Tow Law Football Club 13 8 5 64

Tow Law Rose & Crown 14 6 8 64

Tow Law Cattle Mart 12 7 5 60

Esh Football Club 13 6 7 60

Sunniside Comedian 13 8 5 57

Ham. Row Black Horse 14 6 8 55

Billy Row Royal George 14 3 11 41

Tow Law New Market A 12 0 12 39

Tow Law Black Horse B 14 1 13 33

Outstanding matches: Cattle Mart v Comedian; Tow Law Football Club v Royal George; Nw Market A v New Market B.