Park Gate pair win the inaugural
Jim Watts Memorial Billiards Handicap Doubles Trophy

The late Jim Watts, a fine billiards player who played for Castle Club snooker and billiards hall, would have been proud of friends Chris Christodoulou and Mark Stansmore, as they won the inaugural Jim Watts Memorial Billiards Doubles Handicap Championship played at Churchills Eastleigh.

The semi finals were played between Curdridge’s Derek Fry and Brian Bull (receive +85) verses Hamble’s Tony Spridgeon and Will Mildenhall (receive +30), and Park Gate’s Christodoulou and Stansmore (receive +80) verses Curdridge’s Gwen Gamblin and husband Clive (receive + 75).

The Gamblin’s couldn’t reach the heady heights of their performance against Paul Adams and Derek Foster in the quarter finals, but Clive made an early break of 14 and a 12, however Christodoulou and Stansmore made breaks of 17 and 14 to win by 200-161.

In the other semi, Fry and Bull, spurred on by Fry’s Stuart Hamper Individual Handicap Challenge final victory, made short work of Spridgeon and Mildenhall, winning by 200-121. It could have been so different though as the Hamble boys scored 29 points in quick succession at the start of the game. Fry played some fine touch billiards though and Bull was decisive at the end, as he made the highest break of the night, a fine 25 when requiring 31 for the game.

The final had Fry and Bull using the yellow ball and shooting first. However it was Christodoulou and Stansmore who made the first telling score with their white ball – a break of 15. Back came Bull with a 19 break (which included a fluked six shot with an in-off red and pot red at the end of it!) narrowly missing an all-round three cushion cannon for 21. Fry and Bull then made runs of 11 and 10 to lead by 140 to 112. Then after numerous single ball scores, Christodoulou made a 16 break to bring the scores to an exciting 146 to 144 in their favour.

Bull then found himself stretching to reach a pot white into the ‘green ball’ snooker pocket, but fouled by making a push-shot when he should have been using the rest! The Park Gate potters then pulled clear by 160 to 148, and then made a 10 break to lead 185 to 152. It was left to Stansmore to conjure up the billiard skills his father had shown him, and make five consecutive in-offs and a cannon, for an unfinished break of 16 to take a well-deserved first billiards doubles trophy. Well done Chris and Mark.

RESULTS 

SEMI-FINALS
Derek Fry and Brain Bull (Curdridge RBL – receive +85) 200
V
Tony Spridgeon and Will Mildenhall (Hamble Social – receive +30) 121

Christodoulou and Stansmore (Park Gate receive +80) 200
V
Gwen Gamblin and Clive Gamblin (Curdridge RBL receive + 75) 161

FINAL
Christodoulou and Stansmore (Park Gate receive +80) 200
V
Derek Fry and Brain Bull (Curdridge RBL receive +85) 152