The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Awesome Alfonso Palumbo lifted his second Spalding and District Snooker League Scratch title after whitewashing four-time winner Craig Fitter in the final on Saturday night.
Pyramid potter Palumbo saw off Services star Fitter (champion in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2013) 4-0 in the best of seven frames showdown at Spingfields Events Centre – making a 41 break in the process – to add to the title he last lifted in 2016.
The Snooker Scratch final is always the most coveted individual crown on offer at the annual finals weekend, but 11 other trophies were lifted at the league’s blue riband event.
Proceedings got under way on Friday night, with Crowland B trio Paul Holland, Rob Childs and Allan Sharman edging out Gosberton B’s James Waterfall, Shane White and Marcus Pell 400-368 in the Billiards Shield final.
JUST CHAMPION: Billiards Shield winners Crowland B (from left) – Alan Sharman, Rob Childs and Paul Holland are pictured with presenter Norman Gookey.
Saturday’s action started with the Billiards Individual Handicap, as Holbeach’s Denis Hix (R70) lifted the crown by seeing off Gosberton’s James Waterfall (R50) – a past winner – 200-142.
WHAT A BRILLIANT SHOW: Denis Hix (right) is handed the Billiards Handicap title by John Keeton.
It was a close-run thing in the Snooker Senior Masters too, with Donington’s John George (R7) edging out Whittlesey ace Garry Thewliss (scr) 2-1 to clinch the title.
GRAND MASTER: John George lifted the Snooker Senior Masters title. He’s pictured with Nigel Brasier.
Next up was the Snooker Mixed Pairs, which saw Long Sutton duo Sean Swinburn and Susan Lefley (team handicap O21) going for a third title. However, Services’ Tanya Peel and Vince Fitter (team O14) hadn’t read the script and took the trophy 113-72.
IN THE MIX: Services stars Tanya Peel and Vince Fitter lifted the Snooker Mixed Pairs gong.
Then came one of the top team showdowns, with Division Two leaders Donington A pipped 3-2 by top tier high-fliers Pyramid A in the Snooker KO Cup.
All looked to be going Donington’s way as Senior Master George (R7) and Kev Hawes (R7) won the first two frames, but Matt Chapman (scr), Norman Vaughan (O7) and Michael Twell (R14) took the last three frames to clinch the coveted crown.
IT’S A KNOCKOUT: Snooker KO Cup winners Pyramid A. From left – Norman Vaughan, Victor Rouse, Michael Twell, Matthew Chapman, John Twell and Dean Cole.
Palumbo’s win over Fitter in the Scratch then completed the Saturday action.
One of the top individual showdowns of the weekend opened Sunday’s play, with titans Mick Johnson (Consti) and Rob Childs (Crowland) squared off in the Billiards Scratch.
After 90 minutes of action, it was Johnson who prevailed 302-182 to land his fourth career victory – and deny Childs, who sank a 35 break, an 11th title in the process.
TAKING THE MICK! Billiards Scratch winner Mick Johnson (left) receives the trophy from Mick Cooper.
Then came the Snooker Ladies’ Handicap, with Services’ Peel (scr) gunning for her sixth crown against Donington talent Chrissy Allwood (O7).
In what was a tight battle, it was Allwood who prevailed 2-0 (45-23, 53-16) to grab her first title.
NEW CHAMPION: Chrissy Allwood won her first-ever Ladies’ Hadicap title. She’s pictured with Alfonso Palumbo.
After that, there was another title for Services star Vince Fitter in the Snooker Handicap Pairs, as he joined Chris Dunmore (team O21) to defeat Holbeach’s Ben Harding and Colin Dodd (team O14) 111-86.
POTENT PAIR! Chris Dunmore (left) and Vince Fitter (right) got their hands on the Snooker Handicap Pairs crown. They were given the trophy by Tony Scully at Springfields Events Centre. It was an amazing weekend for Fitter, who lifted three team titles over the space of the weekend.
Then came the Snooker Handicap finale between past winner Mark Woodberry (O63) and Richard Lowe (O21).
There was to be no third title for Tulips talent Woodberry, though, as Holbeach ace Lowe (O21) took his first title 2-0.
KING RICHARD: Snooker Handicap winner Richard Lowe is handed his title by Jean Thompson.
Woodberry didn’t have to wait long to avenge his loss, as he teamed up with brother Darren (both Tulips) to pip Donington duo Neil Reynolds and Sam Major 2-1 in the Snooker Scatch Pairs.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Brothers Mark (left) and Darren Woodberry (right) collect the Snooker Scratch Pairs gong from Spalding and District Snooker and Billiards League Chairman David Lefley. The Sunday success helped Mark shrug off his Snooker Handicap final defeat to Richard Lowe.
The weekend closed with the traditional Norey Cup final – and it was Services B who defended the title they won last year by seeing off Donington C 3-2.
Craig, Vince and Kevin Fitter got the better of Neil Favell, Neil Reynolds and Ben Wrigglesworth to clinch the title – meaning Vince walked away with three wins over the space of the weekend.
TOP TEAM: Services B retained the Norey Cup – Craig Fitter, Kev Fitter, Stuart Atkin (presenting) and Vince Fitter.
The league’s fixtures secretary Susan Lefley felt it was another top weekend of action. She said: “We saw some top snooker and billiards play over the three days. It was just a shame that the event wasn’t as well-supported as it could have been.”
This Saturday sees the Singles/Pairs final between Bourne SC (Oli Player and Ian Clare) and Gosberton (Carl Wand and Adam Twigg) at Crowland RBL (7pm).
