2011 GOLDEN CUE COMPETITION IS IN FULL SWING!

Back in 2007 sponsorship from Moorhouse’s, the North West’s leading dedicated cask-ale brewer, revived the once highly popular Golden Cue contest – run through the Burnley Express Newspaper – following a 16 year absence. Amateur players among club members from Burnley, Pendle and Ribble Valley are eligible to enter the individual contest.

4 years on, the Golden Cue competition is still going strong. The 2011 Golden Cue Awards were launched back in October 2010, with the first round draw being played out on Friday 4th February for a place in the last 16 (Round 2).

The draw for the last 16, held at the Lamb Club in Barrowford.
Pictured left to right are Neil McGovern - organiser, Jimmy Waddington - Lamb club, Tim Goode - Lamb Club.

QUARTER FINALS

The first match of the quarter finals took place on Sunday 10th April where Simon Lawless beat Sean Greenall 3-1 in a very good match. Simon led 2-0 with runs of 40 and 30 respectively before Sean pulled it back to 2-1 with breaks of 40 and 26. The 4th frame looked to be going Sean's way until he missed a difficult red and Simon stepped in and cleared the last 2 reds and colours to take the frame and match. Both players received a good ovation from the well informed and knowledgeable crowd. The match was refereed by Neil McGovern and marked by Trevor Sutcliffe.

L-R: Sean Greenall and Simon Lawless

Jamie Southern beat Charlie Docherty 3-2  in a pulsating and sometimes nervy match at a packed Ighten Leigh on Sunday. Southern was never in front in the match until he got over the winning line with a final pink in frame 5, Docherty leading 1-0 then 2-1 before the well supported Southern made his comeback. A definite decision to play the last frame decider on the small table by Southern was much in his favour and he got over the line eventually after a very tense last frame, the pic shows Jamie on the left and Charlie on the right.

L-R: Jamie Southern and Charlie Docherty

On Thursday 14th April Paul Rinaldi and Farak Adjaib locked horns. Farak was quickest out of the blocks and raced into a 1-0 lead with a superb 87 clearance, that was soon 2-0 when a 49 break put the frame out of Pauls reach. After a re-rack in frame 3 Paul failed to make the most of a couple of chances and the clinical Farak wrapped the match up with a run of 65 and could well be the man to beat in this year's competition.

Farak Adjaib and Paul Rinaldi on 14th April.
The match was refereed by wpbsa ref John Timperley.

Tuesday 19th April saw the last quarter final played at Ighten Leigh and this match was every bit as good as expected! Dave Howe eventually edged through 3-2 against Harry Ingham of Burnley Miners but not without some tense moments and even some controversy when ref Chris Durkin was questioned by qualified referee Dave Howe about the eligibility of an Ingham shot in frame 4 when Howe thought ingham played a push shot, but ref Durkin had none of it and Ingham went on to a run of 39 to take the match to a decider.

Howe won the toss and elected for the decider on the large table where his experience pulled him through although ingham did have his chances but another missed blue cost him dearly in the end.

Dave Howe will be in a hurry now as he goes into hospital in May to donate a kidney and will need to play all his snooker before this!

Dave Howe (left) with Harry Ingham

SEMI FINALS

The semi final draw has now been made and are as follows:

Sun 1st May p.m. - Farak Adjaib v Jamie Southern
Sun 8th May p.m. - Dave Howe v Simon Lawless

The finals are being held on a yet to be decided Sunday in May!