Results: Leics v S Yorkshire
April 22nd, 2013
Mens A Won 30-14
Player of the match: Tem Dixon
Mens B Won 31-13
Player of the match: Ryan Lucas
Ladies Drew 22-22
Player of the match: Emma Senior
Seniors Won 12-4
Player of the match: Dave Jones
All match results can be found here
Emma Senior makes England breakthrough
March 28th, 2013
Emma Senior has finally realised her England dream after almost giving up on ever wearing the coveted waistcoat.
The Leicestershire stalwart, who last season helped the County women’s team to their first Inter-County League title in almost 30 years, won through a rigorous trial at Great Yarmouth that lasted for 15 hours.
It was the fifth time of asking for the 33-year-old from Whetstone, who admitted she thought her time would never come after suffering heartache in previous years. But a new approach to her game, which yielded bags of confidence, saw Senior prevail this time around, and she will get her first taste of international duty next month.
“It’s a dream come true, I always wanted to say that I played for England and now I can,” said Senior.
“My game has improved so much in the last 12 months, especially how to approach a game mentally. That is largely down to (Leicestershire women’s captain) Michelle Brown, and it has proved the major difference.
“I’ve missed out a few times before and did think it had maybe passed me by, but my attitude going into it was so much better than previous years. I’ve been consistent all year and I’ve earned it. It’s a fantastic achievement.”
Senior started her trials at 9am and did not finish until midnight, and she said that took its toll.
“It was a very long day, and at one point I thought I was going to miss out again because I lost a key match. But I picked myself up and did not lose another game after that. It was very tough and hard to stay focused over such a long stretch, but that makes it feel even better.”
Senior will make her England debut next month in the shape of qualifiers for the World Championships, and then she can look forward to a series of forthcoming home internationals and friendlies.
She also believes she is the first Leicestershire born-and-bred player to qualify for the England women’s team.
“I’m pretty sure I am, and that makes it even more special,” she said. “I also had great support from all my team-mates and our other county teams, which was fantastic.”
Report and photo Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury
Posted in News
Louis Heathcote and Theresa Sheridan crowned European champions!
March 28th, 2013
Leicestershire pool players set Blackpool alight with a string of starring roles at the European Eight-Ball Championships.
Leading the way at the Imperial Hotel were teenager Louis Heathcote, who was crowned junior champion, and Theresa Sheridan, who won the wheelchair title.
Kane Wilson-Skinner finished runner-up in the under-21 event, and Steve Robertshaw was in charge of the England squad that retained their under-21 team title.
For 15-year-old Heathcote, it was an unexpected triumph. Having seen his Leicestershire team-mate and defending champion Joe O’Connor go out in the last 16, the Beaumont Leys School pupil took advantage to win five matches on his way to the final, where he beat Malta’s Ryan Pisani 7-2.
“I didn’t expect it, it was only my second major pool tournament and I just went into it determined to try my best,” said Heathcote, who two years ago won the English Under-14 snooker title.
“I reached the semi-finals last year, but the experience of winning the snooker title helped me in the final because I knew what was needed to get across the winning line.
“My aim is still to be a professional snooker player, but this title means a lot and I hope I can go on and win more now, and even challenge for world titles.
“I won’t give up pool, it’s a big part of my life and how I started, and hopefully this is the first of many trophies.”
O’Connor, who was chasing an unprecedented hat-trick of European junior titles, suffered a shock 5-4 defeat to Wales youngster Ben Fortey.
Victory in the wheelchair event was an early birthday present for Markfield’s Sheridan, who turns 50 in a couple of weeks.
She admitted it was “hard work” to win the title, being the only woman in the field, but was delighted with her success.
“This is right up there with everything else I’ve achieved,” said Sheridan, who won international recognition with England as an able-bodied player before damaging her spine falling down stairs 16 years ago and being confined to a wheelchair.
“I’ve worked hard to get to this level and, even though I feel on my own a bit as the only woman, it’s a great feeling.
“This win is definitely an inspiration, and now I want to go and win the World Championship wheelchair title in three months.
“I also want to get on to the able-bodied England team. There is so much talent out there that it will be hard, but I will give it my best shot.”
Sheridan dedicated her Euro title to long-time partner Paul, who was involved in a serious road accident in October.
“This win was for him, I almost lost him,” said Sheridan. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and with all the support I get from everyone at Club 147.”
Wilson-Skinner was pipped in the final of the under-21 singles, losing 7-4 to Nigel Clarke, while Leicestershire A team captain Robertshaw steered his England charges to successive titles with a 5-4 win against Morocco.
In the men’s singles, Gavin Lomax and John Bowkett both suffered agonising 7-6 defeats in the quarter-finals.
Report Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury
Posted in News
European Championships
February 20th, 2013
Wigston’s Joe O’Connor heads to the European Championships this weekend aiming to bow out of the junior ranks on a high. European junior eight-ball champion in 2010 and 2012, the 17-year-old can make it an unprecedented hat-trick of titles when the tournament gets under way in Blackpool on Sunday. No other player has won the trophy three times and, for O’Connor, this represents his last chance to claim that historic feat before his age makes him ineligible.
The Leicester Mercury Young Sportsman of the Year runner-up turns 18 in November and, as of December 31, will make the step up to under-21 level. O’Connor is the reigning world junior champion and double world junior Masters champion, and will go into the Euros as the strong favourite for his third title.
O’Connor said: “I’m confident, but I don’t want to put myself under any extra pressure by thinking I’m the favourite, I just want to go there and try to win.
“It would be an honour to become the only person ever to win it three times, but I will try to not let that affect me.
“It’s my last European event as a junior and one of the main things spurring me on will be to go out on a high.”
O’Connor, who plays Scotland’s James Murray in the first round at the Imperial Hotel, is joined in the singles draw by Leicestershire team-mate Louis Heathcote, who was a semi-finalist in the Euros last year. The duo also go for glory in the team event with England juniors. They won the trophy in Dublin last year and O’Connor and Heathcote will be key to England’s hopes of retaining the title.
They are not the only Leicestershire players in action at the European Championships. Gavin Lomax, John Bowkett and Kane Wilson-Skinner are in the men’s singles draw, while Theresa Sheridan will be aiming to make an impact in the women’s event. Sheridan also plays in the wheelchair singles, while Lomax is also in the team event with England.
Wilson-Skinner has a busy schedule as he also takes part in the under-21 singles competition and, with England, the team event.
Rounding up the travelling contingent is Steve Robertshaw, the England under-21 team manager, who is hoping to lead his troops to a third successive title.
Report Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury
Posted in News
Match Report: Leics Vs Lincs
February 20th, 2013
Leicestershire made a flying start to their Inter-County League Region Eight campaign with a full house of wins. Chasing titles in the men’s A and B divisions, plus the women’s, juniors and seniors leagues, all five County teams enjoyed victories against Lincolnshire in Sunday’s season-opener at Club 147, in Leicester.
The A team turned around a 12-10 deficit at the halfway stage to emerge 25-19 winners, player-of-the-match Shaun Payne leading the way with four wins from four.
Tem Dixon, Dave Wileman, Joe O’Connor and skipper Steve Robertshaw picked up three apiece as County began their bid to regain the title they lost last season.
The men’s B and women’s teams opened their title defences with contrasting victories.
Martin Hinchliffe’s B team were all-square at 21-21 with Lincolnshire, and they needed to win the final two frames of the day to secure maximum points. They duly did that as Matt Peyton and player-of-the-match Scott Taylor saw County across the line.
Taylor finished with four wins, while Peyton, Mark Wayte and Tom Loomes all bagged three each.
It was a much more routine affair for Leicestershire women as they cruised to a 29-15 win. They showed no sign of letting up after last season’s scintilating form that swept them to only their second title in 30 years.
Tracey Randall took the top-player honour with three wins, but Emma Senior and captain Michelle Brown both eclipsed that tally with four apiece. Julie Mackintosh, Carolyn Bowkett and Charlene Smart weighed in with three frames each.
County juniors, also defending the title they won last season, opened up with a 27-17 win against Lincolnshire.
Jamie Brown’s three wins earned him the player-of-the-match award. Billy Moult-Harding, Kieran Phillips, Chae Ross and Regan Boyle also pocketed trebles, while skipper Louis Heathcote was undefeated in his four frames.
The senior team rounded off a good day for Leicestershire with a 9-7 win. Debutant Phil Middleton finished with three wins from four to take the star player award.
Report Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury
Leicestershire County Trials
December 18th, 2012
Leicestershire are on the look-out for new players at all levels and will be holding open trials next month.
Men’s trials will take place on Sunday, January 6th, 11.00am start.
Ladies Day will be on Sunday, January 13th at 1pm.
Junior and Senior team trials will also take place on January 13th, starting at 11am.
Please note the maximum age for junior players is 17, and to be eligible for the senior squad you must be over 50, including turning 50 during 2013.
All events will be held at LCPA’s home venue, Club 147, Wilton Street, Leicester, LE1 3HS.
Posted in News
Match Report: Lincs Vs Leics
December 18th, 2012
Leicestershire narrowly missed out on a historic first-ever clean sweep of titles in Region Eight of the Inter-County League.
Defeat against Lincolnshire for the men’s A team, and the seniors being pipped to the post in their division, meant County finished the season with three of the five trophies on offer – still an outstanding achievement.
The men’s B and women’s teams had already wrapped up their respective divisions going into the season-finale in Boston, with the A and junior teams needing wins to join them.
However, Steve Robertshaw’s A team suffered an agonising 23-21 defeat against Lincolnshire, leaving them three points behind Humberside.
The juniors duly won their match 23-21 to top the table, but the seniors finished second in theirs, despite winning their final match.
The consolation is that all five teams will still be going to Yarmouth early next year for the national finals, as the top-two finishers in Region Eight all qualify.
The B, women and junior teams all go through as champions, but the A and senior teams face a play-off in Yarmouth to determine whether they earn a place in the main national finals or the plate.
“I’m disappointed the A team couldn’t defend our trophy, but I would have taken a top-two finish at the start of the season,” said A team captain Robertshaw.
“It was tough for us on the day, but it’s been a good season and we’ll be confident when we get to Yarmouth.
“Credit is due to the women’s team. They’ve had to sit in the background for years but they went through this entire season undefeated.”
Dave Wileman was the player of the match for the A team against Lincolnshire with three wins out of four, while John Roe and Joe O’Connor bagged three each.
The B team could not finish on a high after they were beaten 24-20, Mark Wayte taking the star-player award with three wins. Tem Dixon and Matt Peyton also won three apiece.
County women’s 29-15 win ensured they ended the season with a 100 per cent record. Captain Michelle Brown couldn’t be more proud of the girls achievements this year, backed up by VC Karen Wesseldine.
“Every member of the squad played a part in this historic season, both on and off the table, and we can keep this momentum going into the national finals on the back of our opening county match which will be in February.”
Emma Senior was the player of the match with a hat-trick. Brown, Tracey Randall, Stacie Flynn (Ackland), Lucy Bell and Donna Elliott also weighed in with three wins.
Chae Ross was the star player for the juniors in their win against Lincolnshire with three out of four, while Louis Heathcote, Kieran Phillips and Jamie Brown also won three.
Martyn Randall was the seniors’ top player in their 5-4 win.
Report Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury
Match Report: S Yorks Vs Leics Seniors
October 22nd, 2012
Result S Yorks S 5-4 Leics S
A disappointing result for the seniors, losing 5-4 in a final frame decider. We led all the way but just could not get over the line. Once again Harry Patel came up with 2 wins from 3 and other frames were picked up by Dave Smith who battled well to win his, and Martyn Randall.
However the result sees us remain in top position in the region with a frames advantage over second placed Humberside, so the final two matches are still vital.
Match Report: S Yorks Vs Leics A
October 18th, 2012
Result S Yorks A 11-33 Leics A
With South Yorkshire sitting at the bottom of the table, this was a game we knew we would win. But we wanted a big score as well to keep up the frame advantage over 2nd placed Humberside, who are level with us on points. It’s not only the results that count in the final two matches, every frame will be important.
With Shaun Payne & John Roe missing due to playing for the British Lions in South Africa, thanks to Tem Dixon & Louis Heathcote for stepping in on the day to make up the squad numbers.
Steve Morriss rolled back the years, winning 4/4 and the man-of-match award. John Bowkett & Lee Ross also weighed in with a maximum haul, while there was 3 wins for Myself, Tem Dixon, Reece Townsend, Louis Heathcote & Gavin Lomax, whose 21 frame winning run unfortunately came to an end.
So all five Leicestershire teams now have a great chance to win their dividions & qualify for the National finals at Great Yarmouth, good luck to everyone in the final two matches! – Fez (Capt)
Match Report: S Yorks Vs Leics Ladies
October 18th, 2012
Result S Yorks L 18-26 Leics L
This fixture was set to be the biggest of the season, away to our closest rivals, South Yorkshire. After beating them at home in May, they would be out for revenge in the chase for the title. They have secured some great results elsewhere this year so we knew we would have to fight for every frame, but were determined to win and get one step closer to becoming regional champions.
Predictably, the match went frame for frame up to the halfway stage, and locked at 11 all it looked like it was going the distance. However an excellent 8-3 third leg by the Leicestershire girls really put the pressure on our opponents as we entered the final set needing only 4 frames to clinch the victory.
The atmosphere was electric as Stacie Flynn potted the winning black, and the girls secured another three frames before the end of the match to make the scoreline a massive 26-18. Amy Beauchamp received her first player of the match award since joining Leicestershire after winning all four of her frames, with Charlene Gibson also bagging a maximum haul. There were 3 wins for Stacie Ackland and Donna Elliott.
“I am so proud of the whole team today… what a result! Everyone played their part and special thanks to Karen Wesseldine who is the best vice captain I could wish for. We are almost there now and I am confident we can win this region with just two matches to go. We need to keep focused though and now underestimate our opponents so we remain unbeaten. Come on girls… LET’S ‘AV IT!!” – Michelle Brown (Capt)
