Gavin Lomax Secures National Amateur Championship
October 12th, 2011
L
eicestershire A Team’s leading player Gavin Lomax continued his outstanding run of form at the weekend to be crowned EPA National Amateur Champion 2011 at Great Yarmouth.
Lomax has enjoyed much success so far this year including qualifying to play in the British Lions tour of Australia later in October, and sits atop the EPA rankings having dropped just four frames at County this season.
The first two rounds went according to plan with wins over Robert Titchener (6-3) and Gary Goodman (6-1), however the next match against Matthew Hyden was a sterner test as Hyden soared into a 5-1 lead.
“I’d not really practiced much at all for this competition but think sometimes a break does you good as I felt really fresh! But at 5-1 down I feared the worst and thought I was out. The guy missed a pretty simple finish though and I stepped in to get it back to 5 all and finished it off with a break and dish!
After that match I felt as though this year was my turn, like an omen, and knew after I had reached the semis last year that I could do it!”
Lomax went on to win his last 32 match 6-1 (Perry Roberts), last 16 6-4 (Scott Jordan) and quarter final 7-4 (Sefton Payne).
“I felt a bit nervy in the semi against Shane Balding and there were a few balls missed by both of us but I managed to hold my nerve on the final clearance to win 7-6. It was two long days of playing pool and I was a bit mentally exhausted going into the final at 10pm. I just thought of what you always hear commentators say on tv, you’ve got to take the bull by the horns and the last few frames let’s just say I took several! To finish off the match and win such a prestigious title in English Pool felt amazing!”
Gavin closed out the victory 8-6 against a galant opponent Giuseppe D’Imperio to become Leicester’s first champion in this event.
Posted in News
John Bowkett Lands First National Win
October 12th, 2011
Top Leicestershire junior John Bowkett has finally got his hands on the trophy he has been striving for.
The 17-year-old has suffered a couple of high-profile defeats in the past, but he put all that behind him when he was crowned National Grand Prix Under-21 champion at the weekend.
County junior team captain Bowkett, who is in his second year of A-levels at Leicester Grammar School, made home advantage count when the Grand Prix was held at Leicester’s Club 147.
He came through a group of eight to qualify for the knock-out stages before going all the way to the final in which he beat Northampton’s Callum Singleton 7-3.
“I am buzzing at the moment, I’m over the moon to have won my first title,” said Bowkett, who is also an England youth-team player.
“I’ve reached the quarter-finals of the junior World Championship and the final of the World Masters before and, although they are bigger tournaments than the Grand Prix, this is the first time I’ve gone on to win one.
“I had a tough group to get out of, so I took it game by game, not trying to think about matches that I’d lost before.”
Bowkett, who is sponsored by Club 147 and Mint Promotion, added: “It’s a massive boost for my confidence. Instead of going into events worrying about losing finals and quarter-finals, now I’ll go into them knowing I can win.
“Confidence plays a huge part in my game. If it is low, you don’t take as many risks but, when it is high, you know you have the game to win.
“To have won in the under-21 bracket was also special because, from next year, I will have to join that age-group, whereas at the moment I can still enter under-18 tournaments.
“To beat players older than me with more experience is a huge boost.”
Harry Irwin reached the quarter-finals of the under-21 event, while Joe O’Connor and Louis Heathcote were semi-finalists in the under-16 Grand Prix.
O’Connor, who won the under-16 title in 2009, lost 6-1 to Manchester’s Aaron Davies, while Heathcote, the English Under-14 snooker champion, lost 6-4 to eventual winner Josh Riddaway, from Bedford.
Article & Photo courtesy of Leicester Mercury
Posted in News
2012 UK Amateur Pool Tour
September 28th, 2011
The English Pool Association are pleased to announce the new UK Pool Tour for 2012.
£107,000 Prize Fund!
The 2012 UK Pool Tour is open to amateur players only with an entry fee of £600.
There will be 5 tour weekends; all held at 4-star Barceló group hotels. Supreme pool tables,
Aramith balls and Strachan fabric will be used.
Players on the tour are entitled to play in the main tour plus the Challenge event. Players will
also have the opportunity to play at the 2012 World Masters with a £20,000 prize fund (additional £40 entry fee will apply).
For full details and to apply, download the entry form now!
Closing date for entries is October 31st 2011
Posted in News
Humberside v Leicestershire: Match Reports
June 24th, 2011
Mens A
Result: Humberside 12-32 Leicestershire
Just a small matter of a nice trek upto Humberside for our first match against them after this years Region re-shuffle, We played some great pool right from the off & set the standard for the day which at the halfway stage saw us leading 18-4. The home side then started abit of banter to which we ignored, One player in particular was a right pain in the arse & I’m sure he knows who he is….. we managed to close out the match 32-12.
There was 4 wins for Shaun Payne, Gavin Lomax & Joe O’Connor, Joe taking the man of match award for his efforts, Steve Robertshaw, Harry Irwin, Tommy Donlon, Steve Morriss & Steve Chambers all fired in trebles to back them up. Great team performance now looking forward to our top of the table clash against Lincs…….Bring em on !!!!
Fez
Mens B
Result: Humberside 20-24 Leicestershire
Player of the match: Gaz Tipler
Match report to follow
Ladies
Result: Humberside 12-32 Leicestershire
Leicestershire ladies made their first trip to Grimsby with high hopes of a good result. After the disappointment of defeat in the last match we were all determined to get back on track, but with only a bare eleven to field, captain Michelle Brown urged her team not to underestimate new regional opponents Humberside. Once again Leicester got off to a sluggish start and were level at four all, but then surged ahead by showing our knowledge against a less experienced team, and taking some well fought frames. We were delighted to secure the win with a leg to spare!
Theresa Sheridan was awarded player of the match with some great play and 3 wins from four, while Emma Senior and Julie Tailby regained their form to take a maximum four wins each. Special credit goes to Michelle Brown who once again won all four of her frames to take her overall tally for the season to an outstanding 16 from 16. She sits at the top of the National rankings going into the World Championships next weekend where she will be representing England Ladies, and hopes to retain her World Masters singles title. Theresa Sheridan will also be playing in Blackpool as part of the England Wheelchair team. Good luck to both ladies!!
Posted in County
Leicestershire v Notts: Match Reports
May 19th, 2011
Mens A
Result: Leicestershire 30-14 Nottinghamshire
Third game done & it’s nice to be still undefeated with the new points structure !! It was a bit of a surprise when Notts fielded a well under strength side, the last few years they have built up a big reputation, something their Captain has work hard at, and Pat must have felt let down by a few players.
To be fair they kept up with us for the first 2 sessions and it was 12-10 at halfway, but the 3rd session we turned on the style to win 10-1, and carried that form on for the remainder of the match.
England A Team player John Roe kept up his fine form with another impressive 4/4 to earn the man of match award keeping him top of the Regional rankings.
There was 3 wins for Steve Chambers, Gavin Lomax, Gaz Mitchell, Lee Ross & Nicky Parnell.
We look forward now to our next match Vs England Mens on Sun June 5th ……So watch out !!
Fez
Mens B
Result: Leicestershire 23-21 Nottinghamshire
Match report to follow
Ladies
Result: Leicestershire 19-25 Nottinghamshire
A disappointing day at home to title rivals Nottinghamshire this Sunday saw one of the biggest defeats we have suffered over the years and a massive blow in the race to be Region 8 champions.
Another sluggish start saw an on form Notts side take an 8-3 advantage after the first leg and although we picked up a little in the second, still lost the set and trailed 14-8 at the halfway stage.
A good third leg and the Leicester girls managing a six frame run going into the final quarter gave hope, but the come back wasn’t to be as Notts closed out the match with frames to spare.
Captain Michelle Brown stated “It could have been worse after being 9 frames adrift towards the end of the third quarter, however it was the first leg which really let us down as there was little between the two teams in the other three”
Michelle’s impressive form continued with yet another maximum haul to keep her 100% record in tact. Teresa Blair showed grit and determination to win 3 from 4 and the player of the match award on a day where the rest of the team struggled.
Juniors
Result: Leicestershire 31-13 Nottinghamshire
Leicestershire youth kept their unbeaten run with an emphatic victory over their East Midlands rivals Nottinghamshire. The 1st leg went to Leic 7-4 & that was the closest the match got. We won the second leg 8-3 and only dropped 1 frame in the 3rd, winning that 10-1. It was very easy run to the line with another 8-3 session. It was a fantastic result made better with the news that South Yorkshire lost to Derbyshire.
Well done to all the lads especially John Bowkett (mom) 4/4, Danny Davies 4/4 & Louis Heathcote 4/4, Jamie Brown 3/4, Billy Harding 3/4, Liam Charles 3/4 & Chae Ross 3/4.
Well done again boys, lets keep focused for the rest of the season.
Mark (manager)
Posted in County