Bishop Auckland League - Crook Olde Horse Shoe emphasised their Championship success with a five point home win over Bishop Auckland Derby, who just did enough to secure their runners-up spot.

The Shoe had two singles points from Richard Walker and Gavin Witton with Steve Hunter, Cliff Owen and Stephen Liddle adding one each. The Derby replied with one point each for Chris Peacock, Andrew Delve and Stephen Balanaves. The Derby took the doubles through Kevin Stewart and Chris Peacock, but Gavin Witton clinched a good win for the Olde Horse Shoe when he beat Stephen Lowther in both the captain's games.

Spennymoor Ashtree's last-ditch efforts to land the runners-up spot ended when the visiting Witton Park Rose and Crown took three points. If the Ashtree had succeeded in recording a maximum victory they would have forced a play-off for the runners-up spot with Bishop Auckland Derby.

The Ashtree had two points from Paul Biddle, Harry Baillie, Stephen Jones and Paul Chatterton, whilst Graham Maughan replied with two for the Rose and Crown.

Stephen Jones and Harry Baillie won the doubles for the home side before Paul Biddle and Paul Frame shared the captain's points.

Durham & District League

Bowburn Oak Tree B continued their impressive start to the season and remain unbeaten with a good home win over last season's runners-up, Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby.

Sonny Hann started the ball rolling for the Oak Tree when he cleared up from the break in the first frame. Brian Hann and Ray Miller increased the home lead before Graeme Comerford pulled one back for the visitors.

Neill Hunter and Pop Maughn both increased the home lead before David Hodgson won for the Marquis but it was too little too late as the rampant home side took the next five frames through Sonny Hann, Ray Miller, Neill Hunter, Brian Hann and Pop Maughn.

However the Oak Tree failed to round off a great night when Colin Barron lost the captain's game to Graeme Comerford.

Results: Durham Woodman 7 Gilesgate DLI 6; Chester-le-Street Garden Farm 9 Ushaw Moor Flass Inn 4; Meadowfield Club 5 Coxhoe WM Club 8; Esh McKennas 4 Durham Snooker Club 9; Bowburn Cooperage 5 Gilesgate Three Horse Shoes 8; Ushaw Moor Catholic Club 5 Bowburn Oak Tree A 8; Bowburn Oak Tree B 10 Framwellgate Moor Marquis of Granby 3. Broom Park Loves v Sacriston Daisy Hill no result.

Willington League

The new season will begin on Wednesday, November 14 when the first weeks fixtures will be: Hunwick Quarry Burn v Willington Market; Hunwick Club v Willington Commercial; Willington Brewer's Droop A v Willington Brewer's Droop B; Howden Australian v Willington Black Horse Tavern; Prospect Club v Sunnybrow Brown Trout.

Tow Law League

Esh Football Club caused a major upset when they beat the visiting leaders, Tow Law Station by three points. Things looked to be worse for the Station as they trailed by five points after losing the first five frames to Alan Brown, John Robinson, Simon Slater, John McCormick and Colin Neil.

Michael Bell pulled one back by taking the final singles frame. The home side took the first doubles but then slipped up in the last two or the Station's defeat could have put their Championship hopes in jeopardy.

The Station lead the table by ten points from the New Market B, but their main rivals for the Championship come from Tow Law Black Horse A, who are 12 points adrift but with a match in hand.

Results: Tow Law Football Club 6 Sunniside Comedian 3; Tow Law Black Horse B 3 Tow Law New Market B 6; Tow Law New Market A 2 Tow Law Rose and Crown 7; Esh Football Club 6 Tow Law Station 3. Hamilton Row Black Horse v Tow Law Black Horse A postponed.

Durham Ranking Final

The Final of the year-long competition held on a monthly basis at Durham Snooker Club will be held on Sunday, November 18 with all first round players to report at noon.

First round draw (best of five frames): Gee Cheng v John Mavin; Claire Tritton v Johnny Rowland; Peter Jackson v Kevin Allison; Adrian Kavanagh v Dave Lowery; Dave Harrison v Jim Bainbridge; Helen Littlewood v Leigh Patterson; Fraser Powell v Sue Seal; Shahin Hussain v Dave Wilkinson.

The second round matches begin at 1.30pm when the seeded players from 8 to 16 start their challenge in matches, which are the best of nine frames.

Draw: A- Cheng or Mavin v Andrew Moley; B- Tritton or Rowland v Gavin West; C- Jackson or Allison v Gavin Hudspith; D- Kavanagh or Lowery v Ian Bertram; E- Harrison or Bainbridge v David Jackson; F- Littlewood or Patterson v Wayne Watson; G- Powell or Seal v Leigh Mavin; H- Hussain or Wilkinson v Terry Barker.

The third round matches, again the best of nine frames, bring in the top eight seeds from the years events and begin at 2pm.

Draw: Winner of A v Michael Rhodes; Winner of B v Colin Hutchinson; Winner of C v Dave Harrop; Winner of D v Alan McCluskey; Winner of E v Andy Seal; Winner of F v Paul Brockway; Winner of G v Darren Grainger; Winner of H v Chris Bowran.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals are the best of 11 frames with the Final the best of 13 frames.

Players are advised to arrive in good time for their matches as there is a penalty of one frame for being late. This is increased to two frames for being five minutes late and up to the loss of the match for anyone 15 minutes late for the advertised starting time. There is also a strict dress code to be followed.

The winner will receive £200 plus a trophy, the runner-up £100 plus a trophy, the beaten semi-finalists £50 each with cash prizes going to beaten quarter-finalists and players beaten in round three, making the full prize fund £620, thanks to the support of Woodpecker Cider and Cue Craft Ltd. Spectators are welcome at anytime during the event