Crook Individual Knock Out Cup: David Craggs of Tow Law beat John Mason of Chilton in one of the finest pool matches seen in the area when they met in the final of the competition, which was completing a magnificent first year in Crook Coach and Horses, where the large festive audience were quick to show their appreciation.

The 16 players, who had already played a league before this knock out cup, saw Craggs successful there with Mason finishing in third place. However in the final Craggs had to perform a last ditch effort to edge through to an odd frame victory in the best of eleven match.

In frame one Mason won the break but allowed Craggs a good chance, which he failed to take advantage of and Mason went ahead with a very solid performance. In the second Craggs called a foul on himself with Mason opening up a tight pack, before going two up with some fine tactical play.

Frame three saw Mason break dry with Craggs clearing five balls before missing an easy red. Mason was unlucky with a long yellow, allowing Craggs to put his first point on the board. This inspired him for he brake in the fourth and cleared up. However this fired up Mason who broke in the fifth and cleared up.

In frame six Craggs broke and cleared to the black but overhit his last yellow, leaving him without a shot on the black. He tried a speculative double but potted a red with Mason taking advantage by opening up his balls and clearing to go 4-2 up.

Craggs pulled one back when Mason broke dry in the seventh and Craggs cleared the table. Craggs broke dry in the next but Mason fouled. Craggs ended his chance when he tried to put a ball down the cushion with Mason lying a good snooker and clearing from the resultant two shots, leaving him one short of victory with three to play.

Frame nine went to Craggs after Mason tried to block a pocket but saw his ball drop in, leaving his opponent in to clear. Craggs broke dry in the tenth and Mason tried to tie the game up with some tactical play, but slipped up when he gave Craggs two shots, which he used brilliantly to clear up from a very difficult situation.

The deciding frame saw Mason break dry with Craggs potting four balls. Mason's safety shot did not come off and Craggs pulled off another good clearance to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. The Coach and Horses landlord, Les Scott, who also handed out the £1,000 prize money among the sixteen players who had competed throughout the year, presented the trophy to David Craggs.

Bishop Auckland League

David Haygarth of Crook Coach and Horses took the League Knock Out Singles Championship when he beat Michael Burke, a team-mate in the final played at Bishop Auckland Snooker Club.

The semi-finals kept the Crook pair apart as Haygarth was drawn against Kevin Carter from Crook White Swan. Haygarth was never troubled as he took both games easily to whitewash Carter. Burke was drawn against Ronnie Wright of Henknowle Manor and faced a tougher task but managed to take the decider to win 2-1.

In the final there was no safety play as both players went all out to clear the table as quickly as possible. They shared the first two frames but Haygarth took advantage of his first chance in the third to take the title by the odd point.

The Doubles Championship final was a much more safety conscious affair between Steve Webb and John Collinson of Henknowle Manor and Steve Ballanaves and Kevin Stewart of Bishop Auckland Snooker Club. The Manor pair edged through the first two frames to take the title comprehensively.

The League Presentation Evening will be held at Bishop Auckland RAFA Club on Thursday, 22 January.

Willington and District League

Willington Brewer's Droop lifted themselves from the next to bottom spot when they pulled off a double in their two re-arranged matches against Willington Lion and Unicorn.

At the Unicorn only Paul King took a singles and he was joined by John Bolam to take their only doubles, as Steve Smith, Mike Hanky, Alan Rickaby, Bob Saunders and Billy Wragg scored singles to ensure victory.

The match at the Brewer's was much tighter as the teams shared the singles with Jimmy Fleming, Michael Lally and Billy Wragg winning for the home side and Paul Williams, Paul King and Alan Lee junior replying. The match went to the deciding doubles when the home side's Rickaby and Wragg beat Alan lee senior and Williams.

League leaders, Sunnybrow Brown Trout produced their worst performance of the season and only took two points from the visiting Willington Cottles B. Harry Sewell and Dave Blackburn took the home points, whilst Jimmy Gallagher, Joe Bone, Steve Wayman and Dave Bennett won for the visitors, who then added all three doubles.

Auckland Area League

The draw for the quarter finals of the League Knock Out Cup to be played on January 28, following the standard league format of 10 singles, 2 doubles and 1 captain's game, with the first team to reach 7 points going through to the next round is:

Bishop Auckland Beehive v Bishop Auckland King's Head; Bishop Auckland Manor v Spennymoor Voltigeur A; Spennymoor Voltigeur B v Bishop Auckland Grand B; Spennymoor Wheatsheaf v Spennymoor Hillingdon.

The second round of the singles knockout is on 14th January with 64 players being drawn across eight venues. Matches to be played as best-of-three frames with the final two players from each venue going through to the next round.

The second round of the doubles knockout is on February 18 with 32 pairs being drawn across eight venues. Matches to be played as best-of-three frames with the final two pairs from each venue going through to the next round.

Durham County

The three Durham County Pool teams begin their new season in the Region One Inter-Counties Championship on Sunday with an away match against Northumberland in the Time Out Bar, Blyth.

Ian Staines of Chester-le-Street has qualified for an England trial because of his outstanding results in County matches last season. Helen Littlewood of Langley Moor, who has been selected for a trial for the England Ladies, will join him. The best wishes of all the Durham County players will go with them when they play the trials in March.

The County Super League will begin on Sunday, January 18 when ten teams will compete for the title currently held by Spennymoor. The fixtures for the first week are Spennymoor v Ferryhill; Shildon A v Newton Aycliffe; Crook A v Crook B; Horden v Shildon B; Willington v Durham.