Durham Ranking Tournament: Despite going out early in the July Ranking event, Michael Rhodes is still at the top of the new list, published for the event on Sunday, August 31 at Durham Snooker Club Rhodes lost to Dave Harrop of Consett, who gained enough points to become the biggest mover up the new list as he had gone from 21st to 14th.

There is still time for any newcomers to reach the top 32 for the end of year big money tournament. Anyone interested in joining can register for the August event before 12.30 on 31 August.

The current Top Twenty now reads: 1st Michael Rhodes 30 ranking points, 74 merit points; 2nd Steve Thompson 27, 67; 3rd Chris Bowran 27, 63; 4th Andy Seal 24, 41; 5th Kevin Rainbow 23, 41; 6th Alan Hogarth 22, 28; 7th Dave Lowery 20, 24; 8th Graham Comerford 19, 35; 9th Trevor Walton 19, 25; 10th Dave Hodgson 18, 33; 11th David Castledene 17, 24; 12th Andrew Mole 17, 13; 13th Robert Hogarth 16, 26; 14 Dave Harrop 15, 35; 15th John Mavin 15, 9; 16th Steven Webb 14, 30; 17th Colin Hutchinson 14, 27; 18th Michael Winnick 14, 19; 19th Gary Carr 14, 16; 20th Lyndsay Hood 14, 6.

Bishop Auckland and District League

League leaders, Crook Olde Horse Shoe looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory at third placed, Crook Coach and Horses A when they led 5-1 but a recovery from the home side left the Shoe needing to win the decider to move seventeen points clear. Spennymoor Ash Tree are in second place, but have two matches in hand and a 12 points lead over the Coach and Horses A.

The Olde Horse Shoe had two points each from Johnny Mason and Gavin Witton with Dave Walker and Cliffy Owens adding one each. The Coach recovered with two points from Les Scott and one each from Dave Haygarth and Neil Campbell. The home side also took the doubles through Lee Scott and Les Scott and then levelled the match when Michael Burke beat Gavin Witton in the first captain's game. However Gavin took his revenge when he beat Michael in the second and deciding captain's game.

Bishop Auckland Derby had to sign up new players to be able to play their re-arranged game at Henknowle Manor A but the newcomers helped to pull off an odd point victory. The home side had two points from Peter Mernor and one each from John Collinson, Bob Webb, Ronnie Wright and Bill Turner. The Derby then went to victory with singles points from Andrew Delve, Chris Peacock, Kevin Hopton and Stuart Milne to add to the doubles of Colin Bell with Kevin Hopton and the two captain's points from Chris Peacock's double win over Peter Mernor.

Results: Tow Law Station 9 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 4; Willington Brewer's Droop 10 Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 3; Henknowle Manor House A 6 Bishop Auckland Derby 7; Crook Coach and Horses A 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7.

Willington League

The new season will begin on Wednesday, September 3 when ten teams will compete. All teams must be represented at the next meeting of the league, which will be held at Willington Lion and Unicorn on Wednesday, 28 August, when all league fees and registration fees must be paid.

The ten competing teams are the prospect Club, Byers Green Royal Oak, Willington Cottles A, Willington Cottles B, Willington Lion and Unicorn, Willington Commercial, Sunnybrow Brown Trout, Willington Burn, Hunwick Quarry and Willington Brewer's Droop.

CIU Individual Championship

Quarter finals results: S. Corbridge (Ferryhill) lost to P. Hickman (Shotton Comrades); S. McPherson (High Fell) beat C. Turner (Grange Villa); D. Craggs (Tow Law) lost to A. Spedding (Hylton Castle); A. Daniels (Hylton Castle) lost to T. Kay (Darlington A.S.E.).

CIU Pairs Championship

Quarter finals results: M. Stephenson & S. Sedman (Whitehill Park Tenants) beat N. Eddy & D. Turnbull (High Fell); S. McPherson & J. McVicar (High Fell) lost to D. Craggs & L. Cullinan (Tow Law); G. Holdin & P. Holdin (Osbourne) lost to P. Cox & T. Kay (Darlington A.S.E.); P. Hickman & B. Hall (Shotton Comrades) lost to S. Thompson & A. Daniels (Hylton Castle).

Crook Pool League

A draw proved a fitting result when Crook Mill House entertained Crook Olde Horse Shoe B for it gave both teams sufficient points to end the worries of relegation. The Mill had two points from Ian Bibby and Gary Ward, with Michael Thompson, Michael Sanderson and Alan Saville adding one each. The Shoe shared the spoils when they had two points from Ian Armstrong and one each from Stephen Craggs, Nigel Scott and Chris Raine to add to the doubles of Joanne Moore with Chris Raine and Wayne Smith with Stephen Craggs.

In the top of the table clash in the Second Division Crook Coach and Horses B beat the visiting Crook King's Head by two points. The Coach had two points from Johnny Mason and one each from Darren Tinkler, Les Scott, David Stephenson and Alex Harker toad to the doubles of Tinkler with Mason and Scott with Gerald Parkin. The King's replied with two points for Kevin Carter and one each for Andy Palmer, Carl Maddison, Stephen Dawson and Steph Gill.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A lead the First Division by 20 points from Crook Travellers Rest B, who are 15 points ahead of Crook Belle Vue. Crook Coach and Horses B are forty-four points ahead of the King's Head in the Second Division. Howden Australian trail the King's by five points but have a match in hand.

Results: Willington Market 8 Crook White Swan 6; Crook Olde Horse Shoe A 10 Crook Coach and Horses A 4; Crook Jelly's Bar A 7 Crook Belle Vue 7; Crook Mill House 7 Crook Olde Horse Shoe B 7; Crook Travellers Rest B 10 Crook Queen's Head A 4; Crook Surtees 9 Crook Golden Fleece A 5; Crook Coach and Horses B 8 Crook King's Head 6; Croft Social Club 3 Howden Australian 11; Crook Queen's Head B 7 Crook Jelly's Bar B 7; Crook Golden Fleece B 10 Crook Spitfire Club 4; Hunwick Club 8 Willington Brewer's Droop 6. Crook Royal Sun v Crook Travellers Rest A no result - fine as per league rules.

Pool Marathon

David Stephenson, a well known pool player in the County Super League, Crook and District league and Bishop Auckland District League, was delighted when his daughter, Lauren successfully came through a life saving operation and has decided to do a sponsored pool marathon in aid of the Children's Heart Unity Fund.

The event will take place at Crook Coach and Horses on Monday, 25 August from 11am and end at 11pm. David is looking for sponsors to help his efforts and anyone willing to sponsor him can ring 01388 762583 and leave their details with the landlord, Les Scott. As well as sponsors, David is looking for pool players to take him on and anyone is invited to call in for a frame or two.

The Bishop Auckland Licensed Traders Association has already given David a great boost for they have already donated £10 per hour, whilst the Coach and Horses are adding all the money taken in the table during the 12 hours to their own donation.

Durham and District League

The Annual General Meeting of the League will be held at 7.30 pm in the Marquis of Granby, Framwellgate Moor on Wednesday, August 27. All teams, both new and previous entrants, wishing to enter must be represented.

Any new teams intending to enter or just requiring further information, should telephone 0191 3733008 and talk to the organiser, Barry Dowson.

Tow Law Scottish Courage League

Tow Law Dan's Castle A held on to their two points lead at the top of the table after they only dropped two points at Hamilton Row Black Horse. The home landlord, Barry Sims was the local hero when he took his side's only singles and then combined with Mark McCormack to take their other point in the doubles. The Castle had singles wins from Anthony Hird, Lee Stockdale, Colin Armstrong, Alan Henderson and Ian Johnson.

Tow Law New Market A recorded their third win of the season but probably their best when they beat the visiting Newhouse Club by three points. Ivan Childs gave the Market the lead only to see Graeme Thompson level, Ian Turner restored the home lead but Ian Dinsdale equalised. From that point the Market took four in a row when Terry Taylor and Tom Dowson took the last two singles and Taylor with Childs and Dowson with Turner took the first two doubles. Stephen Turner and Ian Dinsdale stopped the late home run by taking the final doubles.

Sunniside Comedian have now emerged as a strong team challenging for the Championship after they only dropped two points to the visiting Tow Law Football Club, who slipped four points behind the Comic in third place, which they share with Tow Law New Market B. The Comic are two points behind the leading Dan's Castle A.

Results: Tow Law Dan's Castle B 3 Tow Law New Market B 6; Tow Law Rose and Crown 4 Tow Law Station 5; Sunniside Comedian 7 Tow Law Football Club 2; Tow Law New Market A 6 Newhouse Club 3; Hamilton Row Black Horse 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7.