Michael makes a century break

Michael Burke of Crook Travellers Rest put his name in the league's records when he became only the second player to record a century break. Michael pulled off this performance against Richard Walker of Crook Spitfire Club in the League Singles Championship when he just missed the maximum from the ten red game when he was forced to take one pink and one green whilst making a complete clearance.

In the First Division Crook Coach and Horses A pulled off a good home win over the second placed Crook Travellers Rest B. The Coach had singles wins from Arthur Martin, Ray Holliday and Phil Tobin whilst the Travellers drew level with wins from Aaron Cowan, Jim Ainsley and Michael Burke. In the deciding doubles The Coach clinched victory when Tobin and Martin beat Doug Bowey and Neil Campbell.

This proved a valuable result for Crook Belle Vue, who whitewashed their hosts at Crook Queen's Head A, were able to close the gap to only three points in the race for the runners-up spot. Crook Olde Horse Shoe, who had their home game postponed, lead the table by 11 points with a match in hand.

There was a shock for the Second Division leaders, Willington Market when they went down to the visiting Crook Golden Fleece B in the deciding doubles. The home side had singles wins from Gary Trow, Paul Briddick and Syd Trow, whilst the Fleece replied through Trevor Smith, Colin Howe and Syd Booth. In the decider the Fleece's pair, Trevor Smith and Gus Witton beat Paul Lauder and John Blackett.

Willington Market still lead the Second Division by ten points with the second placed, Crook Jelly's Bar A just two points ahead of Howden Australian and Crook Surtees.

Results: Crook Travellers Rest A 4 Crook Royal Sun 3; Crook Queen's Head A 0 Crook Belle Vue 7; Crook Mill House 2 Crook Spitfire Club 5; Crook Coach and Horses A 4 Crook Travellers Rest B 3; Crook Golden Fleece A 4 Crook Coach and Horses B 3; Crook Jelly's Bar A 4 Crook Queen's Head B 3; Crook King's Head 3 Howden Australian 4; Willington Market 3 Crook Golden Fleece B 4; Crook Surtees 4 Crook Jelly's Bar B 3. Crook Olde Horse Shoe v Crook White Swan postponed.

Worthington Durham County CIU Winter League

The top of the Second Division battle looked to be going the way of the hosts at Wingate when they went two up against the visiting leaders from Bearpark. John Bourne and Geoff Howe, who put in a 35 break, won the first two frames for Wingate. Bearpark fought back, led by Shaun Easter, who knocked in a 41 break. Glen Morton then levelled the match. In the deciding game Bearpark's Alan Donaldson beat Steve Allen to put his team one point clear, although Wingate still have a match in hand.

Spennymoor A extended their lead at the top of the First Division after they whitewashed the visiting Witton Gilbert. Ronnie Bateman gave the Moors a good start and then Eddie Rhodes recorded the second best break in the First Division this season when he put in a run of 61. Paul Biddle and Paul Atkinson took the next two points and Karl Welsh completed the whitewash when he beat Malcolm Peart by grabbing the black to win by one point.

Wheatley Hill A slipped four points behind Spennymoor A despite only dropping one point to the visiting Fishburn A. The Hill had wins from Ronnie peacock, Jack Wright, Dennis Clish and Dean Bryden whilst John Carter took the visitors lone point.

Old Shildon slipped one point behind Wheatley Hill A when the visiting Shotton Palms took them to the decider. Paul Hickman put the Palms ahead with a 44 break after overhauling Jossie Aldworth who had put in a 33 break. Michael Pratt levelled the match when he knocked in breaks of 39 and 53. John Armstrong restored the Shotton lead only to see Billy Goggins, with a 31 break, level the match. In the decider Charlie Blake kept Old Shildon in the top three when he beat Colin Jobes.

Cockton Hill remain two points behind Old Shildon after they won in the decider at Sherburn Village. Scott Mallaburn put the Village ahead but then the visitors had wins from Andrew Aisbitt and Lee Taylor. John Bower levelled the match but Cockton Hill went to victory when Kevin Mordica beat Alan Greener.

Meadowfield had to come back from a two points deficit in a vital relegation battle at Willington. Stan Bennett and Jeremy Martin put Willington ahead but Stephen Hughes and Craig Hughes, who had a 37 break, levelled the match. In the decider Meadowfield went to victory when John Jackson beat Bobby Lee.

Newton Aycliffe pulled off a great win on their visit to Brandon and eased their relegation worries as they only dropped one point to move up to seventh place in the First Division. Kevin Sample took the only point for Brandon whilst Stuart Neil, Mark Howe, Ronnie Hall and Simon Tweddle were the Aycliffe winners.

In the Second Division, Crowtrees A moved up to third place following their win at Stanley Central. The home side only took one point when Walter Cornell won, whilst the Crowtrees winners were Sonny Hann, Phil Whitfield, Sean Johnston and Colin Barron, who made his second victory from the two matches since making his debut. Crowtrees have a mountain to climb if they are to achieve promotion for they trail Wingate by eight points.

Ferryhill moved a point behind Crowtrees A after beating the visiting Spennymoor B by the odd point. Ian Fawcett, Steve Wray and Glyn Toas won for the home side with Dennis Dodd and Alan Rowell replying.

Hunwick A gained four valuable points to lift themselves from the foot of the Second Division when they beat the visiting Langley Park, who had Stephen Coates as their only winner when he took the final frame to prevent the whitewash. Hunwick's points came from Neville Blenkinsopp, Des Mason, Phil Blyth and Ian Richardson, who returned to league action after missing the last eight matches through injury.

Wheatley Hill B continue their bid to avoid relegation when they only dropped one point on their visit to Belmont. The home side took the first frame through Chris Morley but then the Hill took over with wins from Jock Frost, Dave Blyth, Steve Cave and Tony Ellison.

Coundon maintained their top spot in the Third Division after they beat the visiting Durham City by the odd point. The home side went three up with wins from Willy Shoulder, John Paul Wringe and Frank Nicholson, but the visitors held on to their third spot when Michael Pratt and Barry Stoddart took the final two points.

Sacriston moved up two points behind Coundon after they only dropped one point at Crowtrees B. Terry Gibson put the home side ahead but then Steve Bradley, Kevin Laing, Jeff Evans and Mark Appleby took Sacriston to victory.

Leeholme A went two up against the visiting Tow Law when they had wins from Anthony Foster and Ian North. However the Lawyers fought back to level with wins from Charlie Donaghy and Doug Watson and then went on to win when Tommy Williams beat Barry Shaw in the decider.

Fishburn B made their second consecutive three point victory when the visiting Hunwick B had only the win from David Penman to show for the visit. The home side had wins from Alan Wilson, John Hodgson, Winston Hodgson and Keith Binks.

New Durham left their visitors from Leeholme B locked at the bottom of the table with a whitewash success. The home winners were Thomas Cairns, Philip Garr, Tony Robinson, Brian Birks and Kevin Scullion.

* All players are advised to book places early for the Rules Session dealing with 'One Hundred Tricky Situations' to be run by Vera Selby and Brian Thompson at Willington on Monday, March 17 at 7.30 pm. Places should be booked at the next league meeting at Meadowfield on Thursday, February 27.

Results: Leeholme A 2 Tow Law 3; Hunwick A 4 Langley Park 1; Wingate 2 Bearpark 3; Coundon 3 Durham City 2; Stanley Central 1 Crowtrees A 4; Spennymoor A 5 Witton Gilbert 0; Belmont 1 Wheatley Hill B 4; Willington 2 Meadowfield 3; Wheatley Hill A 4 Fishburn A 1; Crowtrees B 1 Sacriston 4; Ferryhill 3 Spennymoor B 2; Old Shildon 3 Shotton Palms 2; Fishburn B 4 Hunwick B 1; Brandon 1 Newton Aycliffe 4; Sherburn Village 2 Cockton Hill 3; New Durham 5 Leeholme B 0.

Worthington CIU Team Plate

Ithe first round of the competition, Coundon entertained Langley Park and received a one point start in the aggregate points total from five frames. Stephen Coates won a very tight first frame for Langley Park and moved his team into a five points lead. However the second frame, which was another low scoring affair, saw Mally Ryder win for Coundon by 19 points.

Dennis Payne, returning to the Coundon team after an absence of seven matches, returned quickly to his previous ability and won by 30 points. Things got worse for the visitors when Frank Nicholson was in free scoring form for Coundon and won by forty-four points to virtually make a home victory certain as they were going into the final frame with a start of 88 points.

The final frame was a non-event as Gary Goulbourn was able to take advantage of Kevin Keers attempts to try to set up a big break to pull off a miracle by taking chances he would never normally consider. Gary completed the Coundon victory with a score of 305-166.

Worthington CIU Winter Pairs Championship

Fourth round draw: John Griffin and John Carter (Fishburn A) v Sonny Hann and Keith McLauchlan (Crowtrees A); Bob Reay and Ronnie Peacock (Wheatley Hill A) v Bernie Jones and Mark Wilson (Ferryhill); Ian Renwick and Willis Joynes (Witton Gilbert) v Ronnie Batenman and Paul Biddle (Spennymoor); George Chapman and Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) v Arthur Goldsborough and Jeremy Martin (Willington). Winners to inform secretary of result by 24 February, givng unsuitable dates for semi-finals at the same time.

Worthington CIU Singles Championship

Third round results: Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) lost to Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert); Malcolm Hughes (Meadowfield) lost to Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A); Andrew Aisbitt (Cockton Hill) beat David Jackson (Bearpark); Charlie Donaghy (Tow Law) beat Mally Ryder (Coundon); Stephen Hughes (Meadowfield) lost to Thomas Cairns (New Durham); Scott Mallaburn (Sherburn Village) lost to Paul Atkinson (Spennymoor A); John Bower (Sherburn Village) lost to Kevin Sample (Brandon); Terry Ellison (Wheatley Hill B) beat Neil Phillips (Crowtrees A).

Curry Cup

Semi-final draw: Michael Pratt (Old Shildon) v Ian Renwick (Witton Gilbert) to be played at Willington on Wednesday, 19 February with Ken Rider of Crook Belle Vue the referee and Jimmy Evans (Shotton Palms) v Dave Walker (Wheatley Hill A) to be played at Fishburn on Wednesday 12 February with Alan Greener as the referee.

CIU Winter Handicap Cup

Third round results: Michael Short 24 (Belmont) beat Ian Dinsdale 21 (Newhouse); David Blyth 24 (Wheatley Hill B) beat Brian Harrison 50 (Leeholme B); Karl Thompson 45 (Leeholme A) beat Jock Frost 21 (Wheatley Hill B); John Taylor 45 (Leeholme B) lost to Graeme Jackson 18 (Brandon); Sonny Hann 14 (Crowtrees A) lost to Craig Hughes (Meadowfield); John Hall 12 (Brandon) v Malcolm Hughes 20 (Meadowfield); Scott Mallaburn 14 (Sherburn Village) beat Kevin Sample 12 (Brandon); Stephen Coates 28 (Langley Park) beat Anthony Forster 45 (Leeholme A); John Jackson 20 (Meadowfield) lost to Tony Ellison 21 (Wheatley Hill B); Michael Pratt 24 (Durham City) lost to Michael Bell 40 (Fishburn B); Stephen Hughes 20 (Meadowfield) beat Ian Fawcett 24 (Ferryhill); Keith McLauchlan 16 (Crowtrees A) beat Ross Hardacre 40 (Coundon); Dean Bryden 14 (Wheatley Hill A) beat Mally Ryder 30 (Coundon); Michael Pratt -4 (Old Shildon) beat David Fletcher 50 (Leeholme A); Paul Nord (Langley Park) lost to Lawrence Jones 24 (Leeholme A); Peter McGowan 24 (Sherburn Village) beat Chris Davison 50 (Leeholme B).

CIU Individual Championship

Semi-final draw: M. Bower (Sherburn Village) v A. Aisbitt (Old Shildon) and M. Pratt (Chilton & Windlestone) v B. Shaw (Chilton & Windlestone). Results to be into the Branch Office by Saturday, 22 February.

Harry Little Memorial Handicap Pairs

Quarter final results: Stephen Bennett & Paul Armstrong 12 (Old Shildon) beat Ian Dinsdale & John Maddox 19 (Newhouse); Brian Graham & John Hall 10 (Brandon) beat Jossie Aldworth & Michael Pratt 5 (Old Shildon); Andrew T. Cairns & Gordon Bowes 21 (New Durham) beat Peter McGowan & Scott Mallaburn 19 (Sherburn Village); Alan Richardson & Willy Nixon 26 (Sacriston) lost to John Paul Wringe & Ross Hardacre 37 (Coundon).

Semi-final draw: Brian Graham & John Hall 10 (Brandon) v Stephen Bennett & Paul Armstrong 12 (Old Shildon) at Coundon on Thursday, 20 February with Frank Nicholson of Coundon the referee and John Paul Wringe & Ross Hardacre 37 (Coundon) v Andrew T. Cairns & Gordon Bowes 21 (New Durham) at Tow Law on Thursday, 13 February with Charlie Donaghy of Tow Law the referee.