Gary Carr showed very good progress in the recent announcement of the Ranking List when he moved up to fourth place from eighth.

Dave Hodgson moved into 11th place from 16th. John Mavin and Dave Lowery both moved up two places to ninth and tenth respectively.

Top 25 in the current Ranking List: 1st Michael Rhodes 82 merit points, 34 ranking points; 2 Colin Hutchinson 46, 30; 3 Andy Seal 47, 26; 4 Gary Carr 28, 23; 5 David Jackson 33, 21; 6 Chris Bowran 36, 20; 7 Leigh Mavin 23, 20; 8 Darren Grainger 30, 18; 9 John Mavin 17, 18; 10 Dave Lowery 14, 18; 11 Dave Hodgson 22, 17; 12 Nick Veuger 13, 17; 13 Tim Aberdeen 11, 17; 14 Alan McCluskey 18, 16; 15 Graham Comerford 22, 15; 16 Lee Holdsworth 14, 15; 17 Kevin Allison 10, 14; 18 Ian Bertram 9, 13; 19 Paul Brockway 23, 11; 20 Trevour Walton 20, 10; 21 Andrew Morley 14, 10; 22 Mark Szczypka 10, 9; 23 Shahin Hussain 7, 9; 24 Helen Littlewood 6, 9; and 25 Ian Laycock 8, 8.

Bishop Auckland and District League

Ithe re-arranged match between two of the title contenders, Crook Olde Horse Shoe edged through by the odd point against the visiting Tow Law Station. The Shoe had two singles points from Cliff Owen and one each from Gerald Parkin, Steve Hunter, Dave Walker and Adam Martin. The Station replied with one point each from Lee Cullinan, David Craggs, Andrew Burrows and Anthony Hird. The Shoe clinched their victory when Steve Hunter and Cliff Owen won the doubles, but the Station closed the gap when David Craggs beat Gerald Parkin in both captain's games.

Spennymoor Weardale pulled off a great odd point win when they just pipped the visiting second placed Crook Coach and Horses. The home side had two points from Tommy Irwin, Martin Short and Lou Cooper, whilst the Crook side had two points from Neil Campbell and Lee Scott. The Coach and Horses took the doubles through Michael Burke and Aaron Cowan. Neil Campbell took the first captain's point to square the match but Shane Casen took his revenge in the second and edged Weardale through to victory.

Crook Olde Horse Shoe lead the table by 18 points from Crook Coach and Horses with Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B a further five points adrift but with a match in hand.

Results: Bishop Auckland RAFA Club 4 Spennymoor Ashtree 9; Spennymoor Weardale 7 Crook Coach and Horses 6; Bishop Auckland Snooker Club B 10 Toft Hill Three Tuns 3; Henknowle Manor House 6 Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7; Bishop Auckland Football Club 12 Ferryhill Greyhound 1; Bishop Auckland Derby 10 Witton Park Rose and Crown 3; Bishop Auckland Cumberland Arms 4 Tow Law Station 9; Bishop Auckland King's Head 7 Bishop Auckland Snooker Club A 6; Crook Olde Horse Shoe 7 Tow Law Station 6.

Crook League

Crook Olde Horse Shoe A clinched the league title again when they only dropped three points on their visit to Crook Royal Sun A. The home side had singles points from Julian Bowey, who cleared up from the break, and Ronnie Hope to add to the doubles won by Gary Butterfield and Simon Bowey. The Shoe had two points each from Darren Tinkler, David Stephenson, Gavin Witton, Cliff Owens and Eric Major with Gerald Parkin and David Stephenson adding a doubles point.

This victory moved the Olde Horse Shoe 17 points in front of Crook Travellers Rest B with just one match remaining. The Travellers are assured of the runners-up spot as they hold a 19 points advantage over Crook Coach and Horses.

In the Second Division Willington Market but the lead of Crook Jelly's Bar A to only three points, whilst the Market have a match in hand. The Market entertained Crook Queen's A and only dropped three points when Tommy Longstaff, Peter Genner and John Howarth took singles points for the visitors. The Market's points came from Stuart Shillan, Ian Moore and John Blacklett with two each, and one each from Micky Toward, Paul Lauder and Syd Trow to add to their two doubles.

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

Tow Law League

Esh Football Club moved up to third place after winning the deciding doubles on their visit to Sunniside Comedian. The Footballers moved ahead in the singles with wins from John Robinson, Keith Brown, Alan Brown and Colin Neil, whilst Morgan Errington and John Hildreth replied. The home side replied with doubles wins from Ray Johnson with Paul Moore and John Conley with Morgan Errington. However in the decider the footballers edged their way to victory when Alan Quinn and Colin Neil beat Brian Railton and John Hildreth.

Tow Law Dan's Castle A moved seven points clear at the top of the table with Tow Law North Point in second place with a match in hand. Esh Football Club are two points behind the North Point but have played an extra match.

Results: Tow Law Cattle Mart 4 Tow Law New Market A 5; Tow Law Rose and Crown 2 Tow Law Dan's Castle A 7; Sunniside Comedian 4 Esh Football Club 5; Tow Law New Market B v Tow Law Football Club postponed. No results from Hamilton Row Black Horse v Lanchester King's Head or Tow Law Dan's Castle B v Tow Law North Point.

Willington League

The Pool League combined with Willington Dominoes League for a Presentation Evening in Willington Black Horse. The Pool Championship Trophy went to Hunwick Club with the Prospect Club taking the runners-up awards. The Dominoes League Championship went to the Prospect Club with Willington Black Horse Tavern receiving the runners-up trophies.

The Kensington Knock Out Cup for the combined scores from pool and dominoes was won by Willington Brewer's Droop A after they beat Hunwick Club in the Final.

Steven Britton of the Prospect Club won the Player of the Year title after he went through the season unbeaten in the singles. However Ian Richardson of Hunwick Club won the Singles Championship. Richardson and Britton also took the awards for the most dominoes wins in the season, whilst Ian Stoker of Sunnybrow Brown Trout won the Captain's Table for dominoes.

The annual meeting of the League is provisionally planned for later this month but full details will be provided in the near future.