Norman Fowler Memorial

Steven Bennett of Darlington set an early target for the highest break prize in the £100 competition held in Tow Law Club when he knocked in 50 to beat Tommy Williams of Tow Law. The first frame was tight and could have gone either way but Bennett edged through late to take it. In the second Bennett established a 24-2 lead but then hit his fifty break to bring an early resignation.

Ken Campbell of Crook as out of touch with his only luck being bad luck as he was forced to resign at the start of the colours in his match against Ian Dinsdale of Esh Winning. The second frame followed a similar pattern with Dinsdale winning on the brown.

Vickers Bell of Bishop Auckland steadily established an early lead against Robert Roche of Langley Park. The players were brought together after Roche put in a 25 break, which led to some tight safety play. Bell managed to fluke the blue to go three ahead but then under played his safety on the pink with Roche stepping in to take both pink and black. The second frame saw Roche move into an early lead and held it until Bell needed all colours from the brown. He took the brown but then missed a long blue, which Roche potted for victory.

On Saturday the Match will be between Bennett and Stephen Laing of Tow Law with the game between Charlie Blake of Middleton-in-Teesdale and Bill McCluskey moved to Saturday, September 16. On Thursday, August 31, Heppell Hodgson of Tow Law will meet Sonny Hann of Bowburn and Andrew Aisbitt of Bishop

Auckland will play Stuart Neil of Newton Aycliffe.

Worthington CIU

Summer League

The leading two Championship contenders, Old Shildon and Fishburn A both lost the first frame but recovered to take the rest, leaving Shildon one point ahead with two matches left.

At Sherburn Village, Scott Mallaburn took the first point for the home side against Old Shildon, but then the visitors romped through to victory with wins from Michael Pratt, Charlie Blake, Jossie Aldworth and Steven Bennett.

At Spennymoor A, Fishburn dropped the first point to Jim Wilson but maintained their title challenge with wins from John Griffin, Brian Quest, Charlie Hirst and John Carter.

Willington went two points down at Ferryhill when Adrian Jones and Dale Hebdon won. The Second Division leaders fought back to level through Jeremy Martin and Paul Atkinson, with a 31 break. In the decider Willington's Colin Lomax beat Lee Lewis to keep then five points clear at the top.

Crook Belle Vue frittered away their chance of landing at least the runners-up spot in the Second Division when they only had Fred Plews as a winner at Newhouse A. This moves them down to third place, four points adrift of Wingate but with a match in hand. The Newhouse winners were Ian Dinsdale, Steve Mountain, Keith Mann and John Maddox.

Wingate did well to beat the visiting Langley Park by the odd point. The Park took the first and last frames through Kevin Keers and Robert Roche whilst Pat McCoy, Geoff Howe and Dave Hammond took Wingate into second place.

Third Division leaders, Meadowfield went down by the odd point at Fishburn B when they only managed points from Craig Hughes and Norman Smith. The home winners were Winston Hodgson, Barry Underwood and George Whitelock.

Newhouse B moved five points behind Meadowfield with a match in hand after they made a recovery at Crowtrees to win the decider. Alan McCluskey gave Newhouse a great start with a 43 break but then Keith McLaughlan and Peter Laverick, who broke his duck for the season, put Crowtrees ahead. Brian Eltringham levelled the match and in the decider Newhouse went to victory when Dave Jackson beat Sonny Hann.

Shotton Palms moved into third place in the First Division when they took four points at Newton Aycliffe, with three of them going to the black. Steve Nelson was the only home winner, while Colin Jones, John Armstrong, Paul Hickman and Dave Swindle won for the Palms.

Wheatley Hill A slipped below Shotton after they were beaten at Witton Gilbert. Ian Renwick with a 37 break, Ian Kerr and John Rooney senior won for Witton with Dave Walker and Dean Bryden with a 38 break replying.

Brandon eased their relegation problems when they took the last three points against the visiting Durham City, who now seem doomed for the drop. Gary Ward and Barry Stoddart put Durham ahead but Brandon went to victory with wins from John Middleton, Kevin Sample and Brian Graham.

Spennymoor B's Third Division title hopes were ended when they dropped two points at Billy Row, who had Ken Rider and Alan Hodgson as their winners. Alan Shaw, Wayne Parry and Andy Mole won for the Moors.

Hunwick moved above Spennymoor B after they won the decider at Tow Law. The Lawyers had wins from Bill McCluskey and Ken Robinson but Arnold Fleming and Tom Ward levelled. Barry Fleming beat the Lawyers, Malcolm Umpelby in the decider.

Results: Billy Row 2, Spennymoor B 3; Crowtrees 2, Newhouse B 3; Ferryhill 2, Willington 3; Tow Law 2, Hunwick 3; Wingate 3, Langley Park 2; Sherburn Village 1, Old Shildon 4; Brandon 3, Durham City 2; Newton Aycliffe 1, Shotton Palms 4; Spennymoor A 1, Fishburn A 4; Witton Gilbert 3, Wheatley Hill A 2; Fishburn B 3, Meadowfield 2; Newhouse A 4, Crook Belle Vue 1

South West

Durham Association

Hopetown clinched the League Championship and in so doing ended Albert Hill's hopes of being the runners up when the Hill could only take one point from the visiting new champions. West Auckland finished a point ahead of Albert Hill after drawing at the Southerne Club.

Darlington Cricket Club took the Second Division title with a 3-1 win over their hosts at Harrowgate Hill, who finished runners-up. The best break of the week was 32 from Dave Hunter of the cricketers.

Barnard Castle Folly's A finished their first season as Third Division champions, but Carpies and Kingsway A have to wait for outstanding games to be played before the runners-up are known.

Results: Bishop Auckland CC 1, Darlington Snooker Club A 3; Albert Hill 1, Hopetown 3; Southerne Club 2, West Auckland 2; Northgate 2, Old Shildon 2; Harrowgate Hill 1, Darlington CC 3; Darlington Snooker Club B 1, Shildon Elm Road 3; Carpies 2, Bishop Auckland Kingsway A 2; Barnard Castle Folly's A 4, Tindale Crescent 0

Worthington CIU

Winter League

Teams wishing to apply for entry to the league, which will start near the end of September must contact the secretary on (01388) 730444 as soon as possible before Thursday, August 31, when the meeting will take place at Meadowfield Club at 7.30pm to decide the make up of the three divisions. All applicants, new or old, must be represented at the meeting. Any former members not intending to compete again are asked to let the secretary know before the meeting.

Applications can only be made from CIU affiliated premises for the league, whose matches comprise five singles. Besides the league there are singles and doubles championships, a handicap singles, a billiards championship and a team knock out cup.

Crook League

The Annual General Meeting of the League will be held in Crook Travellers Rest on Tuesday, August 29 at 730pm, when all of last season's teams who intend to compete again must be represented.

Any new teams wishing to join must apply in writing to the secretary, Dave Leighton, at the Olde Horse Shoe, Crook prior to the meeting and then be represented there.

Richardson Westgarth

Pro-Am Invitation

Steve Burnett, one of the outsiders for the tournament, produced snooker that not only shocked a packed audience but surprised himself with a stunning performance in both the semi finals and the final to win the first prize in this tremendously successful tournament.

The semi final, which immediately preceded the final, saw Burnett beat pro, Peter Gilchrist in an exciting 5-4 match.

Gilchrist made breaks of 41, 46, 66 and therefore could not understand how he had been beaten.

Then as the packed audience anticipated Mike Dunn, rated No 72 in the world rankings, bringing Burnett down to earth, one of the finest performances by an amateur against a professional took place.

It took Burnett 55 minutes to beat Dunn 5-0 with breaks of 54, 56, 67 culminating with a tremendous 90 break to thrill the packed a audience who had stayed to the end of this marathon.

The tournament has been such a success this year it will be bigger and better next year with a possible total of £1,000 prize money