[W]orkington’s Kevin Basnett and Cockermouth’s Andrew Mitchelhill have won the 2018 Cumbria County Doubles title over a thrilling day at Carlisle’s Portland Snooker Club which culminated with a 4-3 final win over Carlisle’s Mike Nixon and Paul Wright.
Title number thirteen for Basnett required a change in partner, given Robert Sim’s recent retirement from snooker, but Mitchelhill was more than up to the task. The day also had another twist with a return to the baize for six time singles county champion Mike Nixon after a fifteen year break from the game.
In the first frame of the final former pro Nixon showed he has lost none of his touch and with some excellent potting coupled with Wright’s fine tactical play the Carlisle duo took the frame easily, 81-25.
Frame two saw a fairly evenly matched game get away from Basnett and Mitchelhill as a break of 35 from Nixon was enough for the Carlisle pair to go 2-0 up with a 67-21 win.
The next produced another tight affair but this time is was the turn of the Workington/Cockermouth pairing with Basnett delivering a break of 38 for a 63-15 victory and a 2-1 score line. In the fourth Nixon and Wright led throughout the frame and a 3-1 advantage looked a distinct possibility however, with two superb pots on pink and black it was Basnett who pulled himself and Mitchelhill back into the match at 2-2 with a 54-46 triumph.
Frame five again saw little to separate the pairings early on until Wright grabbed his first good chance to make 47 and take the frame 61-24 for a 3-2 Carlisle pairing lead. An early advantage of nearly 40 points in frame six looked like being enough for the experienced Carlisle duo to take the title but with a red to the green pocket from behind the black spot Basnett constructed a break of 38.
As the Workington cueist’s next opportunity came round he potted enough balls to take the frame 67-38 and lead Mitchelhill and himself into a decider. In the final frame a loose break off shot from Nixon gave Basnett a chance and in following on from the previous frame the Workington cueist delivered a break of 38. As the pressure mounted both teams missed a couple of opportunities, nevertheless the Workington/Cockermouth duo steadied themselves and with a break of 39 to the blue it was Basnett who took himself and Mitchelhill to a 87-4 final frame title win.
In the first of the semi finals the Nixon and Wright complimented each other beautifully as some fine potting by Nixon coupled with an equally fine safety game by Wright was enough to take them through 3-1 against Barrow’s Matty Hill and Graeme Edwards.
The other semi final saw Basnett and Mitchelhill come back from 2-1 down to defeat Carlisle’s Mally Lancaster and Mike Griffiths, 3-2.
The event also saw a plate competition held for all first round losers with Barrow’s Tony Mason and Danny McDonald presiding over Workington/Whitehaven’s Martyn Fisher and Richard Kirkham, 3-1. The highlight of the final, and indeed the day from a break front, came from Mason as a contribution of 92 was delivered with extreme class on their way to victory.
Thanks to Ron and to Ron and Mary Wilson of the Portland Club, Carlisle for providing an excellent venue.
Results
Prelim
Griffiths & Lancaster (Carlisle) beat O’Hagan &O’Hagan (Workington), 3-0.
Basnett & Mitchelhill (Workington/Cockermouth) beat Fisher & Kirkham (Workington/Whitehaven), 3-0.
Nixon & Wright (Carlisle) beat Saulters & Walker (Carlisle), 3-0.
Edwards & Hill (Barrow-in-Furness) beat Garroway & Walker (Workington/Whitehaven) , 3-0.
Quarter finals
Griffiths & Lancaster (Carlisle) beat Peet & Thwaites (Keswick), 3-0.
Basnett & Mitchelhill (Workington/Cockermouth) beat Mason & McDonald (Barrow-in-Furness), 3-2.
Nixon & Wright (Carlisle) beat Ismay & Barker (Workington/Maryport), 3-0.
Edwards & Hill (Barrow-in-Furness) beat Mostyn & Tatton (Maryport/Workington), 3-2.
Semi finals
Basnett & Mitchelhill (Workington/Cockermouth) beatGriffiths & Lancaster (Carlisle), 3-2.
Nixon & Wright (Carlisle) beat Edwards & Hill (Barrow-in-Furness), 3-1.
Final
Basnett & Mitchelhill (Workington/Cockermouth) beat Nixon & Wright (Carlisle), 4-3.
Plate Final
Mason (92) & McDonald (Barrow-in-Furness), beat Fisher & Kirkham (Workington/Whitehaven), 3-2.
