The Workington Pool League is in mourning following the death of stalwart Ian Johnston.
Ian played in the local leagues for 50 years and represented Cumbria on a number of occasions.
He was a multiple league champion with Flimby and Station Rd D where he showed his tactical prowess to win so many titles.
Ian also ran the Maryport Pool League and used his years of experience to help develop up-and-coming players who went on to represent the county and play on the professional pool tour.
Since Ian’s passing the one word that has become synonymous when describing him has been “gentleman”, showing the massive respect that he earned from his fellow cueists.
Secretary John Teasdale said: “The league would like to send their condolences to Ian’s family and friends and thank him for what he did for the game.”
But his sporting involvement did not end there as he was also secretary of the Maryport Bowling Club and did much to make it a popular venue for other sporting groups including a pool team.
One message from the Bowling Club pool team said: “He will be a big miss as he did everything possible for any team he was involved with. He would never let anyone down.”
West Cumbria Quiz League
Ian was also well known in the West Cumbria Quiz League where he added his knowledge to teams at the Bounty and Ellenborough Club.
In the JJ’s Workington A league JJ’s B extended their winning run to 12 matches as they were successful at Harrington Legion.
Kevin Forster gave JJ’s B a 4-1 lead as they were cruising to an easy win but the game turned as Sandy Smith and John Burns provided wins to level the game.
For the second week running club captain Martyn Fisher and Geoff Banton dug deep to win the decider and give JJ’s B the 5-4 victory.
Trying to keep up with JJ’s B, the Grapes visited Station Rd C and found themselves 4-3 ahead.
Station Rd won the second doubles to level and the Grapes couldn’t secure the winning frame as Station Rd’s Steven Cook and Dave Edwards secured the ninth frame to win 5-4.
The Vets visited Packhorse A, whose growing momentum has seen them have a chance of a top-four finish.
Another last frame decider saw Jack Hunter hold his nerve to sink a long black to give Packhorse a 5-4 win.
JJ’s A ended their losing streak as Shaun Ayre cleared the table from the break to give them a 5-4 win against Station Rd C.
Senhouse St took advantage of Station Rd B’s missed black pots to take control of the match which saw Andrew Henderson earn Senhouse the points and they ran out 8-1 winners.
The B league saw a top of the table clash between Packhorse B and Lifeboat A.
Packhorse flew out of the traps and took a 4-0 lead before Lifeboat’s David Trainor started the fightback which saw them tie the game 4-4.
In the decider, the Pack’s Mark Bell and Gary Connelly took their opportunity to sink the black and win the decider 5-4.
Cons club remain in the hunt in third place as they despatched Chasers 8-1.
Daniel Irving continued to shine for Railway club as he helped his team defeat Lifeboat B 5-4.
Rodger Denwood started Grapes A on their way to defeating Seaton Royal Oak 5-4 to keep them in promotion contention.
Skinny Jimmy’s were unable to stop the rot as they suffered their third defeat in a row away at Miners, as they went down 6-3.
Have you read?
- 18th century Lake District hotel and inn sold
- Minimum five-year ban for drug dealers found in West Cumbria’s pubs and clubs
- Lift off for multi-million-pound green jet fuel plant in West Cumbria
- Cockermouth’s Wordsworth House future under review
- Health Secretary pledges to arrange meeting over South Cumbrian hospital changes
