Snooker champions celebrated at presentation night

Members of League champions Workington Golf Club A and Ricky Walden.

Flimby Social’s Kevin Kirkham and Paul Vickers took the L&L Property Contractors Snooker League doubles title with a superb 4-1 win over the Rack Shack’s Adam Morilla and Peter McAvoy.

Then just a couple of days later they picked up their trophy at the league’s season-ending presentation night which featured Chester pro and former world number six, Ricky Walden.

The doubles final started with Morilla and McAvoy (+36 handicap) adding to their handicap start but with Kirkham and Vickers (+13) hitting back there were only four points in the frame with one red left.

With yellow to brown traded it was Vickers who looked like taking the frame for the Flimby pairing as he potted blue and pink but in missing a very pottable black McAvoy was faced with a tricky leave.

Composing himself the Whitehaven cueist calmly stroked the final ball down the cushion for a 60-58 win and a 1-0 Rack Shack lead.

Doubles winners Kevin Kirkham and Paul Vickers

Kirkham made an early break of 35 in frame two to wipe out the deficit and in maintaining their advantage the Flimby duo were 15 in front with just one red left. The experience of the Social team seemed to carry them through and as Vickers potted the pink match parity was delivered with a 66-56 win.

Frame three was an error-strewn affair, however, with Kirkham and Vickers managing pick up the scraps the Flimby pair led going into the colours.

As the brown remained just a couple of pots were required for the Social duo to move ahead for the first time in the match and with Vickers up to the task again he took the balls he needed to put his team 2-1 up with a 54-33 victory.

Taking the bull by the proverbial horns in frame four Kirkham opened the pack early on with an attacking safety shot. This led to a much more open frame as both teams put together some smaller contributions to keep the scoreboard moving along swiftly.

The final break may have only reached 21 but with the Flimby pair already sitting with their noses in front, Kirkham’s contribution was enough for him to put his team 3-1 up on the back of a 77-51 win.

Seeing the benefits of his partners’ attack minded approach in the previous frame Vickers took the opportunity to open the reds this time much in the same manner as Kirkham did in frame four. Again, with two smaller contributions it was Kirkham and Vickers who powered through to the colours sitting on a nice little lead.

Rack Shack team members receiving their trophy from Ricky Walden.

Morilla and McAvoy hung on with some fine tactical play but it just seemed to be delaying the inevitable and as McAvoy fouled shortly after Vickers potted brown and blue to take the frame 73-35, match and title in a fascinating match.

Just a couple of nights later snooker professional Ricky Walden provided the finishing touch to the L&L Property Contractors Snooker League season with a classy display in front of a packed Workington Working Mens Club crowd.

The three-time ranking event winner played 11 frames against league opposition producing some brilliant snooker along the way.

Wasting no time, the Chester cueman delivered a series of high breaks, highlighted with a fantastic contribution of 128, demonstrating why he one stood as high as sixth in the world rankings.

Walden not only produced some fine snooker but also got involved with the crowd to the delight of the West Cumbrian audience.

Joining in with the celebrations the 41-year-old Liverpool fan endearing himself to all as he chatted throughout the night to everyone who approached him.

Professional and former world number six Ricky Walden on his way to a break of 128.

Walden finished the evening off by presenting the seasons trophies and taking on anyone who wished to challenge him in a series of black ball shoot-outs.

That wasn’t enough for 2013 World Championship semi-finalist, however, as he even joined league members in their after-party celebrations soaking up the Workington nightlife.

League Chairman and MC for the evening Kevin Basnett said: “Ricky was the consummate professional and produced snooker of the highest quality in the process. The way in which Ricky connected with everyone was a delight to see. The league has been running these evenings for over 16 years and Ricky didn’t disappoint.”

Six months in the planning the presentation evening didn’t come together without the help of some important people namely Colin Fawcett, of Workington Working Mens Club, league treasurer Dave Chapman and league secretary Andrew Mitchelhill, who all played their part in an efficiently-run event.

Finally, the league stressed that the evening wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the League’s sponsors – Leigh Musgrave & Lewis Tilley of L&L Property Contractors and Stephen Jackson and Andrew Carter of Derwent Valley Asbestos Removal and Demolition.

Basnett finished by saying: “I’m delighted everybody thoroughly enjoyed the evening, but I cannot thank Colin, Leigh, Lewis, Stephen and Andrew enough for their help in making this night possible.”