BRIGHTON FINALS NIGHT - @ Romans on the 20th May 2009

MENS SINGLES : CHRIS REEVES (ROMANS) v KEVIN TUNSTALL (THREE HORSESHOES) 10pm, Table 1

Kevin Tunstall won his third Brighton Singles title in a row to emulate Harry Leeson's achievement in the 1970's. Chris will be cursing a 4k lost break in the first game as he look set to take the initiative, but a thin one up took the right hand peg out giving Kevin the break back and 3k was enough to take leg 1. A super 9k opener on what was a tricky table sealed the 2nd leg and the title.

LADIES SINGLES : BELLA STONER (ALBION) V JEAN BRACKENRIDGE (ALBION) 10pm, Table 2

Bella took the early advantage by winning a close first game against the break. Jean hit back with a good break in the 2nd leg to force a decider. In the decider Bella, the 2001 & 2002 champion) opened with about 2k, and Jean with equal breaks got a kick to force her off on only 800. Bella got another chance on the break but broke down early giving Jean the chance to win an entertaining match with a 5k break. It is Jean's 19th Brighton Singles win!

MENS PLATE : KEVIN HALL (THREE HORSESHOES) V CHRIS ELLIOTT (STADIUM) 9pm, Table 2

Kevin Hall ended his first season in Brighton on a high with a win in the men's plate competition. It was an explosive encounter, with both players fired up to say the least. Leg 1 was a cracker, Kevin coming through with 3 balls in the 200 to nick it by 70. Chris won the 2nd game but was getting frustrated with himself and nearly threw it all away with a shot down the 200 when already in front. It was Kevin who kept his cool in the decider and racked up a 7k score. as mentioned a great season for Kevin - he finished ranked number 3 behind Kevin Tunstall and Nigel Senior - which is by my reckoning the best ranking for a new player ever in the Brighton League.

LOWER DIVISION SINGLES : GARY MECHAN (MONTREAL) V MICK BARSBY (MONTREAL) 8pm, Table 2

Gary Mechan retained his lower division title with a hard faught win over team mate Mick Barsby after going a leg down. Gary's win is even more remarkable as he recently suffered a broken pelvis after being hit by a car and was very doubtful for finals night. Gary lost a tight first game on the last ball, but hit form with a 4k score in leg 2. A 7,020 break in the decider was too good for Mick and also snatched the lower division high break away from Chris Pemberton. Well done Gary and good to see you are making a speedy recovery too.

OPEN DOUBLES : TERRY RACE & TERRY MOLLOY (DYKE) v TONY JENNER & RIC CUNNINGHAM (SCHOONER) 9pm, Table 3

Terry Race and Terry Molloy won their 3rd doubles title together (previously winners in 2001 & 2005). Played on the Romans table - Terry Race certainly found the table to his liking, going off with enough in leg 1, he took Tony & Ric's break game with a 16,890 break. For Tony & Ric a second defeat in a row in the final, and were also runners up in the Sussex doubles but that does prove what a fine pairing they have been over the last 12 months.

MIXED DOUBLES : TERRY MOLLOY & BELLA STONER (ALBION) V KEVIN HALL & SANDRA RACE (THREE HORSESHOES/ALBION) 8pm, Table 1

Well they finally did it, after 6 losses in the final Terry Molloy & Bella Stoner finally won the Brighton Mixed Doubles. They had to come back from a leg down to do it and then it wasn't without controversy as Kevin Hall got the break back in leg 2 only to be told he had gone out of turn. That on top of a dodgy bar that wouldn't drop and balls getting trapped in the 30 hole! Still it was a well deserved victory - and well overdue for Terry & Bellla.       

LANDLORDS : GREG CHAPMAN (MONTREAL) V ALAN JONES (ALBION) 9pm, Table 1

A new name on the landlords cup was guaranteed, but Greg Chapman from the Montreal beat the landlord from just down the hill. Alan Jones, from the Albion. It was a close match going all the way - Greg managing to hang on to the win.