Mark Takes Living Flames Handicap in Tense Finish
By Graham Clark

After guiding Les Dodd’s B to their first League Title, Mark Hopgood has quickly turned his attentions to the individual competitions by taking the ‘Living Flames’ Handicap in a night of high drama at Formby Legion.

Mark won his Semi against James Kilduff by a 98-40 winning margin having conceded a 31 points handicap start, James struggling to find the form that had taken him to a Semi-Final in his first season of League Snooker. The other Semi saw Norman Lee frustrate Mark Bellas by impressively protecting his 31 point handicap advantage, eventually running out a 63-16 winner.

It was in the Final that the sparks began to fly. Norman started well by potting several long balls and giving nothing for Mark to feed on and thus close the 31 point handicap start. Norman drew away but then had to endure a fight back with Mark forcing a Re-spot having required a snooker. However Norman prevailed and took the first frame 74-67 with an excellent pressure pot.

The second frame saw Mark in emphatic form as he hit a break of 22 and then cleared up with an impressive 62. Mark notched up 111 points in frame 2 with Norman failing to add to his 31 point handicap. If Mark thought it was going to be just as comfortable in the decider he was quickly proved wrong as Norman found his potting and excellent safety game once more. The pair exchanged pots with Mark steadily closing the handicap difference as the frame reached the final colours. Inevitably the decider went down to the Final Black and Norman had the first decent chance. However, Norman’s pressure potting eluded him with the winning post in sight and a relieved Mark dispatched the Black to land the title.

Congratulations to all four players who reached the Final stages of the Competition and many Thanks to Colin Robertson from `Living Flames of Birkdale’ for his kind sponsorship of the event.