THE Wharfedale Billiards and Snooker Association open snooker final saw the experienced Andy Blamire (Guiseley Conservative Club) take on up and coming youngster Leighton Gauci (Menston Fairfax).

Blamire took the lead in the first frame 59-38 with a 27 clearance. Gauci then squared the match, winning the second frame 47-19, but in a long protracted third frame he eventually conceded to Blamire 18-58 with two reds still left but all of the colours on the cushions.

The fourth frame went to Gauci 50-33 to level at 2-2 but again lady luck decided the fifth frame in Blamire's way as he fluked the black to win 50-41.

The sixth frame looked to be Gauci's as he took the red to leave him 27 in front. Unfortunately he missed a colour after the red and Blamire took some good pots with a 27 from the colours, to tie the frame 55-55. On the respotted black after a bout of safety play, Blamire potted it to clinch the match 4-2.

In the snooker handicap final it was another case of youth versus experience. Nick Wingate (Guiseley Conservative Club), who received three points per frame start, played Harold Longster (High Royds) for this year's trophy.

Wingate took the opening two frames with breaks of 22 and 23 in the first and with two breaks of 22 in the second. Longster, in the third frame, made the most of his opportunities and scored well with a break of 29 to get his opening frame on the board by a score of 66-50.

The fourth frame was very tactical and Longster knew he had to win this frame to level the match. However, Wingate easily won the frame 84-23 to take this year's title by 3-1.

In the semi-finals Wingate beat Martin Kay 3-0 while Longster defeated Phil Nicholson 3-0.

This year's billiards open final saw Guiseley Conservative Club players David Richardson and Andy Blamire battle it out for the championship.

In a game where Blamire had a lot of run, at the interval he was trailing by approximately 40 points. With 100 points remaining the game was close with Richardson leading Blamire by seven points.

It was then things started to change. Richardson, who had been constantly scoring on visits to the table, took a lead of 373-335. Then, after a bout of safety play, Richardson took the title with an unfinished break of 27 to win 400-357.

Semi-finalists this year were Paul Aldcroft and Mick Miles.

The veterans' competition saw Derick Wilson (Guiseley Factory Workers) playing Harold Longster (High Royds). In a game that requires players to play one frame of snooker then 120 points at billiards, both handicapped. Longster, who was off scratch at both games, gave Wilson 20 points start at both games.

Snooker saw Longster win 92-52. Billiards, though was far more interesting with Longster just scraping through 120-111 to take this year's title. In the semi-finals this year Wilson beat Ken Close whilst Longster defeated Peter King.

The billiards handicap final had Mick Miles (Rawdon Conservative Club) -60 playing Paul Aldcroft (Yeadon Liberal Club) -95. This year's final was very close and well handicapped. Miles took an early lead with breaks of 42 and 31. Aldcroft played steady and scored consistently with a highest break of 29.

Miles looked set to take the title but missed a simple shot and lost 300-282. In the semi-finals Chris Penny went down 293-300 to Miles whilst Peter King lost 195-300 to Aldcroft.

The snooker pairs final saw Hawkhill's Smith and Wiseman take on Nicholson and Douglas who won three frames to one. This year Hawkhill dominated the competition since Darfield and Henderson and Wilson and Granger the other defeated semi-finalists are also based at Hawkhill.

The snooker team handicap replaced the Association's scratch team knock-out and in the final Guiseley Liberal Club played Guiseley Factory Worker's. S Parkinson (Guiseley Factory) went in off the final black to give victory to Guiseley Liberal Club. Although winning 4-0, Guiseley Factory lost the match on aggregate which was the only thing to determine the winners. Results:

Guiseley Liberal Club - R Clark 40, D Robinson 44, M Spence 34, J Cooper 40. Score 158; team handicap 100; final score 258.

Guiseley Factory Workers - A Watson 41, C Douglas 61, I Evans 53, S Parkinson 49. Score 204; team handicap 46; final score 250.