Bradford's billiards championship will not be held this season - for the first time since the Second World War.

"We only had four entries - Steve Wilman, Paul Devitt, Stephen Kershaw and Trevor Kershaw - and decided between us that it wasn't worth holding it," said Bradford and District Billiards and Snooker Association secretary Eric Hodgkinson.

"This is the first time the event hasn't been held since the latter years of the Second World War - either 1942 or 1943. And last year we had to run it as a round-robin. If we had had 11 or 12 players we would have run it, and in its hey-day it had about 30 entries.

"Since the dominance of Richard Lodge and Mark Hirst, a lot of players have decided they didn't want to enter - some of whom have represented Bradford."

Added Hodgkinson, who will soon retire from his position: "But losers make tournaments as well, and for every match there has to be a loser as well as a winner. It is sad that the tournament won't be held this winter."

Meanwhile, Bradford left-hander Simon Bedford has strengthened his bid to get back on snooker's main tour next season.

The 25-year-old from Fairweather Green is through to the last 16 of Challenge Tour Event Three at the Manhattan Snooker Club in Harrogate, and today met Andy Neck.

Bedford is nicknamed the 'Bradford Blizzard', but in this tournament it has more been a case of gentle snowfalls. Firstly he came through a gruelling three-hour third-round clash 4-3 against Birmingham's Avtar Sohanpal, and yesterday afternoon he defeated Portsmouth's Jason Weston 5-2.

Bedford, who began the tournament equal fifth in the Order of Merit - the top eight gain promotion to the elite - finished his man off with a break of 84.

Paul Cavney (Rawdon) lost 4-2 in the first round to Lee Dagher, Anthony Massey (Esholt) losing by the same score to Ian Preece.

Halifax's John Gallagher went down 4-3 to David Grimwood at the same stage, which was something of a surprise, but not as much as Malcolm Bilclough's 4-3 setback against Welshman Gareth Coppack.