Right on Cue

The Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds is to host this year's World Professional Billiards Championships on July 18-22.

Bradford's Mark Hirst will be in action in Group D, competing with Chris Shutt, David Causier and Steve Mifsud for a place in the quarter-finals.

Former Cuedos member and defending world champion Geet Sethi faces a tough qualifying group, with eight-times winner Mike Russell included along with Ian Williamson of Leeds and Sourav Kothari.

More details of this event will feature in this column closer to the competition.

  • The Bradford Billiards Championship semi-finals will be played on Saturday at Queensbury Conservative Club (10.30am).
  • Defending champion Richard Lodge, Stephen Kershaw, Brian Watson and Paul Davies are competing for a place in the afternoon final, with spectators welcome.
  • Over the coming weeks, this column will include a regular round-up of the various winners and runners-up from snooker and billiards competitions played in different winter leagues.
  • This week features the South Bradford League, a competition which will sadly miss a true gentleman of the game who died last week.

Clayton Conservative Club's Fred Batty graced the league for many years, playing to a high standard in both snooker and billiards.

He appeared in three pairs finals, winning two, as well as topping the league's highest-break chart on more than one occasion.

A very well-respected player, Fred played the game effortlessly and he will be a great loss to the league and all who knew him.

Sincere condolences are sent to his family and close friends by everyone connected with the game he loved.

Snooker League - Winners: Clayton Libs; runners-up: Wibsey Libs.

Billiard League - Winners: Clayton Rugby Club; runners-up: Wibsey Libs.

Highest break - Snooker: 97 Paul Benn (Harold Club); Billiards: 289 Mark Hirst (Fields).

Team Snooker Knockout - Winners: Wibsey Libs; runners-up: Great Horton Cons B.

Team Billiards Knockout - Winners: Clayton Rugby Club; runners-up: Great Horton Cricket.

Individual Snooker - Winner: Alex McCann (Wibsey Libs); runner-up: Roy Beckford (Fields).

Individual Billiards - Winner: Alex McCann (Wibsey Libs); runner-up: Daniel Dufton (Lilycroft WMC).