The 2005-2006 Season Review

I will start as normal by thanking all the people who have come together today to help run this years Grande Finale at the Bishopsgate. From Andy, Mandy, and all their staff for hosting our annual event again, to Mike Dicks and crew from Tablesport for the tables, and of course the referees who have the thankless task of ensuring fair play by all. If any of the above were missing, the day would be a lot harder than it already is.

It has certainly been a year of change in the life of the City Pool League, starting with not one sponsorship deal, but two. John Ingram and his firm, Home Heating, approached the league first, quickly followed by Bob Burrows, the manager at Suzy Q (now Rileys). As John had already agreed to sponsor the league for the 2005/6 season, it was suggested that Rileys sponsor a new competition aimed at teams who seldom, or never, make it to Finals Day, and so the Rileys Challenge Cup was born. Let’s hope that the four teams who have made it to the semi-finals of this inaugural event put on a show to be proud of.

Another change was the increase in the ‘win’ points from 2 to 3. It was felt by some that this would stretch the divisions too much, but I am pleased to say that most of the divisions were still fairly tight, and the winners and runners-up positions in at least 3 divisions were not confirmed until the final match of the season. In other changes, the Committee was strengthened back in May 2005 with the appointments of Roger Clarke as Vice Chairman, and Simon Curry as Treasurer, but sadly in January 2006, the league lost one of its longest serving representatives, when Jamie Connolly stepped down from his position as Chairman. Jamie was instrumental in the running of the City Pool League for over a decade and certainly helped make the league what it is today, with the hours and hours of his own time that he so selflessly gave. I am sure you will all join me once again in congratulating Jamie on his achievements, and I add my own personal thanks to those congratulations, for all the help Jamie has given me over the last 3 years.

Whilst on the subject of congratulations, everyone here today should be applauded on their achievements over the last year, from the familiar faces here once again, to the people making their first appearances on Finals Day.

Further congratulations go to two young players from the City Pool League. After knocking out four England players on her way to the final, Joanne McLaughlin just failed in her bid to be crowned Ladies Champion at the recent England County Championships, losing 4-3 in the final. Going one better at this weeks World Championships was Kristi Caulfield, who has just been crowned World Junior Champion. Well done to you both!!

So there we have it, another year almost over, and all that remains is for me to wish all today’s competitors the very best of luck.

Andy Picknell
City Pool League Secretary

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Premier Division

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Reds Select	22	18	2	2	121	55	66	56
Reds 'A'	22	13	6	3	104	72	32	45
Old Crown - WR	21	10	6	5	99	69	30	36
Wheatsheaf	21	10	6	5	98	70	28	36
Premier Club 'A'	22	10	3	9	89	87	2	33
Craftsman 'A'	15	9	4	2	75	45	30	31
Reds X	20	8	5	7	84	76	8	29
Suzy Q Upstairs	19	7	2	10	70	82	-12	23
Bishopsgate 'A'	22	5	5	12	73	103	-30	20
Wheatsheaf 'A'	21	4	5	12	67	101	-34	17
Masseys 'A'	22	2	6	14	61	115	-54	12
Alvis Club	21	2	2	17	51	117	-66	8
Although dropping double the number of frames that they dropped last year, Martin Grove’s Reds Select side retained the title they took from Paul Quinn’s Craftsman ‘A’ last year, with the Craftsman again finishing runners-up. The Craftsman finished six points behind Reds, but a massive fifteen points clear of third placed Reds ‘A’, and they would have won any other division with their 50 points haul. The Premier Division had the widest points gap of any of the divisions, with 48 points separating Reds from bottom placed Alvis, who secured just two wins during the season.

Division One

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Craftsman 'B'	22	12	6	4	99	77	22	42
Spencer Club 'A'	21	11	7	3	101	67	34	40
Bishopsgate 'Select'	21	12	4	5	96	72	24	40
Hastings	21	9	6	6	88	80	8	33
Wallace Wanderers	22	9	6	7	89	83	6	33
Parkstone Club	21	8	5	8	90	78	12	29
Charterhouse	20	7	7	6	83	77	6	28
Cherry Tree	20	7	7	6	83	77	6	28
Royal Oak	22	5	11	6	86	88	-2	26
Railway	21	4	5	12	70	98	-28	17
Nugget	18	4	2	12	53	85	-32	14
Old Red Horse	21	2	4	15	53	109	-56	10
After winning Division Two last season, Shaun Twissell’s Craftsman ‘B’ side carried on where they’d left off, and took the Division One title by one point, from Mark Jackson’s Spencer Club ‘A’, who seemed to have the title sewn up with just a few games left. Pete Dacre’s Bishopsgate Select had a storming second half of the season, and finshed just a point further back in third place, six points clear of the Hastings. Propping up the division were the Old Red Horse, managing just 2 wins all season.

Division Two

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Rileys	20	14	4	2	99	61	38	46
RAOB	20	13	2	5	97	63	34	41
White Horse	20	11	2	7	97	60	37	35
Canley Sports and 'B'	19	9	5	5	85	67	18	32
Rocket	19	9	3	7	80	72	8	30
Reds Bar	20	8	2	10	76	84	-8	26
Barras Social Club 'A'	18	7	2	9	63	77	-14	23
Premier Club 'B'	18	6	4	8	58	86	-28	22
Coundon (Grapes)	19	6	1	12	67	85	-18	19
King Edwards Select	19	5	3	11	66	85	-19	18
Broad St RFC 'A'	20	3	2	15	56	104	-48	11
blog here

Division Three

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Rose and Crown - HGR	22	16	2	4	108	68	40	50
City Supporters	22	15	4	3	109	67	42	49
Albany Social	21	13	5	3	102	66	36	44
Courthouse	22	11	6	5	102	74	28	39
A Suzy Q	22	12	2	8	97	79	18	38
Vauxhall Club	21	10	5	6	85	80	5	35
Foleshill Ex-	21	5	7	9	79	89	-10	22
Painted Lady	20	5	6	9	74	86	-12	21
Binley Oak	22	5	1	16	65	106	-41	16
Coronation Club	18	3	3	12	57	85	-28	12
Crow in the Oak	17	3	2	12	53	83	-30	11
Whitmore	18	3	1	14	48	96	-48	10
blog here

Division Four

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Potters Green	20	14	3	3	103	57	46	45
Herald	19	12	2	5	90	62	28	38
Rose & Woodbine	20	11	5	4	89	71	18	38
Canley Sports & Social	20	10	4	6	88	69	19	34
Carousel	18	8	4	6	73	71	2	28
Royal Hotel	18	7	3	8	66	75	-9	24
Craven Arms	18	7	2	9	65	76	-11	23
Devonshire Arms	19	6	3	10	74	78	-4	21
Bear & Staff	16	3	5	8	51	71	-20	14
Foresters	17	3	4	10	52	81	-29	13
Rose and Crown - WR	19	3	1	15	56	96	-40	10

Billy White’s Potters Green side took the Division Four title by four points, losing just three matches all season. Chasing them to the title were Steve Bruggy’s team from the Herald. Just two points separated third and fourth places, with Glyn Jones’s Rose & Woodbine side just getting the better of Andy Maher’s Canley Sports and Social side. Eighteen points covered the rest of the field, with the Bear and Staff and the Rose and Crown, Walsgrave Road, holding up the division with just three wins apiece.

Division Five

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Spencer Club 'B'	20	13	0	7	90	70	20	39
Radford Social	20	10	6	4	93	67	26	36
Butts Retreat	20	9	3	8	82	78	4	30
Elephant and Castle	20	8	5	7	80	80	0	29
Hub	20	8	5	7	80	80	0	29
Hare and Squirrel	20	7	5	8	77	82	-5	26
Three Horseshoes	20	6	7	7	78	81	-3	25
Barras Social Club 'B'	19	5	8	6	76	76	0	23
Royal Warwicks	19	6	5	8	73	79	-6	23
Old Crown 'B' - WR	18	6	2	10	67	77	-10	20
Binley PMC	20	4	6	10	67	93	-26	18

Having finished bottom of Division Four last season, Adam Gibbons’s Spencer Club ‘B’ wasted no time in getting back to Division Four, by taking the Division Five title by three points from newcomers, Radford Social, who in turn finished six points clear of fellow newcomers, the Butts Retreat. This was the tightest division by far, and just twelve points was the difference between third place and eleventh, with Simon Anderton’s Spon End side just prevailing by a single point. Finishing bottom were the Binley PMC, who are also looking to join our Wednesday league next season.

Division Six

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Bulls Head	20	12	5	3	102	55	47	41
Broad St RFC 'B'	19	11	3	5	86	66	20	36
Windmill Village	18	9	5	4	81	60	21	32
Coundon 'A'	17	9	2	6	73	63	10	29
Standard Bearer 'B'	13	6	4	3	56	42	14	22
Coach and Horses	17	6	4	7	64	69	-5	22
The Bell	15	5	4	6	60	56	4	19
Foleshill Liberal	17	4	4	9	58	78	-20	16
Bar Inca	12	4	1	7	30	57	-27	13
Standard Bearer	15	3	3	9	41	67	-26	12
Royal Warwicks Select	19	2	5	12	55	93	-38	11

blog

Division Seven

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Howitzers	20	15	3	2	98	59	39	48
Motor Hotel 'B'	20	12	4	4	101	56	45	40
Rileys Bar	19	9	4	6	84	65	19	31
Rectory	18	9	4	5	76	62	14	31
Hastings 'A'	16	6	6	4	70	55	15	24
Old Crown - L/L	17	7	3	7	69	64	5	24
King Edwards	18	7	3	8	70	74	-4	24
Masseys 'B'	18	6	4	8	68	70	-2	22
Courtyard	14	3	2	9	42	67	-25	11
General Wolfe	16	2	3	11	40	85	-45	9
New Inn	16	1	2	13	32	93	-61	5
Division Seven went to newcomers, the Howitzers, who finished eight points clear of their nearest rivals, fellow newcomers, the Motor Hotel ‘B’, who in turn finished six points clear of fellow newcomers Rileys Bar, who just pipped yet another newcomer, the Rectory, to third place on frame difference. Finishing bottom of the entire league where the New Inn, who managed just one win, and five points all season.

Coventry Singles

"The quarter finals of this years Blue Riband event saw eight Premiership players competing for the crown ‘Best player in Coventry"
Semi Finals

Kev Farrelly	won	v	lost	tbc
tbc	lost	v	won	Liam Farrell

Final
Kev Farrelly was the man on form in the final with a convincing 4 frames to one victory. Coincidentally, Liam was also runner-up in this final last year, however in consolation he won the Wednesday Singles this year beating Martin Kirby in their first final of that competition.
Kev Farrelly	4	v	1	Liam Farrell

Coventry Doubles

"The semi finals of the doubles was also contested by a full compliment of Premiership players"
Semi Finals
Martin Groves & Rich Hughes knocked out two Premiership pairings to get here today, first beating Seamus McKervey & Tony Tonner, before beating Craig Sturmey & Roger Charles by three frames to one. They face three time winners, and last year’s runners-up in the shape of Kev Farrelly & John Dempsey. Kev and Demps made hard work of beating Dean Kirkman & Mark Tiley by three frames to one, before beating Jim Finlay & Terry Buckley by the same scoreline.
Martin Groves and Rich Hughes of Reds Select	won	v	lost	Kev Farrelly and John Dempsey of Craftsman 'A'
The second semi final sees the Craftsman ‘A’s Paul Quinn & Keith Thompson take on the Wheatsheaf’s Kristi Caulfield & Callum Mulhern. Quinny & Thomo won both later matches by three frames to one, whilst their younger opponents dropped just one frame during the ‘last 16’ matches. Hopefully we will see some exciting pool today, and not the slow tactical matches that we have come to expect on Finals Day.
Paul Quinn and Keith Thompson of Craftsman 'A'	lost	v	won	Kristi Caulfield and Callum Mulhern of Wheatsheaf

Final
blog here
Martin Groves and Rich Hughes of Reds Select	4	v	3	Kristi Caulfield and Callum Mulhern of Wheatsheaf

Knockout Cup

Semi Finals
blog here
Reds Select	won	v	lost	Reds A
City Supporters	lost	v	won	Premier Club 'A'

Final
blog here
Reds Select	5	v	3	Premier Club 'A'

Alternative Cup

"This year, the Alternative Cup semi-finals will be contested by teams from the top three divisions"
Semi Finals
George Toms’s Premier ‘B’ side, having already brushed aside the Premier Division’s Alvis Club in the quarter finals, again face higher opposition in the form of Chris Metcalf’s Hastings team. Chris overcame a tricky away tie against runaway Division Seven winners, the Howitzers, to reach the semi-finals, and having been runners-up in this last year, Chris will be hoping to go one better this time.
Premier 'B'	won	v	lost	Hastings
Division Two winners Rileys, having easily swept past Vince Marsden’s Bulls Head side from Division Six, will face Neil Littlewood’s Premier Division Old Crown. Having defeated Oscar Singh’s Barras Social ‘B’ in the last round, the defending champions from Windmill Road will not roll over easily, and Ian Corbett’s Far Gosford Street side will have to be at their best if they are to reach the final today.
Rileys	lost	v	won	Old Crown

Final
The Old Crown repeated last years title and retained the"Crown"
Old Crown	5	v	5	Premier 'B'

Rileys Challenge Cup

1st Round

2nd Round

Quarter finals

"Twenty one teams from Divisions Four through to Seven started out competing for the right to lift this cup in its inaugural year, and here we are down to the remaining four"
Semi Finals
The first to reach today’s semi final was Steve Lombard’s Royal Warwicks Select side, beating Mark Smith’s side from the Rectory. They face Adam Gibbons’s Spencer ‘B’ side, who as well as beating Rileys Bar in the quarter finals, have also just secured the Division Five title.
Royal Warwicks Select	lost	v	won	Spencer 'B'
Paul Dickens’s side from the Hare and Squirrel had to dig deep to beat Steve Taggart’s side from Bar Inca, winning a sudden death deciding frame to book their place today. They face Reg Bacon’s Blackberry Lane side, King Edwards, who disposed of higher opposition in the last round when defeating Shaun Gernon’s side from the Coundon ‘A’.
Hare and Squirrel	won	v	lost	King Edwards

Final
blog here
Spencer Club 'B'	W	v	L	Hare and Squirrel

Champion of Champions

Round 1

Quarter finals

Semi Finals
blog here
Craftsman 'A'	won	v	lost	Premier Club 'A'
Craftsman 'B'	lost	v	won	Reds Select

Final
The Craffy team now making this competition theirs for an impressive four years on the trot.
Craftsman 'A'	5	v	3	Reds Select

Captain's Knockout

heats

Semi Finals
blog here
Martin Groves Reds Select	won	v	lost	tbc
tbc	lost	v	won	Simon Curry Premier Club 'A'

Final
Both contestants were new finalists
Martin Groves Reds Select	3	v	1	Simon Curry Premier Club 'A'

Aggregate Knockout

Last 16

Quarter-Finals

Semi Finals
blog here
Roger Clarke Craftsman 'A'	won	v	lost	tbc
tbc	lost	v	won	Surrinder Singh Wheatsheaf

Final
blog here
Roger Clarke Craftsman 'A'	3	v	2	Surrinder Singh Wheatsheaf

Charity Speedpool Challenge

"This event, first played at the 2001/2 Finals Day, has been in the vice like grip of the Craftsman ‘A’ team for four years now"
Craftsman 'A' - RSPCA
Trying to wrestle the crown from them this year will be teams from
Premier Club 'A' - Snowball
Reds 'A' - Cancer Research
and a team who very nearly beat them last year,
Wheatsheaf - Walsgrave Baby Unit

Final
blog here
Reds 'A' for Cancer Research		n/a

Ladies Knockout

"Again sponsored by Reds, 8 ladies turned out to compete for the right to be crowned Ladies Champion"

Heats and Semi Finals
First to reach today’s final was 2003/4 losing finalist, Ruth Venn, representing today’s hosts. After beating team mate Dee Wallace in the first round by two frames to nil, she reached today’s final by beating a previous winner of this competion in Suzy Q Upstairs Tanya Payne by the odd frame Can Ruth go one better this year, or will she take second place again, to a young lady who is clearly at the top of her game at the moment.
Ruth Venn Bishopsgate 'A'	3	v	2	Tanya Payne Suzy Q Upstairs
In the bottom half of the draw, defending champion Joanne McClaughlin representing King Edwards Select, made short work of her opponents, first beating the Albany Social’s Kylie Hammerton, followed by the Butts Retreat’s Tara Meadows without dropping a frame in either match.
Joanne McLaughlin King Edwards Select	2	v	0	Tara Meadows Butts Retreat

Final
Ruth was runner-up 2 years ago and Joanne won last year
Ruth Venn	3	v	1	Joanne McLaughlin

Wednesday Division One

team	p	w	d	l	f	a	dif	pts
Reds 1	20	18	0	2	103	37	66	54
Premier Club	20	16	0	4	89	51	38	48
Rileys	20	12	0	8	79	61	18	36
Wheatsheaf	18	12	0	6	70	56	14	36
Royal Hotel	18	12	0	6	66	60	6	36
Royal Warwicks	20	9	0	11	68	72	-4	27
Coundon	20	6	0	14	65	75	-10	18
Rose & Woodbine - NS	18	6	0	12	55	71	-16	18
Suzy Q	19	6	0	13	47	86	-39	18
Crow in the Oak	17	4	0	13	45	74	-29	12
Rose & Woodbine - SSR	18	3	0	15	41	85	-44	9
After finishing second to Jamie Connolly’s Premier Club last year, Simon Curry’s Reds team turned the tables this year, winning by six points and only dropping an average of two frames per match. This also gave the Tower Street venue the Monday and Wednesday double, having already taken the Premier Division title with Reds Select. Only frame difference separated third, fourth and fifth places, with newcomers to BAPTO rules, Rileys, finishing third, twelve points behind the Premier.

Wednesday Singles Knockout

We will have a new name on the trophy today, with two new finalists in the shape of Reds team mates Martin Kirby and Liam Farrell. Martin was the first to reach the final, dropping just one frame in the ‘last 16’ matches. Martin first beat Dale Early by three frames to nil, followed by a three nil beating of Alex Pyatt. To reach today’s final he faced the Premier’s Jamie Connolly, and made short work of it, beating the Raggy Doll by three frames to nil.
Martin Kirby Reds	3	v	0	Jamie Connolly Premier Club
Liam had a harder time of things, first beating team mate Russ Blinco by three frames to two, followed by a three one beating of the Premier’s Roger Clarke. Liam then went on to beat another team mate, Simon Curry, by the same scoreline to reach today’s final.
Liam Farrell Reds	3	v	1	Simon Curry Reds

Final
Both new finalists to this competition, Liam was also runner-up in the Monday Singles competition
Liam Farrell Reds	4	v	1	Martin Kirby Reds

Wednesday Three Man Knockout

Heats and Semi Finals
blog here
Premier Club 1 Glenn Dunn Roger Clarke and Jamie Connolly	won	v	lost	tbc
tbc	lost	v	won	Rileys 1 Ian Corbett Bobby Dha Indy Oujla and Surrinder Singh

Final
Premier were last years runners-up
Premier Club 1 Glenn Dunn Roger Clarke and Jamie Connolly	W	v	L	Rileys 1 Ian Corbett Bobby Dha Indy Oujla and Surrinder Singh

Wednesday Captains Knockout

Again kindly sponsored by Reds, just 6 Captains turned out for this free knock-out competition.

Semi Finals
First through was the Royal Warwicks Los Wallace. Having been gifted a bye in the first round, he wasted no time in beating Suzy Q’s Pete Champs in the second round by three frames to one.
Los Wallace Royal Warwicks	3	v	1	Pete Champs Suzy Q
The other finalist he faces today is defending champion, Jamie Connolly. The Premier Club landlord had two matches to play to reach today’s final, first beating Reds Simon Curry by three frames to one, before beating the Wheatsheaf’s Michael Caulfield by the same margin.
Jamie Connolly Premier Club	3	v	1	Michael Caulfield Wheatsheaf

Final
Jamie won the Wednesday Captains competition last season and this would be Los's first final in the Captains event but his luck was about to end
Jamie Connolly	3	v	1	Los Wallace Royal Warwicks

Wednesday Aggregate Knockout

"The Wednesday Aggregate also saw just six players turn up for the Reds sponsored event"

Heats and Semi-Finals
First through was the Wheatsheaf’s Steve Cole, who blitzed Suzy Q’s Derek Harrison by three frames to nil. In the semi final he faced the Premier’s Roger Clarke, and played some of the best pool of his life to beat Jumbo by three frames to one.
Steve Cole Wheatsheaf	3	v	1	Roger Clarke Premier Club
Steve faces Reds representative Roy Pontefract, who first beat the Royal Warwicks youngster John McCallister by three frames to nil, before disposing of Rileys Bobby Dha by the same score line.
Roy Pontefract Reds	3	v	0	Bobby Dha Rileys

Final
Two new finalists in this years event
Roy Pontefract	3	v	2	Steve Cole

Wednesday Knockout

Heats and Semi Finals
blog here
Reds 1	won	v	lost	tbc
tbc	lost	v	won	Wheatsheaf

Final
In a repeat of last years results winners & runners-up, a 4-0 whitewash ensued giving the Reds 1 side the league & cup double
Reds 1	W	v	L	Wheatsheaf

Andy Picknell City Pool League Secretary

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Andy Picknell
City Pool League Secretary