2007 WORTHINGTON’S NEWPORT POOL OPEN
For immediate release
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007
COLIN PINK CLINCHES VICTORY
IN 2007 NEWPORT POOL OPEN
Lycett and Heathcote win Worthington’s Newport Doubles title
NEWPORT (Shropshire): Hinstock’s Colin Pink became the second winner of the prestigious Worthington’s Newport Pool Open after defeating Andy Lycett 3-2 in a thrilling final at the Audco Sports and Social Club in Newport last Tuesday night.
Pink beat Audco’s John Williams 3-1 in the second of the semi-finals to set up the five-frame contest with Lycett, who defeated the King’s Head’s Irene Whittingham in four frames at the start of the evening.
An uncharacteristic mistake by the ice cool Hinstock player let Lycett in for a superb clearance in frame one of the final, but Pink was in devastating potting form to seven-ball his rival and level the match in frame two. Another simple error cost Pink the third frame, as Lycett overcame the obvious tension to clear the table. It was crunch time for Pink in for the fourth, but he held his nerve to force the match into a thrilling decider.
Pink had his chance to clear the table, but missed a ball completely and handed two shots to Lycett. The Audco man eventually left himself on a relatively straightforward black to take the title, but he admitted that he didn’t hit the ball hard enough and it cannoned off one of Pink’s colours to safety. There was no second chance though and Pink held his nerve to claim the title and the £130 cash prize and the 2007 Newport Pool Open title.
“Andy made it a great final,” said Pink. “I definitely felt the tension towards the end. It looked pretty grim for a moment in the fifth, but here we are with the trophy!”
Whittingham was suffering from a bout of ‘flu and had a stinker in her third place play-off match against John Williams, with Williams winning the tie in three straight frames to take away £40 for third place.
Lycett made amends with partner Anthony Heathcote in the Worthington’s Newport Doubles’ final against Rob and Ian Perry. Perry Junior made a mistake in the opening frame and Lycett duly cleared the table. It was a similar story in frame two, when ‘Boxers’ Perry could only watch Lycett clear the table again.
Ian Perry appeared to have frame three under control after some canny safety play, but his son missed a crucial pot to claim a vital frame back and Lycett cleared the table once again and clinched the doubles’ title and a £140 cash prize.
“Paul Trevor said it was like a dream to win the Open last year,” said a triumphant Heathcote. “I must admit it has been a very satisfying night. A pity that Andy couldn’t take the double, but there’s always next year. He played superb pool tonight.”
In the Doubles’ third-place play-off, Neil Cartright and Ian Fearnley were taken all the way to a decider by Terry and Alan Taylor in a scrappy affair. Alan Taylor looked like he had the match in the gap on his final ball, but the Junction player sportingly admitted to accidentally fouling a ball and Neil Cartright made no mistake in clinching the match.
The tournament was promoted and organised for the second successive year by Neil Perkins of NDP Publicity Services. A portion of the prize find was also donated to the Newport Cottage Care Centre in Upper Bar.
Derek Clancey represented the NCCC at the presentation to receive the monies. Both Ian Fearnley and Neil Cartright kindly donated their £40 prize winnings to the charity fund.
“I would like to thank the Audco Club for hosting a superb finals’ night, ‘placid’ Greg Heathcote for acting as referee on finals’ night, all the venues who supported the tournament and all the players who took part in such a well contested and exciting competition,” said Perkins.
“I would also like to thank Derek Longstaff and the Molson Coors brewing company for their invaluable support through their Worthington’s brand and hope to see them back on board again in 2008.”
2007 WORTHINGTON’S NEWPORT POOL OPEN – RESULTS
Singles – semi-finals
Andy Lycett beat Irene Whittington, 3-1
John Williams lost to Colin Pink, 1-3
Doubles – 3rd place play-off
Terry Taylor and Alan Taylor lost to Neil Cartright and Fearnley, 2-3
Singles – 3rd place play-off
John Williams beat Irene Whittingham, 3-0
Doubles – final
Ian Perry and Rob Perry lost to Andy Lycett and Anthony Heathcote, 0-3
Singles – final
Colin Pink beat Andy Lycett, 3-2
Ends
For further information:
Neil Perkins, NDP Publicity Services, Tel: 07831 123153
www.ndp-publicity.com