Seniors title shared
DEJECTION turned to joy for Wayne Muddiman after the seventh and final leg of the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour.
Muddiman, nursing a three-point lead over John Hunter, left Woking Snooker Centre disappointed after crashing out in the group stages for the first time this season.
But Hunter, from Andover, then made a 2-0 quarter-final exit to Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot).
That meant the title rivals both ended the season on 122 points and the championship would be shared for the first time in the competition’s four-year history.
“Wayne left really disappointed after not getting through the group stages,” said defending champion Hunter.
“So when he got the call from his mate Nick Birney he was over the moon. And, in fairness, it being shared was the best outcome.”
Muddiman, who turns out for Southampton’s Super League outfit Chandlers Ford Central Club A, had won two of the previous six legs, been runner-up once and a losing semi-finalist three times.
Hunter, who is based at Salisbury Snooker Club, won two events, was runner-up twice and was a losing semi-finalist once.
Meanwhile, playing his first tournament for three months, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) was the last man standing after defeating first-time finalist Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC) 2-0.
Birney said: “Big congratulations to Neil Carroll for making his first final. It was a very close affair with both frames going down to the final pink.
“The semi-final against Neil (Herd) was also very tight but I just did enough at the right times to edge it.
“I took a lesson in the group stage from the old boy (Hunter), though.”
It was the first time Carroll had progressed past the last-four in 19 outings.
“Blimey!” declared the 49-year-old from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club. “Have I really played 19?”
Carroll, who finished the season in tenth spot, added: “I played better as the day went on. I struggled with my first two matches and only just got through the group stage.
“I gave Nick two close games in the final but fell short on the pink and black.
“It was probably the best safety I’ve played in a Cuestars event.”
Elsewhere, Dave Pullman (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot) made the last-eight on his Cuestars debut.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 69, 60.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 2nd, Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 3rd, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Conservative Club); 4th, Stephen Hills (Traders Club, Northfleet).
GROUP B: 1st, Neil Herd (Player’s, Westbury); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC); 3rd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 4th, Nick Miles (Ashlett Club, Fawley).
GROUP C: 1st, Paul Bateman (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Dave Pullman (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 3rd, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 4th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP D: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 3rd, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 4th, Dharmendra Patel (Crucible, Newbury).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Birney beat Wallace 2-1, Herd beat Pullman 2-0, Carroll beat Bateman 2-1, Stocker beat Hunter 2-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£15): Birney beat Herd 2-1, Carroll beat Stocker 2-1.
FINAL (£60/£30): Birney beat Carroll 2-0.
Picture by Tim Dunkley. Wayne Muddiman (left) and John Hunter