Tuesday 8th May was finals night in the Dover, Deal & District Bar Billiards League, played at the Betteshanger Sports & Social Club in Deal. The Open Singles champion this year is Mike Callanan, who won his match with Neville Potts 2-0. Callanan, who plays for the Magnet in
Deal, retains the title he won last year, which is his fifth Open Singles title.

The Open Doubles title was won by Baz Symes & Keith Symes, who beat Mike Callanan & John Higgens 2-1 in a tense final. Callanan took the first leg after opening with a 6,500 break, but Baz & Keith Symes levelled winning the second 4,000-1,700. Callanan & Higgens were leading the deciding frame by about 1,000 with a few minutes remaining, but Baz Symes managed to get the break back and finished the table with an excellent 3,300 break to take the title. Baz & Keith Symes play for the Plough & Harrow in Bridge.

The Mixed Doubles title was won 2-1 by Mike Callanan & Lin Callanan against Derek Latham & Sharon Green, in a repeat of the 2006 final.  Latham hit a 4,800 break in the first frame to give the Market Inn, Sandwich players the lead. In a dramatic second game Mike Callanan
opened with a 6,500 break, and Latham, chasing the clock, was able to match the 6,500 but missed the final 100 shot, allowing the Magnet players to level the match. Latham started the final game with a 2,700 break, but Mike Callanan replied with 8,300 to claim the title.

The Division One Singles title was won 2-0 by Keith Symes, as he beat Alan Smith from the Royal Oak in Nonington. This completed a great night for Symes, who also took the Open Doubles title.

The Division Two Singles title was won 2-1 by Dave Howarth against Ward Griffiths. Howarth, who plays for the Brickmakers Arms in Deal, took a close first leg 2,100-1,800, bur Griffiths scored 3,100 to win the second. Howarth won the final 2,700-1,700, after Griffiths lost a break
of 1,500.

Steve Lake, from the Fitzwalter Arms at Goodnestone, is the Over 50s champion, after defeating last year's winner Baz Symes 2-1 in the final.  Lake edged the first frame, Symes took the second with 3,300, before Lake closed out the last game 2,800-1,100 for the title.

The Ladies Singles champion, for the 16th time, is Ann Keen after she defeated Ann Garlinge 2-1. Keen scored 5,200 in the first leg to win that, Garlinge took the second 2,500-1,500 to level, before Keen took the last frame 2,100-1,500. Ann Keen plays for the Plough & Harrow at Tilmanstone.

The Ladies Doubles title was won by Lin Callanan & Gill Saville as they defeated Ann Garlinge & Tanya Philpott 2-1. The players shared the first two legs, and in the final leg Callanan hit a late 2,000 break to grab victory.


The Challenge Cup Final, also played on finals night, was won by the Betteshanger Alma Lions, as they defeated the Greyhound from Sandwich 8,620-8,130. The format is triangle breaks in all legs, with the winning team decided on aggregate scores. Dave Carliell & Alan Farra won their leg 2,530-1,210 to give the Greyhound a handy lead, which was extended
as Farra beat Wack Sampson 2,350-1,400. Chris Saville virtually removed the deficit as he won his game 2,890-660, but Gareth Butcher & Christine Farra edged Neville Potts & Shirley Cowdrey 1,430-1,310 to keep the Sandwich side in front. With the match balanced on a knife edge, Potts defeated Butcher 1,810-1,160 in the final leg to give the Deal side victory.