Kevin Basnett and Robert Sim have claimed the Cumbria County Doubles Championship again with a 3-1 victory over the Maryport/Carlisle pairing Sal Camack and David Vietch.

This latest triumph at the Portland Club, Carlisle was their sixth success in the last ten years.

It was Workington-based Basnett who started the final confidently as his first opportunity amongst the balls yielded a break of 40.

This useful advantage applied significant strain on the opposition, especially as it was the first time either player had reached the final.

With a few nervy shot to follow it was Sim who was awarded the next opening and with his trademark smooth cueing it was the Whitehaven-based player who mopped up the balls his team required to put the first frame on the board.

In frame two Camack and Vietch  settled with some excellent safety, however as Basnett and Sim were unwilling to give anything away the majority of the high value colours ran safe. This made for a scrappy game but as Basnett managed to construct a break of 28 from mostly baulk colours a vital lead was obtained.

This proved to be the telling point in the frame and as Sim cleared the balls he and his partner required again the scoreline was now 2-0.

With the pressure well truly now on the first-time finalists they could have been almost been forgiven for cracking. This was never going to be the case though, as they stuck steadfastly to their task with some fine tactical play.

As the frame moved towards the last few reds a good chance in balls gave Vietch the opportunity he required to get his team back into the contest. Taking the bull by the proverbial horns the Carlisle cueist held his nerve admirably and with a break of 30 the match deficit was soon reduced.

At 2-1 to Basnett and Sim they were looking to close the game out as quickly as possible and as early as the first shot of the fourth frame Sim was in.

Before Camack and Veitch could contemplate their previous frame win the Whitehaven player had already reached a break of 50 and with the next opening also offering itself to Sim he closed out the Championship for a memorable sixth time.

In the semi finals Cacmack and Vietch defeated Workington’s Barry Collins and Steven Little 3-1. A closer game than the scoreline suggests was definitely fought out, but for two frames that were lost on the black for the Workington pairing a very different result could have been the case.

In the second semi final Sim and Basnett lost the first frame against defending champions Peter and Stephen O’Hagan but recovered to record a 3-1 victory.

Basnett, looking to himself for the initial setback, make amends in the second frame with a break of 63. Another contribution, this time 40, by Basnett quickly made it 2-1 and with a further break of 62 from partner Sim in the fourth, their journey to the final was complete.

Congratulations must also be offered to Workington’s Steve Garroway and Paul Graham who won the plate competition by defeating Carlisle’s David Currie and David Nichol, 2-1.

Thanks to County Snooker secretary Joe Bell for putting on yet another great day and to Ron and Mary Wilson of the Portland Club, Carlisle for providing an excellent venue.

Results

Preliminary round
David Currie & David Nichol bt Paul Mostyn & Mark Tatton

First round
Kevin Basnett & Rob Sim bt Steve Hodgson & Tom Mattinson
Vince Peet & John Thwaites bt Mike Walker & Karl Newton
Ian Pattinson & Mark Pattinson bt David Currie & David Nichol
Stephen O’Hagan & Peter O’Hagan bt Neil Harrison & Andy Bell
Barry Collins & Stephen Little bt Neil Henderson & Gary Mattinson
Ryan Ismay & Paul Lister bt Steve Garroway & Paul Graham
Trevor Hildreth & Chris D’Leny bt Joe Bell & Andrew Sharpe
Sal Camack & David Vietch bt Stuart Shepherd & Ryan Henry

Quarter finals
Kevin Basnett & Rob Sim bt Vince Peet & John Thwaites
Stephen O’Hagan & Peter O’Hagan bt Ian Pattinson & Mark Pattinson
Barry Collins & Stephen Little bt Ryan Ismay & Paul Lister
Sal Camack & David Vietch bt Trevor Hildreth & Chris D’Leny

Semi finals
Kevin Basnett & Rob Sim bt Stephen O’Hagan & Peter O’Hagan 3-1
Sal Camack & David Vietch bt Barry Collins & Stephen Little 3-1

Final
Kevin Basnett & Rob Sim bt Sal Camack & David Vietch 3-1

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