Whitehead Spartans who play in the Carrick & District Pool League hosted their 3rd annual SKC sponsored Invitational Blackball Summer Cup of Pool on Saturday 14th August. 8x 5 person teams from Carrickfergus (2), Bangor (2), Larne, Whitehead, Newtownards and North Belfast battled it out for a total prize fund of £550. Over 30 International players from past and present were in attendance in what was a very strong field. They included Sam Newell, Bill McIlroy, Gerry McCorry, Ady Toner, Colin Montgomery, Dee Irwin, Ed McDowell, Darren Whiteside, Andy Arbuthnot and Marc Higgins to name but a few. Group 1 was won by Darren Sterrett's Kingfisher Bar from Bangor. Jonny Thompson's Scorpions were runners up, but only on frame difference. Group 2 was won by host team Whitehead Spartans under the leadership of Kenny English. Derek Whiteside's defending Champions Castle, also strolled in to the Semi Final stage courtesy of a comfortable 2nd place position. The 1st Semi was very one sided as Kingfisher went down 6-1 to a confident Castle side inspired by some delightful Pool from Willie Morton. And with Ed McDowell in fine form for the hosts, The Spartans edged past The Scorpions 6-4 to set up an enticing Final between these 2 friendly rivals. It was a very open affair but wins from W.Morton, D.Irwin, T.McCorry, P.Roberts and T.Whiteside (2) gave Castle a 6-2 win over the team they pipped to the Carrick Pool League title 2009/2010 season. E. McDowell and S.McWhirter replied for The Spartans.
Darren Lowe's Larne team won the Plate Competition scraping past John McClean's Rockers from Carrick in a deciding frame.
Pictured above are the victorious Castle lads celebrating winning the SKC Summer Cup for the 2nd year in a row.
