The second RIBSA ranking event of the year was held in Breakers,Gorey on Sunday 17th Nov. There were 7 entries. Q-final 1 seen Claire Mill taking on 14 year old newcomer Emirjeta Doda. Emirjeta was solid and showed why she will be a force to be reckoned with in the future, by pulling off some fantastic shots in the match, however Claire won the match 3-0. In the same half of the draw Annette Newman took on 13year old Emily Bolger. Emily played very well, and again showed knowledge far beyond her experience on the table.
Emily pushed veteran Annette and after 2 frames was tied at 1-1. The next 2 frmes were fairly close but Annette managed to win them both to win the match 3-1. Both Emily and Emirjeta had improved since the last tournament. The other half of the draw seen Michelle French taking on Sandra Bryan. As always there was nothing much between these two throughout the match. Sandra held a 2-1 lead, when Michelle managed to take a very tight 4th frame to tie at 2-2.
In the final frame Michelle got off to a good start and scored consistantly and solidly throughout the frame to win it and take the match 3-2. Semi-final 1 seen Claire Mill V Annette Newman in a rematch of last months semi-final, Annette was very solid in the first frame and won it on the borwn. Claire then won the next 2 frames to take a 2-1 lead. In frame 4 Annette was leading by 4 on the blue; Claire took blue and pink to lead by 7; Claire then played a safety in which she fluked the black to win the frame and match by 3-1. Overall the match was much closer than last months one.
Michelle Sherwin played Michelle French in the other semi-final. Sherwin was comfortably ahead in the first frame, but French kept her nerve and played some excellent pots to bring herself back into the frame; after a missed attempt on the brown by Sherwin, French pot an excellent brown into the yellow pocket down the rail, held her nerve brilliantly and cleared the colours for a respot. Sherwin won the toss and put French in, French played a decent safety shot, but Sherwin potted a long straight black into the heart of the yellow pocket to take the frame. Sherwin went on to win the macth 3-0, but French played excellent on the day.
The final between Claire Mill and Michelle Sherwin was a fantastic one. Mill was slightly ahead throughout the first frame; Sherwin needed 2 snookers on the brown; got them; but Mill had snookered her again which she failed to get out of , Mill then pot the blue to take the frame and lead 1-0. The 2nd frame was also very close but Sherwin won it on the pink. There was nothing between them all the way in the 3rd frame, it was neck and neck thoughout it, again Sherwin narrowly won the frame to go 2-1 ahead. Sherwin was slightly ahead on the colours in the 4th frame. After potting a brilliant green, Mill went in off, and the game changed from there.
There were a few shots each on the green, but Sherwin potted it and took the brown aswell to take the frame and match and win her second ranking event of the season. A big congratulations also goes to Sandra Bryan who won the skills event on the day. Many thanks go to Annette who refereed the final; also thanks to Sandra, Murt and Dylan for their hospitality on the day. Special thanks also goes to Evan who presented the ladies with their trophies.
The next ranking event will take place in Q’s Clondalkin on Sunday 8th December. All newcomers are welcome. Registration is €10 for annual R.I.B.S.A. membership and the tournament is €10 which covers your table costs aswell.