The Republic Of Ireland Billiards & Snooker Association held their biggest ever Championship finals weekend in the history of the Association when 13 players were crowned National Snooker & Billiards Champions in the Ivy Rooms Snooker Club in Carlow.
Live Streaming was available on three table this year and the action began on Friday 23rd at 2pm with the last 16 of the Mens Senior Championship and finished at 6pm on Sunday 25th with the last final of the Intermediate Billiards Championship.
Martin McCrudden from Terry Rogers SC Dublin created his own piece of history when he won the National Senior Championship and became the first player in the modern era to win it four times. In the final he beat former pro player and defending champion Michael Judge 7 frames to 3.
Colm Gilcresest from Celbridge SC Kildare only had his 40th birthday earlier in the month won the Master Championship with a 5 frames to nil victory over Frank Sarsfield to become the second player to win the Senior and Master Championship and joins Tom Gleeson who also achieved it.
Rodney Goggins had a fabulous weekend when he retained his two Billiards Championship in beating Irish No.1 Wayne Doyle in both the long format and 150up format Championship. Rodney also reached the Semi final of the Senior Snooker losing to eventual winner Martin McCrudden.
Best Junior performance has to go to Josh Boileau from Newbridge who reached the World IBSF U-21 final in the UAE won the Under 19 Championship. Josh made breaks of 47, 97, 103 and 108 in a 4 frames to nil victory over team mate Charlie Sweeney. Sweeney himself won the Under 16 Championship with a stunning display in beating Fergal Quinn 4 frames to nil. Charlie also finished number 1 on the National Rnakings
Fergal Quinn from Cookstown bounced straight back after losing the U-16 final to retain the Under 14 Championship when he beat Ross Bulman 3 frames to 1. Fergal reached three consecutive Under 14 finals in 2012, 2013, 2014 which is a record in the event. The youngest Champion over the weekend crowned was Corey Ramsbottom from Carlow who won the 147academy sponsored U-12 National Championship in beating Dean Roche from Youghal CYMS 3 frames to 1.
Intermediate Billiards had a long format and 150up format Championship and it was John Kehoe from Wexford beating James Bateman from Kilkenny to win the 150up format Championship and Anthony O Flaherty stopped John Kehoe from the double when he beat him in the long format in a exciting final.
In the Intermediate Snooker there were two Championship. Colvin O Brien from Carlow won the Intermediate Snooker Championship when he beat James Bateman 4 frames to 2. Brendan Thomas from Roadstone SC Dublin won the Intermediate Shield. This event featured the top ranked players from the four regions and in the final Brendan beat Stephen Bateman 4 frames to 2.
Michelle Sherwin from Q’s SC Dublin, her domination of the ladies game in Ireland continued when she won her 11th Irish Ladies Championship with a 4 frames to one victory over Irish No.2 Claire Mill. This is a record that I believe will never be matched and Michelle will be back next year for her 12th title.
This year RIBSA decided to hold the RIBSA AGM on the Saturday afternoon in an attempt to allow everyone who attended to watch the Senior Final after the AGM. This was a great success as they was a good crowd.
During the AGM a new RIBSA Chairman was elected when John Doherty took over from Jim Leacy who stepped down after years of service. They were two nominations for the position of secretary, Tony Thorpe and Peter O’Brien, after a vote Tony Thorpe was elected. Outgoing President Eamon Kearns was elected unopposed, as was treasurer Ger Murray.
A new RIBSA committee was also voted in with Mark Tuite, Anthony Bonnar, Breda Doherty, Finbar Ruane and Brendan O’Donoghue were elected to council.
Thank You
RIBSA would like to thank the Ivy Rooms for hosting the successful finals weekend and everyone who participated in any event during the season. RIBSA looks forward to meeting everyone again next season.
It is not yet the end of the season for RIBSA as this week we are holding training camps for the upcoming International events. Next week our players will travel to Bulgaria from the 1st to the 11th of June where the European Championships will take place.
Our Junior International players will play in the Celtic Challenge in Wales on the weekend of 21st June. RIBSA will also be sending players to the IBSF World 6 Red and Team Championships in Egypt from the 18th to the 29th of June.
Finally RIBSA will be sending teams to play in the Home Internationals in Leeds from 16th to the 22nd of August. A busy summer is planned for all involved before the new season kicks off at the end of August.
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