NIPA Seniors Tour Finals Day


Finals Day of the 2013 NIPA Seniors Tour takes place on Sunday the 26th May. Details below -

What - NIPA 2013 Seniors Tour Finals Day
Where - Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor
When - Sunday 26th May
Time - Play starts at 10.30am
Late - Players docked 1 frame for every 5 minutes they are late
Format - Main Event all matches "Best of 13". Plate Event all matches "Best of 9"
Dress code - Yes

Last 16 (seeded)
Davy McGurn (1) v Joe Patton (16)
Patrick Mulholland (9) v Kenny Geddis (8)
Dee Irwin (5) v Kenny English (12)
Raymond Crowe (13) v Rodney Patterson (4)
Davy Drysdale (14) v Robert Hawkins (3)
Gary Johnston (6) v Jean McIlroy (11)
Mark Stockton (7) v Raymond Stockman (10)
Stephen Johnston (2) v Sam Newell (15)

Prize fund
£300 Winner, £200 Runner Up, £100 Semi Finalists, £60 Quarter Finalists, £25 Last 16, £25 Plate Winner

Annual Mayfair Competition


The annual Ballyclare Mayfair Tournament is the oldest running continual Pool Competition in the Newtownabbey Borough. Entry details are below -

What - 2013 Ballyclare Mayfair Pool Tournament
When - Sunday 26th May
Where - The Loft Pool Room, Ballyclare
Cost - £10
Maximum entry - 64
Payout - All in, all out
Rules - Blackball
Dress code - No
Time slots - Yes, 11am & 2pm, draw made on Saturday night.

Pay on the day, large entry expected so to book your spot contact John Barrons on 07858 025678

22 The Square, Ballyclare, County Antrim BT39 9BB

LADBROKES 2013 UK BLACKBALL OPEN

 
Dates - 20-22nd September 2013 
Where - Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, Scotland (2 minutes from Airport)
Entry Fee - £100 per entry
Prize fund - £13,000.
Payout range - £3,000 Winner - £150 Last 32 (based on full entry)
Entries - Maximum 128
Rules - Blackball
Format - Double elimination until Last 16 in each section
Winners Section - Best of 15 frames
Losers Section - Best of 11 frames
Condition of entry - Players must stay in hotel on the saturday night
Hotel Cost - £45 per night bed & breakfast based on 2 people sharing
Start time - Approx 10.00am (TBC)

The NIPA will be holding a qualifier for this event on Friday 31st May 2013 in The Loft Pool Room, Ballyclare. Registration closes at 7.30pm sharp, please leave in plenty of time to get parked and into the venue. NIPA dress code applies. Cost is £20 per person, pay on the day. For every 10 entrants into the NIPA qualifier we will enter 1 person into the Ladbrokes UK Open. Straight Knock Out format.

For any more details about the NIPA Qualifier please contact Robert on 07970 450050.

For any more details about the Ladbrokes UK Open itself please email Ross McInnes at ispscotland@gmail.com

It's Tommy again in Tour Event 3

Davy McGurn & Tommy Morrow

Well done to Tommy Morrow. The Ballymoney cueman has just won the NIPA Open Tour Event 3 which was held in The 147 Club, Omagh on Sunday 19th May. After racing into a 5-0 lead in the Final he held off a gutsy comeback from Omagh's Davy McGurn to eventually win 7-4, and lift the £300 winners prize. Tommy has now won the last two NIPA Tour events.

To view the up to date table, click on this link

1st Round
Rab McCullough 6-0 Darren Sterrett
Jason Heffron 6-0 Drew Sloan
Darren Lowe V-V Benny Redmond
Paddy Lynch 6-0 John Lowry
Damian Corrigan 6-0 Stuart Mulhearn
Stephen Johnston 6-0 Keith Malcolmson
William Irvine 6-0 Dee Irwin
Shaun McAlister 6-3 Steven Carson
Patrick Mulholland 3-6 David Blair
Bill McIlroy Jr 6-0 Richard Campbell
Lee Hull 6-0 Tristan Scott Heyes
Tommy Morrow 6-1 Herbie O'Neill
Wayne Lewis 4-6 Terry McDowell
Marc Hutchinson 6-0 Kenny English
Davy McGurn 6-0 Jonny Mackay
Tyler McConnell 6-0 Clem Howard

2nd Round
Sam Newell 6-1 Jason Heffron
Rab McCullough 6-3 Gary Johnston
Marc Hutchinson 6-0 Kyle Kirkwood
Davy McGurn 6-3 Ryan Foster
Tyler McConnell 6-0 Sara Greenberg
Damian Corrigan 1-6 Gary Clarke
Neil McKelvey 3-6 Lee Hull
Stephen Johnston 6-2 Barry Cunningham
William Irvine 1-6 Ronan McCarthy
Bill McIlroy 6-0 Ady Toner
Dean McDonagh 6-5 Paddy Lynch
Damian Reid 2-6 David Blair
Jean McIlroy 6-0 Bye
Peter Martin 2-6 Shaun McAlister
Robert Hawkins 3-6 Tommy Morrow
Colin Moore 6-5 Terry McDowell

Last 16
Sam Newell 6-1 Jean McIlroy
Bill McIlroy Jr 6-4 Tyler McConnell
Ronan McCarthy 6-1 Stephen Johnston
Shaun McAlister 6-2 Rab McCullough
David Blair 6-5 Dean McDonagh
Marc Hutchinson 1-6 Davy McGurn
Gary Clarke 6-3 Lee Hull
Tommy Morrow 6-4 Colin Moore

Last 8 
Gary Clarke 6-0 Bill McIlroy
Davy McGurn 6-2 David Blair
Sam Newell 4-6 Shaun McAlister
Ronan McCarthy 2-6 Tommy Morrow

Semi Finals
Shaun McAlister 5-6 Davy McGurn
Gary Clarke 4-6 Tommy Morrow

Final (best of 13)
Davy McGurn 4-7 Tommy Morrow

Final frames
Morrow, Morrow, Morrow, Morrow, Morrow, McGurn, McGurn, Morrow, McGurn, McGurn, Morrow

Open Tour Event 3

 
This Sunday 19th May sees the NIPA Open Tour Event 3 take place in The 147 Club, Omagh. The Competition will be played on 9 Supreme Tables to a straight Knock Out format. Players are advised to leave home early in plenty of time to arrive at the venue

Roll call for following players will be made at 10.30am. Players not present for roll call will lose 1 frame for every 5 minutes they are late.
Drew Sloan, Marc Hutchinson, Stuart Mulhearn, Lee Hull, Herbie O'Neil, Davy McGurn, John Lowry, Shaun McAlister, Steven Carson, Jason Heffron, Jonny Mackay, Tommy Morrow, Dee Irwin, Kenny English, Rab McCullough, Darren Lowe, Tyler McConnell, Benny Redmond, Terry McDowell, Stephen Johnston, Richard Campbell, Keith Malcolmson, William Irvine, Tristan Scott-Heyes, Bill McIlroy Jr, Damian Corrigan, David Blair, Darren Sterrett, Patrick Mulholland, Paddy Lynch, Wayne Lewis, Clem Howard

Roll call for following players will be made at 12.00noon. Players not present for roll call will lose 1 frame for every 5 minutes they are late.
Kyle Kirkwood, Ryan Foster, Sam Newell, Dean McDonagh, Damian Reid, Barry Cunningham, Robert Hawkins, Sara Greenberg, Neil McKelvey, Gary Johnston, Jean McIlroy, Colin Moore, Peter Martin, Ady Toner, Ronan McCarthy, Gary Clarke

  • Players will be docked 1 frame for every 5 minutes they are late after roll call closes. Please leave home in plenty of time to arrive at venue.
  • Matches all best of 11 frames up to Final which will be best of 13 frames
  • Full NIPA dress code to be adhered to
  • Winner of raffle on the day will receive free entry into the N.Ireland Mens 2013 Individual Championships in the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.
  • Prize breakdown increased to, WINNER = £300, RUNNER UP = £150, SEMI FINALISTS = £75 each, QUARTER FINALISTS = £40 each

For current leaderboard and tour details please click on this link 

In the photo
Tour Event 2 Winner Tommy Morrow (right) and Rab McCullough Runner Up

147 Snooker Club, Old Market Place, Omagh, Co.Tyrone, BT78 1BT

Club open from 9.00am

NORIO CAFOLLA CHARITY CUP

Primacy Sports Bar

Bangor cueist Hugh Regan is inviting teams to participate in the Norio Cafolla Cup. It is an open 5 a side Charity competition to be played in the Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor on Saturday 25th May 2013. The event starts at 12 noon and entry per team is £50. As well as the 5 a side event, there will be a "Speed pool" and "Total balls potted" Competition. The Primacy will have 6 Supreme tables for the main event and 1 for the other Competitions.

Format - 2 groups playing a round robin format with the group winners playing off in the final. 50% of the fees will be paid out in prize money and 50% donated to the winners nominated charity.

Donations to the Charity Fund so far are -
£100 from Mrs Cafolla, widow of Norio
£100 from The Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor
£100 from North Down & Ards Pool Association
£ 50 from Kimberley Jacksons Bar in Newtownards (formerly The Huntsman)

A Cafolla family member will be present on the day to hand over the trophy.

To get an entry form, please ring Hugh on 02891 466441 or 07775 575322 or alternatively email- reganelectrical@gmail.com  Teams will still be able to register on the day.

NI Ladies Ranking Event 4


Well done to Ladie 'B' Team Manager Lesley Leddy who has just won the Ladies NI Ranking Event No. 4 which was held in the Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor on Sunday 12th May. Alex Babb finished Runner Up and moves up to top spot in the table. To view the updated table, click on this this link. Event No. 5 will be held on Sunday 2nd June in the Loft, Ballyclare, County Antrim.

Champions of Champions and Masters


The following affiliated League teams have qualified for the 2013 NIPA Champion of Champions Competition to be held on Sunday 16th June. A few more are to be confirmed as Leagues come towards the ends of their seasons

Ballymena League
Connollys 'B'
Michelin Masters
North Down & Ards
Shooters Sharks
McBees
Carrick & District
Rockers
Hit Men & Her
Larne & District
Gers
Thatch
Coleraine
Sperrin Club
Forge Bar
Ballyclare
TBC

The following players have qualified for the 2013 NIPA Masters Competition which will be held on Sunday 30th June. There are still a few more to come in as affiliated Leagues come towards the ends of their seasons

Ed McDowell (Holder)
Ronan McCarthy (NI Mens & NI Seniors Champion)
Sara Greenberg (NI, Carrick and Ballyclare Ladies Champion)
Steven Carson (NI, Carrick and Ballyclare Under 23 Champion)
Steven McGurn (NI Under 18 Champion)
John Brown (NI Mens Specials Champion)
Frances McCann (NI Ladies Specials Champion)
Drew Sloan (Ballymena Individual Champion)
Stuart Frew (Ballymena Seniors Champion)
Trevor Whiteside (Carrick Individual Champion)
John McClean (Carrick Seniors Champion)
Joe Patton (Carrick Masters Champion)
Herbie O'Neill (ND&A Individual Champion)
Rodney Patterson (ND&A Seniors Champion)
Irvine Halliday (ND&A Masters Champion)
Susan Graham (ND&A Ladies Champion)
John McAllister (Ballyclare Individual Champion)
Michael Wilson (Ballyclare Seniors Champion)
Marc Hutchinson (Coleraine Individual Champion)
Raymond Stockman (Coleraine Seniors Champion)
Dijon McCorkell (Coleraine Under 23 Champion)
Tony Tennyson (Crumlin Seniors Champion)
James McGarrell (Crumlin Individual Champion)
Martin Stubbs (Larne Under 23 Champion)
Gerry McCorry (Larne Seniors Champion)
Barney Hylands (Larne Masters Winner)
Bill McIlroy Sr (Larne Individual Winner)

Willie Lucas Super 7s


Well done to Davy McGurn's 147 Pool Team. The Omagh lads lifted the NIPA 2013 Willie Lucas Super 7s trophy which was played in The Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor on Sunday 5th May to add to their 2013 Interleague success. Their hardest part of the day was a tough group stage from which they only qualified via a head to head result. Waiting for 147 in the Final were Crumlin who had won Group A and who had also won a titanic Semi Final against Primacy which went to a play off frame after finishing level at 7-7. James McGarrell was the man of the moment sending his team in to the Final. But The 147 weren't going to be denied and steamrolled through the final in convincing style to collect the trophy and the £350 winners prize. Nathan Todd was top of the pots scoring 5/5.

Andy Arbuthnot's Rockers Pool Team from the Carrick League won the Plate Competition, amazingly coming from 6-1 down in the Final to beat Castle, also from Carrick, by 8-6.

Well done to Rockers and Castle Captains Andy Arbuthnot and Derek Whiteside who agreed before the Plate Final to donate the £50 winners prize to the NI Specials in their bid to take a team to the 2013 Nations Cup in Malta.

Top photo
NIPA Treasurer Jean McIlroy presents Davy McGurn with the winners trophy

Bottom photo
Plate Winners, The Rockers


Results Group A Results Group B
147 Club 4-3 Castle NI Under 18s 6-1 NI Ladies
Rockers 6-1 Crumlin Primacy 6-1 Parkview
Castle 6-1 Rockers Primacy 6-1 NI Ladies
Crumlin 5-2 147 Club Parkview 4-3 NI Under 18s
147 Club 5-2 Rockers Parkview 4-3 NI Ladies
Crumlin 5-2 Castle NI Under 18s 6-1 Primacy

Main Event Semi Finals
Crumlin 8-7 Primacy (after play off frame)
147 Club 8-0 NI Under 18s
Main Event Final
147 Club 8-1 Crumlin

Plate Event Semi Final
Castle 8-2 NI Ladies
Rockers 8-2 Parkview
Plate Final
Rockers 8-6 Castle

Tables (2 points for a win, 1 bonus point for winning 6-1 or better, 1 bonus point for reaching 3 in a loss)


A Team Played FD Points
B Team Played FD Points
1 Crumlin 3 1 4
1 NI Under 18s 3 9 7
2 147 Club 3 1 4
2 Primacy 3 5 6
3 Castle 3 1 4
3 Parkview 3 -3 4
4 Rockers 3 -3 3
4 NI Ladies 3 -11 1

2013 Willie Lucas Super 7s

Willie "The Glove" Lucas

When - Sunday 5th May 2013
Where - PRIMACY Sports Bar, Bangor
Time - Registration closes 10.45am sharp. Starts 11am. Teams must have 5 players present to register.
Rules - Blackball
Cost - £100 per team if League affiliated to NIPA or £150 per team if League not affiliated.
Prize Money - Dependant on entries
Format - Dependant on number of teams
Dress Code - Yes, NIPA Competition Dress Code
Closing date - Pay on the day but pre register team name as limited spaces

Entry criteria
Teams can register up to 10 players but up to 8 players must be registered to the same pub/club team in their League and have played for the team in that League on at least 3 occasions this season.
Each team can register up to 2 wild card players who also play in the same league and have played in that League on at least 3 occasions this season. (this rule does not apply to Specials, Under 23s or Ladies teams)

Entries
Castle (Derek Whiteside)
NI Under 18s (Alex Irvine)
Rockers (Andy Arbuthnot)
Primacy Olympic (Colin Moore)
147 Club (Damian Corrigan)
Parkview (Craig Loughlin)
Crumlin United (Raymond Christie)
NI Ladies (Eadie McFeeters)

Players confirmed for Nations Cup in Malta


Mens 'A' - Ronan McCarthy (M), Rab McCullough, Damian Corrigan, Lee Hull, Neil McKelvey, Sam Newell
Mens 'B1' - Derek Whiteside (M), Billy Moore, Gary Wallace, Brian Crilly, Trevor Whiteside, Johnny Mackay, Herbie O'Neill, Terry McDowell, Ben McMoran, Ady Toner
Mens 'B2' - Peter Leddy (M), Wayne Lewis, Keith Hunter, Iain Britton, Simon McConnell
Seniors 'A' - Darren Sterrett (M), Raymond Stockman, Davy McGurn, Kenny English, Davy Drysdale, Stephen Johnston
Masters 'A' - Eric Sterrett (M), Robert Hawkins, Dessie Cooper, Joe Patton, Hugh Regan, Alan Corrigan
Ladies 'A' - Eadie McFeeters (M), Jean McIlroy, Roisin Smith, Angie Acheson, Susan Graham, Angie Carson, Alex Babb, Mary McCourt
Under 18s 'A' - Alex Irvine (M), Carl Martin, Declan Duff, Gerard McDermott, Lee Topping, Rory Kinney, Steven McGurn

Ladies Ranking Event

 
Congratulations to Lyndsey Ruddock on winning the latest NI Ladies Ranking Event In the Competition which was held in The Primacy Sports Bar, Bangor, Lyndsey from Carrickfergus overcame North Down's Elise Richardson in the Final.

In the photo
Lyndsey (left) and Elise

Stockton win Seniors Tour 6


Results from Event 6 of the NIPA Seniors Tour held in the 147 Club, Omagh.

Prelims
Davy McGurn 6-1 Dee Irwin
Rodney Patterson 6-4 Patrick Mulholland
Kenny Geddis 6-3 Robert Hawkins
Mark Stockton 6-1 Hugh McMurtry
Gary Johnston 6-4 Raymond Crowe

Quarter Finals
Davy McGurn 2-6 Gary Johnston
Rodney Patterson 6-4 Kenny Geddis
Mark Stockton 6-1 Alan Corrigan
Stephen Johnston 5-6 Kenny English

Semi Finals
Gary Johnston 6-5 Rodney Patterson
Mark Stockton 6-5 Kenny English

Final (best of 11)
Mark Stockton (Omagh) 6-1 Gary Johnston (Lisburn)

Final frames
Stockton, Stockton, Johnston, Stockton, Stockton, Stockton, Stockton

In the photo
The 4 Semi Finalists, Gary Johnston, Mark Stockton, Kenny English and Rodney Patterson

The Finals Day seeded draw has now been confirmed as follows -

Last 16
Davy McGurn (1) v Joe Patton (16)
Patrick Mulholland (9) v Kenny Geddis (8)
Dee Irwin (5) v Kenny English (12)
Raymond Crowe (13) v Rodney Patterson (4)
Davy Drysdale (14) v Robert Hawkins (3)
Gary Johnston (6) v Jean McIlroy (11)
Mark Stockton (7) v Raymond Stockman (10)
Stephen Johnston (2) v Sam Newell (15)

For all tour details click on this link

Tommy triumphs

McCullough (left) and Morrow (right)

Congratulations to Tommy Morrow who has just won the 2013 NIPA Open Tour Event 2 which was held in Bangor on Sunday 21st April.

The Ballymoney man beat Belfast's Rab McCullough 7-5 in the final to take home the top prize of £300 and now takes over the No 1 spot on the Tour Leaderboard

The next event heads to the 147 Club in Omagh on Sunday 19th May

Last 16
Damian Corrigan 6-4 DeanMcDonagh
Barry Cunningham 6-3 Jason Heffron
Damian Reid 6-0 Steven Carson
Rab McCullough 6-4 Colin Moore
Marc Hutchinson 6-2 Ryan Foster
Bill McIlroy Jr 6-4 Stuart Mulhearn
Tommy Morrow 6-2 Stephen Johnston
Drew Sloan 6-0 Johnny Mackay

Last 8
Bill McIlroy Jr 6-4 Damian Reid
Rab McCullough 6-2 Barry Cunningham
Marc Hutchinson 6-3 Damian Corrigan
Tommy Morrow 6-2 Drew Sloan

Semi Final
Rab McCullough 6-5 Marc Hutchinson
Tommy Morrow 6-1 Bill McIlroy Jr

Final
Tommy Morrow (Ballymoney) 7-5 Rab McCullough(Belfast)

Final Frames
Morrow, Morow, Morrow, McCullough, Morrow, McCullough, McCullough, Morrow, Morrow, McCullough, McCullough, Morrow 



GROUP 1

GROUP 2

GROUP 3

GROUP 4
13 Marc Hutchinson
12 Damian Corrigan
15 Rab McCullough
11 Jason Heffron
11 Drew Sloan
10 Tommy Morrow
11 Stuart Mulhearn
9 Damian Reid
8 Sam Newell
9 Wayne Lewis
10 Tyler McConnell
8 Davy McGurn
7 John Lowry
8 Ady Toner
0 Gary Clarke
7 Herbie O'Neill
6 Benny redmond
4 Darren Lowe
0 Ronan McCarthy
6 David Blair
0 Darren Sterrett
2 Richard Campbell
0 Dee Irwin
5 Patrick Mulholland























GROUP 5

GROUP 6

GROUP 7

GROUP 8
12 Steven Carson
11 Bill McIlroy Jr
14 Stephen Johnston
11 Johnny Mackay
10 Barry Cuningham
9 Colin Moore
8 Dean McDonagh
11 Ryan Foster
8 Shaun McAlister
9 Robert Hawkins
7 Gary Johnston
10 Neil McKelvey
8 Keith Malcolmson
9 Kyle Kirkwood
7 Terry McDowell
6 Paddy Lynch
5 William Irvine
7 Kenny English
6 Lee Hull
4 Tristan Scott Heyes
2 Peter Martin
0 Clem Howard
3 Sara Greenberg
3 Jean McIlroy

Ballymena's Ryan Foster won the ballot which gains him free entry into the 2013 Northern Ireland Mens Individual in November

NIPA Open Tour Event 2


This Sunday 21st April sees the NIPA Open Tour Event 2 take place in Bangor, County Down. It will be played to a group round robin format split between the Primacy and Shooters Sports Bars. There are some real mouth watering matches to look forward to, no more so than Group 3 in Shooters.

** COULD PLAYERS PLEASE NOTE, THAT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL NO ALCOHOL CAN BE BROUGHT INTO SHOOTERS FOR THE TOUR ON SUNDAY AND THAT THE LAST 16 KNOCK OUT STAGE WILL NOW BE PLAYED IN THE PRIMACY BAR **

GROUP 1 (Shooters,  10:00am start)
Drew Sloan, Marc Hutchinson, Benny Redmond, Darren Sterrett, Sam Newell, John Lowry

GROUP 2 (Shooters,  10:00am start)
Richard Campbell, Wayne Lewis, Ady Toner, Darren Lowe, Damian Corrigan, Tommy Morrow

GROUP 3 (Shooters,  10:30am start)
Gary Clarke, Tyler McConnell, Rab McCullough, Stuart Mulhearn, Ronan McCarthy, Dee Irwin

GROUP 4 (Shooters,  10:30am start)
Jason Heffron, David Blair, Damian Reid, Davy McGurn, Patrick Mulholland, Herbie O'Neill

GROUP 5 (Primacy,  10:00am start)
Peter Martin, William Irvine, Keith Malcolmson, Steven Carson, Shaun McAlister, Barry Cunningham

GROUP 6 (Primacy,  10:00am start)
Kenny English, Robert Hawkins, Bill McIlroy, Clem Howard, Colin Moore, Kyle Kirkwood

GROUP 7 (Primacy,  10:30am start)
Gary Johnston, Terry McDowell, Lee Hull, Stephen Johnston, Dean McDonagh, Sara Greenberg

Event 1 Finalists. Tommy Morrow (left) and Winner Gary Clarke
GROUP 8 (Primacy,  10:30am start)
Jonny Mackay, Jean McIlroy, Ryan Foster, Tristan Scott-Heyes, Neil McKelvey, Paddy Lynch

Format
> 8 groups of 6 (4 in Shooters, 4 in The Primacy)
> Round robin format, each player plays each other 3 frames.
> Each frame wins a player 1 point
> A player loses 1 frame for every 5 minutes they are late
> Top 2 from each group qualify for Last 16 Knockout stage (to be played in The Primacy)
> Last 16 = Best of 11
> Quarter Finals = Best of 11
> Semi Finals = Best of 11
> Final = Best of 13 
> Full NIPA dress code

To view the Tour table after the first event click on this link 

Hotel bookings for Malta



Any player wishing to book accomodation at the 2013 Nations Cup in Malta please visit the EBA website to retrieve the booking form

www.eba-pool.org

Hull & Henderson retain title



Well done to Coleraine duo Lee Hull & Julie Henderson who have just retained their NIPA Mixed Doubles title.


In the Competition was played in Shooters in Bangor on Sunday 15th April they beat Gary Wallace & Roisin Smith 4-0 in the Quarter Finals before overcoming Davy Montgomery & Angie Acheson 4-2 in the Semi Finals. Waiting in the Final were Robert Hawkins & Mary McCourt, but Hull & Henderson weren't to be denied as they turned on the style to win by 4-1and take the title back to the North Coast.

Mens 'A' Team Manager

 
Congratulations to Ronan McCarthy who has just been appointed Northern Ireland Mens 'A' Team Manager. The County Down man will be busy over the next few days selecting his squad to take to Malta for the 2013 Nations Cup in November.

World Police and Fire Games 2013


Anyone who meets the entry criteria can enter the Pool cuesports events at the 2013 World Police and Fire Games. The biennial Games, last held in New York in 2011, are being held in Belfast from 1-10th August 2013. It is a massive spectacle which is estimated will bring in 25,000 visitors to Northern Ireland along with 10,000 competitors from 70 countries playing 57 sports. It is 3rd only in size to the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games and the NIPA will be running the Pool Competitions with the playing dates being 6th-10th August. Closing date for entries is 31st May 2013. Limited spaces available.

The Pool events are Blackball Pool and Straight Pool. For details on how to enter visit the World Police & Fire Games website.

NIPA Mixed Doubles Championship


What - 2013 NIPA Mixed Doubles Championship
When - Sunday 14th April
Where - Shooters, Bangor
Time - Registration closes at 11.30am sharp for both players
Dress code - NIPA dress code applies
Cost - £15 per team if affiliated, £22.50 per team if not
Rules - Straight Knockout, played to Scotch Doubles
Who - Open to anyone who is eligible to represent NI at Blackball

In the photo - 2012 Champions, Lee Hull and Julie Henderson from Coleraine receive their trophies from NIPA Vice Chairperson Pauline Lynch