By Stephen Helliwell
John Hamer, of West End won the Halifax League’s Berry Hey Handicap for a third time at Hove Edge on Sunday, with a 21-19 victory over David Hemsley. of Oxenhope.
In a closely contested final, Hemsley was ahead by 5-1 before Hamer pulled away with break of ten to lead by 11-5. Hemsley fought back to reduce the gap to a single chalk at 11-12. Hamer was ahead by 15-12 but Hemsley again reacted to draw level at 16. Hamer reached all-but with his opponent on 18 and after Hemsley reached 19 with a single at the next end, a disappointing lead gave Hamer the chance to take the final end and win by 21-19
Both players had made their way through an initial entry of 49 to reach the last sixteen, after trailing by 6-10 against Martin Greenwood, Hamer took control with a break of 10 and went on to reach the quarter-final by 21-14. Hemsley’s game against Ian Smith was much tighter, finishing with a pair at the last end to snatch a 21-20 victory.
Both players enjoyed comfortable wins in their quarter final games, Hamer by 21-9 against Mark McLoughlin and Hemsley by 21-11against Shane Greaves. In the semi-finals Hamer led from the start to win by 31-13 against Peter O’Callaghan but Hemsley was behind 7-1 against Bev Clayton before winning by 21-16.
In the final of the supplementary plate competition, open to all first-round losers in the main event, Julie Best and Julie Mallinson fought out a closely contested and entertaining game with Best emerging the victor by 21-19.
Berry Hey last sixteen: M. Berry 21 P, Gray 10; M. Atkinson 13 B. Clayton21; I. Smith 20 D. Hemsley 21; J. Dawson 14 S. Greaves 21; P. O’Callaghan 21 T. Horsfall 16; S. Griffiths 21 N. Parker 11; M. Greenwood 14 J. Hamer 21; C. Pendleton 20; M. McLoughlin 21.
Quarter-finals: Berry 13 Clayton 21; Hemsley 21 Greaves 11; O’Callaghan 21 Griffiths 17; Hamer 21 McLoughlin 9.