By Stephen Helliwell
Russel Broadbent, of Greetland, was the proud winner of the Halifax Association’s Invitational Champion of Champions tournament sponsored by the Association itself and Grosvenors Butchers, at Hill Crest on Sunday. He beat the defending champion, Damien Talbot, of Elland C.A. & B.C. by a convincing 21-9 score in the final.
Broadbent started his journey with a 21-14 victory over Nick Oddy of Ripponden, then followed up with a 21-15 win against Clayton’s David Scott,
who trailed by 13-7 but came back to within one point at 15-16 before Broadbent ran out to reach the quarter-final, which turned out to be his toughest game. His opponent was Danny Towning, of Kingston. The scores were close throughout, Broadbent taking an early 4-2 lead but Towning responding to go ahead by 8-6. The scores were level on 9, 12 and17, before Towning made himself favourite reaching all-but with Broadbent on 19. It did not go his way and Broadbent claimed a pair at the next end to scrape home by 21-20. He raced to a 13-2 lead in the semi-final against Josh Talbot, going on to win by 21-11.
Defending champion, Damien Talbot began with a 21-4-win against Frank. Higgins, continuing in the same vein to lead John Bloomer by 17-4. Bloomer recovered to finish on 13. The pattern continued in the semi-final, against Mytholmroyd’s Simon Rothwell. Talbot opened an early 13-4 lead. Rothwell came more into the game in the later stages but it was Damion Talbot who won by 21-14 to reach the final with a chance of retaining the title.
In the final, it was Broadbent who set the pace, putting 8 on the card before Damion Talbot registered a score. Damion Talbot finally won the jack and reduced the deficit to 5 at 7-12, but was unable to take further advantage as Broadbent took control again to cruise to a 21-9 victory.