Bedford misses out after tough battle

Simon Bedford’s good run in the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS came to an end in the third qualifying
round against Scotland’s Jamie Burnett – but he appears to have done enough to maintain his
main tour place for next season.

Burnett started the match well with a break of 70 to take a 2-0 lead but Bedford hit back to
lead 3-2, before finding himself 6-3 behind in the best-of-19 contest.

A purple patch for Bedford midway through the tie saw the players level at 8-8 and hopes were
high the Bradford player would take another scalp.

But they were dashed as Burnett won the next two frames comfortably to win 10-8 and book a
final qualifying match against Fergal O’Brien.

The draws for the quarter-finals of the BRADFORD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIPS have now been made
and both the singles and pairs competitions have never been more open, with clear favourites
difficult to choose.

Wibsey Liberal Club’s Alex McCann takes on Richard Hagerty of Calverley Cons, while an all Cuedos
tie features Ilyas Khan against former Bradford winner Sajid Khan.

Jason Walton of Shipley Club takes on Windhill Cons’ Lewis Walsh, with the remaining tie
seeing last season’s beaten finalist Mark Slater of Great Horton Cons up against Manningham
Ward’s Mick Bedford, a repeat of the 2008 quarter-final.

There are some cracking ties in the pairs, where Sajid Khan and Gareth Green of Cuedos have
a plum home tie against fancied pairing Walton and Chris Melling (Shipley Club).

Slater and Jason Murgatroyd of Great Horton Cons, the 2005 winners, take on in-form duo Andy
Hodgson and Joe Halliday (Tong Libs).

Nigel and Adam Tipper (Bradford Moor Cons) tackle Hanif Rafiq and Boover Singh (Manningham Ward),
with Mick Bedford and James Fisher (Manningham Ward) facing Richard Duffield and Mick Sharp
(Shipley Club).

Players have until April 12 to complete their matches, which should be arranged as soon as
possible in case of any complications nearer to easter.

Semi-finals for both competitions will be played at neutral venues at the end of April, with
the finals scheduled for mid-May.

In the YORKSHIRE INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE, only Bradford No 2 were in action at the weekend as
they lost 4-2 at Harrogate in Division One.

Boover Singh lost both opening frames, although these could have gone either way, before Gareth
Green brought the sides level with two solid frames.

Hanif Rafiq had little opportunity during his two frames as opponent Gyles Behbood made breaks
of 50 and 67 to see the home side to victory.

Bradford No 1 are in action on Saturday against Thorne at Lilycroft WMC (7.30pm).

NEWS

12 March 2009

Bedford misses out after tough battle