The annual Joe Davis Handicap knockout one-day tournament took place at St Olave’s Snooker Club in Ramsey recently.

A field of 21 players entered the event which was kindly sponsored by Paul Smyth of the host club, with five preliminary ties bringing the field down to an even 16.

The action started early in the morning to enable all the best-of-three matches to be completed on the day.

The handicap format didn’t prevent three previous island champions, Darryl Hill (-7), Sean Corkish (-14) and Tom Miller (-7), reaching the semi-final stage and they were joined by Adam Dooley (35) playing in his first season.

Hill had previously beaten Mike Doherty 2-0 with breaks of 23 and 32, then Mike Crook 2-0 in the quarter-finals aided by a 55 clearance and a 30 plus a 33 clearance in the second frame.

Corkish had to battle through the extra preliminary round and had to be at his very best to beat club team-mates James Kerr and Darrell Thacker narrowly without dropping a frame.

Corkish then dug deep to overturn a 77 start against Marek Kenny, again 2-0 the result. Runs to reach the semis of 26, 23, 20, 22, 22, 20, 26, 22, 23 and 22 from Corkish were impressive.

Miller had previously registered a 48 break in a deciding frame with Paul Smyth and then came out a 2-0 winner against Jamie Wilson over two very close frames.

Dooley had no easy route through, having to beat Peter Kirkham then last year’s losing finalist Zain Abideen and regaining veterans champion Stevie Cowin all without dropping a frame.

In the semi-finals it was Corkish who won 2-0 against Dooley, frame scores 84 (37)-57 and 78 (25 clearance)-75, followed by Darryl Hill winning 2-1 against Tom Miller with the scores being 58 (31)-67, 60-40 and 65-35.

Corkish took the first frame in the final before Hill came back strongly again to claim victory 2-1, the frame scores being 45-72, 59(30)-24 and 68-17.

This was Hill’s first title for a while and his 55 break was the highest of the day which saw many exciting frames go the full distance.

Congratulations to Hill who was also tournament director for the day and to assistants Jane Hill, Paul Smyth and Dave Kelly.

Hill won the £100 first prize sponsored by Paul Smyth and the association thank him and all at St Olave’s for their hospitality.

A final mention also for semi-finalist Dooley who, in his first season as the highest-placed player from the day not already qualified, will be offered a place in the 2020 Champion of Champions tournament at the end of the year.