Postie bags third title in as many months to become champ

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Postie bags third title in as many months to become singles champ

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HAWICK postman Lee McAllister had a red letter day on Sunday when he bagged his third snooker title in as many months.

Since moving to the Borders, from Dumfries last year, the potting postie has stamped his authority on the local snooker scene with his victories in the Hawick Championship and the Belhaven Border Pairs (along with Mark Riddell).

Last weekend, however, McAllister cued up for his toughest challenge yet, the Storey Opticians, Peebles, Border Snooker Singles Championship. And he did not disappoint the large crowd, including long-term partner Net Muirhead, who turned out to support him at his home venue, Hawick Conservative Club.

Showing no outward signs of nerves the 32-year-old suffered a shaky start in his semi-final tie against local rival David Clark (Hawick Burns Club) and went two frames down in the best-of-five-frame match. Worse was to come for the Hawick champ as Clark lined up a match-winning shot in the third but a bad kick allowed McAllister back onto the table and into the game, and he clawed his way back to victory.

The final proved equally tough. Playing "the man to beat", Paul Shanks from Peebles, who overcame Selkirk's Fraser Kelly 3-1 in the other semi, McAllister looked to be a sure winner as he took the opening frame 70-23 and the second 53-20.
With the final being the best of seven frames, however, Shanks kept his cool and fought back to take the next two frames 56-12, 57-13 – although, such was the intensity of the competition, that the balls were reracked in the third frame after a long safety stalemate.

Frame five saw McAllister come back on form and a 63-29 win put him one frame from the title. Shanks was in for the long haul, however, and an epic sixth frame went right down to the wire, Shanks downing the pink to ensure a seventh-frame showdown.
Play frequently changed hands in the final frame but it was the adopted Teri who managed the more consistent breaks to win the championship with a seventh- frame score of 83-25.

Speaking to TheSouthern a relieved but delighted McAllister said: "The semi-final was a really tough game and I think that gave me confidence in the final. It wasn't the best of standards in the final but I think that was because we are two good players and we were bringing out the best and the worst in each other.

"Paul's a really good player and I knew if I gave him a chance he would take it. Ever since I came here from Dumfries Paul Shanks has been the name that has been bandied about in snooker circles as the man to beat, and I was really pleased to play him in the final."

After the match, Border Snooker League secretary Johnstone Cox thanked referees Ian Logan (Hawick Conservative Club) and Rob Stark (Hawick Burns Club) before the presentation of the season's trophies.

2009 winners

Storey Opticians, Peebles, Border Singles: L. McAllister (Hawick Con), runner-up, P. Shanks (Peebles); Belhaven Borders Pairs: L. McAllister & M.Riddell (Hawick Con); Under-25s: J. Clark (Hawick Con), runner-up, S. Weekly (Jed Legion); Brown Brother Honda Mazda Premier League: Hawick Con A, runner-up TBD; First Division: Hawick Burns B, runner-up, Hawick Con B; Highest break (with one match still to be played): R. Scott (Kelso); Jean Yule Knock-out Cup: Peebles A.