WHAT started off as a text message between two mates escalated in to the inaugural East Lancashire Snooker Championships which has now reached Finals Weekend.

Jonny Hannan and Jonny Clark have won won virtually everything on the local circuit between them but admitted getting the competition up and running is up there with their greatest achievements.

Hoddlesden Con Club is the setting with the Plate final taking place on Friday and the Championship semi finals and final taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Hannan, who saw his own hopes of glory fade in the quarter finals, is looking forward to the occasion - and says the hard work has been worth it.

“From a little text sent from myself to Jonny, we have this fantastic new competition,” he said. “From getting all the entry fees in to getting all the new sponsors on board, buying all the trophies to putting everything in place.

“It hasn’t been an easy ride but it’s a ride that’s been worth every single minute. Me and Jonny have virtually won everything locally snooker wise but for us this is the proudest thing we have ever done in snooker.”

After Farakh Ajaib and Pete Mercer booked their semi final places, last week saw the last two quarter finals take place.

Co-organiser Hannan put down the reins and picked up his cue in an attempt to reach the last four.

But just like his dad, Tommy, in the previous round, Hannan was beaten by former professional Justin Astley - one of the pre-tournament favourites.

After a slow start from Hannan, he soon found himself 2-0 down. In a much closer third frame, things didn’t go his way again leaving him 3-0 adrift to a very clinical Astley.

The fourth was Hannan’s for the taking but an unexpected miss on the brown left the match in Astley hands and he wrapped up an impressive 4-0 victory.

The last quarter final was an all-Accrington affair with Poplar Club’s Jack Dady and Shabz Ditta from Potters battling it out. Ditta started strongly but a well put together 44 break from Dady gave him the opening frame.

Undeterred, Ditta quickly levelled but breaks of 31, 37, 59 and 65 saw Dady run out a 4-1 winner to complete the semi final line up.

Dady will now play Astley in the first semi final on Saturday (2pm) with Mercer playing Ajaib in the second semi final (5pm).

Friday night’s Plate final sees the experienced Russell Large take on 18-year-old Sean Ince. Both came through gruelling semi finals, Large beating Gary Simkin 3-2 and Ince defeating Lee Baxendale by the same scoreline. Despite the competition being in its first year, Clark says the response has been ‘amazing’.

There are plans to expand next year to include both an under 18s and seniors competition.

“The response to this competition has been amazing,” said Clark. “The quality and quantity of players that have competed and the crowds that have come out to witness some unforgettable matches has proved how popular this game still is.

“ Myself, Jonny Hannan, John Harrop and several others are working hard to make sure the tournament is a success and is around for years to come and would like all the snooker fans and players to come along to the finals weekend and show their support.”

  • The ELSC thanked sponsors Accrington Bacon Company, Jim’s Removals, Bob Clark, Ed Holgate, Tony Carr, Jack Slater and Hoddlesden Con Club for their support.