2007 1st Ranker

Coolangatta Hotel hosted our 1st ranking event on sunday 18th feb for the year and a good strong field of 35 players tried out.
The ladies and open were combined and it worked well. Thanks to those who travelled to be part of it. Especially Suzie Shannon and Rob Dennis from Byron Bay and Joshua King who debuted for us from Southport. Good to see the usual culprits there with a couple of new faces in Mick Green, Wayne Randall and the old fella Dave Smallwood. The girls ended up with Suzie and Vikki Miller sharing honours for leading lady but Annie, Min and Vanessa played good pool all day.
The old fella Dave Smallwood ended up with the cash and the bragging rights (should have given him a cheque) beating last years NSW most promising player Tony Ivanov after losing the first final of the double elimination format and picking himself up to win the second final. Geoff Atkinson picked up 3rd and Wayne Randall 4th. Young gun Blake Murray did a job on Watty in the quarters a mean feat that not many manage. He is an up and coming player who when he learns to play the conditions put in front of him will improve out of sight. Poppy. Peter Watt and Greenie were were ousted in the quarters. With quite a few players still to re enter the fray the NSW team looks as if it will be stronger than last year.
The next playoff is at Casino on the 18th March at the Oxford Hotel which will be good for the country players to start their assaults. Get there if you can it is a super venue for 8ball. Cheers Poppy.