North Down and Ards Chairman’s report
RE: Norio Cafolla Memorial charity cup 5 a side competition
Which took place in Shooters bar Bangor
Entrants fee £50 half of all monies collected donated to winners chosen charity.
Who was Norio Cafolla?
Norio Caffolla was our past NorthDown and Ards league President, chairman and league team manager. He was NI 1st team manager, NI champion and NI first professional pool payer who helped improve a lot of players game including my own over the years through his love for the game. Three of the winning teams players, Davy Drysdale, Herbie O’neil and Brian Crilly,played under Norio at national team level.
Teams entered Chosen charity
Poison Ivy Local Gateway club
Alex Babb (NI womens A)
Nickie Keenan
Kathy Leddy (NI womens B)
Kieth Adams
Dean Adams
Sally Caughey (NI womens B)
The A Team Simon Community
M. Marsh (Player/manager NI seniors B2)
W. Stokes
J. Orr (NI past seniors)
B. McMullan
H. Regan (NI B2 past NDaA champion)
P. McDowell
Petes Team C.L.I.C
Stevie Strain
Peter Leddy ( NI B2 player/manager)
Joe Patton (NI B2)
Wayne Lewis (NI B2)
Tristen scott Hayes (NI B2)
Jason Ward
147 Snooker Pool Club Omagh Barnardos
Chris Beattie
Brendan McDonagh
Emitt McGuire
Damian Corrigan (Owner 147)
All Tyrone County
147 B Team Barnardos
Mark Stockton (NI Senior Blackball player and Tyrone County
Barry Cunningham (U23 European Team Event Winner, Ireland U18 and U21 WEPF rules, Tyrone County
Steven McGurn (Tyrone County
Steven Quinn (County Juniors and Tyrone County
Carl Martin (Ireland U18 Tyrone County
Shooters Sharks NI Special Pool
Brian Crilly (Former NI Champion)
Davey Drysdale (Former Ards and District Champion, NI runner up)
Terry McDowell (Number 1 rank for the season)
Jason Hefferon (Former NDAI champion)
Herbie Oneil Former (NDAI Champion)
All NIA Team players
Brian Crilly and Terry McDowell European double champions
Shooters Thunder Marie Curie
K Malcomson
J Anderson
J McCullough
J Rodgers
J Lowry (U23 manager and NI B2)
Ards Hotshots Marie Curie
Matty Wylie (NI U23 B European champion)
Kieran Paden
Simon Mckibben
Lee McLenaghen
Ian Wylie (NI Seniors B1)
Gatherups Carrickfergus League Laurel House
Derek Whiteside (NI B1 manager)
Paul Roberts
Andy McMeekin
Rab Brown
Colin Montgomery (NI B1)
Scott Hay (NI B1)
The standard of pool played by both 147 teams at times was amazing as in the round robin 15 frame stage they both beat shooters sharks the eventual winners. After the round robins where over Shooters Sharks and the 147B where equal in points so they played off with the outcome being an 8-4 win for Shooters Sharks who then met the 147 A in the final who had had a clean sweep in the Round Robin stage. The outcomes being a close win with the sharks edging an 8-5 score.
Shooters Sharks 2012 winners
Davey Drysdale, Brian Crilly, Terry McDowell,Herbie O’neill and Jason Hefferon
The standard of pool on the day at times was second to none because of the quality of players on show. This will be a yearly event and will be held on the May bank holiday weekend each year at this time I would like to thank John Lowry Shooters bar and Sammy Newel Kingfisher bar for sponsoring the magnificent cup .Also Darren Sterrit for choosing and collecting said cup. As the competition was played in shooters next year it will be in the Kingfisher. I would also like to give special thanks to Davey McGurn and Derek Whiteside for arranging for 3 teams 2 from the Omagh league and 1 from Carrickfergus league to participate in this worthy cause.
Again I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who participated in this event the overall feedback has been a positive one with all looking forward to next years event.
All teams named their chosen charity with Shooters Sharks naming Northern Ireland Special pool that benefited from this years fundraising. This is a truly worthy charity which struggles for funds the work Pauline Lynch and her team do is phenomenal. When any player watches the Special play there are times when they would have a tear in their eye because of their dedication and passion for the game, it puts us all to shame. Here is a small bit of information provided by Northern Ireland Special Pool about the charity.
We are a voluntary association that provides a sporting need for children and adults with a learning disability.
Brief History of the Northern Ireland
In 1993 the Northern Ireland Pool Association introduced the first Northern Ireland Championships for people with a learning disability. The tournament took part in the Causeway Coast Hotel, Portrush and catered for 32 invited competitors. This was a glorious event and it was marvellous to see the entire players marching in with their bow ties on and carrying their own cues.
After the success of 1993 and the players continued anticipation for the next annual championships a special Northern Ireland Team Championships was introduced in 1994 alongside the original individual event. This event was extended to two days with an overnight stay for many competitors. The Causeway
Hotel buzzed for two days and seemed to be better than the first year.
The competitions continued every year and after every tournament the burning question was “When is the next competition” and the noticeable disappointment on their faces when they told they had to wait another year.
This prompted the Northern Ireland Pool Association in 1997 to initialise the formation of the
Special Pool League. This involved teams from across Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
In January 1988 the formation of the World Association of Special Pool Committee was introduced.
Through the committee the introduction of the World Special Pool Championships which took place in July 1998. The Northern Ireland
The benefits that Special Pool has brought to the individuals over the years have been immense. It has given players the opportunity to create beautiful friendships, improve their self esteem and confidence.
This has also provided different levels of interaction between players and develops their communication skills. (Some players use different methods of communication – verbal, non verbal, makaton or sign language) It has also provide them with the opportunity of travelling to different countries representing Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Specials Success to date
Specials – Men’s
‘A’ Team World Champions 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2996, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
‘A’ Team European Champions 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
‘B’ Team Champions 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Jackie Freel – World Individual Champion 1998
Desmond Gallagher – World Individual Champion 2000
Paddy Reid – World Individual Champion 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
Paddy Reid – European Individual Champion 2008, 2010, 2011
Alan Bell – European Individual Champion 2009Specials – Ladies
‘A’ Team World Champions 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010,
2011
‘A’ Team European Champions 2009, 2010, 2011
‘B’ Team World Champions 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Mary Blair – World Individual Champion 1998
Grainne Cregan – World Individual Champion 2001
Frances McCann - World Individual Champion 2003
Briege McFall - World Individual Champion 2005
Valerie Taggart - World Individual Champion 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Valerie Taggart – European Individual Champion 2008, 2010
Briege McFall – European Individual Champion 2009, 2011
Pauline Lynche asked to pass on her thanks for the £250 received through this event. As fundraising support is vital to ensure the ongoing work and support that the charity provides for its members and their families.
Pictured Brian Crilly,Terry McDowell, Herbie Oneill and PaulineLynche
Once more many thanks for all your support in this wonderful cause
Hugh Regan
Chairman NorthDown and Ards Pool Association