Evans Wins Sixteenth Snooker Title
by Tim Dunkley
World number-one Reanne Evans stuttered to victory in the Connie Gough National Championship to claim a sixteenth title on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association circuit March 7. The 23-year-old mother of one from Dudley defeated Katie Henrick 3-1 in a late-night final at Rileys, Luton,
Evans, who uncharacteristically dropped frames in every match, pocketed the £300 top prize and a £395 Majestic Rosemary, a cue donated by SR Cues Ltd.
“I’m shattered,” said the four-time world champion. “It’s been a long day.”
World number-one Reanne Evans stuttered to victory in the Connie Gough National Championship to claim a sixteenth title on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association circuit March 7.
In the early rounds, Evans dropped a frame against Stacey Hancock (Burgess Hill) and Chris Sharpe (Chelmsford). And in the semifinals she was forced to battle back from 2-0 down to beat Portsmouth ’s Emma Bonney 3-2.
Evans said, “I didn’t see a ball in the first frame. Emma was playing really well. I don’t think she missed a long pot.”
Maria Catalano posted the tournament’s highest break of 84 in a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Eva Palmius (Isleham, Cambs). However, the world number four’s bid for a fourth straight Connie Gough title ended in a 3-0 semifinal defeat by Henrick (Bickley, Kent).
Catalano, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 27-year-old cousin, partners Evans in the European Team Championships in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 18.
Naomi Clare (Ripley, Derbys) clinched a first junior title on the final black against debutante Jodie Symes (Swindon).
Former England international Marianne Williams (Smallfield, Surrey) claimed the seniors event and Tina Owen-Sevilton (Taunton) won the plate trophy.
The £600 Connie Gough National Championship at Rileys, Leagrave Rd, Luton , was the fifth of six WLBSA ranking events this season. Cambridge Snooker Centre hosts the World Championships in April. Evans will be bidding for a record fifth straight world title.
Reanne Evans displaying her new hardware.
RESULTS (breaks):
LAST 32: Tina Owen-Sevilton bt Hannah Jones 3-1, Gaye Jones bt Mary Hawkes 3-1, Marianne Williams bt Supanni Yam Oum 3-0, Jan Hughes bt Jodie Symes 3-1, Vicky Ashby bt Maureen Logan 3-0, Joanne Davies bt Naomi Clare 3-1, Stacey Hancock bt Laura Alves 3-0.
LAST 16: Maria Catalano (52) bt Owen-Sevilton 3-1, Eva Palmius bt Martina Lumsden 3-1, Jenny Poulter bt G Jones 3-0, Katie Henrick bt Williams 3-1, June Banks (40) bt Hughes 3-0, Emma Bonney (36, 32, 34) bt Ashby (38) 3-0, Chris Sharpe bt Davies 3-2, Reanne Evans (41, 46) bt Hancock 3-1.
QUARTER-FINALS: Catalano (84) bt Palmius 3-0, Henrick bt Poulter 3-2, Bonney bt Banks 3-2, Evans (57) bt Sharpe 3-1.
SEMI-FINALS (£75): Henrick bt Catalano 3-0, Evans (33, 32) bt Bonney (37, 37) 3-2.
FINAL (£300/£150): Evans (40) bt Henrick (43) 3-1
