Right on Cue

Bradford professional Simon Bedford opens his bid to qualify for the newly-renamed PUKKA PIES UK CHAMPIONSHIP at Pontins in Prestatyn today.

Bedford kicks off with a tough first-round match against Leicester’s Joe Jogia, who earlier this year made a 147 maximum break in the first pro-am event to be held at the New Cuedos Club.

The UK Championship runs from December 5-13 at the International Centre in Telford and follows the announcement of Pukka Pies as the new title sponsor.

World Snooker struck the deal with the Leicester-based company initially for one year.

Meanwhile, Bedford was also in action last week in the third Pro-Challenge event and eventually bowed out 4-2 to provisional world No 27 Judd Trump, who reached the semi-finals.

Consolation for Bedford in this non-ranking event was that he shared the highest break of 137 with tournament winner Robert Milkins.

Bradford’s snooker sides are scheduled to be in YORKSHIRE INTER-DISTRICT LEAGUE action this weekend, with both facing difficult away fixtures.

Bradford No 1 are at Leeds and the No 2 team travel to leaders Sheffield No 2 for matches expected to be played on Saturday (7.30pm).

In the billiards league, Bradford No 1 have no fixture but the No 2 team are in action for the first time at West Bradford Bowling Club on Prospect Place off Duckworth Lane as they host Thorne on Saturday (7.30pm). The side is expected to be Richard Lodge, Richard Bowes and Paul Devitt.

The draw for the 2009-10 MOORHOUSE SHIELD, the Bradford team billiards championship, has now been made and four teams will be involved in a preliminary round to be held on December 3 and 10. These matches are: Queensbury Cons A v Undercliffe Cricket, Eccleshill WMC v Chapel Green Libs.

The remaining teams all receive a bye to the first round proper, to be played in the new year. Details of the ties, together with handicaps, will be sent to clubs in plenty of time.

Nigel and Adam Tipper of Bradford Moor Conservative Club had an excellent 3-0 victory over Manningham Ward duo Wahid Khan and Tanveer Mohammed in the BRADFORD SNOOKER PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP.

It was the same score for Girlington Cons pair John Wellham and Dennis Jagger against C Bucham and C Brook of Windhill Cons.