THE funeral of Gordon Craven, the only player to have won a Bradford snooker title in four different decades, will be held at Scholemoor Crematorium on Monday (11.30am).

The 88-year-old, a legend of the amateur Bradford snooker scene over the last 50 years, died after a lengthy illness.

He won the Bradford snooker singles crown in 1967, 1973 and 1983 and added the Bradford Snooker Pairs Championship with Chris Firth in 1991.

Best remembered for playing many years at Horton Grange WMC and Great Horton WMC, Craven represented Bradford at county level as well.

He also played at Great Horton Conservative Club well into his 70s, even managing a clean sweep of five trophies in one particularly memorable season in the Bradford Conservative League.

It was unfortunate for him that he did not win more Bradford titles, which he surely would have done had it not been for a young Joe Johnson bursting onto the scene in the early 1970s.

Johnson won the Bradford title seven times between 1972 and 1979 before turning professional and eventually becoming world champion in 1986, with Craven the only other player to win the Bradford title during that period of Johnson dominance.

Craven can best be described as a gentleman among gentlemen. He was respected throughout the district, not just for his playing performances and abilities on the table but for his manners, friendliness and conduct off the table.

Many young players sought Craven's advice and the experience he had gained helped many – none more so than nine-time Bradford champion Wayne Cooper, who is the holder.

Condolences are sent from the snooker and billiards fraternity to Craven's family. They have arranged a get-together at Great Horton WMC (The Fatpot), where he was club secretary for many years, after the funeral to celebrate his life.

* Bradford's billiards team concluded their Yorkshire Inter-District League season with a 5-2 home win against bottom side Doncaster.

Aided by a break of 34, Bradford player Steve Wilman had no trouble despatching Branson Hoole 200-100.

With Paul Devitt unavailable, Robert Jagger came into the side for his first game at this level and produced a solid performance in defeating Graham Guest 200-92.

Neither Bradford captain Stephen Kershaw nor Doncaster opponent Dave Palmer produced their best billiards in a game where both made uncharacteristic mistakes.

The scores remained close throughout, with Kershaw making the highest break of 31, but he was unable to take advantage and Palmer picked up Doncaster's first points of the night with a 200-179 victory.