Snooker: Two former runners-up in the English Amateur Snooker Championships failed to make it past the Yorkshire Regional stage last Sunday at The Clubhouse In Cue Gardens.

Host club member Craig Butler, who lost in last year's final to Exeter's Tim Bailey in Liverpool, fell 4-2 in the second round to Simon Stockwell (Halifax).

The other national finalist to go out at the Odsal Top club was Craig Edwards (Grimsby), who went out 4-3 in the first round to John Gallagher (Halifax).

Tony Wood was Bradford's sole success story, having a bye in the first round when Jason Bates (Bourne) withdrew with flu, and then defeating Gary Milne (Filey) 4-2.

Milne had seen off Matthew Holt (Bradford) by the same score in the first round.

Ex-Bradford champion Sajid Khan was also beaten 4-2 by Howard Brazil (Leeds) in his opening clash.

Butler recovered from 2-0 behind to defeat Kuldesh Johal (Huddersfield) 4-2 in the first round.

Wood apart, the other qualifiers were Gallagher, Stockwell, ex-champion Mark Rowing (Doncaster), former Yorkshire champion Martin Finnigan (Sheffield), Alan Edmonds (Grimsby) and Sheffield's Ian Hunter and Peter Bardsley. Best break of the day was Finnigan's 108.

Many of the same cast return to Bradford on Sunday at Cuedos (11.00) for the Yorkshire rounds of the English Open.

The field has been stiffened by five professionals, including Malcolm Bilclough of Leeds. He plays Jon Fall (Gainsborough) in the second round, where T&A champion Butler meets Kevan Robinson (Leeds).

Esholt's Tony Massey faces Chris Kilsby (Leeds) in the first round, where Stockwell plays Gary Challis (Grimsby).

Bilclough apart, other professionals include David Athorn (Sheffield) and Scunthorpe duo Jeff Cundy and Matthew Couch.

Bradford's billiards team are unchanged on Saturday for their Yorkshire Inter-District League match at home to Leeds No 2 at Lilycroft WMC (7.30).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.