Eight Ball
16 January, 2024
Eight-ball competition a success
Last weekend Horsham hosted the country's second largest eight-ball event which saw 50 teams of 7 battle for the title of the Wimmera Friendly Eight-Ball Invitational at Horsham Lanes and Games.
Now it's in seventh year, the event run on January 13 and 14 saw competitors from all around Victoria as well as NSW and South Australia and two of the country's best players in Jake McCartney and Gus Di Giorgio come to compete.
Both McCartney and Di Giorgio won the country title for Australia last year and both have won an Australian Open Team Champion event.
McCartney is a two-time world champion back in 1996 and 2016. He has also won two Victorian titles and other majors throughout his career.
Division one was won by Shark Squad, featuring players from all around Victoria. The team of Chase Daley, Mark Curwood, Jack Green, Justin Kennedy, Steve Landsborough, Darren Waite and George Zamoya defeated Geelong Guns 7-2.
Horsham team, Rebels, won division two. Featuring Warren Young, Petal Kilpatrick, Mitch Harris, Garry Jelly, Robby Taylor, Bud and brad McDonald, they defeated Bordertown 7-4.
In division four, the Horsham Wolves consisting of Hannu Oksala, Darren Robertson, Phil Barnard, Roger Kotz, Gary Chester, John Walker and Jeoff Pearson were runners up to 4 plus 3 with a score of 2-7.
GAFF, a team from Stawell, featuring Aaron Blake, Geoff Jamieson, Shane Sanger, Jon Wilson, Nicole Oregan, Robert Coverdale and Rhonda Walker defeated Lucky Breaks 7-2 in division six.
Event organiser, Darren ‘Deadly’ Duncan, 'Deadly', as he likes to be known as, said that it was a successful weekend.
"It went pretty smooth and we had a lot of compliments," he said.
"A lot of people commented that it was one of the best run competitions they have played in and that the space between the tables was great which didn't create any clashes.
"The only criticism we received was lack of seating and that is something we will look into for next year."
Deadly said that owner of Lanes and Games, Wayne Watkins and his team did a sensational job.
"Wayne was heavily involved over three days making sure everything went smoothly. He and his team were always on hand helping and it wouldn't have been a success without their help," he said.