The Big Pembs 128, one of the country's biggest pool tournaments, saw the pool players of Pembrokeshire enjoy another hugely successful event, paying out over £6,000 in prize money whilst showcasing the county’s thriving pool scene.
The knockout tournament, which costs £30 to enter, saw local players battle it out across the handicap format, with races to 18 and handicaps ranging from -3 to +9. The format continues to attract a strong field, giving players of all abilities the chance to go deep in the competition and cause upsets along the way.
This time it was tournament organiser Eddy Collins who went all the way, lifting the winner's trophy despite playing off the toughest handicap in the competition at -3. Collins faced his good friend Martin Aries in the final, running out an 18-12 winner in what he described as a special occasion.
"On a personal note I'm over the moon to finally take one of these winners trophies home with me," said Collins. "It was also an honour to share the table with my mate Martin Aries in the final, who was far from his best on the day - lucky for me, as no one knows more than myself just how good he is when he's at it.”
In the Plate competition - an additional tournament for those who exited the tournament in the first-round, Gary Murtagh claimed the title with an 18-14 victory over David Lewis in the final.
The finals were held at The Cricketers, who put on food for those in attendance, with a lively crowd on Saturday. Collins thanked sponsors Richard Thomas of Pub Sport Services and Malcolm Morris of Mal's Taxis for their support in sponsoring the event and providing the trophies, as well as Mark Nally for his help presenting them and his "heartwarming speeches.”
The Big Pembs 128 tournaments run alongside the Henry Janes Memorial – held in memory of local player Huggy – to keep the local pool calendar busy. With another successful event in the books, organisers will now take a short break before preparations begin for the next Henry Janes Memorial.
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