18 Nov 2022 2022 WORLD BAR BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIPS John Slee gave an excellent performance in the World Championships in Jersey last weekend, making the Quarter-Finals, before losing to the eventual runner-up, Guernsey’s Trevor Gallienne. The day before, partnering Jim Balchin, he had also made the quarter-final of the World Pairs - eventually losing to the 2019 runners-up. The National Ranking points thus earned by John were sufficient to give him qualification for the National Grand Prix Masters on (for the season’s top 16 performers) in High Wycombe on 27th November. Seeded 10th John is in Group B, along with Mark Trafford (2), Matt Knight (7) and Bob Hall (15). John Slee 3rd in Group 28 (containing Bob Chapple (Ald), Stuart Mepham (Wor) and Caroline Jones (Sur)) Playoff qualifier bt Norman Wilkinson (Gu) Last 64 of MAIN (over 2 legs) bt Neil Higgins (Wor) 9120-6040 Last 32 (2 legs) bt Mark Brewster (Kent) 12,380-8740 Last 16 (2 legs) bt Dave Reeves (Bri) 10,800-6540 Quarter-Final (2 legs) lost to Trevor Gallienne (Gu) 3230-11,750
WORLD PAIRS Michael Wilson & Abbey Balchin 1ST rd - BYE 2ND rd (2 legs) bt Dave Constable & John Miller (Sur) 5890-4930 Last 16 (2 legs) lost to Rick Cunningham & Tony Jenner (Wor) 4000-4330 Jim Balchin & John Slee 1st rd - BYE 2nd rd (2 legs) bt Graeme Le Monnier & Dave Lomax (J) 5670-4670 Last 16 (2 legs) bt Matthew Knight & Joe Oakley (Bri) 8820-4350 Qr Final (2 legs) lost to Curt Driver & Mark Trafford (Kent/Oxon) 1830-16410
09 July 2023 SLEE EXCELS AT OXFORD OPEN Four registered Billingshurst League players competed in Saturday’s Oxfordshire Open, played at new venue the GWR Staff Association Club in Didcot. An increased line-up of 56 took part: 26 Oxon players were joined by 5 from Northants, 3 from Bucks, 8 from Surrey, 9 from Sussex, 3 from Kent and 2 from Jersey. All four of ours made it beyond the first round (no Plate players for us, oh no!) with Michael Wilson securing a spot in the Last 16 despite rocking a peg whilst on a 10k break. But John Slee was the most impressive of the bunch, underlining his England credentials with a good run to the Semi-final which included knocking out England captain Curt Driver in his first match. Curt went on to win the Plate, from Buckinghamshire’s Alan Donovan, whilst the main final was an all-Sussex affair, Martin Cole overcoming Kevin Tunstall “by having fewer pegs” to win – having accounted for 3 of our 4 along the way. Clive Thompson 1st Rd bt Keith Hollis (Ox) 2nd Rd lost to Tony Cross (Sur) Jim Balchin 1st Rd bt Cliff Slade (Bucks) 2nd Rd lost to Martin Cole (Sus) Michael Wilson 1st Rd bt Alan Oliver (Ox) 2nd Rd bt Michelle Baden (Sus) including a 10k break Last 16 lost to Martin Cole (Sus) John Slee 1st Rd – Bye; 2nd Rd bt Curt Driver (Kent) Last 16 bt Sean Stratford (Oxon) Qr Final bt Jenny Florey (Oxon) Semi-Final lost to Martin Cole (Sus) - Clive T