England pool trials for Dorset duo (From Dorset Echo)

England pool trials for Dorset duo

9:30am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Sport By Adam Summers

BLACKBALL pool sharks Mark Cottingham and Charlie McKinlay have both qualified for England trials following a successful season with the county teams.

Playing in the Western Region against the likes of Plymouth, North Somerset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and Bristol, the dynamic duo both finished in top-10 places out of a total of 93 players – a formidable achievement in Dorset’s first season in the competition.

Cottingham told Echosport: “Charlie finished seventh and I came third which means we have both now qualified for England trials in a few months’ time.

“We were playing against a lot of players who had already played for England so to finish above some of them was fantastic.”

The two Dorset teams play out of Snookes Snooker & Pool Club in Weymouth where team trials for next season will be held on February 17, starting at 10am.

Cottingham added: “For next season the county team hopes to have men’s A and B teams, ladies, seniors, which is 40 and over, and a youth team consisting of under-18s and under-23s.

“We already have a number of new players looking to get involved but we are particularly keen to find more women, youth and senior players to make up the sides.

“Matches are played on a Sunday once a month between April and January, and any player wishing to be involved can either turn up for the trials or contact Snookes on 788593 for more information.

“We are also looking for companies to sponsor the whole team, which would provide a lot of advertising for them. Again, we would like to urge anyone interested to call us at Snookes. Any amount of sponsorship would help.”

Snookes is also inviting entries for five separate club competitions on the following dates: February 16, March 24, April 14, May 12, and June 23.

Contact the club for more details.