Kennington’s Mark Trafford and Keith Sheard were crowned the British pairs champions at the Queens Hotel in Bournemouth, writes PETE EWINS.

They captured the title by beating world champions Phil Collins and Leon Beer 3-0 in the final.

Trafford opened up with a break of 9,000 to take the first frame.

The second saw Beer break down at 2,000, which let in Sheard with a slow 9,000 break – on a table which was getting harder – to make it 2-0.

Sheard then recorded another 9,000 break to clinch the crown.

In the semi-finals, played over four legs, Trafford and Sheard beat Sussex’s Richard Wooton and Dave France 3-0.

The Kennington pair had swept away Oxfordshire’s Bert Lovegrove and Paul Butcher 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

Trafford and Sheard had opened up by knocking out teammates Ian Gordon and Pauline Withey 2-0, before edging past Sussex’s Doug Dawson and Michelle Baden on aggregate.

A 2-0 victory over Alan Oliver and Ian Moss then took them into the last eight.

l OXFORD Ladies went through 6-4 on aggregate in the Inter Area C side competition – despite losing the return leg 3-2 against Oxford C at Kennington.

Jenny Florey reeled off a break of 3,650 to put the ladies in front with a 4,890-3,150 win over Mick Murphy.

Chris Webb made it 1-1 by beating Mel Standbridge 3,150-1,790.

Pauline Withey scored 9,040, including a break of 4,840 to put the ladies in front again only to see Ian Gordon make it 2-2 with a 4,390-1,690 victory over Sandra Tebby.

The final game saw Adam Thorn beat Sue Atkins 5,290-2,550, but it was too late to save Oxford C.

  • Geoff and Craig Mace went through to the Johnson’s Buildbase Oxford & District League’s pairs final with a 7,570-3,160 aggregate victory over Pete Ewins and Mike Jones. Bob Pincombe beat Terry Green 5,220-5,080 on aggregate in the Pat Webber Cup at Cowley Workers Club.

Richard Garrett saw off Shelley’s Martin Coulthard 11,180-3,610 on aggregate in the Kernahan Cup at the same venue.

Dave Gordon sprang a surprise with a 5,500-2,550 win over Masons’ Ernie Smith in the Never Won Cup semi-final on the Shelley top.

Thursday night's fixtures

Premier/Section 1: Masons B v Masons A, Kennington v Didcot Con Club, Berinsfield v Vikings, Democrats v Cowley Workers.

Section 1/2: Gladiators A v Gladiators B, Headington Con Club v Shelley, Comrades v Marlborough.