How come?

Well the two protagonists were Murray and Mr Michael McKee. As Desmond is aged eighty two and Michael aged eighty one, their combined ages amount to one hundred and sixty three years!

It seems unlikely that this record will be challenged any time soon, except of course by themselves. One can only admire their competitive spirit and willingness to continue to support the Club’s snooker activities, also that they left behind a trail of beaten and much younger opponents on their way to the final which was eventually won by Desmond.

As a matter of record, it should be noted that Desmond has won the Singles title six times – 1978, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2002 and 2011. From information available, he shares this distinction with Mr Ian Blair who has also won the title on six occasions.

Desmond has also won the Doubles Tournament seven times – in 1975 and 1982 with Mr Geoffrey Henderson, in 2002 with the late Mr Desmond Irwin and in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 with his current partner Mr Gordon A Finlay.

All the players now look forward with trepidation to finding out if they will be drawn against Desmond in 2012/13.

Colonel Garth Corbett, our Honorary Secretary, presented the refurbished ‘Roger Neill Trophy’ to Desmond on Wednesday 22nd February. Garth was recently instrumental in re-designing a new base which was machined and polished from a block of walnut and for updating the engraving on the trophy. He also cleaned and refurbished the model of HMS Beagle that for the decoration on the trophy.