POOL TRADITION CONTINUES AT THE EDINBURGH ARMS

The annual Dave Coleshill Cup pool tournament in the Edinburgh Arms pub across the road from the Barbican Centre got under way on the Friday night after the snooker quarter-finals in York.

This was the fourth staging of the event named in memory of the long-time lighting technician and drew the usual large number of entries. Unfortunately this correspondent was unable to take his place in the draw, but apparently dodged a bullet after passing on the entry to BBC Radio Five Live and Television presenter George Riley.

Snooker and rugby league aficionado Riley, over in York for the evening catching up with former colleagues and friends, ran into Ukrainian Tanya Volovelska, pictured, in the first round and was sent packing by the talented amateur snooker player, who has played in PTCs in Eastern Europe.

Riley left licking his wounds on a late train back across the Pennines. The action was due to continue late on Saturday night.

Tournament director Mike Ganley has had to put up with plenty of (reasonably) good natured banter after a past rules controversy in the final saw him claim victory over radio broadcaster Jonny Bryan.

RONNIE HAS HIS CAKE...BUT NO ONE'S EATING IT

Ronnie O’Sullivan was in no mood for an extravagant birthday celebration on Friday, despite beating Anthony McGill to reach Saturday’s Coral UK Championship semi-finals. In ‘Bah, humbug’ style he insisted he didn’t like birthdays, or the giving and receiving of cards or cakes, and in all likelihood would spend the evening having a quick Thai meal and watching ‘I’m A Celebrity..Get Me Out Of Here’ on the television.

The cake that the BBC handed him in the studio was proving hard to shift. Not only did O’Sullivan immediately pass it on to the written press, but 19 hours later on Saturday lunchtime it was still standing untouched in the media centre.

TRUMP ENDS THE WILLIAMSON JINX

There were one or two grimaces from the cameramen in the arena on Thursday when they saw the name of Pete Williamson down as marker for the Judd Trump v Rod Lawler match in the afternoon.

Up to that point every match the Liverpool official had been involved in either as referee or marker had gone to a deciding frame, and the television crew, like the referees spending long hours on their feet, feared he was starting to jinx the proceedings.

At one stage with Lawler digging in and 4-3 adrift with a chance to level things up at 4-4 another nailbiter looked on the cards – but Trump eased clear for a 6-3 win to end the Williamson hoodoo.

X-FACTOR STAR RICE SWEEPING ALL BEFORE HIM

One face around the Barbican Centre in York was teenager Michael Rice, doing temporary work as a cleaner – but the 16-year-old’s life may be about to get a bit more glamorous.

Formerly a chip shop worker from Hartlepool, Rice appeared on the recent series of X-Factor and has earned some kind of recording contract from his efforts on the show, which saw him get to the Boot Camp stage.

The appeal of clearing up the crisp bags and plastic cups after snooker fans and theatre-goers may soon start to ebb away for the youngster, seen here belting out some Whitney...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef3E70IHHWI 

HOPE YOU'RE BACK SOON, LEO

Inside Snooker and the whole of the sport wishes popular referee Leo Scullion the very best as he continues his battle with lung cancer. Thankfully treatment is proving successful, and he is targeting a resumption of his duties with World Snooker as soon as possible.

The Scottish official was diagnosed several months ago but wanted to keep his illness low key in the initial stages of treatment. Fellow referees Jan Verhaas and Olivier Marteel went to visit Leo in Glasgow last week, and found him in good spirits and looking and feeling better.

There will be plenty of people looking forward to sharing a pint once again with Leo after work in the Graduate in Sheffield next spring, if not sooner. All the best and get well soon, Leo.

TRUMP ALL RIGHT WITH DIAMOND LIGHTS

Judd Trump loves his music, but sacrificed the chance of walking out to the sounds of his favourite popular beat combos by using a reworking of the infamous Glenn Hoddle and Chris Waddle single ‘Diamond Lights’ for his third-round match against Fraser Patrick in York.

However it was all in aid of an excellent cause. The song, let’s generously say performed by talkSPORT presenter and snooker fanatic Andy Goldstein and sidekick Jason Cundy, will see all proceeds raised go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital. The official video is out on December 8, and  Christmas single released a week later.