ONE of the oldest and most prestigious snooker competitions is over for another year.

Based at Pontin’s holiday camp, Prestatyn, on the North coast of Wales, The Pontin’s Open is the traditional end of season jamboree for professionals and amateurs alike. The week-long Spring Festival is the chance for many to let their hair down soon after the World Championships at Sheffield. And many do take the chance.

The Open was first played in 1974, when Doug Mountjoy beat John Spencer 7-4, and previous winners include Steve Davis, Alex Higgins, Ray Reardon and the great Willie Thorne.

Reports suggest the camp was heaving as this year’s 348 entrants rubbed shoulders with those involved with a big Welsh darts tournament.

Peter Maraziotis (West End) and Mark McLean (North Baddesley) won the curtain-raiser, the Cuefactor Open, a handicapped doubles tournament using the new universal handicap system similar to that used in golf, and their final can still be seen on a video link from the Globalsnookercentre website.

Cuefactor, whose motto is: How big is yours?, stumped up £200 prize money for the winners.

Alex Dunkley (Bursledon) and Nick Jennings (Otterbourne), receiving a 34-point start, beat world No 32 Gerard Greene and world No 62 Paul Davies. Davies ran in a 41 but Dunkley replied with a 37. Greene didn’t pot a ball.

Scott McGaw (Calmore) and Arron McIntyre (Hiltingbury) met up with the other four at Keele Services and three carloads travelled in convoy over the border.

Alex met up with former coach Anthony Cutler who made the trip up from his home in Poole.

The highlight of the week appears to have been the culinary delights of cook Scott McGaw, who kept the youngsters supplied with curry and pizzas - most impressive. The years of dedicated training made the heating up of microwave ready meals look easy.

The lads shared a kebab with John Pritchett (Birmingham) and England internationals Stephen Craigie and Steven Gregson on the last night before a six-and-a-half hour journey home through the holiday traffic.