The Parochial and Home Guard Snooker Club run a series of competitions throughout the year and these are open to all playing members. Information about each competition, some of which are handicap events, is given below. Entry to each competition usually costs £2.50 which covers the cost of trophies which are given to winners and runners-up. Most competitions also have the winner(s)’s name(s) added to the Honours Boards in the Bar.
You can read match reports of finals here
For most of the competitions, Members who have entered should contact their opponents and arrange a suitable time to play.
Winners of matches should add their name to the next round and contact their next opponent when possible.
Failing to respond to requests to play matches and failing to organise a match before the deadline given for that round will result in neither player progressing to the next round, or, where it is clear an opponent has attempted to arrange the match, the non-responsive player will forfeit. Check the draw sheet for dates to play by – email reminders will be sent as deadlines approach.
The Cameron Spring Competition
This is the first competition of the year and named after the very first President of the snooker club, J.W. Cameron (1942-43)
This is a straight handicap competition played over one frame.
Click Here to see Previous Winners
The President’s Trophy
The President’s Trophy is a handicap competition that is run throughout Summer and Autumn with the final always held on the night of the Annual General Meeting – in 2025 this will be held on the last Friday of November
This is a straight handicap competition, played over one frame.
Click Here to see Previous Winners
The Ray Hudson Scratch Competition
Named after a stalwart of the club for the last 40 years, Ray Hudson (President 2001-02),
This is the only club competition played as best of three frames, therefore it is recommended to select nights when the club is perhaps not as busy (currently Monday and Tuesday).
No handicap applied.
Winner’s name on the Club’s finest trophy and Individual trophy awarded.
Winner’s handicap reduced by 10 points.
Click here to see previous winners
VETS Competition
No, not a competition for animal healers but for club veterans, or members over the age of 55
This is a straight handicap competition played over one frame
Click here to see previous winners
Penfold Pairs
Another competition named after one of our beloved former members, Harry Penfold (President 1969 – 70). Harry Penfold who died in 1990, was the last original member of the club. He was one of the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV). More than 100 men had volunteered their service in 1940, all of whom were under or over military age. In his will Harry left £250 to sponsor this Doubles Handicap Competition to be played on one night with Prize money of £50 for the winners on condition that they buy a drink from this for all present at the Final, and can keep the remainder. (Fund now topped up by Club)
- It’s a Pairs Game…. We can find you a partner if necessary.
- Played with the average of the pair’s handicaps
- £50 Prize money (minus a round of drinks)
- Often won by High Handicappers.
Click here to see Previous Winners
Tony Stone Competition
Named after a beloved member this competition was created by Tony for players with a club handicap of 25 or over.
This is a handicap competition played over one frame.
Click here to see previous winners
Prize Pairs
A pairs competition where members select their partner and organise matches to be played.
Played with the average of the pair’s handicaps.
£50 Prize money split between the winning pair.
Click here to see previous winners
Fur and Feather Night
This popular event is always played close to the run up to Christmas and involves competitors bringing along a prize that goes into the prize pool.
The winner of the competition gets first pick of the prizes, the runner up getting 2nd pick and so on until the one in last place gets the box of soap and shampoo set (or other – scroll down!)
Players are asked to each donate a prize to the prize pool with a minimum value of £15 for each prize
Running alongside the snooker competition is a Dominos competition which is always keenly contested as well as “Pot the Pink”, a fun knock out competition.
Last year’s Fur & Feather was held on Thursday December 12th 2024.
Click here to see previous winners
Surprise Pairs Competition
This is a relatively new event at the club, the winners of which receive a magnificent trophy in the form of a camel donated to the competition by a member with a keen sense of humour.
Entrants to the competition do not know who they will be paying as pairs are drawn out of a hat for every game, so you will have a new partner each round.
The handicap of each new pairing is the average of the two players.
At the end of the night, individual averages are worked out for each player separately based on the total points scored per match (including handicaps) divided by the number of games played. The winner is the player with the highest individual average at the end of the night.
Confused? No need to be as all the sums are worked out using a spreadsheet on the night.
Click here to see previous winners
Jack Barstow League Competition
This competition is named after one of the stalwarts of the club who continued playing until he was 100. Members are placed in teams and then compete against each other on one night each month (usually the third Tuesday in the month) between the months of February and December.
Each player is charged a small fee each match and the sum of the monies collected is then donated to a charity chosen by the sitting President of the club
During each match three singles games are played as well as 3 doubles
This is a social night and part of the fun is trying to select a “suitable” name foe the team at the start of the season. At the end of the season the team with the highest number of match wins is declared the champion at the annual Jack Barstow Pie ‘n Peas Supper
Click here to see previous winners
Masters Competition
A brand new tournament introduced in 2024, ‘The Masters’ was limited to the top 16 players in the club based on handicaps.
This is a handicap competition played over one frame.
The final is played as best of three frames.
Click here to see previous winners
President v Vice President Invitation Trophy
This is an annual event in October or November where the club’s President and Vice President invite 8 members each to play in a set of singles matches held over one evening. The winner takes bragging rights and also chooses a forfeit for the president at the following Annual General Meeting on the last Friday in November
Click here to see previous winners
Click here to read how handicaps are changed according to progress through competitions