Congratulations to Reece Prescod

Yesterday I was at the Doorthy Hyman stdium in Cudworth for one of the early outdoor athletics meetings (North of England Senior League) and, true to early British 'summertime', it was blooming freezing.  I volunteered to rake the sandpit for the jumps just to keep warm!

No such problems today for Reece Prescod who has opened his outdoor season with 10.09 in the 100m at Newham - a performance good enough to knock on the door of the World Championship qualifications.

 Reece Prescod, Manchester International, August 2016

The Betfred 2017 World Snooker Championships final - before and after

It was Day 17 of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championships and the fourth and final session of the final between defending champion Mark Selby and four-time winner John Higgins.

The stage is set, the audience are taking their seats.  MC Rob Walker is warming up teh crows and has one final request for all mobiles to be put on silent.

 The press are gathered to capture the formalities beforehand.

Barry Hearn, Chairman of World Snooker, makes a presentation of thanks to Star snooker tables for the 10 years that they have been involved with World Snooker.

 Jason Ferguson, head of the WPBSA.

After the play has finished and the presentations have been made, before all the masses and masses of de-construction to make the Crucible a theatre again.....the confetti still adorns the table.

 Referee Jan Verhaas at the Champion's Dinner afterwards at the Mercure hotel.

 Nico McBrain, drummer with Iron Maiden, with Mark Selby and then in action

Betfred 2017 World Snooker Championships- Final, Day 2

Well, it's all over again for another year and Mark Selby came back from 4-10 down to win 18-15 against John Higgins at the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championships at the Crucible theatre, Sheffield.  It was a late night, made even later by a generous offer from Betfred to attend the Champions Dinner at the Mercure hotel afterwards.

A selection of photos from the snooker part of the evening.

 John Higgins and Mark Selby get the star-studded entrance

 The handshake and trophy shot

 John Higgins breaks off in frame #25 at the start of play in the last session.

 The players come back out after the mid-session interval

 Referee Jan Verhaas checks for a touching ball

 Mark Selby celebrates his 18-15 win

 With good friend Bobby Lee