Reprinted from Pulman's Weekly News,

May 16th, 1944

SNOOKER AT SEATON

PLAYERS CELEBRATE FIRST SEASON

CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD PRESENTED

Seaton Snooker League players and their friends spent a convivial evening at the Royal Clarence Hotel on Tuesday at their first annual supper, which was followed by a smoking concert. Although started only just over three months ago, the league has already firmly established itself ibn the recreational life of the town, and is looking forward to a great future. The first champions, Nondescripts A, were presented during the evening with a handsome shield by the Chairman of the League. Mr. V. Darvill, one of the five enthusiasts instrumental in getting it in existence. The shield, made by Mr. ("Chips") Parker and painted by Mr. H. R. Owen, of Axmouth, bears the town coat-of-arms, surrounded by the badges of the foundation teams--Nondescripts A and B, Home Guard, A.R.P., Royal Observer Corps, and Special Constabulary.

The Chairman proposed the toast of "The League Champions--Nondescripts A. He said the dictionary definition of "Nondescript" was WA person or thing which cannot be described or classed." "I think that is a libel on our Nondescripts" he remarked " They are a good, sporting team, and when you consider the opposition they have had to overcome, you must realise they are at the top of the class."

He presented the shield to Mr. A. E. Newberry, captain of the winning team, and the wooden spoon to Mr. Phil Clarke, captain of the Special Police.

Mr. Newberry said when Nondescripts A entered the League, and saw the "stars" in the teams they had to meet, they did not expect to win the championship. Everybody had enjoyed playing in the League, which had gone very smoothly.

Mr. Clarke and Mr. C. Taylor replied for the Police and congratulated Nondescripts A on their achievement.

The Chairman presented a gift to Mr. R. J. Tregagkis (hon. secretary) and said it was his handling of affairs that had made the League such a success.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION

The toast of "Success to the Seaton Snooker League" was proposed by Mr. R. J. Newberry, captain of the Home Guard team. He said the formation of the League was conceived and born of the fertile brain of Mr. Tregaskis; the "child" with which he presented them had grown amazing rapidity, and they hoped, would continue to do so. He thought the League had great opportunities for expansion. He looked forward to the days of peace, when possibly Seaton would be a team in a League of towns and Devon a team in a county championship. He felt that id nations could only get the spirit of good fellowship and sportsmanship infused into them, as in Seaton had through this League, it would do a tremendous amount of good.

Replying, Mr. G. W. Trevett (vice-chairman) agreed with Mr. Newberry that, judging by the way wartime difficulties had been overcome, the success of the League was ensured. "This League I think, has far reaching possibilities," he said. "We have struck on something which, under good leadership, has appealed to the sporting sense of Seaton people. It is not a thing is born today and will die to-morrow. I think the League will go from strength to strength and that we can look forward to a brilliant future."

NO MERE FIGUREHEAD

In Mr. Darvill they were fortunate in having not just a figurehead, but a practical, hard working Chairman. He was one of the five instrumental in forming the League, and had given every assistance to Mr, Tregaskis in running it, They were fortunate, too, in having Mr. A Burges as Treasurer.

Mr. Trevett recalled how, 12 or 13 years ago, when Mr. Tregaskis first came to Seaton, he was impressed with his keenness for the love of snooker and billiards, and how he improved the playing of those games, not only in Seaton, but throughout the district. When they entered for the Freedom and Reform Cup he got a team together, and it was through his careful coaching that they eventually won the competition. They owed Mr. Tragaskis a debt of gratitude for all he had done.

DONORS OF THE SHIELD

When the League was first formed their biggest headache, after the preliminaries, was to find a suitable trophy for the winners-no easy task in war-time. Their headache was eventually cured by Mrs. Darvill, wife of the Chairman, and Mr. Jack Norton, who between them presented a handsome shield. On behalf of all the players, Mr. Trevett said how much they appreciated this kind gesture.

Proposing the toast of "Vice-Presidents and Visitors." Mr. Burges said one of the outstanding things about the League was that it had brought a lot of them together more intimately than they had been in the past. The matches had aroused much interest, not only among the players, but among many spectators. A number of persons had asked to become vice-presidents--a very fine gesture, which would go a long way towards making the League successful. They had to date 10 vice-presidents, and hoped to add to that number. He extended grateful thanks to them for giving the League their support.

BREAKING WAR-TIME MONOTONY

Mr. A. E. Washer replied to the toast for the vice-presidents. Capt. Haley and Mr. Joe Beer (Seaton Junction) for the visitors, the latter stating that if the committee would accept them Seaton Junction would be pleased to enter a team in the League for next season. Happy evenings such as the matches provided broke the monotony of war-time work.

Mr. Taylor gave the toast of "The Press and the Officers of the League." They owed the Press a great deal, he said, for the support given to the League in the publication of weekly scores and notes. A tremendous amount of hard work had been out in by the officers of the League. "From the very start of the League has been, in my opinion, one of the most successful things ever launched in Seaton." he added "It gets us together, and we are hail-fellow-well-met. A tremendous lot of good has been done on that respect."

Response was made by Mr. W. G. Fellender, Pullman's Weekly News for the Press, and by Mr. Tregaskis for the officers. It was very gratifying, Mr Tragaskis said, to find something which one has tried to engineer not only work, but worked smoothly. Whatever the officers did made no difference unless the whole of the machinery worked in co-ordination. Unless the players, who were to backbone of the League, put their heart and soul into their games and co-operated with the officers, the League would not function. He expressed the appreciation of his fellow officers and himself for the very able backing they had received. Having proved that a League such as this could be run in war-time, there was no end to its possibilities in peace-time. Altogether there were 58 registered players, 50 of whom took part in one or more games. With six teams in the League, and each playing 10 games, there were 30 matches.

QUICKLY OFF THE MARK

The first meeting to consider the formation of the League was held on January 5th. They decided to probe around and see what could be done, and met again on January 13th, when good progress was reported. A further meeting was held on January 2oth, and, much to his surprise, although he knew he had some very keen men around him, matches actually started on January 24th. The Rest played the Champions at the club on April 3rd.Already the League was in process of being extended-apart from Seaton Junction being keen to enter, they had had a feeler from friends at Beer. If these teams were included next season, he thought the would be able to start early in the winter and make a really big competition. Nondescripts A had shown consistently good form to win the championship, heading the table eight weeks out of ten. The highest individual score was 91 by Mr. Trevett.

ENTERTAINMENT

The speeches were interspersed with musical items. Mr. Gray showed his ability to play the piano and played for community singing. The "star" turn was Mr. E. V. Brown with his musical monologues, which include3d one, In Stanley Holloway style, written for the occasion by Mr. Trevett, and describing how the League came into being. Mr. D. C. Burnside mystified the audience with his clever card tricks, and songs were contributed by Messers. Beer and Washer. One member of each snooker team was called upon for an impromptu turn, the penalty for non-compliance being a fine of two shillings, which one or two gladly paid!