By Elliott West
Introduction
From the early 1970s, snooker players had to supplement their earnings by playing on the holiday camp circuit, the length and breadth of the country. This came in the form of entertaining the holidaymakers by playing or by offering coaching sessions. One prominent holiday camp where this took place was at Pontins.
The Pontins Spring Open was born out this movement and was presented as a festival of snooker, allowing members of the public to join top amateurs and and the best professionals in an open tournament. The most important of these festivals was the Pontins Spring Open, held in Prestatyn, Wales. A tournament that began in 1974 and ended in 2011 with Doug Mountjoy being the first winner and Leo Fernandez the last. In 1983, Terry Griffiths defeated Ray Reardon in the final 7-3.
The 1983 Festival
Using a format, where the professionals had to concede 25 points per frame to the amateurs (this figure varied over the years), and this structure meant that of the top players fell to good amateurs. As years went by, fewer professionals entered these events as their commitments on the main tour increased.
In a tournament where there were 945 entrants and played in May,1983, the event was played in the midst of a general election being called by Margaret Thatcher. The oldest entrant was Sid Lane. Then 70, he compiled a 101 break in his opening game against Darren Martin. Lane later confessed that the last time he made a century in a match was four weeks before war broke out in 1939. While Lane bathed in his glory, Paul Mifsud complained about the playing conditions, sent packing back to Malta after his first match leaving several disgruntled punters behind, who placed over £100 on him to win.
Another surprise, was the seventeen year old, Chris Cookson from Preston. Cookson, who had attended the Ray Reardon Coaching Week at Brean Sands the previous Autumn, reached the last 32 of the event before being defeated by Des Myler from Ashton-In-Makerfield.
Terry Griffiths though was the most consistent player. Undeterred and undetected, the Welshman had victory on his mind, aiming to put to bed the 7-3 bruising he had received from Alex Higgins in the 1977 final. Terry whitewashed Willie Thorne in the semi-finals in just 65 minutes, 4-0 and set up a meeting with his fellow Welshman, Ray Reardon.
In the final, played over two sessions, a weary Reardon, who had just lost to Doug Mountjoy in the Pontins Professional 9-7, was outplayed by Griffiths. A match where Terry made few mistakes. The highest break of 76 by Griffiths, coming in the third frame of the first session. Fittingly, an event that took place in Wales, had to won by a Welshman and it was Terry Griffiths who was victorious on this occasion, winning his first Pontins’ title 7-3.
Results
Last 32 (Best of 7 frames)
Jules Zonfrillo v Dennis Taylor 4-3
Willie Thorne v Steve Shepherd 4-1
Geoff Thomas v Jimmy McNellan 4-3
Andrew Snell v Paul Maskell 4-1
Ray Reardon v Eric Lawlor 4-1
John Parrott v Brian Whiting 4-0
Bill Oliver v Andy Marson 4-0
Des Myler v Chris Cookson 4-3
Jack McLaughlin v David Brough 4-2
Ken Kruck v J Allison 4-1
Tony Knowles v Dave Gilbert 4-3
Terry Griffiths v George Tinsley 4-0
Neal Foulds v David Hamson 4-2
Steve Duggan v Doug Mountjoy 4-3
Les Dodd v Mario Morra 4-1
Neil Davies v Ernest Geoffrey Thompson 4-2
Last 16 (Best of 7 frames)
Willie Thorne v Ken Kruck 4-0
Geoff Thomas v Des Myler 4-3
Ray Reardon v Les Dodd 4-0
John Parrott v Jules Zonfrillo 4-1
Jack McLaughlin v Neal Foulds. 4-2
Tony Knowles v Bill Oliver 4-3
Terry Griffiths v Andrew Snell 4-2
Neil Davies v Steve Duggan 4-2
Quarter-Finals (Best of 7 frames)
Willie Thorne v John Parrott 4-2
Ray Reardon v Tony Knowles 4-3
Terry Griffiths v Geoff Thomas 4-1
Neil Davies v Jack McLaughlin 4-0
Semi – Finals (Best of 7 frames)
Ray Reardon v Neil Davies 4-3
Terry Griffiths v Willie Thorne 4-0
Final (Best of 13 frames)
Terry Griffiths v Ray Reardon 7-3
Summary
In a tournament that was designed to help players earn some extra money, novices, amateurs and professionals battled it out to get their hands on some silverware. Yet it was to be a professional who raised the title and Griffiths may not have won a ranking title but it was a great practice ground for the major titles. A player who was a cool customer but very difficult to beat.
