BOOTHAM ‘A’ have won the York Conservative Club’s Carlsberg UK championship for the first time since 1995.

In the intervening period, Heworth ‘A’ have clinched the title 14 times but Bootham ended their years of dominance despite losing 4-3 to Fulford.

Tom Wilson’s 51 break got Fulford off to a winning start in the final match of the season and further victories for Arthur Pegden, Bob Smith and Jim Rollinson, who cleared the last four colours and won on a re-spotted black, had Bootham worried at 4-0 down.

A 24 break from Colin Robinson, though, started a fight back, continued by John Darley before Barry Rankin recovered from 31-0 down to secure the three points needed to win the league.

Heworth ‘A’s final fixture against Acomb A followed an identical pattern.

Keith Thornhill, Paul Holmes, Trevor Ventress and Jeff Keen gave Acomb a 4-0 advantage before the rot was stopped with wins for Neil Wood, Carl de Pasquale and Clive Whyte (34, 40 breaks).

Malton ‘A’, meanwhile, were 5-2 victors over Fulford ‘A’ after a walkover for Craig Mead and wins by Roger Ward, Simon Weatherill, Romain Reeves and Dave Pawson (31 break). Luke Fleet and James Lee replied. Acomb ‘B’ still finished bottom of the table despite a 4-3 triumph over Heworth ‘B’, with victories for Kevin Ventress, Brian Henry, Steve Rogers and Andy Stone.

Vic Gamble, James Kilmartin and Keith Watkinson won their matches for Heworth.

The Willsden Steel player of the year award went to Fulford’s Tom Wilson with 12 wins from 16 games.

Seven players managed ten wins each but Mark Robson and Weatherill shared the runners-up prize having played fewer games than their rivals.