Spalding cue ace Matt Goodale won the Lincolnshire Pool Championship title last weekend – some 14 years after last lifting the crown.
Goodale, who has won multiple pool prizes over the years on the South Holland scene, defeated former Spalding and District Snooker League potter Jason Bates in an all-star final at Skegness.
Having not played much pool in recent times, Goodale was forced to qualify for the Butlins-based event.
But he soon got into full swing in the 128-player competition, winning nine times across three days to deliver the county crown once again.
Although Goodale – who pocketed £1,000 as well as the trophy – admits that he initially made the trip to the seaside to make up the numbers, he soon got his game face on and rediscovered his winning appetite.
Former world champion Andy Lucas was among his scalps on the way, while fellow South Holland player Shane Balding reached the semi-finals.
“To be fair, I’d not played much pool at all before the event,” said Goodale. “I’d had plenty of business and personal commitments.
“So, if I’m honest, I only really went there with aspirations of enjoying a bit of pool. But, as soon as I got there and started playing, the competitive instinct kicked in – I think it’s in your blood.
“I felt like I played well on Friday, but I wasn’t on such good form on the Saturday and it was hard work to get through.
“Sunday was a different story and I felt I played some really good pool, which I had to do to beat Jason in the final.”
