Having laid the foundations a week earlier, Guernsey’s top snooker and billiards players duly completed a first ever inter-insular clean sweep with an outstanding individual and team performance at the Ex-Servicemen’s Club. Over the past few years, the tide has gradually shifted away from Jersey domination with only the team billiards eluding Guernsey in 2003.

But having already claimed that title with a thrilling 3-2 win, attention turned to see if Adam Shorto could claim the individual crown and whether the old enemy could be beaten in the team snooker competition.

Shorto’s appearance in the Channel Islands billiards final was earned with an awesome display against Martyn Desperques two nights earlier in the island final which included a break of 79, undoubtedly the best local billiards break in recent times.

But in Mick Mahrer, Shorto was playing someone of vast experience and a previous winner in 2002.

Although unable to find the big breaks, Shorto was cueing well and settled into his stride quickly to leave Mahrer well adrift.

Eventually Mahrre found some form, but it was too late and Shorto completed a 500-334 win, which not only retained his title, but gave ample evidence to suggest he could dominate the billiards scene for some time to come.

And so to the team snooker competition. The opening pairings saw a repeat of the individual final the previous weekend with Jon Barette eager to exact revenge on Adrian Holley, whilst John Skillett met the highly regarded Kurt Jones.

The early exchanges couldn’t have been more different with Holley attacking every ball as he refused to get embroiled in a safety bout, while Skillett’s shots appeared inhibited by nerves.

Both Jersey players settled first, and indeed Barette claimed the first frame 78-25 with a series of small breaks. Meanwhile, a break of 23 for Jones had given the Jerseyman the edge on Skillett and the signs weren’t looking good. But Skillett kept in touch and a run of four balls to a delicate final pink was enough for a 50-41 win to tie the match.

The effect was inspirational as the Guernsey duo both hit decent early breaks in their second frames. A 37 for Skillett was matched by Holley’s 39, and although Barette responded immediately with a 22 from the leftovers, Holley ran out a 74-35 winner.

It was soon 3-1 as Skillett’s form hit top gear, including some fine pots down the rail. Jones had no answer, and a quality 35 clearance sealed a 92-10 win.

After the interval, Charlie Browning and Martyn Desperques took to the table against two former CI champions, Colin Fulton and John Browne. In contrast to the first matches, it was the Guernsey pair that settled first, particularly Browning whose effortless 37 break left Fulton merely carrying on to get some practice before conceding when 67-18 behind.

Meanwhile, Desperques was accumulating points without getting the big break he anxiously craved, to build a 26 point lead with one red left. But suddenly, the frame looked far from safe as Browne took black with the red and fired in the first four colours to leave pink and black for game.

In holding for black, the Caesarean played the pink dead weight only to wobble it and allow a relieved Desperques to clinch a 54-44 win for a 5-1 lead, one away from overall victory.

Less than 15 minutes later, the match was all over as Desperques demonstrated the qualities that made him the CI champion last year with the best snooker of the night.

A break of 20 followed by a majestic, rapid 52 left a stunned Browne needing snookers. He barely had a chance as Desperques picked off another break of 16 for a 78-0 win to the cheers of the watching Guernsey contingent.

Across to the other table, Browning and Fulton were enveloped in a big safety exchange which ruined the frame, eventually won 65-17 by the Jerseyman, leaving one match left that pitted Ian Platt against debutant Ian Gould.

With little more than pride and personal ambition to play for, the first frame was understandably scrappy, but it went Platt’s way 56-41.

The Guernsey skipper had the final word too. An exquisite five cushion escape from a snooker followed soon after with the night’s best break of 55 finished the game (70-12) with a flourish that allowed the celebrations to begin.

A final score line of 8-2 was no less than Guernsey deserved and brings with it a fourth consecutive win that underlines the upper hand that has edged the Sarnian way.