Finalists Colin Graham and Ken Cookson watch referee Mr J. Quinn spotting the balls before the start of a frame.

A record crowd packed Briercliffe Club on Sunday, 7th March 1971, when Ken Cookson (Abinger Street) became small tables champion of the Burnley - Padiham area of the Golden Cue snooker handicap. The final, best of five frames, was won in three for the new title holder beat Colin Graham (Burnley Lane Central) 58-21, 101-17, 85-30 in a devastating performance in which the loser twice conceded on the pink and in the second frame Cookson cleared the colours to become the first player in this year's competition to score a points century. Colin Graham said afterwards: "I thought I had a chance the way the game was going in the first frame and then I fell away and could not regain form." Mr Jimmy Quinn was referee with Mr Derek Brown marker and Mr Colin Grimshaw was MC.

Cookson now awaits the outcome of the clash between Jack Fort (Ighten Mount) and Bob Catlow (Padiham British Legion) in the large tables final at the Ribble Social Club on Sunday. At a meeting of the area committee after the small tables match, it was decided that Cookson will meet the winner of the Fort-Catlow match on the Burnley Lane Central table in the second leg of the area final on Sunday, March 28th. This follows the first meeting of the respective section winners on the previous Thursday, March 25th at Yatefield Conservative Club. Both area finals (large and small) will be on aggregate over three frames. The winner meets the Nelson-Colne-Barnoldswick champion at the Municipal Hall, Colne on April 20th.