Powell River boasts a hot pocket of pool players in the province.
Players from Powell River “racked ‘em up” with the best in the province from February 26 to March 4 at the Canadian Cue Sports BC 8/9 Ball Championships held in Penticton.
Powell River Crazy 8s won the main event, going undefeated to claim the men’s mixed team 8-ball (C) open division.
13 players from Powell River travelled to Penticton to compete against 800 pool players from across BC.
After going unbeaten through the A-side of the round-robin tournament, Crazy 8s beat a team from Mission in the final match for the championship.
The team of Derek Schwartz, Chris Moore, Brian Mansell, Rick Gaebel and Paul Marier were the best of 41 teams competing from across the province.
“It was long days of playing,” said Mansell, adding that the team has been playing together for only a year.
“We’ve found a group of guys who really do well together,” he added.
The Crazy 8s split $1,500 in prize money and earned entry into the 2019 provincials to defend its title.
Powell River’s Wayne Clancy won the men’s singles 8-ball qualifying event.
Also from Powell River, Richard Shute and Diane Pallos placed second in Scotch doubles (C) open division, and Tamara McPhee and Larry Anderson were second in Scotch doubles (A) advanced division.
Clay Gloslee, Kevin Henrichsohn, Mike Mathews and Marc Butula also represented Powell River while competing at the championships.
Powell River has one of the largest pool leagues in the province, according to Mansell.
Currently, about 120 players participate in the Powell River 8 Ball League, he said, playing a six-month season from September to April.
