POOL players from all over Wirral have helped to create a new record - a tremendous £3,000 boost for Claire House, the children's respite hospice now under construction on a site by Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington.

That was the record amount raised by this season's Wirral Globe Claire House Charity Pool Cup competition and handed over to an equally delighted Hilary Holden, Claire House Appeals Director, at the annual presentation night at Turley's, Borough Road, Birkenhead.

"I thank you all from the bottom of my heart," Hilary told the pool players and their guests after receiving the cheque from Mr Bill Thompson, organiser of the contest and secretary of the Wirral (Tuesday) Pool League.

"Because of the wonderful efforts and generosity of people like yourselves, Claire House is now being built and is due to be completed next Summer, with the first youngsters scheduled for admission in September."

The £3,000 donation comprised entry fees to the contest, fundraising events at the various knock-out rounds - and a £1,300 'windfall' from the Alliance & Leicester's conversion to a public company. Most money raised at one match was the tie between Vale and Houlihan's (£81) and J. Griffiths, of the King's Arms, Bebington, raised the most individual money (£350) by having a sponsored headshave.

This season's Claire House Charity Cup winners were Black Horse, of West Kirby, who defeated runners-up Houlihan's in a thrilling final that was decided on the very last black.

However, Claire House's need for ongoing public support was critical, Hilary Holden told the packed room. "Once Claire House is open, we will need to continue to raise much-needed funds to meet the running costs," she said. "We do not receive financial help from the National Lottery nor even from the local health authority, so the need for ongoing public support and generosity is absolutely vital.

"I have to raise £50,000 per month - that is the target I have been given, so the generosity you have shown is deeply touching and most appreciated and, on behalf of Claire House, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

Mr Thompson thanked all the players who took part in the Claire House Charity Cup this season and expressed the hope that even more teams would enter the 1997-98 tournament.

"Claire House is such a worthy cause - let's make sure that next season we are able to raise even more money for it," he said.

Wirral (Tuesday) Pool League Honours List:-

First Division Champions - Houlihans; Runners-up - Abbotsford.

Second Division Champions - Waterloo; Runners-up - Rock Station.

Third Division Champions - Tranmere Park; Runners-up - Cygnet.

First Division Cup winners - Victoria Lodge 'A'; Runners-up - Abbotsford.

Second Division Cup winners - Rock Station; Runners-up - Waterloo.

Third Division Cup winners - Kings Arms (Bebington); Runners-up - Cygnet.

Billy Hudson Shield winners - Abbotsford; Runners-up - Royal Castle.

Five-a-side Competition winners - Rock Villa; Runners-up - Bromborough Hotel 'A'.

Singles Competition winner - W. Hodgson (Victoria Lodge); Runner-up - T. Jones (Abbotsford); Losing semi-finalists - T. Fitz (Houlihans)/J. Lloyd (Stanley's Arms).

Pairs Competition winners - C. Rosson/P. Doyll (Abbotsford); Runners-up - C. Ritson/J. Davies (Waterloo); Losing semi-finalists - T. Fitz/J. Taylor (Houlihans)/R. White/R. Leyland (Waterloo).

Claire House Charity Cup winners - Black Horse (West Kirby); Runners-up - Houlihans.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.