KOLBE Poole and Jake McCartney have shared the spoils in Australia’s most successful World Eight-Ball Pool Championships campaign.
The Ballarat duo were members of world championship-winning teams in Blackpool.
Poole helped Australia to its second women’s title, while McCartney was in the men’s first team title in 20 years.
They also completed an outstanding tournament for Ballarat.
Matt Curwood completed the junior singles and teams double – giving him back-to-back team titles.
Poole joined Lyndall Morphett, Elise Mabbott, Taylor Meyer, Rhiannon Bolton and Mickey McPherson to defeat host nation England 13-5.
England had the early ascendancy, leading 5-3, before Australia took total control and won 10 straight frames.
Australia had just the two losses in the round-robin stages – defeating Ireland 20-5, France 18-7, Scotland 18-7, South Africa 15-10 and Wales 17-8. It lowered it colours to Northern Ireland 14-11 and England 14-11.
Australia progressed to the final by beating South Africa 13-4 in a semi-final, while England dispensed of Wales 13-9
Poole, who reached the singles semi-finals, won 19 of her 31 frames through the teams event.
McCartney, who is ranked in the top 20 in the world, combined with James Delahunty, Justin Sajich, Steve Woods, John Wheeler, Marc Robertson, Michael Scerri and Adam Andreztke to claim the men’s title.
They defeated Ireland 8-6 to cap off a tight finals series.
Australia also made it through a thrilling semi-final against England 8-7. Ireland defeated India 8-4 in the other semi-final.
The Australians defeated South Africa 16-5, Reunion Isle 19-2, Northern Ireland 11-10, Mauritius 15-6, Malta 15-6, India 18-3, France 18-3, Channel Isles 11-10, Scotland 12-9, Algeria 13-8 and Wales 13-8 in the preliminary rounds. Its only losses were to Ireland 11-10 and England 12-9. McCartney won 23 of 37 frames.
Other Australian successes included:
JUNIOR player of the tournament: Stone Stenhouse
SENIOR masters champion: Wayne Stubbs
SENIOR world team: Steve Gray
WOMEN’S player of the tournament: Lyndall Morphett
WOMEN’S world team: Lyndall Morphett
MEN’S player of the tournament: James Delahunty
MEN’S world team: James Delahunty, Justin Sajich, Steve Woods.
South Australian James Delahunty also completed a rare family double.
His father Michael, who is regarded as an all-time Australian great, was in the last Australian men’s team to take out the world title.
Michael Delahunty was also in Blackpool this year, again representing Australia in the masters’ division.
