Snooker back - without champ
The popular Shropshire Star Snooker Knockout is back - but with the exception of one notable absentee. Some 53 of Shropshire's top green baize specialists have signed up for the chance to land the prestigious title of county champion.
But last year's winner Paul Harper will not be defending his his crown due to increasing work commitments.
"I've got a lot more on my plate at work and I wouldn't be able to commit the time I needed to practice," said Harper.
"Winning last year was the best feeling I have ever had in snooker because I hadn't picked up a cue for two years and the draw I had throughout the tournament couldn't have been tougher.
"I would have liked to have defended it but I only ever want to enter a tournament to win it.
"I don't want to go into a competition playing only 30 or 40 per cent of what I'm capable of - and that would have been the situation with the amount of practice I could put in.
"But I will definitely play in it next year and I'm already looking forward to having another crack at winning it."
Staging
Harper's absence has done little to dilute the excitement in snooker circles for the second staging of the knockout since its return after a 12-year absence.
Matt Davies - beaten by Harper 5-1 in last year's final - begins his tilt to go one better with a trip to Newtown to face Gary Gallacher.
Simon Thomas, Colin Nuttall, Mike Dubicki and Craig Reynolds are among other players expected to challenge for the county's biggest prize in the sport.
And highly rated prospect Tom Maxfield will provide a youthful element to the competition as he enters for the first time - at the age of just 12.
The All England under-13 champion, playing out of Sir John Bayley, starts his quest to compete with the elder statesman at home to Rob Dubicki.
But tonight there are more immediate matters for young Maxfield in a battle of the ages in a Telford Snooker League doubles tie.
The 12-year-old, surely the youngest player in the league, partners Richie Hulme against one of the oldest, octogenarian Les Hicks and his team-mate Doug Morrey at the Maddocks Social Club in Oakengates.
l All first round matches in the Shropshire Star-backed knockout must be played by November 12 and are the best of five frames.