Elgin pool player Neill Simpson returns home from European Championships a winner
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AN ELGIN pool player reached the pinnacle of a near-40-year career after winning at the European Pool Championship in Ireland.
Painter and decorator Neill Simpson travelled to the Gleaneagles Hotel in Killarney to take part in the competition at the end of February, and was part of the Scotland over 50s B team that returned home as winners.
Scotland’s run to the final was a rollercoaster ride, with a number of huge wins - but also some thrashings that were later avenged.
Wins over England B, Belgium and Ireland, coupled with losses to Malta, Northern Ireland and England, meant that Portugal had to be seen off to book a semi-final spot.
With the Iberian outfit brushed aside in convincing fashion, Neill’s Scotland side drew an England side in the semi-final that had beaten them a whopping 13-2 in the group stage just hours before.
However, against the odds, Scotland won four of the last five frames to beat a team stacked with international pool stars with the last ball.
The final pitted them against Northern Ireland, who had also convincingly defeated them in the groups - 11-4. Scotland again took four of the final five frames and won with the last ball of the tournament.
Simpson said: “I’m not generally nervous when I’m playing pool but we had all the other teams watching us in the final so I felt the pressure.
“There were about 100 people watching so to win on the last ball made it all the sweeter.
“We all ran about like fireworks. It was a moment I will never forget, to be in a winning team at a European Championships.
“We are only the second ever Scottish team to win a major European championship.
“We had a strong team but the captain said on paper we would never win. But we all got behind each other and the shouting and encouragement got us over the line.”
Neill has played with the Ionic Bar in Elgin since 1985 and is captain of the side.
His love of pool ramped up even further during the coronavirus lockdown when he found the spare time to build a pool room in his home.
This has elevated his game to a new level.
“I have been practicing for two or three years,” he said. “And I finally cracked the team last year at the second time.
“I’m over the moon to win the competition at the first attempt.
"I have won a lot locally but to be a European champion, this is the highlight.
“That is what all the hard work is about. This is why I built my own pool room four or five years ago. It’s nice that it has all come together.”
The qualification process took place in Fraserburgh, on a nervy day where only two spots in the side were up for grabs between 12 people.
Next year’s tournament is in Malta and the trial process is soon set to get back underway.
“The fight for places will be even tougher, but I’m confident I'll make it,” Neill added.
Neill’s winning team mates were John Chater (St Monans); Zander May (Brechin); Alex Killoh (Fraserburgh); Andy McRindle (Aberdeen); Paul Reid (Aberdeen) and captain Lindsay Ahern (Aberdeen).
