Pigeon gets snookered

In the final of the first Jameson Whiskey International Open at the Derby Assembly Rooms, Steve Davis beat Dennis Taylor 9-0. It was the first whitewash in a major final although the Jameson was not a ranking event at the time.

Other than the World Championship in 1986, Joe Johnson only ever won one other title and that was the Scottish Masters at the Hospitality Inn in Glasgow when he defeated Terry Griffiths 9-7 in the final.

The inaugural Matchroom Professional Championship, a tournament exclusive to the players managed by Barry Hearn with a £50,000 first prize, was won by Willie Thorne who beat Steve Davis 10-9 in the final at the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend-on-Sea.

Meanwhile at Glasgow's Hospitality Inn, the Scottish Masters went on, minus the Matchroom players, and defending champion, Cliff Thorburn retained his title with a 9-8 victory over Alex Higgins.

In the qualifying rounds for the Welsh Open at Blackpool's Norbreck Castle Hotel, Barry Pinches compiled the 31st official maximum break in a match against Joe Johnson.

Steve Davis's run of three successive Scottish Masters titles came to an end as Cliff Thorburn clinched the title at the Hospitality Inn in Glasgow with a 9-7 victory over Willie Thorne in the final.

The first World Senior's Championship, held at Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, was won by Cliff Wilson who beat Eddie Charlton 5-4 in the final to collect his one and only professional title.

The Scottish Masters was won by Steve Davis for the third year in succession. In the final at Glasgow's Hospitality Inn he beat Jimmy White, the first ever winner of this event, 9-4.

On the eve of the opening of the Jameson Whiskey International Open at Eldon Square in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, a pigeon was threatening to disrupt proceedings from its perch in the rafters. It was eventually tempted down by grains of corn soaked in the sponsors' famous product and was taken outside "in a drunken stupor." The event went ahead the next day without incident.

John Higgins finally won a tournament in his home country when he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-6 in the final of the Regal Masters at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

A maximum break, only the sixth ever in professional competition, was compiled by Canadian, Alain Robidoux in a European Open qualifying match against Jim Meadowcroft at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool.

24 September 1995 - HENDRY'S THIRD REGAL MASTERS

At Motherwell Civic Centre, Stephen Hendry won the Regal (Scottish) Masters title for the third time beating Peter Ebdon 9-5 in the final.

The inaugural Scottish Masters at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow gave Jimmy White his first title as a professional. He beat Cliff Thorburn 9-4 in the final to become, at the time, the youngest ever winner on the pro circuit at 19 years and 146 days.

Defending champion, Steve Davis retained the Scottish Masters title by beating Tony Knowles 9-6 in the final at Glasgow's Skean Dhu Hotel, the event's third venue in as many years.

For the second year in succession, Ken Doherty won the Regal (Scottish) Masters at Motherwell Civic Centre. In the final he beat twice former champion Stephen Hendry 9-7.

In Griffith, New South Wales, Murt O'Donoghue made the first ever recorded 147 break against Maurice Reilly. New Zealander, Murt, who never won anything of note in the game, had also become the first to make a total clearance back in 1929. Neither achievement was ever officially ratified.

The first Welsh Professional Championship was won by Ray Reardon who defeated Doug Mountjoy 12-8 in the final at the Club Double Diamond in Caerphilly.

The second Scottish Masters went to Steve Davis who took the title with a 9-4 victory over Alex Higgins at the Holiday Inn, Glasgow.

Ken Doherty spoiled the party as he defeated local favourite, Alan McManus, 10-9 at Motherwell Civic Centre to take the Regal (Scottish) Masters title.