Sixteen competitors spent up to 5½ hours focused on the two billiards tables at Newtown Senior Center recently, when the Third Annual NSC Billiards Tournament was conducted.

After multiple rounds, Ray Larkin returned to the championship position for the third year. Jim Moore finished in second place, and Bill Haggerty placed third.

In addition to the pool players, another two dozen or so senior center members enjoyed lunch, snacks, and plenty of socializing in the space adjacent to the pool area.

NSC Director Natalie Griffith said every table was full when lunch was served, and most people stayed well beyond the noon hour to continue monitoring the competition.

The tournament has grown from ten players each of its first two years to its roster of 18 for the March 22 event.

Due to its increased popularity, the tournament started two hours early. Griffith and Event Coordinator Ray Larkin decided that they would need to begin as early as 10 am, instead of noon, if they were going to be able to get all games in before the center closed at 4.

They made it with about 30 minutes to spare.

In addition to bragging rights, players this year were competing for gift cards donated by Newtown Hardware. The first place winner also took home a trophy.

Griffith credited Larkin for his work well before the first break shot was taken.

“He really was the brains of this whole thing,” she said. “He got the donations of prizes, and kept everything organized.”

Senior Center Assistant Wendy Devereaux agreed, saying Larkin had “been thinking about this since last year’s tournament.”

Players won’t have to wait another 12 months for the next tournament. Devereaux hinted last week that another competition is already being planned for the autumn.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.