A LOCAL snooker hero raced over 100 miles to play a special round of golf for one of the late Les Dawson's favourite charities - and pocketed first prize.

Blackburn-based, Dennis Taylor, rushed to Blackpool's De Vere Hotel from the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, to swap his cue for a club in the 1996 Les Dawson golf challenge.

"I had no idea what sort of golf competition it was or who I was playing with until I got there," said Dennis, who had just finished commentating on the Snooker World Championships for the BBC.

"But I just love swapping snooker balls for golf balls, especially in aid of a charity like NSPCC. What a great event."

Taylor, who played off 13, was right on cue, helping the Life Magazine team lift the charity trophy.

Les' widow, Tracy, organised the event to raise thousands of pounds for a therapy centre for sexually abused children.

Golfing amateurs paid £100 each to team up with a host of celebrities including darts greats Eric Bristow and John Lowe, Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, Frankie Vaughan and Coronation Street stars, Liz Dawn and Sherrie Hewson.

And Ewood Park favourite, Kenny Dalglish swapped his studs for spikes for a round of one of his favourite 'other' sports.

"I've been looking forward to this for ages," said the Ewood Park favourite. "I would love to be able to play these kind of events more often. At the moment, I play whenever I can and that's not enough."

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