Lesley McIlrath

McIlrath was, with Fran Lovis, one of two of the dominant players in Australian snooker in the 1970s and 1980s. There were 45 entrants, and a record winner's prize for women's snooker, £700. In the last 16, McIlrath defeated Sue LeMaich 3–1; in the quarter-final she won 3–1 against Maryann McConnell 3–1; and she reached the final by defeating Ann Johnson 3–1 in the semi-final. Her opponent in the final, Agnes Davies, was aged 60 at the time, and went on to have a playing career spanning a total of 64 years. McIrath won the match 4–2 to capture the title. At the 1981 world championships, McIrath lost in the quarter-finals to Sue Foster, and in 1983 she lost 5–6 in the semi-final, again to Foster. ==Achievements==

Source: Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker • 1976 Australian Championship - runner-up to Fran Lovis • 1977 Australian Championship - runner-up to Fran Lovis • 1979 Australian Championship - runner-up to Fran Lovis • 1980 Australian Championship winner - beat Fran Lovis in the final • 1980 Women's World Open champion - defeated Agnes Davies 4–2 in the final. • 1981 Australian Championship winner – beat Ann Green in the final • 1981 Pontins Champion • 1982 Australian Championship – runner-up ==References==