PRESS CUTTING
Pool aces pot cash for dogs on steam trip
Stoke Sentinel
Monday, August 10, 2009
POOL stars Carl Morris and Adam Davies showed off their skills for a good cause by taking on all-comers last night.
The pair were at Stoke's Civic Centre to cue up against members of the public in a bid to raise funds and awareness for charity Hearing Dogs For Deaf People.
World number three Carl is currently supporting friends Dean Rogers and Steve Baldock in their attempt to earn cash for the charity by travelling the length of the UK in a steam-powered car.
Yesterday, he joined them on a run from Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent. Today they will continue on to Birmingham.
While Carl's journey will end in Bristol, Dean and Steve will carry on to Land's End, having started their journey at John O'Groats.
At each stop Carl will be challenging the public to a game of pool and showing off his trick shot skills in exchange for charity donations.
Yesterday he got fellow professional Adam to take part as well.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is close to Carl's heart, as he lost his hearing to meningitis at the age of three and now has his own hearing dog, Ingle.
The 30-year-old, from Weston Road, Meir, said: "In 2001 my house was struck by lightning, and I didn't realise the roof was on fire. In the end my neighbour broke my door down and rescued me, and it made me realise how dependent I was on other people. If my neighbour hadn't been there I would have been dead.
"I hadn't even heard of hearing dogs before then, but I found out how useful they are and applied to get one. Whenever anyone is at the door Ingle lets me know."
Richard Booth, whose dad Phil has a hearing dog of his own, was the first of Carl's victims last night.
The 27-year-old from Fenton managed to pot three balls before a fluffed shot allowed Carl to effortlessly clear up. He said: "That was very nerve-wracking. I play snooker with my dad, and I played pool at uni, but obviously not enough."
The event was supported by Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor Councillor Jean Bowers, whose chosen charity for the year is Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
She said: "When I first heard about the Steam Car Challenge they weren't originally going to stop at Stoke-on-Trent, but I asked if they could as it is Carl's home."
Dean and Steve, who make and sell steam cars in kit form, started their trip on August 2 and hope to finish on August 16
Their Lykamobile steam car has a top speed of 37mph.
Dean, aged 39, from Daventry, said: "We've broken down nine times so far, and the longest we've been stuck by the roadside has been four-and-a-half hours, but it's been a good trip."
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