Last updated 11:35, Monday, 12 May 2008

THIS part of the world has never been renowned for its prowess on the green baize.

Confused: John Virgo

While Kelly Fisher from Carlisle has been ladies’ world snooker champion several times, Cumbria’s chaps have struggled to match her success.

So it was rather surprising to hear Cumberland mentioned in the BBC commentary on last week’s world championship final between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ali Carter.

Sadly, this was nothing to do with the location of either of the players. As O’Sullivan attempted to see if there was sufficient room for the cue ball to travel between pink and blue, commentator Willie Thorne referred to “the Cumberland Gap”.

His colleague John Virgo emitted a noise which suggested he was rather confused – an understandable response from someone who has spent many hours in a room with Willie Thorne.

Perhaps Virgo was surprised that the Cumberland Gap still exists, as he thought the £175m scheme to upgrade the 5.8-mile stretch of dual carriageway north of Carlisle had been completed?

No, John – hold your horses. The Cumberland Gap is not due to be plugged until later this year.

Reiver still remembers his disappointment on learning that the Cumberland Gap – and Lonnie Donegan’s song of the same name – does not usually refer to the A74 but to a pass through the Cumberland region of the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee.