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FORMER Town Champion Alex Dunkley defeated both his travelling companions to reach his second semi-final on this season’s EASB Pro-Ticket Tour.

Dunkley went down 4-0 to rankings leader and eventual tournament winner Gary Wilson (Tyne & Wear) in the fourth event at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon, near Croydon.

With one tournament left, sixth-placed Dunkley, who pocketed £140, has already secured a top-16 spot and entry into the second stage.

The 23-year-old from Bursledon edged Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) 4-3 after the 15-year-old fluked the black to force a decider.

After receiving a bye in the last-16, Dunkley defeated Billy Castle (Marchwood) 4-2 before his defeat the next day by Wilson, the 2004 IBSF World Under-21 champion.

Castle took apart sixth-placed Terry Challenger (Bristol) 4-0 in the last-32 and booked his first quarter-final appearance of the season with a 4-2 victory over Lewis Frampton (Weybridge, Surrey).

The 19-year-old climbed to ninth and is virtually certain of a top-16 spot.

BREAKS    Dunkley: 65.    Winbourne: 55.     Castle: 58, 57, 50.

EASB Premier Junior Tour. Shane Castle

  BIRTHDAY boy Shane Castle is Bulgaria bound.

The Waterside wonderkid, 14 today, has qualified for the European Under-21 Championship.

Heartbreak turned to joy for the Marchwood teenager who thought he had missed out.

Castle booked his trip to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, on March 5 after finishing fourth on the EASB Premier Junior Tour for the country’s top under-19 players.

In the fifth and final leg at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre, Clay Cross, Castle progressed through the group stages but lost 4-3 to Declan Bristow (Harrogate) in the last-16.

Bristow needed a snooker in the decider.

“I thought I had to get to the quarter-finals,” admitted Castle.

However, frantic calculations confirmed the youngster had clinched the fourth and final spot. 

Paul Mount, head of Castle’s management company, On Q Promotions, said it was a “wonderful achievement”.

And he added: “For Shane to qualify for the under-21 team at the age of 14 is remarkable and justifies why he received a management contract with On Q Promotions Limited and a long-term scholarship at the South West Snooker Academy (in Gloucester).

“I am convinced Shane will have a long and successful career in snooker and we will work with him to ensure he continues to develop and continues to enjoy the sport and everything that comes with it.”

In the group stages, Castle beat Adam Bobat (Fareham) 3-2 and Bristow 3-0. Bobat, 15, who also lost 3-0 to Bristow, did not qualify for the knockout.

EASB Premier Junior Tour. Jordan Winbourne

JORDAN Winbourne capped a remarkable five days with a first ever appearance in an EASB Premier Junior Tour final.

The 15-year-old from Hedge End pocketed a cool £350 after a 4-0 defeat by Elliot Slessor (Gateshead) at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre.

And he qualified for the England Under-16 Home Internationals team by finishing seventh in the rankings.

In the group stages, Winbourne beat Kurtis Weaver (Bristol) and Tom Saddington (Hull) both 3-1 and lost to Jordan Rimmer (Birmingham) 3-2.

After qualifying for the knockout in second place, he dispatched Martin Ball (Sunderland) 4-2, Tom Maxfield (Stafford) 4-1 and Sam Harvey (Bedford) 4-2.

Four days previously, Winbourne (Stubbington Hawks) blitzed Dave Joss (Stoke SC B, Gosport) with breaks of 108 and 80 in the Gosport & Fareham Snooker League.

However, Division 1 leaders Hawks were beaten 7-5 by the visitors.

In the Town Championship quarter-finals the following night, Winbourne knocked out Danny Gallant, who won the title in 2008, 2-0 away at Eastleigh Railway Institute.

He is just two matches away from becoming the youngest holder of the 63-year-old Frank Mintrum trophy.

EASB Amateur Tour

ALEX Dunkley and Billy Castle both made semi-final exits in the third leg of the EASB Amateur Tour South.

But the Cue T’s Snooker Lounge clubmates remain first and second respectively in the rankings with one event to play in Swindon in March.

Dunkley - who had beaten the 2006 IBSF World Championship runner-up Daniel Ward 2-1 in the first-leg quarter-finals and 3-2 in the second-leg last-16 - lost twice when the pair met again at the Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds.

The 23-year-old from Bursledon compiled a 128 to force a decider against the Walsall cueman in the round-robin group stages - but lost the third frame.

“I think he was just relieved,” said Dunkley.

The 2007 Town Champion, who finished second in his group, saw off Ryan Mears (Aldershot) 2-1 in the last-eight before a 3-1 defeat by Ward in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Castle, from Marchwood, also finished runner-up in his group and qualified by just one frame.

The 19-year-old then beat Darren Lock (Devon) 2-1 and lost 3-0 to tournament winner Ryan Causton (London).

The top-eight ranked players from the north and south qualify for a last-16 play-off in May. The champion earns an England call-up for the Home Internationals.

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS

Dunkley: 2-1 Scott Bell (Tunbridge Wells), 2-1 Kristian Willetts (Skegness), 3-0 Desmond Osborne (Camberley), 1-2 Daniel Ward (Walsall).

BILLY Castle reckons a place in the IBSF World Under-21 Championship is up for grabs after battling through to the first-leg quarter-finals of the new EASB Under-21 series.

The 19-year-old England international lost 4-3 on the final black to Mitchell Travis (Sheffield) at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre, Clay Cross.

Castle cleared up with a 55 from 50 points down to force a decider.

It is believed the top four after the six events will receive nominations for the IBSF tournament.

“That would mean so much to get there,” said Castle.

“I’m starting to cue well again. I’m working hard at it so hopefully good things are coming.”

The Marchwood potter, sponsored by his home club Cue T’s Snooker Lounge, topped his round-robin group, which included Fareham’s Adam Bobat.

In the knockout, he accounted for Darren Cook (Hartlepool) 3-2 and Darren Burns (Liverpool) 3-1.

GROUP STAGE RESULTS

Billy Castle: 3-0 William Lemons (Sheffield), 3-0 Ashik Nathwani (Leicester), 2-1 Adam King (Coventry), 2-1 Adam Bobat (Fareham), 1-2 Jason Tart (Blackpool). Breaks: 81, 63, 55, 55, 53, 51.

Adam Bobat: 1-2 Lemons, 1-2 Nathwani, 1-2 Tart, 1-2 Castle, 2-1 King. Breaks: 54.

FOUR byes helped a trio of Hampshire players pick up valuable ranking points on the EASB Pro-Ticket Tour despite not recording a win.

Alex Dunkley’s first two opponents failed to show for the third leg at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.

The 23-year-old from Bursledon, who dropped two places to eighth, compiled a 61 to force a seventh-frame against James Gillespie (Newark) but lost 4-3 on the colours in the decider.

Billy Castle (Marchwood) and Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) both received first-round walkovers.

Castle, 19, who slipped from 14th to 17th, went down 4-1 to event-two winner Jeff Cundy (Scunthorpe).

He said: “I couldn’t find my rhythm.”

And Winbourne, 15, climbed 14 places to 34th after a 4-2 defeat by Shaun Wilkes (Doncaster).

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EASB Premier Junior Tour

A SECOND Hampshire teenage has scored back-to-back centuries in a national competition.

Hedge End’s Jordan Winbourne strung together breaks of 104 and 115 in the group stages of the EASB Premier Junior Tour event four at the Pot Blacks Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds.

The 15-year-old’s two tons came in the third and fourth frames of a 3-1 victory over Bedford’s Sam Harvey.

Chris Winbourne, Jordan’s dad, had popped out of the club and missed the drama.

“It was great news to come back in too, though,” he said. “It created quite a buzz around the room.”

Earlier, the teenager chalked up an 82 in a 3-0 win over Guy Loft (Hastings) and he overcome Adam Edge (Nuneaton) 3-2 with breaks of 91 and 60 in his final round-robin match.

A remarkable 4-1 last-16 defeat by south coast rival Shane Castle ended the group winner’s run.

Castle, who had consecutive tons in the third leg last month, made a 73. Winbourne contributed 71 and 52. And two frames were decided on the final black.

Despite compiling breaks of 66 and 58, Castle (Marchwood) went out 4-2 to rankings leader Joel Walker (Sheffield) in the quarter-finals.

In the group stages, the 13-year-old beat James Cahill (Blackpool) and Billy O’Connor (Dagenham) 3-2 but lost 3-1 to Adam Bobat (Fareham).

Bobat, who also saw off Cahill 3-2, lost 3-1 to O’Connor and won the group.

For the second tournament running, the 15-year-old was knocked out 4-2 in the last-16 by Oliver Lines (Leeds).

Castle remains in second place with one leg to play in Derbyshire in January. Winbourne climbed to 12th and Bobat to 16th.

EASB Amateur Tour

A SECOND national title is now a strong possibility for former Town Champion Alex Dunkley.

The 2009 English Club Players champion leads the EASB Amateur Tour rankings after a quick-fire victory in the second leg of four at the Golden Cue Snooker Club, Bilston, near Wolverhampton.

Dunkley admitted he had something “to prove” in the first round when drawn against the 2006 IBSF World Championship runner-up Daniel Ward, who he had seen off 2-0 in the first-leg.

“I didn’t want to lose to him in case he thought it was a fluke,” said the 23-year-old from Bursledon. “I wanted to prove to him that I could beat him again.”

But he added: “When he went 1-0 up and got about 40 points ahead in the second, it didn’t look very good.”

Dunkley levelled the match with a break of 57 and, after Ward (Walsall) had restored the advantage, fired in a 68 in the decider.

“My safety was very good and I scored when I had to,” said the Sarisbury Social A number one.

“He didn’t pot a ball in the last frame. He wasn’t very happy.”

Dunkley then beat Kristian Willetts (Skegness) 3-0 with runs of 51, 69 and an 82 that earned him the high-break prize of £20.

He added a 51 in a 3-1 semi-final victory over James Hill (Wolverhampton) and pocketed £100 after beating Jamie Brown (Birmingham) 3-0 on the match table in the final.

Meanwhile, Billy Castle, who defeated Dunkley in the first-leg final in Chelmsford in October, was knocked out by Brown 3-1 in the semi-finals.

“He’s a good player,” said the 19-year-old.

Earlier, Castle (Marchwood) beat Darran Lock (Devon) and Adam king (Coventry) both 3-0. He returned breaks of 74, 60, 57, 54, 42, 40 and 40 in his three matches.

Cue T’s clubmates Dunkley and Castle, who are first and second in the rankings, were in and out of Bilston in five hours.

  EASB Masters

DAVE Mumford admitted he wasn’t “match tight” in his first major tournament for so long he can’t remember.

The former Daily Echo champion and 1995 Town Champion failed to progress from the southern regional qualifier of the EASB Masters Championship at Top Cue Snooker Club, Gloucester.

Mumford was beaten 3-2 by Nick Hawkins (Bristol) and 3-1 by former Southampton University student Ashley Beal (Maresfield, East Sussex), who won the 1985 Town Championship.

“I played OK,” said the 43-year-old from Chandler’s Ford. “I had a 64 against Hawkins and went 1-0 up against Beal.

“I just wasn’t match tight and didn’t punish when I had my chances.”

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Juniors

WATERSIDE wonderkid Shane Castle insisted he “wasn’t playing well” just before compiling back-to-back century breaks for the first time in his career.

The 13-year-old from Marchwood hit three figures twice in the quarter-finals of the EASB Premier Junior Tour third leg at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester.

A 121 clearance in the fourth frame followed by a 100 in the fifth wrapped up a 4-1 victory over Ashley Carty (Rotherham).

Castle, who now has 17 competitive tons to his name, said: “I wasn’t playing well in that match but I just got in amongst the balls.”

The England international remains second in the rankings for the country’s best under-19 players after a 4-2 semi-final defeat by Sam Harvey (Bedford).

In the group stages, Castle beat Adam Edge (Nuneaton) 3-0, James Cahill (Blackpool) 3-2, Declan Bristow (Harrogate) 3-1 and Liam Clark (Hartlepool) 3-1.

And the winner of the second-leg in Birmingham last month accounted for Martin Ball (Tyne and Wear) 4-1 in the last-16.

As well as his two centuries, Castle recorded runs of 95, 79, 70, 61, 58, 54, 50 and 50 during the two-day tournament staged at the home of his sponsors, On Q Promotions.

Meanwhile, Fareham’s Adam Bobat qualified for the knockout for the first time this season - by just one frame.

Despite losing 3-1 to Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End), the 15-year-old topped his group with 3-1 wins over Sanderson Lam (Leeds) and Thomas Saddington (Hull).

Bobat climbed one place to 19th after a 4-2 defeat by Oliver Lines (Leeds) in the last-16.

“I didn’t really play that well after it went 2-2,” he said. “He just scored when he was in and deserved to win.”

Winbourne failed to qualify for the knockout for the first time this season - by just one frame.

Despite his victory over Bobat, the 15-year-old finished third in his group after beating Saddington 3-2 and losing 3-1 to Lam.

Winbourne slipped one place to 14th.

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EASB Q School Satellite

MARCHWOOD’S England international Billy Castle believes he can ‘turn pro for a tenner’, as the EASB has dubbed its Q School Satellite.

The 19-year-old progressed through the first stage at Woking Snooker Centre with three of his four lives intact.

He lost only one of his ten games.

Castle, who is based at Cue T’s Snooker Lounge, Marchwood, said: “That’s a fact in this sport: you’ve got to believe you can do it.

“And I believe I can.”

Players can enter each stage up to four times and are placed in separate quarters of the draw.

Initial entries cost £10 each. Qualifiers receive free entry to Stage 2 in Bury St Edmunds in March. Qualifiers from there are entered into Stage 3 in Woking in April. Extra lives can be bought for £30 each for Stage 2 and £80 for Stage 3.

Stage 3 qualifiers receive a £1,000 entry into World Snooker’s Q School, where a semi-final place in any of the three tournaments is rewarded with a Main Tour spot.

Meanwhile, Alex Dunkley (Bursledon), Adam Bobat (Fareham) and Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) all take one life to Bury St Edmunds.

But Bobat reckons he should have qualified twice.

Trailing Castle 2-0, the 15-year-old cleared up with 51 from 47 behind, forced a decider with another 50 and then chalked up a 40 in the fifth.

However, he fell foul of the miss rule following a tricky snooker and conceded more than 30 points which cost him the frame.

“Adam played really well,” said Castle. “He looks like his old self again.”

EASB representative Terry Teeman said: “Adam played really well and was very unlucky against Billy Castle at the end.”

Dunkley, 23, won four best-of-five matches, 13 frames in total, in less than three hours on the second day.

And he then had a three-hour wait before losing 3-2 to both Castle and Bobat.

RESULTS

Billy Castle: w/o Ryan Mears (Aldershot), 3-0 & 3-0 Phil O’Kane (Sidcup), 3-1 Wayne Townsend (London), 3-1 Stuart Wood (Romford), 3-2 Ricky Norris (Hornchurch), 3-1 & 3-1 Jordan Winbourne, 3-2 Alex Dunkley, 3-2 & 1-3 Adam Bobat.

Breaks: 81, 69, 67, 66, 63, 57, 53, 49, 46, 40, 40, 40.

Adam Bobat: 2-3 & 3-1 Billy Castle, 3-2 Ricky Norris, 3-2 Alex Dunkley, 3-1 Phil O’Kane, 3-0 Freddie Blunden (Brighton), 3-0 Lewis Frampton (Surrey), 3-1 Stuart Wood, 3-1 Zach Richardson (Brighton), 1-3 Scott Bell (Tunbridge Wells), 0-3 Jordan Winbourne.

Breaks: 72, 67, 61, 57, 55, 55, 54, 53, 52, 51, 51, 51, 50, 50, 45, 45, 40.

Jordan Winbourne: 1-3 & 1-3 Billy Castle, 2-3 Zach Richardson, 3-0 Adam Bobat, 3-1 & 3-0 Ben Finch (London), 3-1 & 3-1 Freddie Blunden, 3-1 & 3-1 Darran Lock (Devon).

Breaks: 81, 70, 67, 65, 55, 52.

Alex Dunkley: w/o Russell Hughes (Brighton), w/o Wayne Townsend, 3-1 & 3-0 Michael Collier (Horsham), 3-1 & 3-1 Zach Richardson, 1-3 & 3-2 Brian Sharpe (Chelmsford), 3-0 Terry Teeman (Surrey), 3-1 Ricky Norris, 3-0 Scott Bell, 3-0 Malachi Bannister (London), 2-3 Billy Castle, 2-3 Adam Bobat.

Breaks: 80, 68, 60, 54.

EASB Under-14 national qualifiers

SHANE Castle, the 2010 English Under-14 Champion, cruised through the southern qualifying stage of this season’s competition without dropping a frame.

The 13-year-old multi-century breaker from Marchwood beat Adam Stacey (London), Joseph Taylor (Virginia Water, Surrey) and Michael Loveridge-Greene (Gillingham) all 3-0 at Fareham Snooker Club.

Castle, hot favourite to reclaim his title, heads to Leeds next May for the last-16 knockout.

Earlier this year, the youngster suffered a painful 4-2 defeat in the 2011 semi-finals by Nico Elton (Sheffield).

EASB Amateur Tour

BILLY Castle beat his travelling companion and practice partner Alex Dunkley in the final of the first EASB Amateur Tour event at Chelmsford Snooker Club.

And both were delighted to take the scalp of Daniel Ward, the 2006 IBSF World Championship finalist.

Although Castle (Marchwood) whitewashed Dunkley (Bursledon) 3-0, the pair had already agreed to share the £190 prize money.

Castle said: “I started off well by beating Daniel Ward, he’s a class player, and then I just went on from there.”

The 19-year-old “killed the game” against Dunkley in the second frame with a tricky snooker.

Castle, who picked up nearly 40 points under the miss rule, said: “It would be nice if Alex and I stayed one and two (in the rankings) because we can then play in the European Men’s Team Championship next year.”

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS:

Castle: 2-1 Daniel Ward (West Midlands), 3-0 Scott Bell (Tunbridge Wells), 3-0 Kristian Willetts (Skegness), 3-0 Michael Collier (Nr Horsham). Breaks: 67, 57, 56.

Dunkley: 2-1 Zachary Richardson (Brighton), 2-1 Kevin Ward (Burgess Hill), 3-0 Russell Hughes (Brighton), 3-0 Sachin Plaha (Hayes), 2-1 Darran Lock (Seaton).

QUARTER-FINALS

Castle: 2-0 Callum Downing (Oldbury).

Dunkley: 2-0 Daniel Ward (West Midlands).

SEMI-FINALS

Castle: 3-2 Ryan Mears (Aldershot). Breaks: 56.

Dunkley: 3-1 Lee Payne (West Mids). Breaks: 58.

EASB Premier Junior Tour

HEDGE End’s England international Jordan Winbourne kicked off the new EASB season with a quarter-final appearance on the English Premier Junior Tour in Leeds.

In the first leg of the five-event national tour for the country’s top-40 under-19s, the 15-year-old dug out breaks of 64 and 65 from 3-2 down to beat Joe Roberts (Featherstone) 4-3 in the last-16.

Winbourne, who finished 27th last season when the age limit was 21, lost 4-1 to Sanderson Lam (Leeds) in the last-eight.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Adam Bobat (Fareham) missed out on qualifying for the knockout by one frame.

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS

Winbourne: 3-2 Michael Rogers (Taunton), 3-0 Liam Clark (Hartlepool), 0-3 Joe Roberts (Featherstone). Breaks: 65, 64, 50.

Bobat: 2-3 Oliver Lines (Leeds), 2-3 Ashley Carty (Rotherham), 3-2 Clayton Humphries (Liverpool).

JORDAN Winbourne was “dead on his feet”, Billy Castle sacrificed a week in North Wales and Mike Finn competed despite having been ill all week.

They were all chasing a £1,000 prize and a dream chance of turning professional.

It was an agonising close effort by three of Hampshire’s top cuemen at the EASB Q School Satellite at Woking Snooker Centre.

In fact, the county was just two frames from sending a player to World Snooker’s Q School, where the semi-finalists from each of four tournaments join the pro-circuit.

After a walkover against Charlie Walters (Kent), Hedge End teenager Winbourne crushed Danny Brindle (Bedford) 5-2.

But in a quarter-final match, which finished at 11.10pm, the 15-year-old was edged 5-4 by James Burrett (Ipswich).

Winbourne led 3-2, lost a black-ball game and led 4-3.

His dad Chris said: “To be fair, Jordan was dead on his feet.”

Meanwhile, former Town Champion Finn (Eastleigh) chalked up 5-2 wins over Ryan Causton (London) and ex-pro Dean Venables.

But he also lost in the last-eight, 5-4 on the pink to the 2010 Pontin’s Autumn Open champion Rob James (Birmingham), the eventual qualifier.

Finn, 25, said: “I was pleased with how I played as I had been ill for the last week.”

Finn and Winbourne would have met in the semis. The winner of that would have packed his bags for Sheffield in May.

Marchwood’s Castle missed the hugely-popular week-long annual junior festival at Pontin’s, Prestatyn, in order to play in Woking.

The 18-year-old was rewarded with his fifth tournament century, a 105 in a 5-2 last-16 defeat by Burrett.

Earlier, Castle beat James Hill (West Midlands) 5-2 with runs of 41, 48, 48 and 49.

In his second life, he hammered in breaks of 68, 50 and 40 in a 5-3 last-16 defeat by Causton, twice Castle’s conqueror in the second stage in Romford last month.

Castle is looking forward to practising with world number 46 Barry Pinches in Norwich in the summer.

BEN Tanner left his best to last but still fell one place agonisingly short of qualification for the second stage of the EASB Regional Amateur Tour.

Needing the performance of his life at the third leg at Woking Snooker Centre, the 18-year-old from Boyatt Wood won his round-robin group.

He saw off Londoner Joe Dallarda 2-1 and third-placed Darran Lock (Plymouth) but was whitewashed 3-0 in the quarter-finals by the eventual tournament winner James Loft (Hastings). 

Tanner, who is based at The Academy, Eastleigh, said: “I didn’t really get much luck in the first two (tournaments) but I played half decent today.”

earlier news

IF BEN Tanner can climb one place on the EASB Regional Amateur Tour in the third and final event in Woking tomorrow, he’ll qualify for the second stage.

The 18-year-old from Boyatt Wood picked up valuable ranking points after a long trip to Plymouth Snooker Club for the second leg.

Tanner beat Jack Mitchell (Somerset) 2-1 but lost to 3-0 to Darren Lock (Devon) and 2-1 to the eventual tournament winner and rankings leader Ryan Mears (Aldershot).

Breaks of 56, 44, 36 and 31 helped Tanner clinch ninth place.

EASB Premier Junior Tour

HE IS England’s number one at under-21 level.

Hampshire star Nick Jennings has clinched first place on the English Association of Snooker & Billiards’ Premier Junior Tour.

Although the 19-year-old, who lives in Boyatt Wood, lost 4-1 to Londoner Sean O’Sullivan in the last-16 of the sixth and final leg at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre, Clay Cross, that single frame was enough to secure the title.

“It’s brilliant,” he said. “To be known as the best player in England this year is a big confidence booster.”

Jennings finished the season with 1,157 points. Birmingham’s Callum Downing would have ended on 1,156 points if he had not lost in the final.

Trips to the European Under-21 Championship in Malta, at the end of March, and then to Canada, in July, for the IBSF World Under-21 Championship now beckon for the talented youngster.

“I hope to do great things in the Euros and Worlds,” he told the Daily Echo. “I know I can win them; it’s just down to me and hard work.”

And he vowed to step up his practice sessions in Romford with world number 26 Judd Trump and on his custom-built pro-standard table at his home club, Churchills in Eastleigh, with the legendary Jimmy White.

Ex-Saints star Ken Jones, who was Jennings’ first coach, recalled: “Nick always showed a little bit of ability.

“I said to his dad ‘if he works hard, there’s no reason why he can’t have a good go at it’.”

Jones, 66, and Jennings are now teammates at Super League outfit Churchills A.

“He’s playing fantastic snooker at the moment,” said Jones. “The lad looks a class act.

“It speaks for itself what he’s achieved this last year. All credit to the lad; he’s worked hard. Let’s hope he makes it (onto the pro-circuit).

“With Jimmy White coming to the club, it’s great for him and Billy (Castle).”

It’s all a far cry from the Saturday morning under-13 leagues at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club where Jennings started his career.

EASB Premier Junior Tour

MARCHWOOD’S Billy Castle ended a bad day at the office on the EASB Premier Junior Tour by knocking in his highest ever tournament century in the final frame.

After losing both his opening matches in Derbyshire, the 18-year-old fired in breaks of 57, 92 and 120 against Oliver Brown.

Castle, who did not qualify for the last-16, said: “Something sort of clicked.”

Meanwhile, Fareham youngster Adam Bobat DID qualify but lost to the lad who beat him in the EASB Under-14 Championship final in 2008.

Bobat, 14, who finished top of his group and racked up breaks of 81, 61, 48 and 45, went out 4-0 to Joel Walker (Sheffield) in the last-16.

In the last frame, Bobat was 67 points ahead with 67 on. Walker cleared the table and won the re-spotted black.

“He played very well,” said Bobat.

“If I’d have started (the tour) like I finished, I’d be a lot higher up. But that only comes with experience.”

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS

Nick Jennings: 3-1 Michael Williams (Hartlepool), 3-1 Declan Bristow (Bristol), 1-3 Oliver Calland (Doncaster), 3-0 Martin Ball (Sunderland) 3-0.

Billy Castle: 2-3 Lewis Mayes (Basildon), 1-3 Sanderson Lam (Leeds), 3-0 Oliver Brown (Derbys).

Adam Bobat: 1-3 Mitchell Travis (Sheffield), 3-0 Michael Rogers (Taunton), 3-0 Clayton Humphries (Liverpool, 3-1 Nik Charalambous (Newmarket).

Shane Castle: 2-3 Tom Kerslake (Nottingham), 3-0 Thomas Saddington (Hull), 1-3 Callum Downing (Birmingham), 0-3 Daniel Womersley (Leeds).

Jordan Winbourne: 1-3 Shahrukh Nasir (Birmingham), 3-2 Tom Maxfield (Staffs), 0-3 Gareth Green (Bradford).

Final positions: 1st, Nick Jennings; 12th, Billy Castle; 14th, Shane Castle; 17th, Adam Bobat; 28th, Jordan Winbourne.

BURY St Edmunds proved to be a knockout venue for Fareham’s Adam Bobat.

After finishing third in his round-robin group in all four legs of his debut season on the EASB Premier Junior Tour, the 14-year-old reached the final stages at event five.

Not only did he qualify at the Pot Black Sports Bar, Suffolk, he progressed to the quarter-finals after a remarkable comeback in the last-16.

Although Bobat levelled at 1-1 with a 55 break against Michael Williams (Hartlepool), he was soon 3-1 down in the best-of-seven.

A run of 52 pulled one back.

Williams led by 70 points in the fifth frame with 75 on. Bobat dug out a 40 and a 31 clearance to force a decider.

After clearing the colours in the seventh, Bobat said: “I managed to scrape through.”

The England international compiled a 68 in the last-eight but went out 4-1 to the eventual tournament winner Mitchell Travis (Sheffield).

Bobat, who climbed seven places to 17th, said: “I was a little gutted that I didn’t play as well against Mitchell as I did against Michael. But, overall, I was pleased with the result.”

Meanwhile, rankings leader Nick Jennings (Boyatt Wood) is virtually certain of a place in the European Under-21 Championship in Malta next March.

The 19-year-old lost 4-3 to Sam Harvey (Bedford) in the quarter-finals after efforts of 95, 85 and 81 in a 4-2 last-16 match against Oliver Calland (Doncaster).

Billy Castle (Marchwood) edged up one place to eighth after a 4-2 last-16 exit to Martin Ball (Sunderland). Castle, 18, had breaks of 50 and 40.

Needing a win in his final group match, tenth-placed Shane Castle (Marchwood) beat Damian Wilkes (Bradford) 3-0 with breaks of 73 and 70.

The 12-year-old lost 4-2 to Elliot Slessor (Gateshead) in the last-16.

  GROUP-STAGE RESULTS

Adam Bobat: 1-3 Gareth Green (Bradford), 3-0 Sean O’Sullivan (London).

Nick Jennings: 3-0 Damian Wilks (Bradford), 3-1 Shane Castle (Marchwood), 3-2 James Jelley (Leicester). Breaks: 72, 55, 54.

Billy Castle: 3-1 Ryan Clark (Hartlepool), 3-0 Oliver Brown (Derbys). Breaks: 78, 48, 47, 46.

EASB Q School Satellite

A number of players who reach the third stage will receive EASB sponsorship for World Snooker’s Q School, the brand new qualifying competition for the professional circuit.

RESULTS

Nick Jennings (Boyatt Wood): 3-1 Davis Hui (Southampton); 0-3 Sam Baird (Devon); 3-1 Grant Cole (Plymouth); 3-0 Lewis Frampton (Surrey); 3-1 James Loft (Brighton). Qualified twice. Breaks: 90, 77, 68, 67, 64.

Billy Castle (Marchwood): 3-1 Phil O’Kane (Sidcup); 3-1 twice Adam Bobat (Fareham); 3-1 Michael Collier (West Sussex); 3-2, Ryan Causton (London); 2-3 Ryan Mears (Aldershot). Qualified twice. Breaks: 80, 67, 62, 56, 43, 40, 40

Mike Finn (Eastleigh): 3-0 Guy Loft (Brighton); 3-0 George Marter (Parkstone); 3-2 Nathan Jones (Kings Lynn); 3-1 Marc Harman (Surrey); 3-2 Sam Baird (Devon); 0-3 Michael Collier (West Sussex). Qualified once. Breaks: 90, 81, 76, 60, 53.

Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End): 3-1 Ryan Mears (Aldershot). Qualified once.

Adam Bobat (Fareham): 3-2 Marc Harman (Surrey); 1-3 twice Billy Castle (Marchwood); 1-3 Ryan Causton (London). Did not qualify. Breaks: 56, 56, 55, 52.

EASB Premier Junior Tour

THERE was no cupboard love for Nick Jennings on the EASB Premier Junior Tour.

The 19-year-old declared it “a lesson learned” after leaving his cue in a cupboard at his home club, Churchills, in Eastleigh.

Forced to borrow practice partner Davis Hui’s cue, Jennings, who reached the event-one final in Sheffield last month, lost 4-2 to Callum Downing (Birmingham) in the last-16 in Woking. I won’t be doing that ever again,” he insisted.

Meanwhile, Jordan Winbourne, in only his second event, won all four group-stage matches including a 3-2 win over Joel Walker, 16, the 2008 English under-14 champion and the winner of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Future Stars of Snooker.

AND the 14-year-old from Hedge End saw off south coast rival Shane Castle 3-2.

Winbourne went out 4-1 to Mitchell Travis (Sheffield) in the last-16.

Castle, who also beat Walker, threatened a dramatic comeback at 3-0 down to Londoner Sean O’Sullivan in the last-16.

The 12-year-old from Marchwood won the next two and led by 33 points in the sixth - but lost 4-2.

Fareham’s Adam Bobat, who did not qualify for the knockout, made a 90 in a fifth-frame decider against event-one winner Gareth Green.

GROUP-STAGE RESULTS

Billy Castle: 3-0 Haydon Pinhey (Plymouth), 3-1 Nick Jennings (Boyatt Wood), 3-2 Ryan Clark (Hartlepool), 3-1 Declan Bristow (Bristol).

Nick Jennings: 3-0 Declan Bristow (Bristol), 3-0 Haydon Pinhey (Plymouth), 3-0 Ryan Clark (Hartlepool), 1-3 Billy Castle (Marchwood).

Shane Castle: 3-1 Joel Walker (Sheffield), 3-0 Elliot Slessor (Gateshead), 3-1 Jake Nicholson (Yorks), 2-3 Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End). 

Jordan Winbourne: 3-2 Joel Walker (Sheffield), 3-0 Elliot Slessor (Gateshead), 3-0 Jake Nicholson (Yorks), 3-2 Shane Castle (Marchwood). 

Adam Bobat: 1-3 Chris Keogan (Doncaster), 1-3 Sean O’Sullivan (London), 3-2 Gareth Green (Bradford), 3-1 Dale Branton (Plymouth).

EASB Premier Junior Tour

THEY’RE back in business.

Former Saints star Ken Jones was back in Billy Castle’s corner as the teenager ended a fortnight from hell.

Jones, who has been ill recently, was at Woking Snooker Centre to see Castle’s excellent run in the second leg of the EASB Premier Junior Tour ended by his “bogey” player, Mitchell Travis (Sheffield).

After his 4-2 quarter-final defeat, the 18-year-old said: “He’s a bogey player for me. He always seems to have the run of the ball against me.”

Jones, 66, added: “The lad (Travis) had such a run of the balls. It was incredible.”

Castle won all four group-stage matches, including a morale-boosting 3-1 over Southampton’s Town Champion, Nick Jennings.

He then compiled a 73 to take a 3-1 lead against Thomas Kerslake in the last-16 only for the Nottingham cueman to force a decider.

But Castle held his nerve and sunk a long pink for 4-3.

Because of his coach Jones’ illness, Castle, who is based at Cue T’s in Marchwood, sought out Ronnie O’Sullivan’s former coach Frank Adamson.

But a slump in form prompted his dad Derek to put in an urgent call to Jones.

Castle explained: “I went down to Frank and he tried to give me a back pause. I just couldn’t play with it at all; I had no fluency in my game at all.

“I went back to see Ken again and he told me to go back to my old way.

“It’s been a good weekend. It was a great boost for me.”

Jones said: “He was struggling a bit. Billy, last year, was playing superb.

“Young (Nick) Jennings did the same when he went to Terry Griffiths. He couldn’t play for six months.

“If you going to do something, it’s got to be when they’re really young.”

It had been a rough two weeks for Castle.

He failed to qualify for the PJT knockout in Sheffield, lost 2-0 to Adam Nash in the Town Championship first round and was beaten by his 12-year-old cousin Shane Castle in the Cuestars Championship Tour quarter-finals in Swindon.

Billy’s dad Derek said: “Ken’s sorted him out. He seems happy with his game.”

EASB Regional Junior Tour

TWO fluked blacks in his final group-stage match cost Bouwe Bosma a semi-final spot at the first EASB Regional Junior Tour Zone D event at Salisbury Snooker Club.

The 14-year-old from Chandler’s Ford missed out after two lucky strikes earnt Brandon Winstone a 2-1 victory.

Bosma’s results: 0-3 Mitchell Stockham (Bristol), 2-1 James Bolton (Salisbury), 2-1 Stefan Fry (Bridport), 1-2 Brandon Winstone (Bristol). Breaks: 48, 44, 42, 39.

EASB Premier Junior Tour

A HAMPSHIRE teenage has made four century breaks in five frames in a national snooker tournament.

Nick Jennings, who lives in Boyatt Wood, went on a scoring spree more akin to a darts match on the EASB Premier Junior Tour at Eckington Snooker Centre, Sheffield.

“I’ve played the best snooker I’ve ever played in my life,” declared the delighted 19-year-old.

His runs of 100, 112, 115 and a personal best 138 came in a 4-1 quarter-final victory.

His opponent, Sam Harvey, from Bedford, won the second frame.

Jennings said: “It was ridiculous.

“I couldn’t tell you how well I played. I was so focused. I just clicked. I was speechless.”

John Hartley, the EASB’s competitions director, said: “We certainly don’t think it’s been done at amateur level before.”

David Hendon, assistant editor of Snooker Scene, the game’s longest running magazine, said: “This would be a remarkable achievement at any level and Nick should be very proud.

“It is a performance that will give him great confidence for the future and marks him out as one to watch.”

But the masterclass in break-building didn’t end there.

Jennings added another ton in the semi-finals against Mitchell Travis (Sheffield).

His 4-2 win included breaks of 60, 56, 56, 73 and 116.

However, he ran out of steam in the final.

Speaking after a whitewash by Bradford’s Gareth Green, Jennings admitted: “I had a shocker. He stuffed me 4-0.

“He played OK. I just couldn’t settle.” 

EASB Premier Junior Tour

WATERSIDE wonderkid Shane Castle kicked off his second season on the EASB Premier Junior Tour with a first ever appearance in the knockout.

The 12-year-old from Marchwood won all three round-robin matches in Sheffield but went out 4-2 in the last-16 to Damian Wilks (Bradford).

Castle’s coach Dave Mumford said: “I did think he was ready.”

Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) and Adam Bobat (Fareham), both 14, won two of their four matches on their debuts among England’s best 48 under-21 players.

Billy Castle (Marchwood), who finished 14th last season, was also knocked out in the group stages of the first leg of six.

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP RESULTS

Jennings: 3-1 Kamran Ashraf (Lancs), 3-0 Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End), 3-1 Jake Nicholson (Yorks), 3-1 Sanderson Lam (Leeds). Breaks: 54, 77. Final position: first of five. Last-16: 4-2 Nikolas Charalambous (Newmarket). Breaks: 54, 53.

Shane Castle: 3-2 Callum Downing (Birmingham), 3-2 Michael Rogers (Taunton), 3-0 Declan Bristow (Bristol). Final position: first of four.

Billy Castle: 3-1 Thomas Saddington (Hull), 3-1 Haydon Pinhey (Plymouth), 1-3 Damian Wilks (Bradford), 1-3 Mark Green (Salisbury). Breaks: 51, 72. Final position: third of five.

Bobat: 3-0 Dale Branton (Plymouth), 3-0 Oliver Calland (Doncaster), 0-3 Ryan Causton (London), 0-3 Sean O’Sullivan (London). Final position: third of five.

EASB Pro-Ticket Tour

A SUMMER away from the green baize paid dividends for Marchwood teenager Billy Castle.

The 18-year-old picked up his cue again just days before his debut on the EASB Pro-Ticket Tour at Woking Snooker Centre - and reached the quarter-finals.

A bizarre final frame helped Darren Bond (Devon) secure a 4-3 win.

Castle had compiled a 61 clearance to level at 1-1 and a 59 to make it 2-2.

However, after laying the three snookers required in the decider, he watched Bond fluke the last red and clear the colours.

Castle, who pocketed £60, said: “I was really pleased with the way I played.”

Earlier, he wrapped up a 4-1 first-round victory over Heather Mills’ Essex boyfriend Jamie Walker with a 61 break.

And he picked up valuable ranking points by seeing off Sam Harvey (Bedford) 4-2.

Meanwhile, a despondent Mike Finn, who made a first-round exit, reckons he “couldn’t win a match at the moment even if someone gave it to me”.

The 24-year-old former Town Champion from Eastleigh led Callum Downing (Birmingham) by two frames to nil and by 56 points in the third. And then lost 4-3.

“I’ve been struggling for a year,” he said.

And he added: “Billy played really well, though.”

Nick Jennings (Boyatt Wood) disappointingly lost 4-2 to Londoner Ryan Causton in the first round.

The top 16 players after the four Southern events in stage one join with the top 16 from the North for three more tournaments.

EASB Under-14 final

  SHANE Castle is the under-14 champion of England.

The phenomenal 12-year-old from Marchwood “played the perfect frame of snooker” to clinch a nail-biting 5-4 victory over south-coast rival Adam Bobat at the World Snooker Academy in the English Institute of Sport Sheffield.

Castle’s coach Dave Mumford declared he was “incredibly proud” of what his protégé had achieved.

“When he really needed it, he totally delivered,” said Mumford.

“It was a great match; a great hard-fought battle.

“He’s raised the bar again. He knows what he’s achieved and he’s absolutely delighted.”

Bobat, from Fareham, took the first frame in the English Association of Snooker & Billiards’ Under-14 Championship final.

Castle, who is based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, replied with breaks of 58 and 34 and led 3-1 at the interval.

But back came Bobat with three frames on the bounce. However, needing a colours clearance in the eighth, the 14-year-old ran out of position on the pink.

After forcing a decider, Castle wrapped up his first national title with breaks of 61 and 30. 

A relieved Mumford said: “I’m more pleased with the fact that when he was really pushed and under the gun at four each, he played the perfect frame of snooker.

“As a coach, that means the world because that’s what we work so hard for. When he really needs to deliver, he delivers.

“What we’ve built, what we’ve worked on, he trusted it.

“I’m thrilled and delighted for Shane. I don’t do this for any other reason than I want the boy to be the best he possibly can be. It’s days like today that make it all worthwhile.

“He’s worked very, very hard over this last month. We’re all absolutely exhausted.

“It’s a very famous venue and it’s where, hopefully, Shane’s going to be spending an awful lot more time over the next few years.”

Castle’s sponsor Colin Joyce, from The Selway Joyce Partnership, made the trip to Sheffield. A second sponsor, Stuart Whitcher, from CCV Southampton, was unavailable due to business commitments.

Mumford said: “The fact that Colin travelled 400 miles on a glorious weekend, when he could have been relaxing in the garden, meant a lot to all of us.

“Stuart will be thrilled. Hopefully he can come next time.”

And Mumford praised Bobat, who also lost in the 2008 under-14 final.

“Adam is gritty, a fighter, you’ve got to drag him off the table,” he said. “He’s beyond his years, tactically.”

EASB Under-14 final - Adam Bobat’s story

ADAM Bobat was in a characteristically generous mood despite a narrow 5-4 defeat by Shane Castle in the EASB Under-14 final.

“Shane played really well and he deserved to win,” he said.

“I went 1-0 up and I was playing really well.

“The next three frames, I couldn’t do anything but let him in.

“If I’d have got out at 2-2, it would have been a different story. At the mid-session interval I managed to put it all behind me and think forwards not backwards.

“And I went 4-3 up.

“(In the eighth frame) I needed to clear them all. I landed a bit short on the blue.”

Castle secured the title with breaks of 61 and 30 in the decider.

“He left me tight against the back rail,” explained Bobat. “I played a containing safety but the white drifted.”

EASB Under-14 final - Shane Castle’s story

SHANE Castle insists he never underestimated the task of seeing off Adam Bobat in the EASB Under-14 final even when he led 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

“I knew he’d come back stronger and stronger against me,” the 12-year-old told the Daily Echo.

“It was hot in there as well.

“I came back in and I missed a couple of balls. He went 4-3 up.

“I won the next frame on the pink and I had a 61 and a 30 in the decider.

“I played really well.”

More information can be viewed here on Shane's page.