Shane Castle
report from Tim Dunkley Monday 14th May 2012
SHANE
Castle insists he can land both titles after reaching the finals of two
national junior competitions.
The
phenomenal 14-year-old from Marchwood gave an emphatic “yes” to the
possibility of regaining the English Under-14 Championship crown AND claiming
the English Under-16 trophy for the first time.
Castle
dropped just three frames in six matches as the 16 qualifiers in each age
group were whittled down to two at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.
He
now faces a double date at the World Snooker Academy, Sheffield, during the
EASB finals weekend on May 26-27, against James Pearson (Leeds) in the
under-14 final and Joshua Mulholland (Liverpool) in the under-16s.
The
On Q Promotions-sponsored teenager, who claimed the under-14 crown in 2010,
said: “I haven’t played James before but I’ve played Josh and I’ve
never lost to him.”
Castle
progressed through last November’s qualifying tournament and eased past
George Kennedy (Leeds) 4-0, Hugo Tomas (Lincoln) 4-1 and Kieran Phillips (Leics)
4-1 with breaks of 68 and 64 in the last-16 knockout in Leeds.
“I
didn’t play great in my first couple of matches in the under-14s,” he
said. “But I didn’t have to play great.”
In
the under-16s the following day, Castle accounted for his Chandler’s Ford SC
clubmate Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) 4-2, Adam Bobat (Fareham) 4-0 and Aaron
Davies (Oldham) 5-0.
Bobat,
16, who was on the receiving end of breaks of 68 and 84, declared: “I’ve
never seen anyone play that well against me.”
Castle
admitted: “I did play well against Adam.”
And
the European Under-21 runner-up added: “I’ve got a lot more match practice
and experience. When Jordan, or someone like that, plays me and they play
well, it makes me play better.
“When
I was in amongst the balls, I didn’t really miss.”
In
the last-16, Bobat beat Josh Thomond (Manchester) 4-0.
PLAYER
OF THE YEAR: Shane Castle
WATERSIDE wonderkid Shane
Castle turned round a horrendous start to 2011 to be crowned Daily
Echo snooker player of the year.
A
first run of bad form for five years saw the Marchwood teenager lose in the
Pontin’s Junior
Star of the Future under-15 semi-finals in Prestatyn in February.
The
following month, the 13-year-old’s bid to retain the English Under-14
Championship ended in semi-final defeat.
After
splitting with long-term coach Dave Mumford in April, Castle was snapped up by
player management company On Q Promotions after he beat Andrew Norman, one of
their professionals, in a tournament.
Funded
by On Q, Castle enjoyed trips to Poland, Germany and Belgium for the Players
Tour Championship.
Although
he was beaten in the under-16 final at the Pontin’s Autumn Festival, Castle
featured in the England under-16 team at the Home Internationals.
In
September he constructed a monster 135 break en route to the final of a
Cuestars South of England Championship Tour event.
Two
months later he was described as “some talent” by the 1979 world champion
Terry Griffiths after clinching a first tournament win on the EASB Premier
Junior Tour.
And
in the third leg, he compiled back-to-back century breaks (120 and 100) for
the first time in his career.
In
the last four months, the budding star has added seven tons to take his total
tally to 19.
SHANE
Castle was described as “some talent” by a true legend of the game after
clinching a first tournament win on the EASB Premier Junior Tour.
The
Waterside wonderkid fought back from 3-2 down to defeat England under-19
international Sam Harvey 4-3 in the final at Breaks Snooker Club, Birmingham.
Castle
had spent time with the 1979 world champion Terry Griffiths at the South West
Snooker Academy, Gloucester, in the days leading up to the second leg of the
tour for England’s best under-19 players.
Griffiths,
now Director of Coaching for the 13-year-old’s player management company, On
Q Promotions, told the Daily Echo:
“I worked with Shane for the first time last week.
“He
is some talent. I believe he’s got a great future in the sport.”
Castle,
who compiled his 15th competitive century in the quarter-finals and 11 other
50-plus breaks during the two-day tournament, said: “I haven’t changed
anything but I’m practising harder.”
The
England international, based at Cue T’s Snooker Lounge near his home in
Marchwood, finished second in his round-robin group and saw off the 2008
English under-14 champion Joel Walker, 17, 4-3 in the last-16.
On
day two, Castle made a 129 break in the second frame of his quarter-final
match against Londoner Sean O’Sullivan, 17, another England Under-19 star.
And he then bounced back from 3-1 down to triumph 4-3.
After
accounting for 16-year-old Elliot Slessor (Gateshead) 4-1 in the semi-finals,
Castle dispatched 18-year-old Harvey (Bedford) in a seventh frame decider.
Castle
insisted he is “not really” concerned about falling behind in matches.
An
On Q Promotions spokesman said: “It was a great achievement, especially to
win against players so much older and more experienced.”
The
finalists had met before. Aged nine, Castle recorded his first century, 101,
against Harvey on December 30, 2007. And he lost to Harvey in the Players Tour
Championship (PTC) fifth leg in Sheffield in September this year.
The
youngster, who missed the first leg of the junior tour because he was
competing in PTC6 in Poland, is second in the rankings.
Meanwhile,
Jordan Winbourne (Hedge End) was knocked out 4-0 in the last-16 by Slessor,
who he had beaten 3-2 in the group stages. The 15-year-old is now ranked 13th.
Fareham’s
Adam Bobat, 15, is ranked 20th after missing out on a knockout spot by one
frame.
ROUND-ROBIN
GROUP-STAGE RESULTS
Shane
Castle: 3-0 Ashley
Hugill (York), 3-0 Haydon Pinhey (Plymouth), 3-1 Liam Clark (Hartlepool), 2-3
Sanderson Lam (Leeds). Breaks: 129, 74, 68, 63, 61, 60, 60, 58, 52, 52, 50,
50.
Jordan
Winbourne: 3-2
Elliot Slessor (Gateshead), 3-0 Michael Rogers (Taunton), 3-1 Jack Orrell (Whitby).
Breaks: 61, 59, 54, 53.
Since
he signed for player management company On Q Promotions in June, 13-year-old
Shane Castle has experienced what life could be like on the road as a
professional snooker player.
This
week Castle is competing in The Warsaw Classic, the sixth leg of the Players
Tour Championship (PTC).
In
August, the Marchwood teenager lost in
the first round of PTC4 in Germany.
Last month he featured in the England Under-16 team at the
Home Internationals in Prestatyn, North Wales and competed in the Pontin’s
Autumn Festival.
Then it was on to Sheffield for PTC5.
Before flying out to the first ever professional snooker tournament to be held in Poland, Castle told the Daily Echo: “I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m
trying to a living out of the game so I’ve got to go to these places.”
And
it doesn’t stop there.
On
Wednesday, he plays former England captain Mitchell Mann in PTC7 at the South
West Snooker Academy, Gloucester.
Later
this month he heads to Killarney, Ireland, for The Alex Higgins International
Trophy (PTC8) and in November he will be in Belgium.
HAMPSHIRE’S 13-year-old
snooker wonderkid Shane Castle has been snapped up by the same player
management company as the legendary Jimmy White.
On
Q Promotions agreed a long-term sponsorship deal with the phenomenal teenager
from Marchwood after he beat one of their professionals in a tournament.
However,
Castle insisted he was “not playing my best” during the 4-1 victory over
Andrew Norman, who rejoins the pro-circuit next season after a one-year
absence.
On
Q Promotions’ stable of players are dubbed ‘The Pink Army’ because of
its chairman Paul Mount’s fundraising for breast cancer charities.
White
told the Daily Echo it was
“great” they had recruited Castle.
“I’ve
practiced with Shane and he is a real prospect for the future,” said the
six-time World Championship finalist. “It’s great that he’s joining the
‘team’.
“I
practise in the area (Southampton) every week and will be inviting Shane to
practise with me on a regular basis.”
Mount
added: “It’s very clear that Shane is an exceptional talent for his age.
“I’m
delighted to welcome him to On Q Promotions and the South West Snooker Academy
(SWSA).”
Based
at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club, Castle scored the first of his 12 centuries
in competition aged nine.
In
2010, aged 12, he was crowned English under-14 champion.
He
said: “It’s good being signed up by them and playing good players all the
time.
“You
can’t get any better than that.”
As
part of the sponsorship deal, Castle will be entered into the Players Tour
Championship, a series of 12 professional tournaments across England and the
rest of Europe that are also open to amateurs.
Castle
had travelled to the SWSA, Gloucester, for the Pink Ribbon Tournament, knowing
that World Championship finalist Judd Trump was lying in wait for the winner
of his first-round match.
He
duly overcame former Welsh under-21 champion Stephen Ellis 4-3 from 3-0 down.
But
he then discovered Trump had been replaced in the draw by his Uncle Jamie.
After
a 4-0 battering, which included a 95 break, Jamie Trump described his opponent
as “different class”.
Castle
added an 83 in his remarkable victory over Norman.
He
said: “It was the best match I’ve played since I’ve been here. But I’m
not playing my best, just good enough to get over the winning line.”
After
dispatching Welsh junior international Callum Lloyd 4-3, he was knocked out
4-1 by world number 53 Jimmy Robertson in the last-16.
Castle,
who pocketed £200 prize money and was voted the event’s best junior, will
have access to former world champion Terry Griffiths, who recently joined On Q
Promotions as Director of Coaching.
Dad
Jeffery Castle said: “Everything’s looking good, so far.
“Shane
can go and see Terry Griffiths whenever he wants.
Shane
Castle’s maximum in practice (December
2010)
Shane
Castle, who turns 13 next month, took 15 reds and blacks and cleared the
colours on the ‘Christmas Tree’ routine.
Castle’s
coach Dave Mumford described it as a “significant achievement” in the
budding star’s progress.
In
November, 2009, the Waterside youngster scored a 147 on the line-up exercise.
Shane is the England Under 14 Champion
Tim's report on the EASB is here.........
Shane
Castle century
SHANE Castle’s 102
break in the group stages against England Ladies international Hannah Jones,
13, was his first century on pro-standard tables and a ninth in all
competitions.
WORLD
Snooker coach Dave Mumford insists he won’t allow Hampshire snooker prodigy
Shane Castle to “fritter away” his exceptional talent.
Delivering
his half-term report on the gifted youngster from Marchwood, who celebrates
his 12th birthday on Thursday, Mumford awarded Castle an “A minus, could do
better”.
The
pair met on November 11, 2005, when Mumford presented the prize money at a
Chandler’s Ford SC junior competition.
They
played a couple of frames and seven-year-old Castle helpfully pointed out that
the former Daily Echo champion was
hitting the ball too hard.
Mumford
began coaching Castle in January, 2006. In four years, Castle will be 16 - the
minimum age a player can qualify for the professional circuit.
“It
was a unique experience, watching him play at seven,” said Mumford.
However,
the 41-year-old sounded a warning to the lad who has chalked up seven
centuries in tournament play, won two England caps, been crowned Pontin’s
under-12 champion two years running and is currently 31st on the EASB Premier
Junior Tour for England’s best 48 under-21s.
He
said: “If he doesn’t work at it during his teenage years, unfortunately,
he’ll be like everybody else that’s come out of this club: not quite good
enough.
“If
he continues to not be distracted by people and gets his focus right off the
table and continues to practise hard and works closely with his sponsors and
keeps away from the glare and keeps his head down, his rewards will come.
“I
know what it’s like to not make the most of talent. I didn’t work hard
enough. I’m not going to let him fritter it away or take it for granted.
“To
be able to do what he does at 11-years-old is, at times, mind-blowing.”
And
Mumford added: “The most difficult thing for Shane is to win the ugly frames
and whether he can scrap out and enjoy and love those difficult frames as much
as making a century. He’s got to use his nous a little bit more.”
Castle
said: “If you play someone good you’ve got to win the frame in one visit.
But if it’s tactical, you’ve got to play it.”
Castle,
who has switched his allegiance from Ronnie O’Sullivan to Ding Junhui,
practises for four hours a day.
____________________________________
CCV
Southampton is the final piece in 11-year-old Shane Castle’s sponsorship
jigsaw.
Dave
Mumford, Castle’s coach and mentor, revealed he spurned offers from London
and Leicester in favour of the Chandler’s Ford-based insurance brokers.
“A
lot of people are showing an interest in Shane,” he said.
“It
is flattering when they do. But my job is to make sure that the people who are
involved and supporting Shane are the right people.
“It’s
important to me that local people are backing this local talent so that when
he does finally get there - at whatever level - he hasn’t got too far to
travel to say thank you.
“All
the pieces of the jigsaw are in place. He’s now got his three sponsors who
are all connected to people that I know.”
Stuart
Whitcher, CCV Southampton’s MD, signed a three-year £1,500 deal with
England’s hottest young snooker talent at the Marchwood youngster’s home
club, Chandler’s Ford SC.
CCV
Southampton may be a new name to some but the business has been operating from
its Chandler’s Ford office for many years prior to the acquisition by CCV
last year.
Stuart
said: “I play snooker very poorly, but I appreciate the skills and
dedication involved.
“As
a local business, we are delighted to be helping an exceptional local
talent.”
Mumford
added: “What I was immediately impressed by with Stuart was that he’d done
his research on Shane. He had a genuine interest which is of course what I’m
after.
“Stuart
is clearly someone who knows exactly what we’re trying to do and I’m
delighted he’s on board.”
England
international Castle plays on the EASB Premier Junior Tour and already has
seven tournament centuries under his belt.
He
is also backed by Andover-based Oliver and Sanders Insurance Consultants and
The Selway Joyce Partnership, chartered quantity surveyors based in Winchester
and Epsom.
The new finance will enable Castle to visit the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield. He has been invited to practise with Jack Lisowski, the current beneficiary of the Paul Hunter Scholarship.
Shane
Castle ‘line-up’ maximum
(November
2009)
SHANE
Castle, 11, compiled his first maximum 147 on the ‘line-up’ exercise
during a witnessed practice session at Chandler’s Ford SC.
Shane
Castle sponsorship
ENGLAND’S
hottest young snooker property has cemented a one-year sponsorship deal with a
leading firm of chartered quantity surveyors.
Shane
Castle’s connections reckon The Selway Joyce Partnership’s financial
package will assist the 11-year-old potting sensation from Marchwood to build
on the foundations of a remarkable career.
Colin
Joyce, senior partner of the Winchester and Epsom-based company, is more used
to guiding young surveyors through their in-house training scheme.
He
said: “There is some synergy with what I am used to. However, the
opportunity to do something slightly different in encouraging talent in an
area outside the construction industry is quite fascinating.”
Castle’s
coach and mentor, Dave Mumford, now has two of the three required sponsors on
board for next season.
“A
lot of people are going to try and get their hands on Shane,” said the
40-year-old.
“I
want the people that he’s involved with to be people that I trust.
“Colin’s
not only the most decent and respectable person I’ve met in business but
also the most honourable.”
Mr
Joyce added: “Shane’s quite mature and his general body language is
professional – his successes to date clearly reflect this.
“I
enjoyed watching him play. If I could have played like that at any age I’d
have been delighted!”
Castle,
based at Chandler’s Ford SC, said: “He’s a nice guy. It’ll help my dad
out a lot.”
Meanwhile,
insurance consultants Oliver and Sanders have committed to a second three-year
deal.
Mumford
is a director of the Andover-based firm. [Read about Dave Mumford, the coach of this
amazing talent]
The
combined financial help will cover entry fees, travelling and hotel bills for
Castle’s debut season on the EASB Premier Junior Tour for the country’s
top-48 under-21s.
Castle,
who scored a century in a tournament aged nine, is the youngest player ever to
qualify for the competition.
earlier reports
Pontin’s junior festival, Shane Castle
Sporting
his star-spangled England waistcoat, the 11-year-old disposed of
Manchester’s Paul Clynes 2-0 in the final.
Coach
Dave Mumford made the now traditional 500-mile round trip to watch his protégé
take centre stage on table one at Pontin’s World Snooker Centre in front of
a 60-plus crowd.
Mumford,
40, said: “It doesn’t mean the little lad’s going to turn pro; it
doesn’t mean he’s going to be on the telly; it just means he’s achieved
the maximum that he could achieve in his age group – twice.”
Odds-on
favourite Castle took the first frame, 78-35, with runs of 30 and 24.
And
the Marchwood wonderkid employed clever safety play to grind out the second,
56-24.
Castle,
who pocketed £200 and a year’s free entry to Pontin’s tournaments,
admitted: “I was struggling a little bit but my safety helped me out.”
Ten
days before the tournament, Mumford set Castle the challenge of defending his
title without dropping a frame.
Castle,
sponsored by Andover-based insurance brokers Oliver & Sanders, won all 11
matches 2-0.
“It’s
a wonderful achievement,” added Mumford.
“It
was important to add another title when he’s just entering new negotiations
with his sponsors.
“There
are lots of offers on the table - from all different walks of life.
“I’m
delighted for Jeffery because he’s put a lot of effort in. He’s a devoted
father. He’s the one that makes sacrifices.
“Our
three-year plan, when he was eight, was to get him to the top of his tree in
his age group. I believe we’ve done that.”
Mumford
revealed the next challenge is repeat the feat at under-16 level.
“Once
we get to that age, he will know and I will know and everyone associated with
him will know whether he’s going to be good enough.
“A
defeat is round the corner that may slap him in the face and he’s got to
understand there’ll be plenty of those.
“Watching
him round the table, it’s quite extraordinary to think that he’s only
11-years-old. It’s mind-blowing.”
.... now a member of the England Squad....
SHANE
CASTLE
clinchs his first national title at the
World Snooker Centre in Prestatyn.
MARCHWOOD wonderkid Shane
Castle led his travelling support on an emotional roller-coaster ride as he
clinched a first national title at the World Snooker Centre in Prestatyn.
The
ten-year-old century-breaker, a beaten finalist last year, was presented with
a Pontin’s sponsorship package and £200 after a 2-1 victory over Welsh
junior Ieuan Davies in the week-long Search for a Star under-12 tournament.
Coach
Dave Mumford, who travelled to North Wales to see his protégé in action,
described the performance as “magnificent”.
Davies
(Swansea) took the first frame on the black but Castle replied with a 31 to
level.
Trailing
in the third, Castle knocked in a 20 and clipped a frame-ball pink into the
middle pocket for glory.
“I
was going to take it up in the top pocket,” he said. “But I took it in the
middle so I wasn’t going to leave it on if I missed.”
Mumford
said: “Bless him, there were 50 people watching and it was being videoed for
TV.
“In
the third frame I didn’t have any nails left, it was just too much. To be 20
behind with two reds left and the way he took those balls was incredibly
impressive.
“To
have the sense not to take on the pink that was tight down the rail and play a
really good safety shot which put the lad under pressure was maturity beyond
his years.”
Castle
thanked his supporters and added: “I thought I was going to win.”
Competing
against top players from across the UK, Castle eased through 11 unbeaten group
matches with breaks of 33, 36 and 53.
In
the deciding frame of the quarter-finals, he left a re-spotted black hanging
over the green pocket but Birmingham’s Rob Jones followed in with the white.
Mumford
said: “It was just unbelievable. He’s not my own son, but how Jeffery, his
dad, watches, I’ve got no idea.
“I
had all the feelings that I used to have when playing multiplied by about 50.
“It
was amazing. I was very nervous for him and honestly thought we were coming
home.”
The
evening semi-finals were delayed for 45 minutes as hundreds of players,
officials and holiday-makers were evacuated to the cold Pontin’s car park
when a fire alarm sounded.
When
play resumed, Isle of Man under-21 champion Darryl Hill, who is through to the
last-16 of the EASB under-16s, laid down a marker with a 35 clearance.
But
Castle rose to the challenge, levelled and cleared with a 33 to run out a 2-1
winner.
“Darryl
Hill was a class player,” added Mumford, whose three-year-plan to win this
event has been accomplished in two.
“He
showed Shane, in no uncertain terms, that he could play. But of all the things
that Shane achieved that week, the semi-final comeback was by far his
greatest.
“He
was magnificent and I was so proud of him.
“I
said to him, before he went up to Prestatyn, ‘go and show people how good
you are’.
“The
clearance was professional standard finished with a flourish.”
Chandler’s
Ford club-boss Jim Everett said: “It’s excellent for the club.
“You
need to take your hat off to Dave Mumford who drove up again, like he did last
year, to see Shane in the last stages.”
Mumford
added: “He hasn’t played to the best of his ability, which is frightening.
“What
we all have to bear in mind is that he’s ten. He’s gone hundreds of miles
away in unfamiliar surroundings in a high pressure environment with everybody
expecting great things of him and he’s absolutely delivered.
“He’s
brought home a magnificent trophy, a magnificent title and all the trimmings
that go with it.”
Shane Castle chalks up a first century break in competition
NINE-year-old Shane
Castle has fulfilled the vow he made to his coach to score a century break in
a tournament before the end of 2007.
Castle
cleared to the black for a 101 in the second frame of a 3-1 victory over Sam
Harvey, from Bedford, at the Rushden SC under-19 Grand Finals last Sunday.
The
‘Pocket Rocket’ missed out on a world record by 81 days.
Castle,
from Marchwood, said: “I wasn’t nervous at all.
“I
had to get three reds off the cushion as well. I missed the black for the
clearance. It was a hard cut-back, though. I didn’t mind missing it.”
Last
month the youngster scored a 101 in a practice match.
Coach
Dave Mumford said: “When he made his century he said to me ‘I’ve just
got to do it in a match now’ and I said ‘don’t set your sights too high,
don’t expect too much’ and he said ‘I’m going to do it by the end of
the year’.
“He’s
just unbelievable, the boy.”
Castle
added: “I said to him that I would do it by the end of the year in a match,
and I did it as well.”
Welsh
professional Michael White holds the record for the youngest ever competitive
century, at nine-years-and-eight-months.
Castle,
whose hero Ronnie O’Sullivan achieved his first ton aged ten, celebrates his
birthday in January.
England
team manager Del Hill, ‘Rocket’ Ronnie’s former coach, said it was “an
unbelievable achievement for one so young” and added: “It’s obvious
Shane has a great future ahead of him.”
Tournament
director and Rushden SC manager Andy Voyce said that the break was made on one
of the club’s tighter tables.
A
World Snooker Association spokesman said: “This is an outstanding
achievement.
“To
score a century under tournament conditions at such a young age suggests that
Shane has real potential. We look forward to hearing more about him in the
future.”
Mumford,
39, added: “He keeps churning the records out, bless him.”
Mo
Bobat, dad of Castle’s south coast rival Adam, watched the drama unfold.
“Shane’s century was a pleasure to watch,” he said. “With great
potting and positional play.
“Everyone
involved with him should be very proud of this extremely gifted little
man.”
In
the group stages, Castle beat Lloyd Walden (Leicester) 2-0, Danny Douane
(London) 2-1, Leo McClean (Rushden) 2-0 and James Voyce (Market Harborough)
2-0 but lost 2-1 to Bobat (Fareham).
After
his last-16 victory against Harvey, Castle lost 3-0 to John Pritchett
(Birmingham).
Proud
dad Jeffery said: “I think it was marvelous what he did.
“He
did say to me ‘when I’m ten I’m going to do the 147’.”
SHANE
CASTLE has chalked up a first century break in a practice match.
The Pontin’s under-12
finalist potted a massive 101 against Chandler’s Ford club-mate Jordan
Winbourne.
Castle, nine, achieved what he
has been threatening to do for some time on Monday evening on a full-sized
table at Winbourne’s home in Hedge End.
The Marchwood wonderkid’s
new local record was witnessed by proud dad Jeffery.
Castle, who
admitted he was nervous on the final blue, said “I had 11 blacks, a pink and a
blue.”
Castle, whose
highest tournament break is 62, recently won through to the EASB national
under-14 last-16.
This season, he
made his debut on the EASB Southern Regional Junior Tour.
Chandler’s Ford SC owner Jim
Everett said. “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
NINE-year-old
Shane Castle has caught the attention of the England camp after chalking up a
137 total clearance on the ‘line-up’ practice routine this week.
The
Marchwood wonderkid, who retired from the under-13 league at the age of seven,
was working with coach Dave Mumford on an exercise where the 15 reds are lined
up down the centre of the table.
Ronnie
O’Sullivan’s former mentor and now England coach Del Hill said:
“That’s unbelievable at nine.”
Mumford
said: “He was slightly out of position on the final blue, but apart from
that it was immaculate.”
time for a
break..... after practice at Chandlers Ford
IT’S one
apiece in the battle of the south coast wonderkids.
In their first national clash since the Pontin’s under-12 ‘Star of the Future’ final, good friends Adam Bobat (pictured)
and
Shane Castle were drawn together in the EASB Southern Regional Junior Tour
group stages.
On
home territory at Chandler’s Ford SC, Castle, nine, edged out Fareham’s
Bobat, 11, 2-1 in a tight tactical match.
The
opening frames were shared as both took advantage of the ‘miss’ rule.
Castle
(Marchwood) won the decider on the pink to avenge his February defeat in
Prestatyn.
Coach
Dave Mumford was among many who watched the eagerly-awaited match.
“It
wouldn’t have been the end of the world if he’d lost to Adam,” he said.
“But
to beat the guy who beat him in the final at Pontin’s is a boost for his own
self belief and confidence.
“If
nothing else, he proved to himself that he can beat the best.”
The
six-event under-21 circuit across half of the country acts as a feeder for the
national EASB Premier Junior Tour.
Castle
qualified for the event-two knockout in second place.
He
beat Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) 2-1 but lost 2-0 in the last-eight to Danny
Douane (London) who rattled in a 74 in the second.
MARCHWOOD wonderkid Shane Castle potted two centuries in a practice routine at Chandler’s Ford SC.
The nine-year-old passed another landmark in his short career during a Sunday morning coaching session with mentor Dave Mumford.
Castle set a new club record, for his age group, on the break-building ‘line-up’ exercise where all 15 reds are lined up down the centre of the table with the colours on their spots.
Photographer Kevin Legg, who works part-time at the club and snapped the youngster moments after his achievement, witnessed the drama unfold.
“As I was brushing the tables, I was watching,” said the 52-year-old. “And by the time I’d finished - Shane hadn’t finished.”
Mumford, 39, said: “We spoke at length about break building and how we’re going to change our approach.
“I suggested that we started with the ‘line-up’, and he promptly made back-to-back centuries, 104 and 105.”
The former Daily Echo champion, and captain of Southampton Premier League team, Churchills’, asked Castle: “Did you get nervous when you got to 90?”
“No,” replied the youngster. “If I get nervous I miss.”
(earlier news)
NINE-year-old Shane Castle has been described as one of the most gifted young snooker players in the country.
But, like any top sportsman, behind the scenes there are hours of dedicated practice.
Six-time world champion Steve Davis would famously place a cheese roll at the end of the table as an incentive to clear the colours 19 times.
Practising at his Australian home, the late Eddie Charlton would knock a century in before stopping for breakfast.
Shane’s coach, former Daily Echo champion Dave Mumford, tells of a recent practice session with the Marchwood wonderkid.
“I said to him: ‘What I want you to do is clear the colours for me but I want you to do it three times on the trot without missing.’ We were about half-an-hour through our lesson.
“He’s cleared once, he’s cleared twice, he’s then got to the pink on the third attempt and missed four times.
“So I said: ‘Do you want to stop and do something else?’
‘“No,’ he said. ‘I’m not going home until I’ve done it.’”
By now, players on nearby tables at Chandler’s Ford SC had downed their cues and were willing the Foxhills’ School-boy on.
“About 25 minutes later he managed to clear all three sets of colours,” said 38-year-old Mumford. “For him to take two hours to finally achieve it, and not want to do anything else, is what makes him something special. It will live with me for a long time.”
The session started at 7.30pm and finished at 9.45pm. “Should’ve been in bed, shouldn’t he?” added Mumford.
He has recorded a first tournament half-century break – at the age of nine years and four months.
The region’s hottest young snooker talent compiled a massive 61 break against Jason Hildyard in the Chandler’s Ford Under-21 Roll-Up.
“I had to pot a difficult red into the middle and screw back for the black to get to 50,” Castle said.
“I felt nervous, but I was calm when I took the shot otherwise I’d have missed it.”
Castle started on full-sized tables less than two years ago but has quickly established himself as one of the country’s top players in his age group.
On his debut at the Pontin’s Prestatyn ‘Star of the Future’ tournament in February, he reached the under-12 final.
And on his ninth birthday in January he signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Insurance Brokers Oliver and Sanders.
Coach Dave Mumford has been working with Castle for more than a year.
“Breaks are one measure of progress,” he said. “The other is how he performs in tournaments which, to me, is more important.
“The progress he has made is phenomenal; he must not lose sight of that. But also he needs to be more focused in his match-play.
“A 61 in 15 months, nine-years-old, how much more progress do you want? It’s scary.”
(earlier news)
MARCHWOOD wonderkid Shane Castle was crowned the youngest Division 1 champion in the Eastleigh and District Under-19 League’s 12-year history.
And just for good measure the nine-year-old chalked up a new high break of 55 in a practice match on Cue T’s championship table in Hythe.
Castle, a national under-12 finalist at Prestatyn, won all four matches to take top spot from Jordan Winbourne.
The young star is coached by former Daily Echo champion Dave Mumford and sponsored by insurance brokers Oliver and Sanders.
Shane wins a first tournament, at Salisbury
MARCHWOOD'S Shane Castle won his first snooker tournament in Salisbury
