Sotonsnooker

Eastleigh and District Under-19 League

Listed Players

    Jack Hyom reports

Eastleigh & District Under-18 events

DOUG Chalk has moved to within two points of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League summit after a fine display in week 11 of the campaign, writes Jack Hyom.

   Chalk, 17, rattled in a 40 break on the way to winning all his matches. He is now in third place, behind leader Ben Spiers and Aaron Squires, with four weeks remaining.

   Bouwe Bosma, 12, took maximum points in Group 2 to move up to fifth in the Premier and former under-13 champion Jordan Winbourne won Group 3 despite giving a 35-point handicap to his opponents.

earlier reports

A BLACK-ball victory over Jordan Winbourne earned Doug Chalk top spot in Group 1 in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League.

Chalk is three points behind Ben Spiers in the Premier race.

Second-placed Aaron Squires, 15, a former runner-up in the Castle Club’s junior section, closed the gap to one point after under-13 champion Aaron Murray beat Spiers (Romsey) on the black.

Bouwe Bosma leads Division 1. Glenn Shefford is top of Division 2.

FORMER Eastleigh & District Under-13 League champion Ben Spiers heads the Under-18 Premier after a first undefeated week in the top round-robin group.

The 14-year-old from Romsey leads Aaron Squires by two points.

After three group wins on the spin, Joe North tied Group 2 with Tarun Manjunath and Kieran Langley and climbed to fourth in Division 1.

Premier player Ben Lawrence had the biggest break of the week. Five days after his 17th birthday he was rushed to hospital after breaking his right leg and ankle playing roller hockey. 

earlier news

BIRTHDAY-boy Ben Lawrence’s hopes of overtaking the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League’s Premier leader Kevin Impett were dashed.

The 17-year-old, distracted by thoughts of a first driving lesson, lost all four games.

Joe North’s goal of a place in Division 1 is a step nearer.

The 15-year-old Thornden schoolboy leads Division 2 after a third straight group win.

Impett (Totton), who leads Ben Spiers (Romsey) by four points, posted a third unbeaten week. James Hollick heads Division 1.

Other group winners: Aaron Squires and Jordan Winbourne.

IT WAS a black day for his opponents as Aaron Murray took the lead in both the Eastleigh & District Under-13 and Under-18 Premier Leagues.

The 12-year-old won three re-spotted blacks.

With double points on offer, Murray, a three-time under-13 champion, kicked off the week-four action with a fluked re-spot to beat Bouwe Bosma.

Despite Scott Danson’s 18 clearance inflicting a shock defeat, the Wyvern schoolboy beat Scott Sugden on a re-spot.

Sugden, 12, who dropped to second, doubled the black to beat Danson (Marchwood) and beat Bosma on the black.

Another Marchwood youngster, Ben Courcha, posted the day’s top break of 27 against Matt Ireland.

In the under-18 section, Murray threw the title-race wide open with a stunning re-spot victory over Kevin Impett, 17, from Totton. He added the scalp of George Taylor, again on the final ball.

Taylor, leader for three weeks, lost all four matches.

Murray, Ben Lawrence and Aaron Squires tied for Group 1.

Other U13 group winners: Owen Court, Charlie Howard, Alex Everett, Ben Courcha, Tom Yaldren and Matt Levitt tied in Group 3.

Other U18 group winners: Doug Chalk and Tarun Manjunath. Ian Dudley and Jordan Bennett tied in Group 4.

AT the end of a roller-coaster week in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League, George Taylor is hanging on to first place by his fingertips.

Top for the third week, the 15-year-old leads Group 1 winner Kevin Impett by one frame.

Needing two snookers on the pink, Taylor beat Ben Lawrence. He then lost to Aaron Squires but cleared from yellow to pink for a shock victory over Impett.

In his final match, Taylor conceded two snookers to Toby Shefford and lost on the pink.

Group 3 winner Ben Spiers made the highest break of 33 against Joe North.

  earlier reports

GEORGE Taylor insists he is happy just to be in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 Premier League – let alone top for the second week.

Level on points with Ben Lawrence, the 15-year-old Saints fan leads his good friend on frames won.

Lawrence, 16, had never been higher than third before.

Title-favourite Kevin Impett won Group 2 and eased into joint third with Eastleigh’s Toby Shefford.

Two-time champion Shane Castle, ten, has retired from the league.  

              Ben Lawrence     and       George Taylor

TWO of the south’s finest talents set the marker for their rivals for the 30th series of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League by winning the Handicap Doubles Tournament.

   Reigning champion Shane Castle sunk the decisive pink ball against Kevin Impett and Glenn Shefford in the final in the traditional warm-up event to the league.

   Castle and Jordan Winbourne, 12, finished second behind the finalists in the group stages.

   In the other group, Aaron Squires and Bouwe Bosma took top spot. Second-placed Ben Spiers and Tarun Manjunath lost to the eventual winners in the last four.

AFTER ten-year-old Shane Castle returned to the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League, just a series after his first record-breaking league crown, he was in the record books again after sealing his second title.

    The Marchwood prodigy sealed an emphatic SIXTEEN-point margin at the top after winning Group 1 on the last day. The youngest ever champion won by the biggest point’s difference in the history of the league and will have his sights set on eclipsing Alex Dunkley’s record haul of five titles.

   Jordan Winbourne finished second, whilst Glenn Shefford sealed a record high of third place on the final day.

   Kevin Impett took the Division 1 title by two points after Group 2 success while Tarun Manjunath won Division 2.

previous news

Aaron Squires could be set for a record high in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League after an impressive runner-up finish behind Shane Castle in Group 1.

With Castle confirmed as champion and Jordan Winbourne guaranteed second, Squires, 15, moved two points ahead of Glenn Shefford, Doug Chalk and Ben Spiers in third place.

   Kevin Impett looks set to win Division 1 after mounting a three-point lead with one week remaining. Impett claimed his second successive Group 2 victory.

GLENN SHEFFORD rolled a long black into the green pocket to record a shock victory over Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader Shane Castle.

A fluked snooker on the brown and a 22 clearance took the 16-year-old from Eastleigh to third in the Premier.

Shefford, who starts at Peter Symonds College in September, finished top of Group 1 in week 12 of 15.

Castle leads Jordan Winbourne by 11 points.

Doug Chalk won all four matches in Group 2 to lead Division 1. Totton’s Craig Wilson defeated Tarun Manjunath in the Group 3 decider.

AN IMPRESSIVE display from 12-year-old Jordan Winbourne reduced Shane Castle’s lead at the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League to 11 points.

   Winbourne gave the chasing pack hope as he fired in a 48 break on route to becoming the first player besides Castle to win the top group outright in seven weeks. Winbourne lies second in the Premier at the halfway point.

   Glenn Shefford and Aaron Murray leapt into the Premier after finishing joint top of Group 2, along with Ben Lawrence who is second in Division 1.

   Toby Shefford was the day’s other group winner.

A THREE-way tie in the top group denied runaway Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader Shane Castle a sixth successive group victory.

   Jordan Winbourne and Kevin Impett both won two matches, along with 10-year-old Castle, to keep the Marchwood sensation’s lead to 12 points. Aaron Squires leapt to joint third in the Premier after taking maximum points in Group 2.

   Glenn Shefford has also joined the chasing pack after topping Group 4. Brother Toby, Premier player Aaron Murray and Keiran Langley shared second place in the group.

   Matt Gussin was the day’s other group winner.

THE DESTINATION of the 29th Eastleigh & District Under-18 League title doesn’t seem to be going anywhere except for the hands of ten-year-old Shane Castle, as he romped to a fifth successive group victory to open up a ten-point lead at the top.

   Despite a knock of 33 from Kevin Impett and a 29 from Jordan Winbourne, nothing could stop the Marchwood youngster claiming his fifth group success on the spin.

   Glenn Shefford, 16, has leapt into the Premier after topping Group 2 ahead of Doug Chalk while the day’s other group winners were James Hollick and Joe North.

Here's Shane...

MARCHWOOD wonderkid Shane Castle insists a ten-point lead in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League does not guarantee a second title.

“You can’t say that after seven weeks,” said the Pontin’s under-12 champion.

Castle, ten, ended an unbeaten week with a 60 against Kevin Impett.

“I can win it again,” added Castle. “I’m trying to win it three times on the trot.”

The budding star reckons Jordan Winbourne will be second, Impett third and Ben Spiers fourth.

Impett (Totton) had earlier made a 55 against Aaron Squires, his highest league break.

Other group winners: Aaron Murray, Ben Lawrence and Kieran Langley. 

Runaway rankings leader Shane Castle claimed his third successive top group victory to extend his lead at the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League to eight points after just six weeks of action.

   Castle, 10, crafted a 30 break on the way as he takes the league by storm. Former Under-13 Champion Ben Spiers lies in second whilst Aaron Squires topped Group 2 to join the chasing pack in fourth place.

   Aaron Murray leads Division 1 after winning his group ahead of Tom Sinclair. Elsewhere, Tarun Manjunath and Joe North were the day’s other group winners.

Ben Spiers (left) fought off an impressive break-building display from Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader Shane Castle to move to second in the Premier.

   Despite ten-year-old Castle making the two highest breaks of the series, 67 and 54, during the day’s play; it was former Under-13 champion Spiers who emerged victorious in Group 1.

   Kevin Impett, 16, lies third in the Premier after taking top spot ahead of Doug Chalk in Group 2 whilst Jordan Winbourne is a place further adrift after winning Group 3.

   Elsewhere, Bouwe Bosma made a 24 break on the way to Group 4 victory.

Shane Castle looks determined to regain his Eastleigh & District Under-18 League crown after storming to a four-point lead after three weeks.

   The 10-year-old former champion looked in imperious form as he topped Group 1 ahead of Ben Spiers.

   Ben Lawrence, 16, won Group 2 to move alongside Glenn Shefford and James Hollick in joint second place in the Premier. This was his second successive group victory.

   Toby Shefford took maximum points in Group 3. Tarun Manjunath won Group 4. Brothers Joseph and Tom Sinclair finished joint top of Group 5 alongside Adam Holloway.

FORMER champion Shane Castle has returned to the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League for the first time since taking the title two series ago.

   The 10-year-old prodigy from Marchwood topped Group 1 to move ahead of Glenn Shefford, 16, by frames won. In Group 1, Kevin Impett rattled in the series’ highest break of 50.

   Jordan Winbourne leapt into the Premier after winning Group 2 whilst Aaron Squires won Group 3 ahead of two-time Under-13 champion Aaron Murray.

   Ben Lawrence emerged victorious in Group 4 and George Taylor edged debutant Bouwe Bosma in Group 5.

earlier reports

Glenn Shefford is top of the pile after making a perfect start to the 29th series of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League.

   The 16-year-old topped his group to lead the Premier for the first time, by frames won. Shefford is among the title contenders off the back of a third-place finish last season.

   James Hollick also enjoyed a winning start by edging Glenn’s brother Toby in the Group 1 decider. Former champion Shane Castle, ten, fired in a 31 break on the way to maximum points in his group.

   Ben Spiers and Kevin Impett also move into the Premier after winning their groups.

Ben Lawrence has won the Eastleigh & District Under-18 Handicap Singles Tournament to claim his first ever title after a shock win over Kevin Impett.

   The 16-year-old Thornden School student disposed of Dom Flood, Joe North and Glenn Shefford on the way to the final.

   Against all odds, Lawrence beat in-form Impett, 16, who is among the favourites to claim the new league title.

   Flood recovered from first-round defeat to storm to the Plate final, where he beat Tarun Manjunath.

   League No 29 started 7th June. Contact Jim Everett on 023 8025 4834 for details.

GLENN Shefford and Ben Spiers have won the traditional handicap doubles competition prior to the 29th series of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League.

   The duo upset favourites Shane Castle and Jordan Winbourne in the first round and cruised past Ian Dudley and Joffy Heib in the semi-finals. They beat surprise finalists Joe North and George Taylor to lay a landmark of things to come.

   Taylor and North beat reigning league champion Daniel Woods and Kevin Impett in the day’s other shock.

   James Hollick and Matt Gussin beat Dom Flood and Ben Lawrence in the Plate final after beating brothers Tom and Joe Sinclair in the semis.

AFTER 20 weeks of hard-fought snooker, Daniel Woods has been crowned the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League Champion for the first time.

   The 17-year-old from Eastleigh was on top for 13 consecutive weeks and, despite just having a narrow two-point advantage going into the final day, he disposed of any lingering doubts with a fine display to top Group 1.

   Kevin Impett, who carded the highest break of the series with a 46, finished the season strongly to claim second spot whilst 15-year-old Glenn Shefford reached a new personal best finish of third.

   Doug Chalk topped Group 2 to win the Division 1 title by a single point ahead of James Hollick. Joe North took the honours in Division 2 despite faltering in Group 3 where Tarun Manjunath emerged victorious.

   Elliot Ling earned maximum points in Group 4 to sneak the Division 3 title ahead of Joffy Heib. James Dowling won Division 4.

   Anyone interested in taking part in the 29th series of the league, which starts in two weeks, can contact Jim Everett (023 8025 4834) for details. Players of all abilities under the age of 18 are welcome.

earlier news

AFTER 19 weeks of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League, just two points separate the top three contenders in the title battle as Kevin Impett took maximum points in Group 1.

   The 16-year-old from Totton moved to joint second place with Glenn Shefford, 15. They are two points behind Daniel Woods, 17, as they all fight for their first title.

   Doug Chalk has narrowed James Hollick’s lead at the top of Division 1 to a single point after winning Group 2 ahead of Aaron Squires whilst George Taylor topped Group 3.

   Group 4 winner Joe North consolidated his lead in Division 2 with one week remaining. Joffy Heib won Group 5.

and from previous weeks

Glenn Shefford is within touching distance of long-term Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader Daniel Woods after winning the top group for the second consecutive week.

   Shefford, 15, has moved to within two points of Woods, who has seen a virtually unassailable lead clawed back with just two weeks remaining. Kevin Impett notched the day’s highest break of 38 in the same group.

   Doug Chalk has taken pole position in Division 1 after topping Group 2 whilst Tarun Manjunath cruised to Group 3 victory.

   Craig Wilson won Group 4 to head Division 3.

 previously

Glenn Shefford has entered unmarked territory after topping Group 1 of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League to move to a new high of joint second in the Premier.

   With Daniel Woods taking a seemingly unassailable lead of seven points with three weeks remaining, 15-year-old Shefford shares second place with Jordan Winbourne and Kevin Impett who made the day’s highest break of 46.

   Matt Gussin moved into the Premier one week before the promotion cut-off point after topping Group 2.

   Joffy Heib knocked in a 25 break on the way to topping Group 4. Joe North won Group 3.

  earlier news

Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader DANIEL WOODS has maintained his strong push for a first title after finishing second in Group 1 behind in-form Kevin Impett.

   The 17-year-old is now six points clear of second-placed Jordan Winbourne, who fired in a 32 break, whilst Impett, 16, kept his slim title-hopes alive as he moved into third place in the Premier.

   Doug Chalk won all his games in Group 2 to move into the Premier with just two weeks before the promotion cut-off point.

   Matt Gussin held off Lewis Winbourne in the Group 3 decider to gain maximum points.

earlier reports

DANIEL Woods took a step closer to his first Eastleigh & District Under-18 League crown after main title-challenger Jordan Winbourne faltered with five weeks left.

   Woods came second in a hotly-contested Group 1, with reigning champion Shane Castle topping the group. Winbourne finished bottom, meaning that Woods stretched his lead to four points. He also crafted a fine 30 break.

   Elsewhere, Ben Spiers moved into the Premier after topping Group 2 ahead of Aaron Squires, who lies third in the Division.

   Tarun Manjunath leapt into Division 1 after topping Group 3.

The race for the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League has been thrown wide open as Jordan Winbourne won Group 1 to move to within two points of leader Daniel Woods.

   In the absence of Woods, 12-year-old Winbourne reduced a lead of six points with six weeks to go as he breezed past all his opponents, making a 38 break in the process.

   Glenn Shefford is now fourth in the Premier after topping Group 2. James Hollick leapt into Division 1 with Group 3 victory.

   Matt Gussin also earned maximum points in Group 4.

  in previous weeks

JORDAN Winbourne has moved to within three points of Daniel Woods in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League title-race.

   Winbourne rattled in a 31 break whilst Woods, who had previously been five points clear, finished third. Kevin Impett finished second in the group to cement third place in the Premier.

   Aaron Squires earned maximum points in Group 2. George Taylor and James Hollick topped Groups 3 and 4 respectively.

   Craig Wilson, 13, beat his highest break for the second time in a week as he made a 30 on the way to Group 5 victory.

previous news

AFTER two consecutive group victories, 16-year-old Kevin Impett has brought himself right back into the race for the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League title.
  At the half way stage of the 20-week series, Impett, Totton, moves up to third in the Premier after topping Group 1 ahead of Jordan Winbourne.
  Alex Merriman crafted a 26 break on the way to Group 2 victory. George Taylor won Group 3. Joffy Heib topped Group 4 ahead of Tarun Manjunath.

earlier news

An impressive run of four consecutive group victories has seen DANIEL WOODS storm to a four-point lead at the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League.

   In week nine of the 20-week campaign, Woods, 17, finished top of the group ahead of Jordan Winbourne, who rattled in a 40 break.

   Kevin Impett, 16, has leapt into the Premier after earning maximum points in Group 2. James Hollick, Matt Gussin and Toby Shefford forced a three-way tie at the top of Group 3.

   Elsewhere, Doug Chalk and Joffy Heib enjoyed respective group victories.

DANIEL WOODS has extended his lead in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League to three points after topping Group 1 for the third week in succession.

   Woods, 16, looked in impressive form as he won the group ahead of Ben Spiers, who moved up to third in the Premier. Second-placed Jordan Winbourne knocked in a 34 break en route to third spot in the group.

   Kevin Impett leapt to top of Division 1 after finishing runner-up behind Glenn Shefford in Group 2. George Taylor took the honours in Group 3.

   James Hollick climbed into Division 1 after cruising to top spot in Group 4.

earlier reports

In-form DANIEL WOODS notched his second successive Group 1 win to move to top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League for the first time this series.

   In the seventh week of the 20-week campaign, Woods, 16, dislodged Jordan Winbourne as he topped the group ahead of Jack Crowther.

   Doug Chalk leapt into the Premier Division with a 25 break on the way to maximum points in Group 2.

   Ben Lawrence topped Group 3 ahead of Toby Shefford. Ian Dudley won Group 4.

Daniel Woods has moved to within a point of Eastleigh & District Under-18 League leader Jordan Winbourne.

    Due to Alex Merriman’s absence after putting his name in the draw, the top group was a three-way format, with Woods capitalising as he beat Winbourne and Glenn Shefford.

   Ben Spiers moved into the Premier after winning all his games in Group 2 ahead of Jack Crowther, who rattled in a 25.

   Kevin Impett knocked in the highest break of the day, a 37, as he earned top spot in Group 3. Ben Lawrence also won his group.

NOTHING separates Jordan Winbourne and Alex Merriman at the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League after a quarter of the campaign.

   Winbourne, 11, topped Group 1 ahead of Merriman, 15, to move to joint top of the Premier Division.

   Daniel Woods rattled in a 37 break en route to finishing second in Group 2 behind former Under-13 Champion Ben Spiers whilst George Taylor chalked up a 27 clearance as he won Group 3.

   James Hollick earned maximum points in Group 4 to move to the top of Division 2.

ALEX Merriman has joined Jack Crowther at the top of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League after an outrageous fluke denied Crowther his second successive Group 1 victory.

   Merriman, 15, fluked the black in the decider and was “relieved to end a bad run of recent form”.

   Kevin Impett fired in the highest break of the series, 44, to finish joint top of Group 2, alongside Daniel Woods and Ben Spiers.

   Glenn Shefford earned maximum points in Group 3.

   Ben Lawrence insisted “there’s more to come” after ending a three-week frameless spell to finish third in Group 4.

Previous news

JACK CROWTHER edged Aaron Squires in the Group 1 decider to become the leader of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League.

   Crowther, 16, took a one-point lead in the third week of a hotly contested title race.

   Doug Chalk leapt into the Premier after winning Group 2 whilst Daniel Woods notched up a 37 break and took maximum points in Group 3.

   Matt Gussin won all his games to top Group 4.

JORDAN WINBOURNE kicked off the 28th series of the Eastleigh & District Under-18 League by taking an early lead in the Premier Division.
   The 11-year-old from Hedge End won all four matches despite being drawn in the ‘group of death’ with pre-season title-favourites Daniel Woods, Kevin Impett and Jack Crowther. Winbourne also crafted the highest break of the day with a 25.
   Former Under-13 League champion Ben Spiers joined Winbourne at the top after clinching his group ahead of Alex Merriman.
   Aaron Squires won his group to mount an early title challenge and Ben Lawrence also took maximum points.

in the doubles

JACK Crowther and Alex Merriman clinched victory against Ben Lawrence and Doug Chalk in the Eastleigh & District Under-18 Doubles Tournament.

    The pair laid down the marker for things to come in the warm-up competition to the 28th series of the league as they disposed of Joe North and George Taylor in the semis before Lawrence unfortunately went in off the pink to gift Crowther and Merriman the title.

   Kevin Impett and Dom Flood beat Ian Dudley and Joffy Heib to take the honours in the Plate final.

MARCHWOOD sensation Shane Castle has been crowned the youngest ever Eastleigh & District Under-18 champion – aged nine!

   Dubbed the wonderkid, Castle left league organisers searching the record books as he won the 27th league with two weeks to spare.

   His progress has not gone unnoticed as Ronnie O'Sullivan's former coach Del Hill said: “I’ve heard good things about young Shane, but to win an under-18 scratch event is unbelievable. What a great prospect.”

   Castle finished runner-up in this year’s Pontin’s national under-12 ‘Search for a Star’ tournament. He also won through the EASB Under-14 Southern qualifier and travels to Leeds in March to compete in the last-16.

   Last season, Castle finished runner-up to cousin Billy with whom he first started playing - aged seven. He is sponsored by Andover-based insurance brokers Oliver and Sanders.

 Under the guidance of Chandler’s Ford’s Dave Mumford, the pint-sized potter has continued to write his own record book as he became only the second nine-year-old to amass a century break.

   Castle fired in a 101 in a practice match against Jordan Winbourne and hopes to beat ‘Rocket’ Ronnie to a competitive century by the age of ten.

   Coach Mumford said: “Of all the things that Shane has achieved this year, I think winning an under-18 scratch competition has to be the best.” 

   Lee Roling, 17, announced his retirement from the league as he clinched second place ahead of Daniel Woods.

   Alex Merriman sealed top spot in Division 1. Ben Lawrence won Division 2 and Joe North claimed the Division 3 title.