Hunter back in the winners enclosure

JOHN Hunter returned to winning ways on the Cuestars Masters Tour following last month’s defeat in Reading.

The defending champion from Andover beat John Rees 2-0 in the final of the fifth leg at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury.

It was the 59-year-old runaway rankings leader’s fourth success of the season on the midweek circuit for players aged 55 and over which is sponsored by Dennis Tristram.

Rees is a two-time winner of the English Over-55 Championship, the national title that Hunter claimed last year. The 71-year-old from Ware, Herts, won the first leg of this season’s Super Seniors in Reading.

Jim Carson made the last-four for the second successive event. Neil Carroll, who is third in the rankings, went out in the second semi.

Prize money: winner John Hunter £90, runner-up John Rees £50, semi-finalists Neil Carroll & Jim Carson £25 each.

Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the sixth leg of eight on Wednesday, February 11.

Results at https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/cuestars-masters-tour-event-5.

Organisers thanked Emily and the staff at the club for looking after them. And thanks to Neil Carroll for helping to run the tournament, which was sponsored by Mark Thomas. We are pleased to let everyone know that co-organiser Phil Butler is on the mend and is expecting to be at next month’s event.

Picture: John Rees (left) and John Hunter