Hat-trick for Charlton
IT WAS the perfect way to end three remarkable seasons on a regional snooker circuit.
Jon Charlton, one of the most popular cueists on the Cuestars South of England Championship Tour, has completed a unique hat-trick of rankings titles.
And he brought the curtain down on the 2013/14 campaign with a dramatic first tournament win since January last year.
Charlton – who lives in Camelsdale, Surrey, but plays his snooker at Selsey Royal British Legion, West Sussex – said: “I had set out to win three titles in a row at the beginning of the season.
“I’m really pleased to keep my title and winning the penultimate event was a great way to do it.”
The 35-year-old progressed through the group stages in the sixth leg at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, but was pushed all the way by rankings runner-up Martin Wallace (Reading) in the last-four.
“You always know you will have a tough match against Martin,” explained Charlton. “He got off to the perfect start, going 2-0 up, but then I managed to play well and turn the match around to win 3-2.”
He was then forced to produce his “best snooker of the day” to end an inspired performance by teenager Ollie Parsons in the final.
Parsons, playing on home tables, took a 2-1 lead and compiled a 58 break in the fourth frame of the best-of-five match.
After Charlton had replied with a 30+ effort, his 16-year-old opponent potted the last red but went ‘in-off’ the match-ball black.
Charlton, 26 points behind, cleared the six colours to take the game into a decider which he won with ease.
The three-time champion said: “I was really impressed with how Oliver played and I produced my best snooker of the day to win the last two frames.”
Charlton kicked off the 2013/14 season last October with a 3-1 defeat by Welsh star Callum Lloyd in the final at Swindon.
The following month he took over top spot following a semi-final appearance in Newbury.
A quarter-final exit at the hands of Jonjo Sharkey in Swindon in January shaved back his lead but he maintained his push for a historic third title by reaching the last-four in Woking and Salisbury.
The seventh and final leg was cancelled due to a lack of entries but Charlton was already too many points in front to be caught.
Picture: Jon Charlton (left) and tournament director Paul Rose.