Top gun sees off young guns
A RETIRED RAF test pilot survived a six-month battle against the young guns from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club to clinch the 17th Open Series.
David Stewart (pictured), who is older than the combined ages of the four players ranked below him, will pocket £300 prize money.
Stewart’s debut in the handicapped tournaments in October, 2012, was his first taste of competitive snooker since his days at Keele University.
The 53-year-old from Odiham, a Cuestars South of England Seniors Tour player, said: “It’s a 30-mile drive but I find it worthwhile to come down. It’s a great competition.
“I particularly like playing the young guys and watching the progress they make over the weeks.”
Paying tribute to some of the other players, Stewart revealed he’d like “to imitate” the “lovely smooth cue action” of fourth-placed Dan Sykes, 16, who won £150.
Turning to Dan’s nine-year-old brother, Oliver, who finished in the £100 fifth spot, Stewart said: “It’s remarkable how he manages, given his short stature, to hold the cue in the way he does and put in those long pots”.
Speaking about Ryan Hughes, 12, he said: “What an attitude! It’s a real delight when I find I’m drawn against him.”
And on 65-year-old Sarah Pendarves: “I take my hat off to Sarah, who comes here week after week. I hope she wins a match because I think she deserves to.”
Mickey Joyce, 11, who missed the final tournament because of the English Under-14 Championship in Leeds, hung onto second spot and £250.
February Half-Term Cup champion Charlie Pringle, 13, won two matches to leapfrog the Sykes brothers into third and collect £200.
Steven Hughes, 13, jumped from ninth to joint sixth by winning the final from the preliminary round. He, Olly Gibbs and James Budd will receive £53 each.
The highest break of the series, which has seen a record turnout, was an 82 from the Tuesday Singles League champion, Mitch Wade.
A new 26-week £1,200 series kicks off on Saturday, March 7, at 1pm.
Top 10 & prize money: £300 David Stewart (Odiham); £250 Mickey Joyce (Basingstoke); £200 Charlie Pringle (C/Ford); £150 Dan Sykes (C/Ford); £100 Oliver Sykes (C/Ford); £53 James Budd (Fareham); £53 Olly Gibbs (Gosport); £53 Steven Hughes (C/Ford); £25 Austen Petty (Boyatt Wood); £15 Pete Jordan (Bitterne).
Report and picture by Tim Dunkley.