Hunter: my 42-year wait for a national title

JOHN Hunter has ended his 42-year wait for a national snooker singles title.

Memories of people from his past helped the 59-year-old from Andover cross the winning line in Newbury.

Despite preparing in the worst possible way, Hunter eventually beat Gary Miller 3-1 in the final of the Next Chapter Financial Planning English Over-55 Snooker Championship at The Crucible Sports & Social Club.

“I’ve had a very tough year so there was something special going on, especially towards the end on that Sunday,” Hunter said.

“I was just spent. I hadn’t slept well. I had nothing left in the tank. I did all the things that a sports performance person says you shouldn’t do – sorry Noel Flannery. I didn’t drink much. I didn’t eat anything.

“Even when it came around to the final, I should’ve taken a break but I just wanted to get on with it. I was completely shattered and I lost the first frame. I felt like I was satisfied with what I had done.

“And then something just changed. I thought of people from the past who were important to me on my snooker journey. It was funny, I was potting balls that I thought I’d missed.”

Hunter did clinch the national pairs title with the late Graham Lee but a singles championship has always been top of his to-do list.

“I felt a little bit flat to begin with,” he continued. “It was weird. I thought I’d be excited. But when I sat in the car afterwards and I could digest it, it felt really nice. It was a fantastic feeling.

“Perhaps now I can enjoy just playing because (winning a national title) was always something that I thought I’d failed at .

“You’ve got to enjoy the playing because you’re going to be losing so much. If you put everything on winning, a lot of the time you’ll be disappointed.”

In fact, the Cuestars founder has completed a remarkable hat-trick of over-55 world, national and regional titles this season by topping the World Super Seniors and the Cuestars Masters Tour rankings.

Hunter said: “In my geriatric age group, it’s my personal triple crown.”

Picture: Tournament director Clive Brown (left) and John Hunter