Last Cuestars U21 title for Lloyd?

ENGLAND under-16 snooker champion Mark Lloyd revealed he probably won’t defend the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour rankings title.</b>

The Gosport teenager won the final leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club to finish the season 14 points clear of rival Brad Chappell.

But Lloyd, who is in this year’s national under-18 final and competes on the EASB Premier Junior Tour, says his sights are set on having a crack at earning a two-year tour card on the professional circuit via next season’s Cuestars Championship Tour.

“I’m doing the Championship Tour because it’s offering a Q School place next year,” explained the 16-year-old, who is based at Stoke Snooker Club.

“That’s the one I want to do, now there’s a bigger prize fund.”

Lloyd shared the Gold title with Chappell two years ago and led the Poole cueman by one point going into the eighth leg.

Chappell, 21, who now bows out of the junior circuit after an illustrious ten-year career, lost 2-0 to James Budd in the quarter-finals.

Budd (Fareham) then recorded the day’s highest break of 60 in a 2-0 last-four victory over Reece King (Bournemouth) but went down 2-1 to Lloyd in the final.

Lloyd, who is in his final year at Brune Park Community School, said: “It’s quite a nice way to finish the season.

“I’ve been struggling with a muscle problem so it was quite nice to hit the ball smoothly and get back playing again in competition.”

Budd finished joint third with Callum Browne (Trowbridge).

The top-16 ranked players qualify for the championship play-off on Finals Day at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday, May 15. Professional Kurt Maflin will present prizes and play exhibition frames against all the rankings winners, weekend section champions and play-off champions.

<b>BREAKS</b>

James Budd: 60.
Dan Sykes: 55.
Bradley Cowdroy: 55.
Reece King: 46.
Callum Browne: 42.

<b>GOLD RESULTS</b>

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Mark Lloyd (Stoke SC, Gosport); 2nd, James Budd (Fareham SC); 3rd, Dan Sykes (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Jonny Mutch (WT’s Sports Bar, Cambridge); 5th, Anthony Rice (Salisbury SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Jamie Wilson (Chandler’s Ford SC); 2nd, Reece King (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Luke Beebe (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Matt Gillon (Stoke SC, Gosport); 5th, Arron Smith (Selsey RBL).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Callum Browne (Player’s, Westbury); 2nd, Brad Chappell (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 4th, Mickey Joyce (Chandler’s Ford SC); 5th, Mike Trigg (Chandler’s Ford SC).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Lloyd 2 Beebe 0, Wilson 2 Cowdroy 0, King 2 Browne 1, Budd 2 Chappell 0.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Lloyd 2 Wilson 0, Budd 2 King 0.

FINAL (£50/£25 25/18 points): Lloyd 2 Budd 1.

Picture by Tim Dunkley: Mark Lloyd (left) and Cuestars director John Hunter