Snooker Does have a Future
Two hundred and forty-seven young players ranging in age from six to nineteen havelined up in Pontin's to contest the 2009 Lt Col Walter Rowley Junior Festival.
The youngest section is designated 8-11 but in reality encompasses any player aged 11years or under. Which is just as well as this year the youngest entrant is just six years old!
He is Lewis Ullah (pictured above) from Burnley, the younger brother of junior event regular Jordan.
Lewis has ticked all the boxes for the "ooh factor" this week as mums and dads alike are flocking to his matches and a cheer goes up every time he pots a ball.
In fact Lewis looks to be multi-talented as he also manages to keep a running commentary going after every shot!
He proudly told me he's been playing for six months now and already has a high break of 27; this despite only just managing to get his chin on the table.
The keen young talents have journeyed from far and wide, including Hungarian Junior
International Andre Gogola, who is competing in the 16-20 age group.
Keeping it in the Family
Nobody has yet come up with the idea of cloning snooker players, but it does appear that there's a very successful breeding programme going on.
Apart from several sets of brothers, including the Ullahs, Duffys, Browns, we have some
sons of well known parents in action on the table.
Peter Lines, Leeds based Main Tour pro is supporting son Oliver, while former Ladies star Maria Tart looks on proudly while son Jason tries his luck in the 16-20 group.
And there's a real "blast from the past" in Pontin's this week. Former English international and a very well known player in the early 1980s Gary Filtness.
Nowadays Gary's involvement is mainly in coaching around the East End of London area,
and as a pro-am organiser in conjunction with Mark King's father Bill.
Gary is watching his fifteen year old son Jack compete in the 12-15 age section.
All these players are competing for some wonderful prizes, by far the biggest available in Junior Snooker Events.
The eventual winner of the 16-20 group will take home £200 in cash, but will also receive £3,000 worth of sponsorship from Pontin's, which includes pre-paid entry to the 2009-10 PIOS series.
In the 12-15 group there is £2,000 worth of sponsorship up for grabs, which also earns
them entry into the 2009-10 Businessland under 21 series.
The 8-11 group winner will take home a £1000 in sponsorship. All these packages include branded waistcoats from Pontin's and trophies and holiday vouchers.
The knock out stages of the events commence on Wednesday and we'll be bringing you all the draws and results of those matches.
