Hunter completes Masters hat-trick

JOHN Hunter has won all three events on the Cuestars Masters (55+) Tour since reaching the required age last March.

The Andover cueman completed the hat-trick with victory in the first leg of the new season at Salisbury Snooker Club.

It was a normal Masters event with trapped nerves, groin strains and frozen shoulders the main topics of conversation.

Hunter knocked in a 50 break in the last-eight against Richard Arnold, an 87 against Steve Ashton in the semis and a 70 in a 2-0 win against Neil Carroll in the final.

He said: “I had my scoring boots on from the quarters, which is good news for next week’s World Seniors events.”

And he added: “It was nice to see Neil Carroll playing well again after his shoulder troubles.”

Carroll had topped his round-robin group and defeated Andrew Darken and then Steve Allen both in third-frame deciders.

Defending champion Hunter, who pocketed £60 in prize money, leads the Masters rankings which includes points earned by over-55 players on the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour.

Chandlers Ford Snooker Club hosts the second leg of four on Tuesday, February 1.

BREAKS

John Hunter: 87, 70, 50, 41.
Steve Allen: 47.

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Andrew Darken (Chertsey SSNR Club); 3rd, Steve Allen (Totton Recreation Club); 4th, Jeff Payne (West Byfleet Social Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Phil Morgan (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 4th, David Stewart (Chandlers Ford SC).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Malcolm Slark (Salisbury SC); 4th, David Tuckett (Allstars Sports Bar, Bristol).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts): Hunter 2-0 Arnold, Allen 2-0 Morgan, Ashton 2-0 Burt, Carroll 2-1 Darken.

SEMI-FINALS (£15, 15 pts): Hunter 2-0 Ashton, Carroll 2-1 Allen.

FINAL (£60/£30, 25/18 pts): Hunter 2-0 Carroll.

Picture: John Hunter (left) and Neil Carroll.