Hunter lays to rest fear of old age
JOHN Hunter’s concern that he was past his prime was dispelled by a first tournament win in just over a year.
The 49-year-old from Andover was relieved to claim the fourth leg of the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon.
Hunter, who was born four months before Alf Ramsay’s wingless wonders embarked on their victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, last enjoyed success on January 25, 2015, at his practice base, Salisbury Snooker Club.
“I was starting to fear old age had caught up with me,” he said.
“It was nice to win a comp again. The extra practice of late paid off.”
Indeed. Hunter dropped just one frame out of 17, to clubmate Richard Swaffield in the group stages, and compiled six breaks of more than 40.
He overcame Matt Ford (Bracknell) 2-0 in the last-four and Swaffield, who had knocked out rankings leader Mike Talmondt (Portsmouth) in the quarter-finals, 2-0 in the final to collect £100 prize money.
Talking of advancing years, the home club’s Ron Threadgill made his Cuestars debut – at the age of 81 – and won one frame in his six-man round-robin group.
Talmondt’s 111 in the group stages topped the 18 breaks of 40 or more returned by the 24-strong field.
The top three are starting to pull away. Talmondt is ten points clear of Ford. Hunter is three points further back. Group-stage casualty Paul Lawrence (Southampton), 15 points adrift of third spot, heads the chasing pack.
Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club hosts the fifth leg of seven on Sunday, February 21.
BREAKS
Mike Talmondt: 111, 72.
John Hunter: 74, 60, 51, 50, 45, 44.
Nick Birney: 65, 52, 50.
Paul Bateman: 62, 42.
Richard Swaffield: 55.
Geoff Burke: 55.
Martin Wallace: 53.
Matthew Ford: 50.
Neil Carroll: 46.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Mike Talmondt (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 2nd, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Paul Bateman (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Peter Chin (Woking SC); 5th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 6th, Jonathan Walker (The Potting Shed, Aldbourne).
GROUP B: 1st, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Martin Wallace (Crowthorne RBL); 3rd, Neil Herd (Player’s, Westbury); 4th, Martin Hill (Salisbury SC); 5th, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC); 6th, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC).
GROUP C: 1st, Matt Ford (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 2nd, Simon Peacock (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Jon Monckton (Woking SC); 4th, Paul Lawrence (Park Gate RBL, Southampton); 5th, David Stewart (Chandler’s Ford SC); 6th, Stephen Hills (Traders, Northfleet).
GROUP D: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Richard Swaffield (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Martin Luker (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Geoff Burke (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 6th, Ron Threadgill (Jesters, Swindon).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 12 points): Swaffield 2 Talmondt 1, Birney 2 Peacock 0, Ford 2 Wallace 0, Hunter 2 Rose 0.
SEMI-FINALS (£25, 15 points): Swaffield 2 Birney 1, Hunter 2 Ford 0.
FINAL (£100/£50, 25/18 points): Hunter 2 Swaffield 0.
Picture: Martin Luker (left) and Ron Threadgill.
Report by Tim Dunkley.