Dad witnesses record break and son claims back-to-back tournament wins
IT WAS a historic day for a snooker loving family from South Wales.
While teenager Callum Lloyd was en route to claiming his second tournament win in eight days, dad Mike was on the receiving end of the highest break in the 20-year history of the Cuestars organisation.
The previous week, Welsh international Callum clinched the first leg of the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour at Salisbury Snooker Club.
And the 18-year-old continued his winning ways in the first Championship Tour event at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, beating Jon Charlton 3-1 in the final.
The only blot on his copybook was a 2-0 defeat by home player Josh Lee in the group stages.
Callum, the 2012 Gold Champion, who hails from the Redz Snooker Club, Cwmbran, said: “I played solid all day. I went 1-0 down in the final and it should have been 2-0.”
Indeed. Charlton, bidding for a hat-trick of Championship Tour rankings titles, started well and was only one pot away from taking the second frame.
Charlton – who lives in Camelsdale, Surrey, but is based at Selsey Royal British Legion – said: “Callum produced a very good clearance to take the frame on the black.
“The momentum turned at this point and I found myself 2-1 down. After a lot of safety in the fourth frame, Callum potted a good long red and made a 74 to win the match.”
Meanwhile, Ollie Douglas wrote himself into the Cuestars record books with a monster 145 total clearance in his group-stage match against Mike Lloyd.
“It was my highest ever break in a tournament but, to be honest, I can’t really remember much about it,” said the 31-year-old from The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury.
“I thought about going for the maximum after about 50-60 points but I just landed short on position for the black so ended up with the pink instead.”
The break beats the 144 scored by aspiring professional Ben Harrison, who lives near Westbury, against Will Meharg in a Championship Tour event at Jesters on January 16, 2011.
Charlton, also beaten by Callum in the group stages, survived two fifth-frame deciders against Dominic Holmes (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) and Douglas to reach the final.
“It was a very long day,” he said. “I managed to find some good form after a bit of a struggle at the start of the day. All credit to Callum for winning.”
The second leg of seven is at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury, on Sunday, November 24.
BREAKS
Ollie Douglas: 145.
Craig Marsh: 82.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Martin Wallace (Colours, Reading); 2nd, Troy Bodman (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, James Ray (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 4th, Adrian Priestner (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Peter Chin (Woking SC).
GROUP B: 1st, Callum Lloyd (Redz, Cwmbran); 2nd, Jon Charlton (Selsey RBL); 3rd, Josh Lee (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Jonjo Sharkey (Crucible, Newbury); 5th, Trevor Thorn (Basingstoke Conservative Club).
GROUP C: 1st, Dominic Holmes (Sovereign SC, Farnborough); 2nd, Ollie Parsons (Jesters, Swindon); 3rd, Lewis Miles (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Lewis Parnham (SWSA, Gloucester).
GROUP D: 1st, Ollie Douglas (Crucible, Newbury); 2nd, Craig Marsh (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Liam O’Shea (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Mike Lloyd (Redz, Cwmbran); 5th, Keegan Reed (Salisbury SC).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10): Wallace beat Marsh 3-1, C Lloyd beat Parsons 3-0, Charlton beat Holmes 3-2, Douglas beat Bodman 3-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£20): C Lloyd beat Wallace 3-2, Charlton beat Douglas 3-2.
FINAL (£80/£40): C Lloyd beat Charlton 3-1.