Slimline Ford retains title

THE snooker world has not seen so much of Bracknell potter Matt Ford this season.

But the 40-year-old proved that less is most certainly more by retaining the Cuestars South of England Championship Tour title.

He went into the sixth and final leg at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club needing to qualify for the knockout to guarantee finishing ahead of three-time rankings winner Jon Charlton.

After wrapping up a 3-1 victory over Anthony Rice to secure a place in the quarter-finals, a slimline Ford revealed he’d lost three stone over the past 18 months during a fitness regime sparked by a photograph taken before a Cuestars final in November, 2014.

“I saw a picture of myself with Ryan Mears at the final in Woking and I looked so overweight,” he explained.

I feel better and it gives me more energy towards the latter part of the day. It makes a massive difference – healthy body, healthy mind.

“It’s almost ten hours if you get to the final. If you are overweight and lethargic, it will have an impact on your game.”

Ford, who was beaten 3-1 in 37 minutes by Southampton’s Town Champion Mike Finn in the Chandler’s Ford final, won three of the other four legs he played in this season and was a quarter-final casualty once.

“I’m pleased because I missed the first event in Swindon, same as last season, and managed to win it,” he said. “I’ve been quite consistent this year.”

Reflecting on the quality of the field that turned up for the final event, he said: “The standard was very high.

“Myself and Jon did the draw and I couldn’t have got a worse group. I was glad to win all three games. There were centuries going in all over the place. It was brilliant.

“It’s good to play in. It brings you on. If you’re getting chance after chance, you can get dragged down. But when you know when you miss you’ll get punished, it helps. It makes you play better.”

Picture and report by Tim Dunkley Picture: Matt Ford (left) and Mike Finn