Ryan’s day 2

THERE’S good news for up-and-coming Cuestars players from Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

Ryan Hughes announced he won’t be competing in all five weeks of the Rotary Summer Cup.

The 12-year-old, who had already landed the Easter Cup, ended five days of skills training, coaching  and competitions as the top ranked player in the Ken Jones May Half-Term Cup.

Thornden School pupil Hughes took the lead on day four – helped by clearing Level 3 of the Cuestars Coaching Programme – and virtually secured the title during Friday’s cricket.

Although his billiards results on days one and three were below par, he more than made up for it in the regular afternoon snooker competitions.

“Thursday was my best day,” he admitted. “I was potting all the balls cleanly and I was seeing every single angle.”

And to the delight of the other youngsters, he added: “I’ll be back for a few weeks in the summer but not every single week.”

A total of 15 different players took part in the 20 hours of competitions overseen by World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley.

Nine-year-old Bowen Zhu finished runner-up and is now in preparation for next season’s Cuestars South of England Under-21 Bronze Tour after achieving his target of two 20+ breaks before October.

He compiled a personal best 25 on Wednesday and added a 21 on Friday.

Steven Hughes, who made his Cuestars debut in Fareham in April, finished third.

Ally Pollard, joint seventh in the Bronze rankings, made the trip from Salisbury on Friday worthwhile by passing Level 5.

And eight-year-old Oliver Sykes – who enjoyed his first Cuestars outing in the Family Doubles on Finals Day, partnering his older brother and Silver Tour player Dan – knocked in personal best breaks of 13 and 18 in the same frame against Oli Line on Thursday.

Next up is the Rotary Summer Cup. Sessions take place at Chandler’s Ford SC every weekday during the school holidays from 11am to 3pm at a cost of £6 a day.

The lads play snooker, cricket and billiards (sometimes with a bit of golf and bowls thrown in) using handicaps and work on the Cuestars Coaching Programme.

Top six: Ryan Hughes 72 pts, Bowen Zhu 65, Steven Hughes 62, Charlie Pringle 57, Oli Line 50, Harvey Banger 49.

PICTURE BY TIM DUNKLEY: Ken Jones May Half-Term Cup final day line-up, from left: Oli Line, Steven Hughes, Ryan Hughes, Harvey Banger, Charlie Pringle, Bowen Zhu, Ally Pollard.