Brighton rocks for C/Ford six

IT WAS a day of firsts in Brighton for six Cuestars members based at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club.

Mickey Joyce (pictured), who had never before reached a final on the EASB Regional Junior Tour South, was a tough blue away from winning the fourth leg at the Castle Snooker Club.

The 12-year-old from Basingstoke was forced to settle for the £60 runners-up prize after losing 2-1 to rankings leader Reggie Edwards (Norwich).

Earlier, third-placed Joyce accounted for Aaron Cook (Gloucester) 2-0 in the last-four.

Dan Sykes, 17, made a 54 break and topped his round-robin group to qualify for the knockout for the first time but lost to Edwards in the quarter-finals.

Four other lads made their debuts on the under-20 circuit.

Charlie Pringle, 14, impressed by winning his group and leading travelling companion Joyce by 21 points with 22 on in a third-frame decider of their quarter-final clash.

Steven Hughes, 14, Connor Benzey, 14, and Dan Sykes’ ten-year-old brother Oliver all won two of their four matches. Hughes dispatched Joyce 2-0 and Sykes junior compiled a 51 break.

Report and picture by Tim Dunkley