Harrison’s Pontin’s epic

The Westbury teenager was among 130 of the world’s top amateurs at the World Snooker Centre, Prestatyn, chasing a top eight spot and automatic promotion to the pro-circuit.

After knocking out Republic of Ireland champion Martin McCrudden 4-0 in the first round, Harrison triumphed in an epic battle against the 1999 IBSF World Under-21 champion Rodney Goggins.

According to the indefatigable Janie Watkins from global-snooker.com, Harrison led the Irishman 3-0. However, Goggins forced a decider. AND he laid the two required snookers before Harrison clinched victory on the black.

Harrison went out 4-2 in the last 64 to the 2004 IBSF World Under-21 champion Gary Wilson (Wallsend).

Meanwhile, Cuestars Senior champion Neil Craycraft posted breaks of 75 and 52 in a 4-1 victory over Nick Jennings (Southampton).

The 36-year-old, from Wantage – but based at the 147 Snooker Club in Swindon, lost 4-2 to Patrick Einsle, from Germany.

Nathan Williams (Salisbury) defeated Terry Challenger (Bristol) 4-0 but went out 4-2 to Neville Whalley (Preston).

Former professional Lee Richardson (Thame) ended Cardiff youngster Kishan Hirani’s run. A 4-2 defeat followed a 4-1 victory over Shefieq Khan (Sheffield).

Marc Harman (Royal Surrey) lost 4-0 to Michael Wild (Oldham) and Phil Wildman (Colours, Reading) lost 4-2 to Adam Davies (Clacton).

In the previous weekend’s Businessland Under-21 event five of six, also at Pontin’s, fourth-placed Harrison lost 3-2 to Mitchell Travis (Sheffield) in the last 32.

Hirani (in tenth) beat Aldershot’s Ryan Mears (ninth) 3-1 in the last 32, and Ryan Causton 3-0 in the last 16 before losing 3-0 to England under-19 international Kyren Wilson (Kettering) in the quarter-finals.

Alex Dunkley (Chandler’s Ford), ranked 16th, did not qualify for the knockout.