Lloyd makes his mark on national stage

MARK Lloyd may have returned to Gosport disappointed after his 520-mile round trip, but the 14-year-old can be proud of his achievement.

The Stoke Snooker Club teenager reached the semi-finals on his debut in a national championship.

And he has vowed to return next year and win the title.

Lloyd was beaten 5-1 in the last-four of the English Under-16 Championship by 16-year-old local lad Lewis Gillen at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds.

“I don’t feel as though the semis are good enough,” he said.

“I’ll have to go win it next year. I’ve just got to go and do what I need to do.”

Earlier, Lloyd, who booked his place in Leeds via the southern qualifying tournament in Swindon in January, defeated Kieran Briggs (Batley) 4-1 and Danny Edginton (Wakefield) 4-0.

Lloyd is currently lying joint second on the Cuestars South of England Under-21 Gold Tour rankings, seven points off the lead, with one leg to play in Salisbury next month. And he is in second place in his debut season on the EASB Regional Junior Tour with two legs to play.

Picture by Tim Dunkley