West of England champ secures major sponsorship deal

FORMER England international Billy Castle celebrated his new sponsorship deal by adding the West of England Open Snooker Championship title to his name.

The 24-year-old (pictured) pocketed £270 prize money after defeating defending champion and former professional Eddie Manning 2-0 in the final at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon. Cuestars Championship Tour player Castle, who described his 45-year-old opponent from Newquay as a class player; won all of his six group-stage matches and then overcame Ben Fortey (Hereford) 2-1 and Ryan Mears (Aldershot) 2-0 in the knockout.

I played very solid throughout the day, said the dad-of-two who recorded breaks of 77, 75 ,67, 64 and 61 during the event run by the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation.

Originally from Marchwood and still turning out for Super League outfit Churchills A, Castle won Southampton’s Town Championship in 2013 but now lives in Reading and practises at The Crucible Sports & Social Club, Newbury.

His aspiration of turning professional received a major leg-up after signing a new sponsorship deal with J King Roofing and Property Maintenance. The Southampton-based firm are covering his entry fees for tours run by the English Association of Snooker & Billiards.  It’s a good booster for the new season which I’m hoping will be a telling one, said Castle.  I’ve put a lot of time in for it and I’m ready for the next level.

I’ve done everything that I need to do locally and nationally. I’ve captained England, played in the world and European (amateur) championships and played at the highest amateur level there is.

So I need to push on to the next level and there’s no reason why I can’t. Castle added that he’ll be ready for this season’s Q School, following the world championships, where the four semi-finalists from two tournaments receive two-year cards for the pro-circuit. Picture by Tim Dunkley

Have you got any snooker news? Send me your snooker news now. It doesn’t have to be from a Cuestars tournament. E-mail me details or contact me via Facebook and you could be on the Cuestars website and in your local newspaper. E-mail: [email protected]