Height climbs higher on Seniors Tour
SOUTH West snooker star James Height has taken the lead in the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour rankings.
The potter from Shepton Mallet clinched a second tournament win out of three to move two points clear of defending champion John Hunter.
Height pocketed £100 prize money after beating third-placed Matt Ford 2-0 in the final of the sixth leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.
It was a reversal of the previous final in Swindon last month.
Ford (Bracknell), who needed the black plus a re-spot in the decider to defeat Hunter (Andover) in the last-four, lost the opening frame but looked like forcing a decider at 52-0 up in the second.
However, Height clawed back 23 points, picked up another 20 from a snooker behind the blue in baulk on the last red and produced a high-quality clearance to the pink.
Earlier, he posted the day’s highest break of 81 against Neil Carroll in the group stages of the event sponsored by Muddiman Building Services.
Height, who overcame Carl Davies (Bournemouth) 2-1 in the semis, won his maiden Cuestars tournament at Waterlooville Sports Bar last December.
Southampton pair Carroll and Paul Lawrence were the unlucky runners-up from the five groups of five who missed out on a place in the knockout by one frame.
Salisbury Snooker Club hosts the seventh leg of eight on Sunday, March 22.
For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.muddimanbuilding-services.co.uk.
BREAKS
James Height: 81, 45, 43.
John Hunter: 79, 60, 49.
Wayne Muddiman: 70.
Carl Davies: 57.
Matt Ford: 49.
Neil Carroll: 47.
Raj Puri: 43.
Dan Hammond: 42, 40.
Paul Lawrence: 42.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Darren Johnson (Petersfield Bowls & Snooker Club); 3rd, Martin Wallace (Crucible, Newbury); 4th, Paul Bailey (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Dave Nunn (Chandlers Ford SC).
GROUP B: 1st, James Height (SWSA, Gloucester); 2nd, Neil Carroll (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Cath Bailey (147, Swindon); 4th, Adrian Gee (147 SC, Swindon); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC).
GROUP C: 1st, Carl Davies (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, Matt Ford (Sunninghill Comrades); 3rd, Dan Hammond (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, Shane Hatfield (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 5th, Jeff Payne (West Byfleet Social Club).
GROUP D: 1st, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 2nd, Paul Burt (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Raj Puri (Hartley Country Club); 4th, Jim Robinson (Bournemouth Constitutional Club); 5th, Terry Harbord (Bournemouth Constitutional Club).
GROUP E: 1st, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Paul Lawrence (Park Gate RBL); 3rd, Adam Denham (Keynsham Cons); 4th, Graham Leech (Crucible, Newbury); 5th, Herman Desmier (Bournemouth Constitutional Club).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (12 pts, £10): Hunter 2-1 Burt, Ford 2-0 Ashton, Davies 2-0 Muddiman, Height 2-1 Johnson.
SEMI-FINALS (15 pts, £30): Ford 2-1 Hunter, Height 2-1 Davies.
FINAL (25/18 pts, £100/£50): Height 2-0 Ford.
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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)