Cowdroy: tutoring kids has made me a winner again
BRADLEY Cowdroy reckons tutoring kids in English and maths has sparked his upturn in form on the snooker table since the beginning of the year.
The 20-year-old from Bournemouth continued his fine run by winning his first event on the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour since before the initial Covid-19 lockdown in March, 2020.
Cowdroy, who pocketed £100 in prize money, wrapped up a 3-1 victory over home player Oliver Sykes with a 64 break in the final of the seventh leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.
“It’s been a while,” he said. “Oliver’s playing brilliantly at the moment. I heard he’s knocking in a lot of centuries.
“It’s aways enjoyable playing him. You know you are testing yourself against a very, very good player.”
Since the turn of the year, Cowdroy has collected a £1,000 jackpot for winning the Pro-Am Series at Waterlooville Sports Bar, reached the last-64 of the World Snooker Federation Championship in Sheffield and regained his place on the EPSB Under-21 Premier Development Tour.
Cowdroy explained that a lot of this has to do with the relationships he has built with workmates at Explore Learning, an organisation which helps children with their English and maths.
“Everything’s in a really good place,” he said. “When I’m happy off the table, it brings out my best on the table.
“I’m looking forward to Q School (and the chance of turning professional).”
Prolific century-breaker Oliver made the day’s highest break of 111 against clubmate Steven Hughes in his first round-robin group match. Jamie Wilson (Havant) knocked in a 104 against Riley Ellis.
A total of 19 breaks of 50 or more were recorded by the high-quality field for the event sponsored by Pitman Training.
Connor Benzey (Eastleigh) now leads the rankings by five points from Wilson with one leg remaining.
For more information about the event sponsor, go to www.pitman-training.com.
Waterlooville Sports Bar hosts the eighth and final leg on Sunday, May 15.
BREAKS
Oliver Sykes: 111, 72, 60, 55, 50
Jamie Wilson: 104, 81, 70, 50.
Bradley Cowdroy: 95, 69, 64, 50, 50, 49, 41.
Steven Hughes: 75, 42.
Mickey Joyce: 70, 62.
Connor Benzey: 66, 51.
GOLD RESULTS
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 3rd, Connor Benzey (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Ryan Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC).
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 3rd, Steven Hughes (Chandlers Ford SC); 4th, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, Elliott Johnson (London Snooker, Tooting).
SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Cowdroy 3-1 Wilson, Sykes 3-0 Joyce.
FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Cowdroy 3-1 Sykes.