For you, grandad

BRADLEY Cowdroy has had to contend with a “massive negative in a year of positives” during his phenomenal run of success on the Cuestars snooker circuit.

The 20-year-old from Bournemouth has won five of the last six tournaments he has entered.

He extended his lead at the top of the Under-21 Gold Tour rankings after beating second-placed Oliver Sykes 3-2 in the final of the third leg at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

In October, Cowdroy won the Gold Tour event in Coulsdon and the second leg of the Championship Tour in Swindon.

“It’s a nice little run I’m putting together,” he admitted

Cowdroy credited coach Derek Walker for his good form but revealed that the death of his grandad Bob Farmer last month has also spurred him on.

“It’s been the one massive negative in a year of positives,” he said.

“I’ve had such a good year, results wise. I have such a good rapport with workmates. They are so supportive of me whenever I go off to a tournament.

“It’s devastating to lose grandad but I know he’s watching down and supporting me. I’m delighted I could win another one for him today.”

Home player Sykes, 16, recorded the day’s highest break of 102 in the first frame of his quarter-final victory over Will Forster (Wickham) and then beat former professional Jamie Wilson (Havant) 2-1 in the last-four.

English Under-14 Championship runner-up O’Shay Scott, 13, who is also based at Chandlers Ford SC, is fourth in the rankings – behind clubmate Riley Ellis – following a 2-0 defeat by Cowdroy in the semi-finals.

A total of 21 breaks of 50 or more were recorded during the event sponsored by Chandlers Ford Snooker Club and Simon Cocks Catering.

Discover more about the sponsors at simoncockscatering.co.uk or www.facebook.com/Sabrosocateringsouthampton and www.cfordsnooker.co.uk or www.facebook.com/ChandlersFordSnooker.

Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, hosts the fourth leg of ten on Sunday, December 4.

BREAKS

Oliver Sykes: 102, 79, 77, 60.
Bradley Cowdroy: 79, 53, 52, 51, 51, 51.
Jamie Wilson: 78, 68, 68, 66, 55, 52.
Ronnie Sullivan: 68.
Mickey Joyce: 65, 58.
O’Shay Scott: 56.
Simon Bubb: 52.

GOLD RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP A: 1st, Bradley Cowdroy (Greenbaize, Bournemouth); 2nd, William Harrison (Petworth RBL); 3rd, Will Forster (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 4th, Ronnie Sullivan (Dunstable Snooker Club).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP B: 1st, Oliver Sykes (Chandlers Ford SC); 2nd, Riley Ellis (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Simon Bubb (Gunnersbury Triangle Club); DNF, Elliott Johnson (London Snooker Tooting).

ROUND-ROBIN GROUP C: 1st, Jamie Wilson (Waterlooville Sports Bar); 2nd, O’Shay Scott (Chandlers Ford SC); 3rd, Mickey Joyce (Academy, Basingstoke); 4th, Riccardo Drayton (Chandlers Ford SC); 5th, John Donovan (Cousins, London).

QUARTER-FINALS (12 points): Sykes 2-0 Forster, Cowdroy 2-0 Joyce, Scott 2-1 Ellis, Wilson 2-0 Harrison.

SEMI-FINALS (15 points): Cowdroy 2-0 Scott, Sykes 2-1 Wilson.

FINAL (£100/£25, 25/18 points): Cowdroy 3-2 Sykes.