Billy Castle Chandlers Ford Roll-Up champion

With the Eastleigh and District Under-19 Premier trophy already on his mantelpiece, Castle heads into the final Cuestars under-15 tournament of the season leading Salisbury’s Ryan Burdett by 19 points.

Castle dominated the 20-week Roll-Up campaign, chalking up nine finals, four tournament wins and a record points’ tally. Dad Derek believes that the week-long national tournament at Pontin’s in February “opened his eyes”.

He said: “When he came back from Prestatyn he was a different player. It’s been an incredible season.”

Castle is in the Winchester City and District Snooker League scratch singles and handicap singles semi-finals. And he stars for the Chandler’s Ford junior team that finished runner-up in the Winchester Premier League and the Cuestars Section Team Challenge.

Castle’s coach, ex-Saints star Ken Jones, said: “I think he’s the most improved player in the club.”

The youngster has secured sponsorship from TJM Groundworks for next season’s EASB Regional Junior Tour.

Nick Jennings fired in 59 against Matt Windsor in the last eight and beat Castle in the final, to finish fourth. Arron McIntyre won the race for second by one point after Jason Hildyard lost 3-2 on the black to Glenn Shefford in the Plate. Scott McGaw chalked up a 55 to beat 11-year-old Jordan Winbourne, who replied with 23, 28, and 26. In his last Roll-Up, Mike Finn hammered in six breaks of more than 50, including a century.

Alex Dunkley, 18, knocked in the record 100th half-century of the series chalking up 81 against Winbourne, minutes after Dan Hildyard rattled in 74 against Ollie Tydeman.

Jones added: “The standard has never been higher. In my day if you made a 40 you got headlines in the paper.”

Series-11 starts on Saturday 12 May at 1pm. For details, contact Jim Everett (+442380254834"). The Chandler’s Ford £1,000 Under-21 Roll-Up is a handicapped best-of-five knockout with a best-of-three Plate for first round losers. The handicaps are weighted towards the better players. In series-10, 17 of the 32 players have competitive half-centuries to their name, including five who have recorded centuries.

Final positions: Billy Castle £200, Arron McIntyre £150, Jason Hildyard £100, Nick Jennings £90, Daniel Woods £80, Ollie Tydeman £70, Shane Castle £55, Lee Ashbolt £47.50, Dan Hildyard £47.50, Peter Maraziotis £40, Scott McGaw £35, Mike Finn £30, Jordan Sainsbury £22.50, Lee Roling £22.50 and Jordan Winbourne £10.

Picture by Kevin Legg