Lean, mean potting machine

Lee Ashbolt

“I still get another series after this one,” said the 20-year-old. “I want to win this one and then defend it.”

A totally focused Ashbolt eased through four matches at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club and beat his highest break. Keen to regain the form and fighting spirit that took him to the runners-up spot in series-nine, Ashbolt has embarked on a fitness regime.

“I’ve been going to the gym a lot,” he revealed, moments after wrapping up a 2-0 win against Shane Castle in the final. “I can keep my concentration longer. I knew I had to change something. I feel fitter and I’m obviously getting the rewards for it.”

Ashbolt (Mansbridge), who works at HSBC in Southampton, missed out on a first century in a 3-0 win over Dan Hildyard.

“I seemed to get a lot of confidence off my 88,” he said. “I played the yellow but it just died off the side cushion, so I was almost tight on the cushion, tried to roll the green in and just over cut it.”

Ashbolt, dubbed ‘The Lightning’, struck again with 3-0 wins over Kevin Impett (Totton) and Jason Hildyard (Fair Oak) to climb to joint fourth after six week’s action.

“I’ve been taking more time on my shots, especially the pressure shots,” he added. “I’m really trying to concentrate and zone in on the shots and I potted some good balls.”

If the handicap committee thought they could clip nine-year-old Shane Castle’s wings, then they needed a bigger pair of scissors. The rankings leader from Marchwood shrugged off the five-point penalty to wrap up a 3-0 win over James Channon, 21, with a 30, beat Glenn Shefford 3-0 and won 3-2 against Alex Dunkley, who recorded runs of 61 and 50.

After a first-round exit, school-leaver Dan Hildyard, 16, fired in 63 and 69 against Billy Castle before wrapping up a 3-1 Plate final victory over Jordan Sainsbury with a 65. Dunkley, 19, scored a 75 against 11-year-old Jordan Winbourne and Arron McIntyre beat the youngster in the Plate with a 53.

Picture by Kevin Legg