FORMER Town Champion Billy Castle hopes he’ll never again compete on the Cuestars South of England Championship Tour.

The rankings winner rounded off his triumphant season by winning the last leg at the home of the series sponsor.

A semi-final exit in Bournemouth last month had already secured the 24-year-old from Marchwood a free place at Q School in Preston in May and the chance of fulfilling his dream of turning professional.

But he finished the campaign in style by overcoming ex-professional Bradley Jones 3-1 in the final at Frames Sports Bar, Coulsdon.

“It’s been a good season,” he said. “There’s been a lot of good players on the Championship Tour and hopefully next year it carries on like that.

“If I’m not on the (Main) Tour, I’ll have another go at it.”

Castle took the opening frame despite calling a foul on himself while potting the frame-ball green.

Jones, who appeared in the Coral Shoot Out in Watford in February, leveled on the colours but needed snookers on the blue in the third frame.

And the 42-year-old from South Croydon carefully laid his cue in its case with four reds remaining in the fourth.

Castle said: “It was the first time I’d played Bradley. He played on TV the other day and he’s a former pro so he knows the game inside out.”

And he added: “It’s been a tough day but I managed to get the win.

“It’s nice to do it at the home of the sponsor and it’s nice to win it on a Star table. It puts me in good stead for Q School.”

Castle at least reached the semi-finals in all eight legs, winning three and finishing runner-up three times.

Riccardo Drayton, 11, who made his first Bronze outing in February, made the long trip up from Chandler’s Ford and edged Peter Chin (Newbury) 2-1 in his opening group match.