A DISABLED snooker player from Southampton was three frames short of winning a dream trip to Dubai.

Dave Moore had been a late call-up for the inaugural Parris Cues Champion of Champions (Groups 4+5) at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester, writes Tim Dunkley.

The invitational event brought together four winners or best performing players in each category on the World Disability Billiards and Snooker circuit over the last few seasons.

And the window cleaner from Bitterne certainly shone in the round-robin group stage.

Moore, who turns out for Woolston Social Club in the social clubs league, polished off David Weller 3-0, David Church 3-2 and Andy Johnson 3-2 but then lost 4-1 from 1-0 up to Church when the top two met again in the final.

“The quality of the event was amazing,” said Moore, whose right hand is smaller than his left but is able to compete despite also missing half his pectoral muscles. “All Star tables and run very professionally.

“I struggled a little with the pace and tightness of the pockets and the added pressure of an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai to play in the world amateur competition.”

Moore, who celebrated his 35th birthday the day after the final, had received an invite three days before the event because a player from India was forced to pull out.

All the category winners received entries to the World Snooker Federation Championship in Dubai next year. Talent agency Fizzthinks360 will help fund their accommodation costs and travel to and from the Middle East.

Junior league

SHE is the first girl for 17 years to win a round-robin group in the Premier division of the Eastleigh & District Under-13 League.

Fiona Cunningham collected a chocolate bar after beating two of her three opponents and surviving a three-way tie-break in the Saturday morning session at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

The eight-year-old, whose highest break is 18, said she likes snooker “because it’s fun and it helps me with my maths” and added that the best bit is “making high breaks”.

No girl has achieved this feat since Suzie Opacic, who is now aged 30 and ranked seventh on the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker circuit.

Fiona Cunningham (Photo by Tim Dunkley)

Fiona Cunningham (Photo by Tim Dunkley)

Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour

TWO of the region’s over-40s qualified for the knockout in the second leg of the Cuestars Seniors Tour at Fareham Snooker Club.

But a third can consider himself a tad unlucky after failing to progress from the group stages despite winning four of his five matches.

Paul Lawrence (Bitterne) was undefeated in his group and went down 2-1 to Dean Sycamore (Chichester) in the quarter-finals.

Wayne Muddiman (Fair Oak) also topped his group and lost 2-0 to Mike Quinnell (London) at the same stage.

Neil Carroll (Rownhams) was one of three players in his six-man round-robin group to lose only one match but he missed out on the head-to-head rule.

For more information about event sponsor Dransfields, go to www.dransfields.com.