Hannah Jones - World Snooker Champion and England International.

Catch up May 2008, exams and world champ!

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:09:00 +0000

Hello

I am sorry for not updating my blog. I have been very busy. I am about to sit my SAT exams and am getting ready for my new school year in Ecclesbourne secondary school. I am very excited about it.

I have just been to the World Championships in Cambridge. I have been practicing very hard for this tournament and have been playing well in the EASB junior tournaments taking frames and matches off very good players. My breaks in practice and matches have been more consistent.

I played very well in the World Championships. I came 4th in my group which is my best finish since I started playing in the championships in 2006. I won 2 matches and came close against the 2007 World Billiards Champion Chitra Magimairaj in our frames even though I lost 3-0. I made it to the semi finals of the World Plate event and lost in 2 close frames to the winner Malgorzata Sikorska - we had played in the groups as well and I lost 2-1 to her. Before the semi finals I beat Jan Hughes 2-0 and Martina Lumsden 2-1.

On sunday 4th May I played in the World Ladies Junior Championships. I beat 15 year old Georgina Holloway 2-0 in the semi final and went into the final with alot of focus. I played 15 year old Joanne Davies and played my best match snooker ever to win the match 2-0. I pretended I was playing Reanne and concentrated really hard to pot the balls and play safe where I needed to. Mum and Dad were very excited and proud and couldn't believe that I had played so well. I had my photograph taken with Ellie, on my own and with Joanne and our referee Dan.

We came back home and I took my trophy into school. My teacher Miss Lemmings was very excited when I showed her the trophy.

I am going to continue to practice my snooker but I also have to practice for my county pool game for Derbyshire ladies which is in 2 weeks. In my last match I won 4 out of 4 and got the player of the match. Dad was playing for the County mens B team and got 3 out of 4 which he was very happy with.

My dad has told me that I have been selected to play billiards for England in the Junior Nations Cup in Vienna in August. I was very excited to hear this. I love billiards but I don't play it that often. A couple of weeks ago I went to Pontins to play in the European Under 19 billiards tournament and played some of my team mates for the austrian tournament. I played well considering that I haven't been playing.

I came second in the Junior snooker red league last season and will be getting another trophy at the next exhibition at the club. This time though I am struggling and have found it difficult to win the close frames. There is plenty of time left though to move up the league table :)

That's all for now. I shall try and update my blog more often after sats. Thanks for looking at my website.

Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:48:00 +0000

Hi everyone, just letting you know how I got on in Thailand and what I got up to.

The flight from Heathrow to Bangkok was 10 HOURS and my legs were killing me and to make it worse when we landed it was boiling hot. We also had to wait about 40 mins for the bus and a further 4 hours to get to the hotel.

The hotel was really nice and we got a great room too.

I won 3 frames overall and I came close to taking a frame or two off a world champion as well! I was very nervous in my first few matches but settled down in the end and relaxed.

1st I played Chai Zeet Huey and lost 3-0 she was a very good player and she had a 50 break against me, then I played Diana Bukina and lost 3-1. I had a chance to win the match but lost out when I was in snookers. I then played Santhinee Jaisekul the Thai lady and lost 3-0, she was very good indeed and beat me easily. She has a strange cue action but it really works and she pots balls from everywhere.

I played the russian Kharlova Svetlana next and lost a close 3-2 which, again, I could have turned into a match win if it wasn't for tough snookers and miss calls.

I then played Wendy Jans (the world champ) and lost 3-0 but took her to the blue in the 1st frame and close in the other frames. Wendy wasn't feeling her best as she had a bad sunburn. It is always nice to play the best ladies because I can learn from playng them.

I finally played Yu Ching Ching and lost this match 3-0. Yu Ching-Ching played very well and the Asia seems to have alot of very good players, including a brilliant young 12 year old called Nicha who played Reanne in the group stages.

I practiced with Michael Rhodes, Reanne Evans, Dan Ward and Reanne Evans. The England team inluding Colin Mitchell were brilliant with me out there and spent alot of time with me. David had 10 centuries before he was ust knocked out in the last 16 to Stefan Mazrocis.

It hasn’t just been the snooker though I have been swimming, going to the gym and I got a massage. I have also been doing my homework which consisted of maths and english which included reading.

I also met a girl called Nicole and she is 14. Her mum is Kathy Parashis who represents Australia. Nicole was brilliant and so was her mum. They took me to the zoo one day and I saw lots of animals; snakes, monkeys, massive spiders, leopards, cheetahs, lions, tigers, elephants, emus, rhinos and lots more.

We went to the mall to eat a few times to have a change from the hotel food which was usually chicken satay or burgers and chips. The mall has lots of shops and an amusement arcade where I beat David Lilley in a car racing game after he had beaten my dad. I also beat him in air hockey (david is you are watching hahahah) There are big fish there as well, approximately 7ft catfish called giant catfish, sharks and sting rays.

To get to the mall we had to use a tuk tuk. Tuk tuks are little 3 wheeled bikes with seats on the back, there is a picture of one in my picture gallery. The tuk tuk drivers used to race against each other, very fast, and there are no seat belts in them. Also there are no sides to the bikes which made it very exciting but also scary. Dad was frightened when we first went on one because we were in different tuk tuks, I was with Dan and Reanne, and we were in front going through tiny gaps very fast and he was unhappy that the drivers were driving so fast with me.

I also went to the tiger temple on Friday as well and I got to hold a tigers head while it was sleeping and have a photo with the cubs they were so cute. The journey was 5 hours each way and we went to Kwae. I walked across the bridge over the River Kwae and dad told me about the history of the bridge and how the prisoners of war built it along with civilian prisoners. We went to the cemetary as well. It was very interesting. We stopped at a roadside cafe and ate some Thai food which was OK. When we got to the temple I was dressed all in pink and they wouldnt let me in because you cannot wear pink in front of the lions so my dad bought me a T-shirt and I wore his coat as a skirt. You can see that in the photographs. I had a preying mantis on my back as well. Not like the normal bugs in this country.

We had the celebration dinner at the end of the event and there was a world karaoke champion there who sang a song to me and I had to get up and dance with Nicole. It was great.

Coming back home was longer on the plane, about 14 hours and when we got back dad drove home. We got back into the house at 1am.

I have Reannes trophy which is awesome and have taken it to school to show my friends, with her permission.

I am back now and practising for the England Under 16's at Rushden on 8th December. I have played my first Junior league match since I got back and beat the Derbyshire under 15 champion Andrew Foster 3-2 which upset him a bit I think. That means that I have only lost 1 game out of 6 matches and have a chance to stay in the top league at the end of the season.

Red league snooker

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 10:39:00 +0000

I won the junior snooker club green league last season and now play in the red league which has the derbyshire under 17 champion in it Tom Kerslake.

I have done very well so far with 2 wins from 2 games. I played Tom Kerslake yesterday and lost the first frame, I won the second frame and the third frame to lead 2-1 but then I lost the next 2 frames. It was still a good result and should keep me from the bottom of the table. That was my goal for this first season. I have set goals for this year with my dad. I shall write about them later.

I had a late birthday party at the snooker club with my friends. There were 13 people who came to it. It was a pool/snooker party and everyone enjoyed themselves. There was lots of food and everyone was playing for prize money. I just walked around helping people to play.

catch up.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:48:00 +0000

Hi everyone,

Sorry i haven't been doing my blog recently. I have been busy practising so here's the latest news.

I recently made a 56! in practice and I know I have made breaks before but I am more more consistent now and i keep getting higher breaks over 20. It's cool.

I played in the East Anglian Ladies Championships in Cambridge. I had 4hours sleep the night before and half an hour sleep in the car on the way to the match. It was very tiring and i lost in the 1st round but i did play in the plate. I got through 2 rounds then into the final i was up against Vicky Ashby. I lost but it was close and I got a really nice trophy and i know tried my best.

!!!!BIG NEWS!!!! I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PLAY FOR ENGLAND IN THAILAND! I am very excited. I was very brave when i had the injections i had to have one in each arm the colour drained from my face because of shock. I am practicing hard to play well against the other ladies. I know it is going to be hard but it will be a great experience. I am going with Reanne which is brilliant. I will definately keep you updated while i am in Thailand and will do my blog and take pictures while I am there.

Ben Woollaston

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:24:00 +0000

Saturday 14th July:

I went down to my local snooker club for one of their junior exhibitions. The special guest was Ben Woollaston who was the European under 19 champion when he was an amateur, but now he is a pro GO BEN!!!! There is a draw but not for the players who play first and last. The winner of the green league plays first and the red League winner plays last.

I was chosen out of the bag and selected to play Ben in the second game. I was very nervous but tried my best I played a couple of good shots including safetys but Ben was too good.

He was trying very hard to get a century and he managed it in his last game of the exhibition. It was excellent and everyone was very impressed with him and his game. We had photographs taken and Ben presented me with an exceptional achievement keepsake to replace the main trophy I won a year ago.

I will be keeping an eye on Ben and hope that he does really well in the pro game this year.

Belgium

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 19:30:00 +0000

Hi everyone here's what I've been up to lately, I went to the European Team Championships in Belgium with my fave player in the ladies game, World Ladies Snooker Champion and World Number 1 Reanne Evans.We came third in the tournament in the third and fourth play offs. We had a chance to it make to final of the major tournament when we had a decider against Belgium 1, Wendy Jans and Isabelle Jonkheere. Reanne played very well but Wendy put her in a tough snooker which Reanne struggled to get out of.

Reanne was excellent during the tournament. It was a great experience for me and I know she carried me in our matches but I did try my best. I even played on Belgium television and made a 20 break winning the televised frame against Belgium 2.

I was and am very proud to have been picked to play for my country.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:41:00 +0000

Hi everybody, sorry I haven't been doing my blog I have been very busy with school and snooker but here's what I have been doing.

I went on holiday to haven holiday camp not so long ago and it was great. On the way down my legs were hurting really bad because we had been sitting in the car for so long around 6 hours. When we got out of the car I was relieved and stretched my legs which felt really good. We had to go to the local shop for food and then we had to unpack but it wasn't all bad. We went to a show that night and played a family prize bingo it was really fun, then we played in the arcade for a while.

The next day was different because we had lots more fun.

First we went swimming i had to go to the shop to buy Ellie(my cheeky little sister) some armbands. They had a massive water slide which unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go on:( in the night we did the same as the night before but stayed longer.

This time we had a pop party mix, games (me and my dad won a game)Ellie played a game on stage called sit in the bucket and lots more. The next day we went to the beach I skipped a pebble over the sea and played with Ellie in the sand, after that we had a really nice meal.

HANNAH J

Hannah's dad

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:53:00 +0000

Hi,

This is Hannah's dad. Sorry that she has not been updating her blog lately but she has been a very busy girl. Hannah has played in Belgium in the European Team Championships. She has played in the World Ladies Championships and also at Pontins in the 8-11 tournament. During this busy schedule Hannah has been writing into a journal so that she can update her blog readily.

Hannah is on holiday at the moment (half term) and will be attending the Snooker Academy tomorrow to practice and meet up with her friends from this years Pontins Star of the Future tournament.

So, Hannah will be updating her blog soon - possibly after her venture into an EABA billiards junior tour played at the Cueball club, Derby on Sunday.

Oh and Hannah has also been selected to play for England again in the European Championships in Carlow in June!!!!

For good measure I have also changed her blog to pink which I think will really make her day.

Many thanks for reading her website and this blog.

The billiards tornement

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:54:00 +0000

I went to the Derbyshire Billiards Handicap tournament last sunday in the North East Derbyshire snooker club. When I got there I found out I had to play Bill Morris. I had to get to 90 to win the match so I tried really hard to reach my goal but Bill Morris was on top form and played really well. I unfortunetly lost to Bill but he deserved it(well done Bill :-]). My dad beat Bill in the next round which put Bill back in the plate.

In the plate I got drawn to play Bill again!!!!! This time I easily beat him.

Next I played Frank Sharrat who kept swearing if he missed a shot which got worse as I beat him quite easily as well. After the match Frank was angry and said to the organiser(Mark Hird) "Women and kids should not be allowed in the game" he said some more bad things and walked off. He must have really hated losing to me.

At this point I was through to the semis and I played Graeme Sutton and it was a hard match but I got fully focussed to get into the final. My potting was getting better and better and I could see the cannons and in offs as well.

In the final I played Les Cooke - who was 77 years old - he is a very good player and it was very close too but there had to be one winner and right at the very end I focussed so much to win THE PLATE and I won £15 for it.

My dad picked me up and carried me around, he was so happy and proud. I really enjoyed the day and especially the win! My first adult tournament win. :-]

The best news.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:42:00 +0000

I have just had the best news ever! I have been selected to play for England in a team with Reanne Evans. I think it is the most fabaroony poony pig pong piny arabaka chara chin chong cool thing that has ever happened to me!!!!

I can't wait to go to Belgium and play for my country.

When my dad told me I was jumping up and down the room saying yipeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!! I still cannot believe it.

Billiards quarter final.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 16:18:00 +0000

130-150 - john lea.

I played John Lea in the Intermediate Billiards Championship quarter final at Evington. Dad refereed for me and I played very well. Before we started to play John Lea told me he was 77 and asked me to write my autograph in his diary. He was a lovely man. I tried my best to play and at one point I was in front 127 points to 123 but John started playing better and made some breaks to win 150-130. Dad was so happy again because I think he was expecting me to finish around the 85 mark.

John Lea offered to teach me billiards and came to my club to teach me billiards after my junior snooker club on saturday. I practiced in offs for ages and he was impressed.

An exciting day - My first English Amateur Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 16:17:00 +0000

I went to Wille Thornes club to play in my first ever English Amateur Championship. I was really excited. I already knew that I was going to play Kyren Wilson who won the Pontins 2006 under 16 championship. I was really looking forward to playing him.

Dad told me that if I won a frame I would get £10 and if I won the match I would get £50. That really got me excited to play and try and win.

When we got to the club I went around the club with Alex showing him the tables and different rooms that they play in. Then the draw was called out and I ended up playing Kyren on Ben Woollastons table. It was beautiful. Very tight and fast. I potted the first balls of the match but found that the white ball went further than I thought and I struggled to pot a colour. I even snookered myself on my third pot red, but I got out of the snooker and hit the blue ball which I called. My dad has been playing bowls with me on the snooker table and it has helped me see the angles.

Kyren struggled to start with but eventually started playing well. I did pot some good balls in the first but I was far behind and dad told me on the way down to play to the black ball in the first frame regardless of the score so that I could calm down and enjoy the game. I lost the first frame.

I played alot better in the 2nd frame and potted lots of balls. I finished it with a yellow to pink clearance to win the 2nd frame. Dad was so proud standing in the door watching. I just went over to him and said £10 with a big smile on my face.

Kyren won the rest of the frames by playing well, but I did put together some little breaks and I potted some good balls. Kyren apparently went over to dad and said he thought I was a great little potter.

Dad gave me my £10 for winning a frame and we went outside to get some food. I then played 9 ball pool with Peter who was there watching the championship with his dad. We made up a game called Bool, which is like pool but you can nominate in-offs when you are in trouble to carry on your break.

I had a lot of fun today and really enjoyed the atmosphere at the club and with all the people watching. I was nervous but I enjoyed it.

Christmas Cheer.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 18:35:00 +0000

My Auntie Dawn, Uncle Andy and cousins Abigail and Francesca came to stay overnight before Christmas Eve. I had so much fun with them that I was upset they were going but I was happy that is was CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!! When they had gone I went to play with my baby sister, Ellie, who was over the moon that Santa was coming. By the time it went dark Ellie and I were so excited. Before we went to bed we put milk and mince pies out for Santa and an apple and water out for his reindeer.

In the morning I got up and SANTA HAD BEEN. I woke up Ellie and she was so excited that she woke mum and dad up straight away. She was shouting and shaking she was so happy. Mum said that we could open 2 presents. First I had a Dr Who bathtime set and a Busy Girls diary. I loved them. My sister got some Dora stuff it was really fun. Later we went to my Granny's house for Christmas lunch where I saw my 3 cousins, Granny, Grandad and Auntie and Uncle.

When we got there we went in to the most lovely cooking smell. I could't wait either because Dr Who was coming back on that night with a Christmas special about a bride who appears in his tardis. I was so excited! When it was time for dinner I helped take all the food into the dining room. There was sprouts, broccoli, stuffing, mashed potato, roast potato, suede and carrot mash, sauces, sausages in bacon and the massive turkey. It was really really tasty.

After dinner me and georgina (I call her gem)went to play charades and I won. After that we went for pudding, I had warm custardd and gem had cold custard I thought it was gross. Finally the moment we had been waiting for, DR WHO. it was really really really x100,000,000 really good and Cathrin Tate was WOW really good and funny as well.

Update

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:34:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't updated my blog recently but I have been very busy in school doing my school play and learning my tap routines for my dance show in the New Year. I haven't had much time to practice either but here goes on whats been happening in the past couple of weeks.

Exhibition with Mark Allen
My junior club arranged to get Mark Allen to come and do an exhibition at our club last saturday morning. I met Mark at the World Ladies Snooker Championships in Cambridge and got to play him in the World Mixed Doubles. It was me and Nigel Bond against Mark and Reanne!!!! I was really excited to play them. They beat us and went on to win the title.

At the exhibition everyone puts their names into a pot and they get drawn by members of the audience. I was so happy to find my name drawn out after about 4 games. I felt very relaxed because I knew Mark and I potted very well. The frame went to the green ball before Mark potted green, brown and blue to take the frame. I really enjoyed the day and practiced after that with my dad before the Junior Tour 3 event on the following day.

Junior Tour 3 at Stockport
I didnt get the best of starts today because I stayed up to watch the final of X Factor and watched as Leona won. I would love to go on X Factor when I am 16. Anyway we got up early and picked up Alex on the way. We got to the club. It was massive there were over 35 snooker tables there. The place was very cold though and I had to keep my cardigan on to practice. I warmed up though when I played my matches. I started playing against Oliver Brown. We have played against each other on a few occasions recently and although there has been a number of black ball games I haven't won a single one of them. This time Oliver played well, the first frame was quite close, the second frame was an easy win for Oliver and the last frame I won easily but at least I have won a frame from him.

I played some excellent players today including Ollie, Robert Adams, Gordon Lam, Sean Pritchard and Sameer Knight. The only frame I won was against Oliver but I had a great day and dad keeps telling me that the experience will pay off. I do see frames differently in matches now though. We got back to the house at 8:30pm and I went to bed. I was shattered.

The draw was done for the English Amateur Championships in the new year. I was drawn first out of the hat again.

War memorial
I played on wednesday night at Beaconsfield club - the club that I won my first ever Billiards match in the Derby Institutes Adult league. I played Colin Routledge who is a great billiard player and he plays in the A division snooker team for Beaconsfield. We were playing in the War Memorial trophy, in the last 32. The first frame was a great frame for me and I beat him fairly easily. The second frame was different. I went in off a number of times off the black and pink and Colin kept me snookered tight to the baulk colours. I got out of every escape, which I put down to my dad teaching me bowls on the snooker table (I will talk about that later), but I left him in. The frame went to the black ball. I went for a long double and left the ball over the yellow pocket and Colin potted it to win the second frame. The third frame was more like the first. The big colours went safe half way through the frame. I needed 2 balls from the green. It went to the blue and I potted a long blue into the black corner pocket and cut a pink from the yellow pocket along the baulk line into the green pocket. Dad was amazed and asked my why I took the pot on. I saod it was because he had told me to concentrate on my pots and I could pot it. Colin was really nice afterwards. Dad beat him the next night in the War Memorial Billiards tournament, so it wasnt a good week for Colin to play the Jones family.

That's all for now I will try and keep this up to date now that the holidays are here.

I'm on the BBC :-)

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:56:00 +0000

My dad had a phone call from the BBC yesterday asking if I would like to go to the UK Championships and appear on the television LIVE!

I said YES!

It is on Saturday, BBC2 at 11:45 in the morning and I think I am going to be playing trick shots with a professional.

-------------

We went to York on the Saturday morning. There was my dad, myself and Roger, my coach. I found out that I was going to be doing the Sportsround piece with Steve Davis. I was so excited. When steve arrived I went over to say hello. Steve was very happy to see me and remembered me from the Crucible. Shortly after steve had arrived we did some rehersals. We played a trick shot called the snowflake, it looked very hard but it was very easy when Steve showed me what to do and I played it. Steve missed it about 6 times in pratice but that was just to make sure he got the pace of the shot, but I only missed it 1 time. I did what Steve asked me to do and played it at the pace he suggested. When we were live steve didn't miss it and neither did I. It was really fun. After we went to the players lounge, we were put on the World Snooker database and we had our picture taken so that they would know who we were when we went again. I met Graeme Dott, John Higgins, John Parrot, Dennis Taylor, Stephen Macquire and Terry Griffiths. They were all really nice.

World Snooker Academy Sheffield.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:44:00 +0000

I went to play at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield today. My dad has put new pictures in the gallery.

I practised all day and got to play Roger and my dad. I took a frame off Roger and I also took a frame off my dad.

The tables were awesome. The pockets are the tightest that I have ever played on and the cloth is lightening fast, so are the cushions. I only had to tap the cueball and it would bounce a long way off the cushion. I did get to grips with it after about 30 minutes. Roger thought it would take me a lot longer. I had about 5 breaks over 30 today but nothing more.

I carried on playing and Sam Thistlewhite came in to practice. He was at the last Junior Tour event. He is an excellent snooker player and he was good to watch.

I then played a friend of Barry Stark who was playing there. We drew 1-1 and then I had to go home. I had been playing for 6 hours in all. I wanted to keep on playing but Dad and Roger had enough and were falling asleep.

I loved today and I may go there again sometime in the future.

Derbyshire Young Achievers, British Open and Junior Tour 2

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:47:00 +0000

I just found out that I have been selected to receive a Derbyshire Young Achievers Award. My headteacher has nominated me for it and my teacher was very impressed. I was shocked to find out about it.

I am picking up my award in December and will write about it then. My family are coming to the presentation as well and I am sure that Dad will take some photographs.

I was on BBC Radio Derby last friday night. I went to practice down the snooker club with Rita Holmes, 4 times British Champion first and she saw me practice for the first time. She said that she was very impressed because I cleared the table with 6 reds left but I did break down 3 times during it. Rita is 73 now and playing snooker for the first time in 43 years. We went to the Radio station to talk about the British Open and our age gap. It was really good and I got to speak to a presenter who I had not seen before. He asked me loads of questions. He asked me who my closest rivals were and I didn't know what he meant so I shrugged and he thought I was being polite. lol.

I played in the Ladies British Open on the weekend at my snooker club. I lost to Katie Henrick in the last 16 of the main tournament. She is a very good player and she made it to the semi finals.

I played in the plate tournament and won my first ever knockout match against Laura Alves. This put me in to the semi final where I played Christine Sharpe. She beat me 2-0 but I did have a chance to draw level in the 2nd frame. I needed the blue and played it but went in off the pink and left Christine in to clear up and take the frame. Christine played alot better this time and went on to win the plate tournament. Well done Christine.

I stayed to watch a bit of the final between Reanne Evans and June Banks. It was exciting to watch but I left before they finished because I was tired and had to play the next day.

The next day I played in the Junior Tour 2 (under 21's) at the club again and i was still tired from playing and watching the final the day before. First i had sam thistlewhite and lost 3-0 but i was very unlucky because i kept going in off but he was a very good player. Then i had a break and dad bought me a chocolate bar. I don't know what happened but in the next game I played some of my best match snooker and won the match 3-0 against 14 year old Nick Lambert. Nick didn't play as well as he usually does.

I had another break and played Jake Nicholson. He is a very good player and beat me 3-0. I was very tired at this point and needed a rest, but I carried on. I played Ryan Clark he beat me 3-0 but I played really well and went ahead in the first frame. He put me in a snooker after missing a pot and I couldnt get out of it. He called a Miss on me and kept putting the ball back. I went from being in front to being all square. He potted to the pink and left me a tough pink and black which I got for a re-spotted black. He won the coin toss and I played a poor safety which he potted. Ryan beat me easily in the next game but in the last game I played better and had a chance to take the frame.

In my last game I played Oliver Brown. I played Oliver in the Under 14's. We had a couple of close games and I lost on 1 black ball game but again I still lost 3-0. I was shattered after that last game and I came home. Afterwards I thought about the weekend and am happy with the way that I played. It was good experience and I did enjoy it but it was alot of work.

My next tournament is the English Under 16's in a few weeks.

Billiards, Bonfire knockout, Bonfire night.

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:26:00 +0000

I played billiards on thursday night with my dad at the Beaconsfield club. It was my first ever match and I was really excited to be playing alongside my dad. We went to the club and I played first. My handicap is 85UP and I played R Wood who is off 110UP. I played really well and dad and Drew were impressed with the way I played. Drew and Roger gave me some coaching before I played and I learnt alot from them. I had a 19 break as well which dad recorded on his phone. He wanted to put the footage on the internet but the video wont transfer to his computer properly. We won the billards match 3-0 as well.

On saturday I played in the Junior Snooker Club Bonfire Knockout tournament. It was an exciting day because I got to the semi final of the main tournament. I lost to Dan Brown who beat me on the final pink. He went on to play Tom Kerslake in the final who won it.

I played Nick Black then for 3rd and 4th place and beat him.

I then played billiards with Jimmy Gratton - my dads friend. I beat him in the beginning, but I was teaching him some of the shots. We then played again and he played very well and beat me.

Dad did the competition draws for the Derby Institutes and I have been drawn to play with Alex Anastasiou against Scott Hassall and Lee Shanker in the doubles. I have also been drawn to play N Tatler in the War Memorial.

We went to Castleton in the night to see my Auntie Dawn and Uncle Andy. We had a firework display and sparklers. It was excellent. Ellie loved the fireworks and didn't want it to stop.

On Sunday night my dad was involved in running the local firework display for the village. The display was very good and the bonfire was really high.

The EASB under 14 championship is on Saturday at Willie Thornes snooker club in Leicester. I am drawn against Ollie Brown and James Paul in my group with the winner going on to play in the playoff. I will write about it on the weekend.

East Anglian Ladies Championship

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:53:00 +0000

Last friday night I went to Cambridge to stay over for the competition on the Saturday. I went with Joanne Davies and her dad and Roger our coach.

Jo was busy texting her new boyfriend Alex. (Now I am in trouble).

We stayed at a Travellodge but this time the fire alarm didnt go off and we had a really good sleep.

Jo had forgotten her shoes and we had to get up early on Saturday to find a place that sold shoes. We went to Asdas near the club and Jo bought some shoes. Then we went to Sainsburys to buy breakfast.

When we went to the club we had some practice before the game and watched all of the top players come in. Reanne, Maria, June, Katie and Suzie.

I was drawn against Jenny Poulter in the main competition. Jenny win 3-0. I tried to play a different game today playing more position and safe shots instead of just potting. I played well but didn't really get many chances to pot balls.

In the last 16 of the plate I drew Eva Palmius the World number 6 player.I didn't lost a frame against her. I won on the black in the first frame and cleared from the green to win the second frame - on the pink.

In the quarter finals I played Christine Sharpe the World number 4 player and English Ladies international player.

I carried on playing well and could have won the first frame losing on the black ball. In the second frame I won easily. The last frame went to the brown and I missed the brown altogether because I used the full extention on my cue and the normal rest. Still it was a good day for my but I would have liked to play Suzie Opacic in the semi finals.

Reanne beat June in the main final. Well done Reanne.

I met Peter Bainbridge who runs Cuefactor with my dads friend Neil Tomkins. He gave me his own brown wristband which shows what my handicap is. My dad had a pink one. lol.

Dad and Roger was very happy with me and dad gave me £10 for my phone.

Jo had a tough day and lost to Gaye Jones and Suzie Opacic.

I had a day off on Sunday and played with Ellie.

I went to practice today and had another good day. Roger was helping me with my positional shots and I played some frames against Roger, Paul Beech and my dad. I even played a whole frame with my dad just using the rest. It was very difficult, but it helped me to understand how to use it, and it was fun.

I am just about to watch the new Doctor Who. Will write again.

Byeeeee.

Coalville handicap October 2006

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:01:00 +0000

Hiya,

I went to Coalville yesterday with my dad and Joanne and Alex from the Junior Club. We had a great day there. I reached the quarter finals of the main event and played Alex. He beat me 2-1 and then went on to reach the final of the main event. Jo also reached the quarter final but then lost. We played in the plate event and both lost in the first round. My dad got through to the final without losing a single frame. At one point he was giving 77 points a frame start. He played really well yesterday.

Dad and Alex then played each other in the final with Dad winning 2-0. He played well and hardly missed anything. Alex seemed just to be happy in his first final. Well done both.... Dad and Alex will have their handicaps reduced for the next tournament. I played OK yesterday abit on and off really but I think I am getting better everytime I play in competitions. It was also really good practice for the East Anglian Ladies Championship next saturday in Cambridge.

Disco, Junior Snooker League and EASB Junior Tour Event 1

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:29:00 +0000

On friday night I went to the school disco and showed everyone the dance moves.

On Saturday I played in the Junior Snooker League. I played Elliot Anastasiou, who is a good player. He beat me in the first frame. I won the second with a 21 break - which at the time was the highest of the green league. Jo beat it 20 minutes later with a 22. I lost the last frame. I had some coaching with Roger and he got me to change the way I approach the shot. It made me pot more balls and it is something that I need to practice as much as possible to improve my game.

After snooker we packed up the car and my dad drove us to Hartlepool. We stayed at the Premier Travel inn on the Marina. I went to practice at the Hartlepool snooker centre with my dad. We met John Hartley. He coaches the junior players at the club in snooker and billiards. He booked a table for me to play on.

I practiced with my dad at potting and trying to keep my head still on the shot.

After the practice we left and went my mums auntie dawns and uncle ians house. We had some lovely food there and I chatted to mums cousin Heather.

We got back to the hotel and settled down to sleep. The firealarm went off at 1am. Somebody set it off. Everyone ended up standing outside the hotel on the marina in the early hours of the morning. The manager of the hotel opened the pub so that we could stay warm while the firemen found out what set the alarm off. I couldn't get back to sleep when we went back to our room.

On Sunday I turned up at the snooker club and met my coach Roger who had kindly come up with Sandra to watch and support me. He showed me another way of approaching the shot and it seemed to help alot. I tried hard all day to walk in to the shot the same way and it really worked. I played 15 frames - more frames than I have played in a competition. It was a round robin 3 frames per person. I took 2 frames off 2 people. 1 frame off Tom Brown (who is coached by Nigel Bond) and could have won another one but he cleared up the colours to win. I took another frame off Kyle Boucher. I could have won the first 2 frames but I was a little unlucky on the colours. The frame won was the last frame of the day so I finished on a high. Dad didn't expect me to win a frame for my first year in competition. The 2 lads I beat were both 15 years old. I nearly took 2 frames off the runner up on the day Joel Walker. I think he was surprised by a little girl who could pot...:-) I also played Darren Cook an English Under 16 billiard champion and Under 19 billiard runner up who is now 15. I gave him a good first game to the colours but then he played much better than me and won 3-0.

After the competition we all went to eat food at a nearby restaurant with my Aunty Dawn, Roger and Sandra. After that we went home and my dad and I slept in the car while my mum drove.

For my first EASB junior tournament it has been excellent. I really enjoyed it. The next tournament is at the end of October and I cant wait because it is at the club that I play at.

2nd league match

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 19:47:00 +0000

I played Dan Swan today in the junior league and lost 2-0 :-(

My dad and Roger said that I played very well and I felt that I did but Dan potted alot of excellent balls and I gave him start which didnt really help. It was 2 black ball games though.

I really needed to win today to give myself a chance of top 3 at the end of the season so I was a little unhappy but if Dad is happy that I played well then that is ok.

There is a long way to go though so you never know.

I am playing in Hartlepool next weekend in the Junior Tour. The draw came through to me this morning and I am playing some of the best juniors in the country. I have to play 4 matches of 3 frames in a round robin which will give me some great match practice before the ladies anglian championship a week later.

The ladies tournament is going to be played in Cambridge where the World Ladies Championship is played.

Dr Who and Dance

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 20:20:00 +0000

I spent along time trying to get hold of Dr Who cards and finally I found some. I got them from the newsagents and also ordered some online.

If you visit www.battlesintime.com and log on as me, my user name is laila you will see what cards I have.

I went to dance on monday. I had my new tap shoes on and also tried my new jazz shoes as well. It was relly good I love dance soooooo much I cannot wait to get there next monday.

On friday I went to see a film called 'The Wild' after school in Ecclesbourne 6th form centre with Daniel and Amber. It was a really funny film.

Snooker this week has been up and down. I have played well and played not so well mainly because I was tired.

I had my friend Louis over on Wednesday night we played on the playstation. We had a really good time and also played a Doctor Who card match.

First league match today

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 18:31:00 +0000

The league has started in the Junior Club today and there are 2 leagues. The red league and the green league. I am in the green league with Jo Davies. Ladies UK quarter finalist :-)

I played Samuel and he played very very well. It was a good match considering it was his first time in the league and I won 2/1. In the first frame he was very unlucky very unlucky indeed but he still tried. In the second frame he potted some very good balls and beat me on the black. I won the last frame fairly easily though because I started to pot more balls.

My mum has made some business cards with my name and this website on them. They are for the teachers and my friends in school so that they can see what I am up to in the tournaments.

Thats all, byeeeee.

Congratulations Jo

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah Jones) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 18:56:00 +0000

My friend Jo Davies has had a great write up in the Derby Evening Telegraph.

Click here to read it

Well done Jo you deserve it for all of your hard work through the summer.