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JOHN Hunter avenged his earlier defeat by former professional Mike Talmondt in emphatic style to claim the second leg of the Cuestars South of England Seniors (40+) Tour.
The 48-year-old from Andover, who also won the season opener at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club last month, compiled a 71 break in a one-frame final shootout to secure maximum points.
Former Portsmouth champion Talmondt, a pro in the 1990s, dispatched Hunter 2-1 in their round-robin group at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and agreed to split the £140 prize money when the pair met again in the final.
“I managed to win again,” Hunter understated.
“Mike beat me in the group stages. He’s a very good player and plays the right shots.”
Hunter said it was “fantastic” to see a 23-strong field following the record 30 at Chandler’s Ford.
Talmondt accounted for Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2-1 in the semi-finals, a reverse of their first-leg encounter.
Martin Wallace dropped just one frame in five group matches and a quarter-final clash with Martin Hill (Salisbury SC) before going out to Hunter in the last-four.
According to Cuestars records, home player Alan Thomas’s 46 break was his highest in competition.
Not to be outdone, Paul Rose, also from Jesters, managed a 36 and Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) weighed in with a 23.
The third leg of six is at Salisbury Snooker Club on Sunday, January 25.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 82, 71, 61.
Nick Birney: 79, 50.
David Farmer: 69.
Martin Hill: 68, 45.
Wayne Muddiman: 61, 58.
Paul Bateman: 61.
Mike Talmondt: 54, 42.
Alan Thomas: 46.
Neil Herd: 45.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Martin Hill (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Stephen Hills (Traders, Northfleet); 6th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, Mike Talmondt (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, David Farmer (No club); 4th, Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 5th, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 6th, Mark Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
GROUP C: 1st, Alex Thorn (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Jasbir Bansal (Woking SC); 3rd, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Jon Walker (Potting Shed, Aldbourne); 5th, David Volante (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP D: 1st, Martin Wallace (Crowthorne RBL); 2nd, Paul Bateman (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 4th, Neil Herd (Frome, Somerset); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 6th, Peter Chin (Woking SC).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 12 pts): Talmondt beat Bansal 2-0, Birney beat Bateman 2-1, Hunter beat Thorn 2-0, Wallace beat Hill 2-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£25, 15 pts): Talmondt beat Birney 2-1, Hunter beat Wallace 2-0.
FINAL (£100/£40 25/18 pts): Hunter beat Talmondt 1-0.
Picture by Tim Dunkley. John Hunter
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)
The 48-year-old from Andover, who also won the season opener at Chandler’s Ford Snooker Club last month, compiled a 71 break in a one-frame final shootout to secure maximum points.
Former Portsmouth champion Talmondt, a pro in the 1990s, dispatched Hunter 2-1 in their round-robin group at Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon, and agreed to split the £140 prize money when the pair met again in the final.
“I managed to win again,” Hunter understated.
“Mike beat me in the group stages. He’s a very good player and plays the right shots.”
Hunter said it was “fantastic” to see a 23-strong field following the record 30 at Chandler’s Ford.
Talmondt accounted for Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe) 2-1 in the semi-finals, a reverse of their first-leg encounter.
Martin Wallace dropped just one frame in five group matches and a quarter-final clash with Martin Hill (Salisbury SC) before going out to Hunter in the last-four.
According to Cuestars records, home player Alan Thomas’s 46 break was his highest in competition.
Not to be outdone, Paul Rose, also from Jesters, managed a 36 and Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough) weighed in with a 23.
The third leg of six is at Salisbury Snooker Club on Sunday, January 25.
BREAKS
John Hunter: 82, 71, 61.
Nick Birney: 79, 50.
David Farmer: 69.
Martin Hill: 68, 45.
Wayne Muddiman: 61, 58.
Paul Bateman: 61.
Mike Talmondt: 54, 42.
Alan Thomas: 46.
Neil Herd: 45.
ROUND-ROBIN GROUP POSITIONS
GROUP A: 1st, Nick Birney (Liberal Club, High Wycombe); 2nd, Martin Hill (Salisbury SC); 3rd, Neil Carroll (Chandler’s Ford SC); 4th, Alan Thomas (Jesters, Swindon); 5th, Stephen Hills (Traders, Northfleet); 6th, Ray Mears (Sovereign SC, Farnborough).
GROUP B: 1st, Mike Talmondt (Copnor SC, Portsmouth); 2nd, John Hunter (Salisbury SC); 3rd, David Farmer (No club); 4th, Chris Stocker (Sunninghill Comrades Club, Ascot); 5th, Steve Ashton (Salisbury SC); 6th, Mark Tillison (Copnor SC, Portsmouth).
GROUP C: 1st, Alex Thorn (Salisbury SC); 2nd, Jasbir Bansal (Woking SC); 3rd, Paul Rose (Jesters, Swindon); 4th, Jon Walker (Potting Shed, Aldbourne); 5th, David Volante (Jesters, Swindon).
GROUP D: 1st, Martin Wallace (Crowthorne RBL); 2nd, Paul Bateman (Crucible, Newbury); 3rd, Wayne Muddiman (Chandlers Ford Central); 4th, Neil Herd (Frome, Somerset); 5th, Richard Arnold (Salisbury SC); 6th, Peter Chin (Woking SC).
KNOCKOUT RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS (£10, 12 pts): Talmondt beat Bansal 2-0, Birney beat Bateman 2-1, Hunter beat Thorn 2-0, Wallace beat Hill 2-0.
SEMI-FINALS (£25, 15 pts): Talmondt beat Birney 2-1, Hunter beat Wallace 2-0.
FINAL (£100/£40 25/18 pts): Hunter beat Talmondt 1-0.
Picture by Tim Dunkley. John Hunter
Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)