Keighley'S pool and snooker community is 'cueing up' for new year celebrations in Blackpool - when Chris Melling becomes the first local player to take part in the final qualifying stages of the Embassy World Snooker Championships.

Chris, who often rubs shoulders with the likes of Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Paul Hunter, is just six matches away from reaching a place in the televised stages at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

To get this far melling had to qualify through five tough matches in Harrogate, but his real quest will begin at the Norbreck Castle in Blackpool, starting on January 26.

He will meet the rest of the world's hopefulls in matches played over the full qualifying format of 19 frames.

The draw has already been made, so Chris knows exactly what he has to do and who he will have to beat. And he is confident of doing well.

If he makes it through the first five rounds he will have to take on the world's No 22, Dominic Dale.

But despite his confidence and undoubted ability Chris would love some local support during his Blackpool campaign.

n Paul Burrow has continued where he left off as Keighley's No1 amateur pool player.

In the first event of the new season's Ranking Tournament Paul saw off all opposition.

His only real scare came in the semi-finals against Pilky's club tem-mate Glen Pilkington. Paul looked to be in control at 6-4 up, but missed an easy clearance which allowed Glen to take the frame and draw level with the next frame to make it 6-6 with one to play.

Glen, who was not on his best form, had earlier battled back to beat tournament organiser Darren Vause 6-5 after being 4-1 and 5-3 behind. He finally went down to Burrow who took control early in the deciding frame.

In the final Paul met in-form Dave kelly who at 3-2 up looked as though he was playing the better pool and could upset the Pilky's player, but an emphatic winning run of the next six frames saw Paul take the match 8-3 and collect the £100 first prize.

Other notable performances included Steeton's new number one, Andrew Marklew, who wnet down 7-5 to Kelly in the semi-final, but earned himself a valuable six points and a provisional ranking position of fourth.