Billiards and Snooker: Paul Hunter has good reason to look forward to a return visit to Wales.

The Leeds professional who practices at the Dragon Health Club at Yeadon followed up a semi-final appearance in the 1997 Regal Welsh by winning the title 12 months ago.

Now the 20-year-old is gearing up for the 1999 event, which runs from next Monday to Sunday, January 31 at Cardiff International Arena.

Hunter said: "I'm not underestimating how difficult it will be to retain my title. Winning the event last year was the biggest moment of my career, and I hope that the new venue is as lucky for me as the previous one."

Hunter beat John Higgins - the eventual Embassy world champion - 9-5 in the final at Newport last year, a major breakthrough which underlined his huge potential.

He said: "I'll always remember the moment I picked up the trophy for my first major professional title.

"Winning the Regal Welsh proved I'm capable of competing with the best. Getting into the top 16 is my target for this season, but winning the Regal Welsh again would be a welcome bonus."

Hunter has already begun to build on his success last season in the current campaign.

Last November, he reached the semi-finals of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championship. On this occasion Higgins got the better of him 9-4, but Hunter carried his good form to Dublin where he beat Steve Davis 5-4 in the first round of the Irish Open before losing to Stephen Hendry 5-3 in a pulsating second round match.

These impressive performances have lifted Hunter to tenth position in the updated Embassy World rankings and, having qualified for the final stages of the Thailand Masters and China International, he appears certain to clinch a place in the elite top 16 for next season.

Hunter meet Preston's Ian McCulloch in the first round at 1.30pm on Monday.

Leeds teenager Malcolm Bilclough was beaten 10-7 by Chris Shade of Falkirk in the ninth qualifying round of the World Championships at Blackpool.

The 19-year-old led 5-4 and 6-5, but the Scot, three years older, finished him off with breaks of 83 and 77 as Bilclough failed to score more than five points in the last two frames.

The English Amateur Snooker Champion-ship starts on Sunday with a regional round at The Clubhouse In Cue Gardens, Odsal Top at 11am.

Last season's runner-up Craig Butler, who lives in Bramley but is a member of the host club, faces Kuldesh Johal (Huddersfield), and former Bradford champion Sajid Khan plays Howard Brazil from Leeds. Matthew Holt faces Filey's Gary Milne, while Tony Wood meets Bourne's Jason Bates.

Of the 31 players at Odsal, only eight will qualify for the national last 64. matches are best-of-seven frames.

Alan Firth cried off with flu, but Bradford were able to bring in an excellent substitute in Mark Hirst for their Yorkshire Inter-District League billiards clash against Wharfedale at the Dragons Health Club.

Bradford completed a double whitewash over the opponents, Richard Lodge starting the rout off with breaks of 54, 50 and 58 in despatching David Richardson 200-59.

Hirst overturned an 81-42 deficit to beat fellow England international Stephen Crosland 200-86, making breaks of 50 and 39, and Paul Devitt had efforts of 48 and 34 in defeating Jack parker 200-99.

The snooker team drew 3-3 against castleford at Rockware Social Club, John Arnold potting the last four balls to prevent Wayne Cooper giving Bradford a 2-0 lead.

Cooper's 52 break gave him the first 68-46, but lost the next 52-46. Kevin Firth had a break of 70 in defeating Boghard Barrow 49-13, 86-0 to put Bradford 3-1 ahead.

But Gary Jones - Castleford's best player on the night - rescued a point for the home team by seeing off Holt 86-20, 65-9.

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