New Star On Horizon

Jessica Woods has shown just why she is regarded as a rising star on the Australian women’s snooker scene with a stylish display in the 2012 NSW State Women’s Snooker Championship.

Held on 15th – 16th September at the popular Mingara Recreation Club on the Central Coast, the 18 year old Woods claimed the title with a convincing 3-1 victory over the experienced Jenny Budd, who has been in good recent form including runner-up at this years Australian National Women’s Snooker Championship held in Perth.

Following some early success in the Junior ranks, Woods is now making people sit up and take notice as her game continues to improve. In recent years she has performed with distinction at the top level of women’s snooker in Australia, highlighted by semi-final efforts at both 2010 and 2011 Oceania Championships prior to being runner-up at the 2011 Australian National Championship and then claiming the Australian Open 6 Red Snooker title later that year.

This is Woods first NSW State Women’s Snooker Championship, which accompanies her Queensland Ladies Snooker title won in 2010, but given her undoubted potential it will most likely not be her last – particularly given her level of success to date at such a tender age.

There were a pleasing 13 entries for this year’s event which was the highest in the past 8 consecutive years the Championship has been staged at Mingara. The quality of players involved was also high and included both finalists from this years Australian National Championship (Kathy Parashis & Jenny Budd) as well as 10-time NSW Champion Anne Green among others.

Several ladies travelled significant distances to compete and are to be commended for this effort. Particular mention must be made of Shirley Ryan from Griffith who played very consistently all weekend and recorded solid victories over both Jenny Budd and Anne Green during the round robin stage. She finished as the top ranked player in her group before being eliminated by eventual winner Jessica Woods 3-1 in a semi-final.

Major sponsors of the event (for the 8th consecutive year) were Mingara Snooker & Billiards Club and President Phil Simmonds spoke passionately at the presentation about this achievement. Many thanks to the club and its members and we look forward to their continued and on-going support for our game at all levels.

Gary Knight
Tournament Director

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