South Australia’s next generation of cue ball stars shines at Junior Eight Ball Championships

The future of South Australian cuesports was on full display at the Australian Junior Eight Ball Championships as the young guns of the state earned their place in history. Read about their incredible feat.

South Australia's Tyreece Gray and Charlotte Lane-Hatton celebrate their success at the Australian Junior Eight Ball Championships. Picture: Gary Bradshaw Photography

South Australia created its own bit of history with a memorable showing at the Australian Junior Eight Ball Championships in Canberra.

Not only did they finish the event with the overall title and two individual champions, SA completed a hat-trick of wins in the team event, the first time they’ve ever claimed three-straight titles.

In a gruelling round-robin tournament against all seven other states and territories, South Australia then went through Victoria and Tasmania to take on old rivals Queensland in the decider.

“It’s nearly always us and Queensland in the final,” Junior Cuesport Association of South Australia secretary Natalie Hatton said.

“It’s always a loud match and was very close. We started out in front then Queensland came back to move a couple of frames in front.

“It was to and fro before South Australia stepped up into another gear and got the win 17-14.”

The team of 11 players consisted of two U12s, three U15s, two U18s girls and four U18s boys.

What made the success more impressive was the fact the team is largely new, with only Charlotte Lane-Hatton part of all three titles.

“Each year we have some kids that age out and some don’t make it,” she said.

“Only three of the kids in this team have played together in a nationals before and we had four completely new players in the side.

“The only player that has been in all three is Charlotte.”

Lane-Hatton was in fine form throughout the week, scoring a 6-0 U18s Girls Singles victory over fellow South Australian Tiarna Knight, while Tyreece Gray took down highly regarded NT player Jason Yu 6-3 in the U18s Junior Singles category.

Liam Nolan (Western Australia) took out champion honours in the U15s, with Angelo Tsikouris (Northern Territory) showing the future is bright up north with a win in the U12s.

Gray was also chosen among a team of six that will represent Australia in Blackpool at the World Championships.

His selection continues a big year for the SA juniors, with himself, Lane-Hatton, Seth Thicthener and Connor Flowers all headed to Malta to wear the green and gold in blackball.

“There are a lot of up and coming juniors, coaching programs and promotion to get cuesports out there,” Hatton said.

“It’s fantastic to have our juniors represent the country.

“A lot of people think of it as just a pub sport, but it is so much more than that.”

JCSASA president Chris Jeffrey and the committee are very excited for the future of cuesports in the state and hope other young players under 18 are inspired to try out eight ball, snooker, billiards or blackball among others.