A SNOOKER circuit in the south of England has been given a boost after its director qualified as a Level 1 coach.

Cuestars founder John Hunter, who is based at Salisbury Snooker Club, said the one-day course run by the sport's governing body is a “perfect” route for budding coaches to take.

The 48-year-old beamed: “It was great to meet up with other snooker enthusiasts. On the course were participants from Berlin and Sarajevo!”

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) course was hosted by Chris Lovell, head of coaching for the WPBSA, and Andrew Highfield, a Grade A coach from Wolverhampton.

Hunter added: “I liked the nature of the course and really enjoyed the day.

“I encourage those with coaching and organising aspirations to take the course. For anyone wanting to become a snooker coach, it's the perfect way to start.”

Cuestars, now nearly 30 years old, runs weekend junior sections at various clubs in central southern England and five different grass-root tours catering for players of all ages and abilities.

Hunter is the organisation's first WPBSA Community Snooker Coach. It already has two current Level 2 coaches; Tim Dunkley, based at Chandler's Ford Snooker Club near Southampton, and Duncan Ashman, based at Player's Club, Westbury.

Details about World Snooker coaches and courses held at the South West Snooker Academy, Gloucester, can be found at www.wpbsa.com.

To find out more about Cuestars, visit www.cuestars.co.uk.