Stone butcher Lee Walker has secured a position in the England 8 Ball Pool Seniors (over 50s) team after successfully qualifying at the weekend’s English Pool Association event at Pakefield in Suffolk.
64 of the best pool players in England were invited to try out for the England side, but only 8 were selected based on their results in a series of elimination matches.
Players needed to win at least 6 matches out of 8 to qualify, and at 5 wins and 2 losses, it took a gutsy final frame win over Steve Orr 3-2 to secure his England spot.
Lee (a very young 55), owns Lee Walkers Butchers at Walton, which he runs with his son.
Lee started his cue sports career in snooker, but over the last 10 years, he has migrated to 8 ball pool, becoming a top player in both the Stone and Stoke Pool Leagues and representing Staffordshire at the County level.
This was Lee’s fourth attempt at England qualification, and after securing his spot, he posted on Facebook,
“Four years in the waiting, I’ve finally done it! I can call myself an England player. Get in! I’m so pleased; I thought it would never happen. Thanks for all the support today from my team mates; you helped me through.”
Lee is planning to put up a large poster in his shop window to share his good news.
Staffordshire Pool Association Chairman George Bradbury offered his congratulations by saying
“It’s a great achievement, great for Staffordshire Pool. Lee is a top player and a great lad”.
England Seniors next competition is the World Eightball Pool Federations World Championships held in Blackpool from 18th to 27th June.
