Teenage snooker ace maturing on cue

Riley Parsons, who plays for St John's Snooker Club at St John's Church in Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, has recently helped England Under-16s win the Home Internationals in Leeds.

The 15-year-old is aiming to one day become a top professional, challenging for World titles, and he is hopeful that his recent success will provide a useful stepping stone towards that goal.

Parsons, from Cannock, shone brightly at the Home Internationals winning all five of his matches in the process.

England tackled opponents from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Wales at the tournament.

And Parsons said: "It feels really good to have won. It is great knowing you have played for your country and I surprised myself a bit with the way I played.

"But I had been scoring well. I had a few high breaks at the event, 89 and 67, two 40s and two 50s, so I was pretty consistent and I went in to the competition in good form.

"I also had a 91 in practice recently and I have had six or seven centuries in practice, so I feel like I am improving.

"It was great to have been called up for England and I just tried to play as well as I could."

It was Parsons' second taste of international snooker, having previously been called up for the Under-14s a few years earlier.

And he is developing a reputation as a rising star of the sport, which he first discovered at the age of just seven out of sheer curiosity.

Parsons said: "I used to play American pool when I was five or six with my dad and then, at seven, I decided to have a crack at snooker."

From there he has not looked back, and he can count winning the West Midlands Under-14s championships two years running in 2013 and 2014 among a growing list of highlights.

He also finished second in the England Under-16 championships two years ago and also became the first player to make a century break in an Aldridge League match back in November.

The Midlands-based starlet is reaping the rewards for his tireless dedication to the sport, which sees him visit St John's up to seven days a week, where he regularly puts in several hours of practice and match play at a time.

The Cannock Chase High School star said: "I catch a bus there every day including weekends if I don't have a tournament and my mum and dad pick me up afterwards.

"I want to turn professional and be successful, becoming a World champion or World number one."

Proud club secretary Keith Myatt added that Riley is St John's first international player.

He added: "He is at the club almost every day of the week for hours at a time and he is a credit to St John's.

"He has done really well and we think what he has done with England is absolutely brilliant. We are over the moon."

St John's currently has 30 members and is open for club practice nights on Monday and Friday from 7pm-10pm. Admission is £2 per person.

For further details or to enquire about joining call 07756 964101.