SHOOTING star Simon Blackwell turned the tables on his uncle, Russel Large, to claim the Foster’s Golden Cue large table crown.

In front of an appreciative audience at Burnley’s Ighten Leigh Social Club, Blackwell was in mean mood as he took the final by the scruff of the neck, racing into an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Blackwell of British Rail eased past Dan Paton of Rolls Royce to book his place in the final, but he never really needed to go through the gears against his mentor.

Blackwell produced some outrageous potting, and his uncle, so very well respected on the local snooker scene, could only admire his nephew’s growing technique.

Large did take the penultimate frame and in convincing fashion too, but Blackwell underlined his vast potential by clearing the colours again to win the last frame and the final 4-1.

Secretary Neil McGovern said: “It was a really entertaining final, with a good crowd in.

“We had some top players watching, Dale Clark of Poplar and Chris Lawson, who both said how much they had enjoyed the final.

“Those guys will definitely be contenders for the trophy next year and the standard of the snooker on show was excellent.

“Once again we’d like to say a big thank-you to the Lancashire Telegraph and the superb Grassroots pull-out for their great coverage of the competition.

“We really do value that publicity and so do our sponsors Fosters who have supported us all the way.”

Mr McGovern added: “Congratulations to Simon Blackwell – he is a fantastic player who’s hoping to get into Cue School.

“He is certainly a very fine prospect and it is good to see another good young player emerging from the area.”

Last week, postman Jimmy Waddington has stamped his authority on the Foster’s Golden Cue small table competition after beating former policeman Tony Greenwood in the final.

The former champion recovered from losing the opening frame to rattle off four in a row to seal a 4-1 win.

The winner and runner-up of both the large table and small table competition each received a memento, marking their participation in the tournament.

Small Table. Winner: Jimmy Waddington; runner-up Tony Greenwood.

Semi-finalists: B Southern, P Doyle; quarter-finalists: A Harris, J Lingard, K Hodkinson, A Bates.

Small table highest break: J Lingard (102) Large Table. Winner: Simon Blackwell; runner-up: Russel Large.

Semi-Finalists: Dom Emery, Dan Paton Quarter-finalists: K Dowbiggin, J Foster, C Ashton, D Emmott.

Highest break: Dom Emery (70)