Rob prepares to give Hendry his best shot (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Rob prepares to give Hendry his best shot

NERVES are rocketing for a Melksham man who will play a frame of snooker against world title holder Stephen Hendry tomorrow after he won a Wiltshire Times competition.

Rob Wellon, 42, won a knock-out league at Cooper-Avon Sports and Social Club on Friday, beating 30 local players to the frame of a lifetime against Hendry tomorrow as an opener to the event of the year the 2004 Premier Snooker League at Trowbridge Civic Hall.

Mr Wellon said: "I think I can safely say that the nerves started as soon as I woke up on Saturday morning.

"I am completely up for it though and very, very excited. I will give it my best shot."

Mr Wellon, an engineer who works as a supervisor at Stellram, Bowerhill, had to play his best friend Mike Gingell in the final.

He said: "It was so strange that we were both in the final and we had talked earlier in the evening about what we would do if that happened.

"If he had won I would have been equally excited about the event I think and he will be coming to support me on Saturday.

"I have been keeping busy trying to get hold of a waistcoat for the game and some smart shoes.

"I have had loads of calls and texts from friends wishing me luck tomorrow and although I have played snooker all my life this really is the chance of a lifetime."

Club manager Terry Gregory presented both finalists with a bottle of champagne on behalf of Cooper-Avon Sports and Social Club on Friday and players enjoyed a buffet provided by Tesco, Trowbridge.

Mr Wellon said: "It was a really well organised event and I have nothing but praise for all the staff who gave us that fantastic venue.

"It was a shame that more people did not take part but they clearly attracted people from a wide area because a lot of the faces there were new to me."

Semi finalists included Shaun Tanner and Mike Eddy and 17-year-old Mike Penman claimed the title of youngest player to make it to the quarter-finals.

As part of the Wiltshire Times' 150th birthday celebrations the newspaper is sponsoring the Trowbridge leg of the much-anticipated 2004 Premier Snooker event tomorrow and Sunday. Seven of the world's best snooker players are competing in the league in five venues across the country.

Matt James works at the Civic Hall box office where the 2,000 tickets for the weekend games are being sold.

He said: "A majority of the people who have bought tickets are just local people who are shocked and really impressed about the novelty of such a big collection of famous sportsmen coming to Trowbridge.

"There are a lot of big snooker fans as well who have bought tickets."

Don't miss your chance to get tickets for the event of the year call the box office on (01225) 762439.