A WILTSHIRE woman has retained the Ladies Championship title at Chandlers Ford Snooker Club.

Jackie Ellis emerged victorious from the charity event despite suffering from two debilitating illnesses and despite conceding an eight-point handicap start to all of her opponents.

The 52-year-old, from Clyffe Pypard, near Royal Wootton Bassett, beat Trudy Schwedler by two points in a 20-minute timed final.

Ellis suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain and affects balance, coordination, concentration and short-term memory.

The women’s world number 23 admitted that conceding a handicap start, instead of receiving one, was a new and challenging experience.

She said: “It was a new situation for me, having to give a handicap rather than being given one.

“And also being timed added pressure. But I had a plan and stuck to it.”

Ellis topped her five-strong round-robin group and overcame Julia Kline in the last-four.

Her World Snooker coach Tim Dunkley, who is based at Chandlers Ford SC, reckoned it was interesting seeing Ellis as the one to beat.

Dunkley said: “I’m so used to seeing Jackie receiving big starts from the boys in the Open Series on Saturday afternoons.

“She rarely progresses from the group stages on the World Women’s Snooker tour and has never won a frame on the Cuestars Seniors (40+) Tour.

“It just shows how far she has progressed. Being the favourite is certainly not something that Jackie is used to.

“She coped well and came through some close matches.”

The fun evening in aid of Wave 105 Cash for Kids attracted a 10-strong entry and included a buffet, exotic cocktails and a karaoke session.