June Mead, Danbury's lady snooker player had a successful Ladies World Championship at Sheffield.

She learned a great deal from the experience of competing at such a high level.

June had four qualifying matches to play to reach the first round of the championship, she had three hard rounds and a good chance of going through but was stopped in the fourth round by Maria Catalano, cousin of Ronnie O'Sullivan.

But June, 33, gained ranking points which has moved her up the ranking list from 69th to somewhere in the 50s, a fine achievement in her first year on the top ladies circuit.

The championship also enabled her to see some of the top ladies in action including the world champion Kelly Fisher providing a good insight to the standard she needs to reach.

June received a compliment from a well-respected lady player Agnes Davies that she would be a worry to the top players this coming season.

She has now been invited by Steve Austwick the manager of South Woodham Snooker Centre to become a resident lady player at the club.

June said: "This is a great opportunity for me to practice in a club with some of the best facilities a player could ask for.

"The club has 16 good tables and a private room and a friendly atmosphere.

"This is just the boost I needed and I would like to thank them for their help."

June is now looking for sponsors to help meet the financial demands of entering all the tournaments this coming season.

Anybody who can help is asked to telephone Snooker Management on 01245 223216

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.