Mark reigns in Spain

MARK POLLITT shows off the trophy.

SPAIN’S footballers may reign over Europe but, when it comes to snooker, it’s the Brits who rule in the nation’s top event . . . and an ex-Oldhamer at that.

Mark Pollitt, born and raised on Ripponden Road, Moorside, has just become the national amateur snooker champion of Spain, winning the inaugural event organised by the AES (Asociacion Espanola de snooker) which was formed by Arturo Perez - Spain’s snooker commentator on Eurosport.

In June last year, snooker clubs from around Spain where invited to enter a league system.

A total of six clubs, consisting of 86 players, entered the competition and Mark was one of two qualifiers from his club to reach the last-32 knockout in Madrid.

Mark, a former Counthill School pupil, marched through to the semi-finals without dropping a frame, with wins over two Spaniards and a 4-0 success against tournament favourite and fellow Englishman, Neil Ingram.

The best of 11 semi-final was held in Barcelona and Mark defeated Spaniard Luis De La Vega 6-4 after trailing 3-2

In the final, Mark was up against Spain’s David Perez, playing at his home club, and lost the first three frames - giving away 38 points in the second with foul and a miss!

At the interval, Mark was trailing 4-2 and, after a three-hour break, things got no better on the resumption as he went behind 6-2 - leaving Perez one frame from victory.

However, in a stunning change of fortune, Mark reeled off the next five frames to win the match 7-6 and collect a crystal trophy plus 1,400 euros.

Mark (38) used to play for Moorside Conservative Club in the Oldham Amateur Snooker League before he moved to Spain in September 2005.

Last year he started up his own business and now runs Bumblebee Prints, a personalised gifts and clothing company, based near to La Marina, Alicante, where he lives with his wife Toni and two children (aged 3 and 1 years).