WORLD snooker champion Stephen Hendry provided a marvellous exhibition of potting skills at a packed Hyndburn Leisure Centre, writes BRIAN DOOGAN.

And £2,500 was raised for the Superscan appeal to bring the grand total past the £70,000 mark.

Hendry made his appearance during the Grand Final day of the North Lancs Training Group junior snooker finals supported by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

And afterwards he complimented the organisers for an efficiently run event.

"I think the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) could take a leaf out of their book because it ran so smoothly," said Hendry.

"This was a well-organised and professional event for the young people in East Lancashire. And I was very impressed with the quality of snooker played.

"There could be one or two kids here who might have futures in the professional game. So I might be taking them on for real in another few years." Noor Khan from Colne became the Under 12s champion by defeating Bury's Adam Weslowski over a single frame.

The losing semi-finalists were Darren Morley and Mark Forrest.

The Under 16s winner was Andrew Parker who defeated Robert Valliant 2-1.

Losing semi-finalists were Jonathan Hodson and Andrew Hawrylak.

Justin Smalley won the Under 19 event and picked up a winner's cheque of £150.

The runner-up Darren Heggle, who also recorded the highest break of 60 to collect £20, received a cheque of £75.

Winners received a shield, a replica plus two tickets for the final stages of the UK Snooker Championships in Preston.

"We're pleased it's been a success and that we've raised money for the scanner appeal," said NLTG spokesman Chris Lovell.

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