AT A TIME when most boys of his age are safely tucked up in bed, 13-year-old Nick Jennings produced an awesome display of potting and safety to notch up his best result in a national tournament.

The week-long junior festival played at the World Snooker Centre in Prestatyn, North Wales, where World Championship qualification is currently taking place, attracted 228 lads from across the UK.

Jennings, from Otterbourne, topped his group of 12 in the Under-16s, losing only one match and taking the scalps of England international Thomas Ainsworth Smith, 15, from Macclesfield and 13-year-old Welsh international Michael White.

In the knockout stage, the 'Otter Potter' saw off Leicester's Sameer Knight and fought back from 40 points down to win 2-1 on the black against Lancashire's 12-year-old Kamran Ashraf.

The youngster then had to play a last eight match against Callum Waite from Harrogate and showed composure beyond his years to run out a 2-1 winner in a thrilling game which finished at 2.15am.

After five-and-a-half-hours sleep, Jennings faced Bristol wonder-kid Judd Trump in the semi-final. England international Trump, 15, who has knocked in over 250 competitive centuries and is rumoured to be in line for a wildcard to the professional circuit next season, showed his class to run out a 3-0 winner in just 25 minutes - and went on to win the final.

Jennings received a trophy and £75.

Fair Oak's Dan Hildyard, 14, finished fourth in his group losing only two games, both against England internationals, but was beaten in the last 32 by Sheffield's Adam Duffy, 15, who has also represented his country.

Jason Hildyard, 12, had his 15 minutes of fame playing Judd Trump in front of 30 spectators on the show table and was leading in both frames at one stage.

Eastleigh's Mike Finn, 19, progressed through his group in the under-21s as expected, but was disappointed to lose to Grimsby's Ashley Wright in the knockout stage.

Also in the under-21s, Alex Dunkley, 16, from Bursledon, finished fifth in his group and missed qualification by one place despite drawing with the eventual overall winner Adam Wicheard, 19, from Trowbridge.

l Back at Chandler's Ford Snooker Club, the race for the £200 first prize in the Under-21 Roll Up is entering the final straight.

There are only three weeks to go in this contest, which carries the largest prize for junior snooker in the Southampton area.

Nerves are beginning to show as the top three all made an early exit. Nick Jennings lost out in the last eight to Matt Windsor, 18, but retains a slender one-point lead from Dan Hildyard who lost in the first to Stewart Crosswell. Mark McLean, in third, was unable to take the chance to close the three point gap losing to Jason Hildyard in the second round.

Dan Hildyard did go on to beat Arron McIntyre, 16, in the plate final, knocking in a 50 break. Alex Dunkley knocked in a 56 against Billy Castle, 12, but went out in the last eight to Ollie Davidson.

Davidson, 17, reached his first semi-final since his comeback but couldn't get past Colden Common's Crosswell, who also had a 56 earlier in the day, and is growing stronger by the week.

Windsor beat Lee O'Brien, 21, in the semis to set up a final with his old sparring partner, but Crosswell, 17, notched up back-to-back wins to edge towards the money positions.

Negotiations with club owner Jim Everett have resulted in record guaranteed prize money of £1,000 for the new 20-week series starting on April 2.

For more information contact the club on 023 8025 4834.

l England international Finn holds onto second spot in the Southern England Senior Cuestars rankings with another fine run at Swindon, reaching the last eight of the Masters.

Joe Finch, 14, for long the 'unluckiest player in the club' had the come-back of his career to win his first ever prize money in the plate final.

Finch didn't score any points in the first frame and watched as Swindon's Neil Craycraft smashed in an 86 break in the second but, making use of his 60-point handicap start, stole the frame and went on to win the decider.