MARCHWOOD wonderkid Shane Castle has recorded a first tournament half-century break - at the age of nine years and four months!

The region's hottest young snooker talent compiled a massive 61 against Jason Hildyard in the Chandler's Ford Under-21 Roll-Up.

"I had to pot a difficult red into the middle and screw back for the black to get to 50," Castle said.

"I felt nervous, but I was calm when I took the shot otherwise I'd have missed it."

Castle started on full-sized tables less than two years ago but has quickly established himself as one of the country's top players in his age group.

On his debut at the Pontin's Prestatyn Star of the Future' tournament in February, he reached the under-12 final.

And, on his ninth birthday in January, he signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Insurance Brokers Oliver and Sanders.

Coach Dave Mumford has been working with Castle for more than a year.

"Breaks are one measure of progress," he said. "The other is how he performs in tournaments which, to me, is more important.

"The progress he has made is phenomenal; he must not lose sight of that. But also he needs to be more focused in his match-play.

"A 61 in 15 months, nine-years-old, how much more progress do you want? It's scary."

Full snooker round-up in today's Daily Echo