Stacey does it the hard way but isstill on course for world pool title

Stacey Hancock moved through to the last 16 of the world ladies pool championships in Blackpool but she did it the hard way.

Twice the Mid Sussex champion from Burgess Hill, widely tipped pre-tournament to become the youngest ever winner, produced five-frame winning runs to wipe out deficits.

With the standard of competition so high, there is little to choose between most of the players and in her opening match Hancock trailed 4-1 to Leanne Pearce (Wales) before turning on the power to win 6-4.

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She then trailed Ireland’s Sandra Bryan 1-3 in round two before again putting together a five-frame winning run to triumph 6-3.

Today (Thursday) she plays South African champion Amy-Clare King in a bid to reach the quarter finals, where if results go according to form she would meet Ireland team-mate Jo Kent. In the team event, Ireland lost their first match against England but then beat Australia.

ON Saturday July 20 at the Martlets Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill there will be a Sports Community Day, giving shoppers a chance to learn about the wide range of sporting and fitness groups available in the area,

The event will run from 11am to 4pm and apart from local clubs and groups giving information about what they have to offer, there will also be taster sessions available.

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The Martlets are inviting all interested organisations to book their place on the day by contacting Tilly Bull at [email protected] (01403 783400).

THERE is never a dull moment at the Hickstead Derby Meeting and this year the main event was won by Phillip Miller on Caritiar Z, who produced the only clear round, writes Lucy Cooper.

Hickstead-based Shane Breen won Friday’s biggest class, the Stoner Jewellers Vase, and the Bunn Leisure Derby Trial by finishing just ahead of his brother Trevor. Shane was last to go on Cos I Can and went seven seconds faster than his brother’s leading time.

Sussex-based Nicole Pavitt made her mark on the opening day by claiming a hat-trick. She won the Camardo Coffe 1.35m Open on Amaryllis van de Heffink, the British 5-year-old Jumping Championship preliminary class with Monsoon 16 and the Hickstead Annual Grade C Championship with Contessa IV.

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New dad David Simpson, whose partner Louise Pavitt gave birth to Connor five weeks ago, narrowly missed out on winning the LED Sport Europe Speed Derby to Robert Power, a successful jockey.

Louise, meanwhile, who rides at the Brendon Stud in Pyecombe, took on the infamous Hickstead Derby course on the final day but was eliminated after two refusals at the top of the Derby Bank.

The world-famous showground now prepares for the Longines Royal International Show from July 30 to August 4.