NEWLANDS snooker enthusiast Terry Payne has pocketed the first prize in the recent Gazette/Reporter competition to play a frame of snooker against former Embassy World champion Dennis Taylor.

An excited Terry, "aged 70ish", only moved to Newlands from Surrey five months back and has played snooker from a young age.

Terry said: "I was very excited when I heard that I had won and it didn't sink in for a day or two that I would be playing Dennis Taylor, a former hero of mine."

Remembering watching Taylor's epic World Championship final in 1985, Terry said he was shouting for Dennis Taylor as he always tended to support the underdog.

Limited tickets are available for the Embassy World Snooker Roadshow on Wednesday (March 21) (7.30pm start) at the Willie Thorne Snooker Club in Malvern Link (tel: 892147) where a great night of snooker is guaranteed.

Runners up in the competition, run in conjunction with the Evening News, were David Martin of Stretton Grandison and Stan Hinitt of Worcester.