Sutton pool player scoops senior singles title after brain tumour battle

Jonathan Hartley beat 120 players to be crowned senior singles champion at the European Blackball Association’s Nations Cup in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

The 43-year-old’s achievement has been praised as just two years ago he was undergoing gruelling surgery at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre to remove a grade two pre-cancerous brain tumour.

Jonathan, who plays for Nottinghamshire Blackball County seniors, based at The Towers, Botany Avenue, Mansfield, as well as England, said: “I am ecstatic to win the title – I can’t put it into words.

“It’s been a strange couple of years for me, but 98 per cent of the tumour has now been removed and winning the title has been thrilling and a great boost.”

Jimmy Hallam, Nottinghamshire Blackball County manager, said: “We are so proud of Jonathan.

“The senior singles title is the biggest title a senior pool player can win.

“It is amazing he has achieved this after everything he has been through over the past two years.”

Jonathan, from Sutton, said he wanted to thank his sponsor, Sutton-based building services Grice, for making travel to competition possible.

He is now planning to compete in the European Championships in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, in April.

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