THE calm green hills of the Lakes have set a champion snooker player back on track helping him win the English Open Championships at the weekend.

On Saturday (May 10) Leo Fernandez, a former Londoner who now lives in Kendal, played and beat Craig Butler in the final of the EASB English Open Championships in Plymouth. The competition is open to all but the top 65 snooker players in the world.

It is the latest in a long line of triumphs for the player but only last year the 26-year-old was on the brink of giving up the green baize due to a lack of funds, following a bout of defeats.

"I was losing and I hadn't got the money to carry on so I was about to give up," said Mr Fernandez.

Fortunately around that time Kendal small business owner and snooker player Andy Milliard spotted Fernandez and was so impressed by his talent that he offered him sponsorship on the spot and brought him to Kendal.

"I could see he was a world class player. He was doing things in a different way," said Mr Milliard.

Mr Fernandez, 26, came to Kendal a year ago this week and began a gruelling round of eight to 12-hour practice sessions at the Kendal Liberal Club.

"We practice seven days a week. We have got a good working relationship and it means he is going into tournaments match fit," said Mr Milliard.

Since coming to Kendal the player, who has a highest pro break of 141, has leapt up the rankings from 136 to 72 in just one season and he enters the new season with a provisional ranking of around 39.

He has played the likes of Jimmy White at his practice table at The Liberal Club and is expecting Ronnie O'Sullivan to pop by for a match soon.

He said: "I love it here it is so relaxing. It is very peaceful, people seem to just take things in their stride and you can actually walk the streets. I am more relaxed. I have learned to be more composed and calm in my game."

Keep track of Fernandez on http://www.prodjz.com.

May 13, 2003 09:00