HEALESVILLE’s top gun on the billiards table Adam Bleumink is heading overseas after making the finals of the Australian Junior Championships in Adelaide.
The eight-ball star finished runner-up in the national competition in January, following a win in the state titles last August, which will now propel him to the Junior World Championships in England.
The 17-year-old is fundraising to get overseas, including five days of test matches in South Africa before six days of competitions in England.
Adam said these would be the main competitions he’d take part in this year, so he could concentrate on his Year 12 studies at Healesville High School.
“I’m still going to play and practice at home but I won’t play as many competitions this year,” he said.
In the nationals he played about 21 matches to come unstuck against Queensland player Vijay Randall in the grand final.
“I’m pretty happy with how I went … I played alright but he just played better,” he said.
“You can go really well all week and then like any sport it can change so quickly.”
Adam is fundraising to get over to England in April for the World Championships.
“I needed to make the top six in Australia and I topped the stats going into the finals and that kid (Randall) was second in the stats and then we played off and he beat me,” said Adam.
Bar 8 pool hall in Bundoora is sponsoring Adam by holding a pool and poker competition, where entrants can pay the entry fee and play all day.
The winners will take out cash prizes for the competitions on Saturday 11 May, with the pool competition beginning at 11am until about 3pm when the poker competition will begin.
To donate prizes for the fundraiser or find out more about the pool/poker competition, email bleumink@bigpond.net.au or call 0419 623 188.
