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Pool: Joe O'Connor aims for historic European treble

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Wigston's Joe O'Connor heads to the European Championships this weekend aiming to bow out of the junior ranks on a high.

European junior eight-ball champion in 2010 and 2012, the 17-year-old can make it an unprecedented hat-trick of titles when the tournament gets under way in Blackpool on Sunday.

No other player has won the trophy three times and, for O'Connor, this represents his last chance to claim that historic feat before his age makes him ineligible.

The Leicester Mercury Young Sportsman of the Year runner-up turns 18 in November and, as of December 31, will make the step up to under-21 level.

O'Connor is the reigning world junior champion and double world junior Masters champion, and will go into the Euros as the strong favourite for his third title.

Not even Stoke's current world No.1 Gareth Potts, who has gone on to win three world titles at senior level, could manage more than two junior crowns.

O'Connor said: "I'm confident, but I don't want to put myself under any extra pressure by thinking I'm the favourite, I just want to go there and try to win.

"It would be an honour to become the only person ever to win it three times, but I will try to not let that affect me.

"It's my last European event as a junior and one of the main things spurring me on will be to go out on a high."

O'Connor, who plays Scotland's James Murray in the first round at the Imperial Hotel, is joined in the singles draw by Leicestershire team-mate Louis Heathcote, who was a semi-finalist in the Euros last year.

The duo also go for glory in the team event with England juniors.

They won the trophy in Dublin last year and O'Connor and Heathcote will be key to England's hopes of retaining the title.

They are not the only Leicestershire players in action at the European Championships.

Gavin Lomax, John Bowkett and Kane Wilson-Skinner are in the men's singles draw, while Theresa Sheridan will be aiming to make an impact in the women's event.

Sheridan also plays in the wheelchair singles, while Lomax is also in the team event with England.

Wilson-Skinner has a busy schedule as he also takes part in the under-21 singles competition and, with England, the team event.

Rounding up the travelling contingent is Steve Robertshaw, the England under-21 team manager, who is hoping to lead his troops to a third successive title.

Pool: Joe O'Connor aims for historic European treble


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