Garvan's potting the blue

Elvin King

OWEN Garvan has enjoyed a big break - he's won the 2010 snooker club championship at Riley's in Princes Street, Ipswich.

The 22-year-old midfielder's prowess on the football pitch has been matched by his ability on the green baize having won the coveted annual club trophy ahead of 6,000 other members.

Garvan, who is expected to be in Town's side for their Championship fixture at Peterborough on Tuesday, had notable breaks of 35, 30 and 25 as he beat Shaun Bardell 3-1 in the best of five frame final.

His prize is to have free play time at Riley's for the rest of the year, and general manager Ross Lincoln says the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international who has made over 150 first team appearances for Ipswich is a skilled exponent with a cue.

“Owen beat Shaun Barber 2-0 in the semi-final and that was a particularly good performance,” said Lincoln.

“He comes in sometimes after training and often plays with young goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin.

“His game as improved since he first started playing, and he joked to me that when he retires from football he plans to have a snooker table installed at home.”

Garvan is an avid viewer of snooker on television, with Irish players like Ken Doherty his favourites.

He moved only to Ipswich straight from school and has been a regular in the Blues first team since the autumn of 2005.

It is usual for footballers to use up some of their spare time around a snooker table and Garvan is the latest in a long line of Town players who have taken up the game.

But Garvan has proved himself to be star as well - even if it is at a local level.

“Owen's win was no fluke,” added Lincoln.

“We limited entrants to our annual championship to 32 players, and the event was so popular that the semi-finals and final were help over to a second day.

“Owen entered along with the rest of the competitors and won the event fair and square.”

Riley's Ipswich run three other annual tournaments the other three being English pool, American pool and darts.

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