I RON AND RON Snooker legend quits partying for the gym
OAP, grandad and boxer in £¼m drug plot
SNOOKER legend Ronnie O’sullivan has made one of the biggest breaks of his career – and he is loving it.
Rocket Ronnie, 42, has dumped the party lifestyle in favour of keeping fit.
And he said of kissing his weekly benders goodbye: “I don’t miss them at all. Every day is like a party for me now.
“Before, I’d be partying but then having to get ready for a tournament was just tiring in itself.
“It was hard work doing that compared with now when I get up at seven go to the gym or go for a run.
“I get to spend some quality time with my girlfriend and enjoy the other work that comes up because of it.
“It’s much better. I am much more on the ball nowadays.”
The five-times world champ used to enjoy smoking pot – now he is only interested in the kind he sinks on the green baize. And as for booze, the shots he is most interested in are the amazing ones he produces at the table.
The player has admitted he got into the habit of needing cannabis first thing in the morning “just to function”.
Bur these days he says he gets his best highs from exercise.
On top of running 20 miles a week and training every day, Ronnie has overhauled his diet and lost 24lb in nine months after working with Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert.
He said: “I used to run a lot and eat what I wanted but I broke my foot twice, tore my ligaments, slipped a disc in my back and could only do a third of what I can do now.
“I was trying to outrun the bad diet and that wasn’t working.
“I had to look at what I was eating, met with a nutritionist and got into it. For the last nine months I’ve been eating well. I lost 24lb.
“Now, instead of going at 100mph to get the weight off, I am eating healthier I get up and pace myself. I am feeling better as well.”
Ronnie, who wrote the crime novel Framed, has a new book out, Double A PENSIONER, a grandfather and a former schoolboy boxing champion were part of a gang in a plot to supply cocaine worth almost quarter of a million pounds.
All seven members were arrested by police in a covert inquiry code-named Operation Goose.
Four have now been jailed for between four and eight years. The other three were given suspended sentences.
Officers on a house raid seized a kilo of cocaine and bulking agents which, mixed, could have produced 5,000 one-gram street deals valued at more than £230,000. The Kiss, which was published by Pan last week. The plot, loosely based on his own life, follows the story of a lad who has not seen a loved one for eight years.
Ronnie also has something else to look forward to – becoming a grandfather.
The star found out this month that his eldest daughter Taylor-ann Magnus, 21, is expecting her first baby.
Ronnie said: “She is happy and it is really good for her and I’m pleased for criminal enterprise was run from the home of 70-year-old Alan Williams in Carlisle, Cumbria. He was jailed for five years by the city’s crown court, which also sentenced gang boss Scott Sutherland, 25, to eight years.
The leader’s “trusted assistant”, 44year-old grandfather Matthew Payne, was ordered to serve seven years, while associate Adam Ritson, 28, was jailed for four years.
Ex-england schoolboy boxing champion Jason Hill, 21, businessman Daniel Shield, 26, and gang member Matthew Scott, 24, each had prison terms suspended. All seven admitted conspiracy to supply the class A her.” Ronnie, who is also dad to Lily, 12, and Ronnie Jr, ten, hasn’t ruled out more children with his long-term partner, actress Laila Rouass.
He said: “If she was crazy about it I probably would.”
And watching Prince Harry marry Meghan Markle has made Ronnie want to tie the knot this year.
“I got emotional watching the royal wedding,” he admitted.
“I thought it was really nice. I am happy for them and I definitely want to get married soon. We both want something small and intimate.”
Laila, 46, is famed for talking about Ronnie on Loose Women and once revealed how he cuts his body hair outside in the garden.
But he just laughs at her talking about him on national television.
He said: “At first I was a bit shocked, and thought I can’t believe she said that but I have had loads of other stuff said about me so I’m not that precious about what people say.
“It is tongue in cheek really. If you can’t laugh at yourself what is the point?’ drug. Payne and Williams also admitted possession with intent to supply. Recorder John Bromley-davenport QC, said the gang engaged in “large-scale drug dealing”.
The court heard that the gang members were mostly working men and fathers but all were cocaine users – and that their relatives were “astonished” by the level of their criminal activity.
Det Insp Patrick Mcdonnell, of Cumbria Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “These convictions and asset seizures will hopefully send a message that drug dealing is not worth the risk.”