Age is but a number in pool
Hamilton’s Alexandria Endres has been sinking shots across the globe, after being selected as one of New Zealand’s youngest representatives in pool.
The 12-year-old Marian Catholic School student returned from the VNEA World Pool Junior Championships in Pennsylvania, which attracted 300 competitors.
She placed fourth in the Under 14 Girls Singles.
Alexandria has only been playing pool for one year, but she’s picked up a thing or two from her dad Bernie Endres, general manager and club secretary at Hamilton’s Masse´.
Endres taught himself how to play as a teenager and has been involved with Masse´ since its inception in 1991.
He said the club has a large social membership, but there are those who compete professionally. His daughter is one of them.
But Endres said at least he doesn’t have to worry about her coming home with any injuries.
‘‘It’s all about geometry and physics, but then you’ve got your strategy and problem-solving that comes into it as well.
‘‘We put four of the young ones in the senior league at the start of the year, so they were playing against people who had played for 30-40 years. I was a bit hesitant but they ended up finishing in the top half of the competition,’’ he said. ‘‘So there are a lot of people now who get quite nervous playing against 12 and 13 year old girls.
‘‘Dad gets nervous when I have to play against him,’’ Alexandria added.
Playing and winning games against adults and other kids is a highlight for Alexandria.
‘‘That’s the good thing about the sport, she can play against someone in their 50s or 60s and there’s no boundaries, size doesn’t come into it,’’ Endres said.
In 2018, Alexandria wants to participate in the tournament in America again, this time winning her Under 14 division.
She was one of six young women who travelled with a team of 15 to the VNEA World Pool Junior champs.
The 2017 squad showed the face of cue sports in New Zealand was changing, team manager Jason Robottom said.
‘‘It’s really exciting to see our girls developing a love for the game.’’
Hamilton Masse´ is located at 60/62 Rostrevor St.