Steve Hardcastle of Harrogate
Many Mini-Prix regulars would rate Steve Hardcastle the most improved player on the circuit and his position on the ranking points list would bear that out. Steve, born in Halifax twenty-eight years ago, started playing when about 16 and, like most boys, was mainly attracted to snooker at which game he has a top break of 131. Although he made his first Billiards century - 103 - some ten years ago, it was not until he became a Mini-Prix regular that he began to take the game seriously. Since then, and especially over the last two years, progress has been rapid. He has won the Harrogate Championship three times. He won the Yorkshire Championship and reached the last 16 of The Amateur both at the first time of asking. Steve has a top break of 189 in competition and in practice (against John Murphy) a break of 251. Though largely self-taught, Steve acknowledges a debt to Des Heald, to the late Joe Jordan "For his hazard play," and particularly admires the play of Professionals Norman Dagley and (inevitably) Mike Russell. He reckons his best performance to date was in beating Russell over one hour in a Pro-Am. His ambition at the game is to play to his maximum potential. Steve is married with two children and works as a Senior Technical Analyst for the Yorkshire Building Society. A popular and personable young man Steve is very much one to keep an eye on in the Amateur game.
Steve will certainly be looking forward to the Season's first Mini-Prix Pro-Am which will be in Luton on July 29th. Woking is 19th August and Leeds (The Manor) on 21st October. It is presumed that Grimsby will be on as usual but there is not yet any definite date.