Big break for young player

• Author: David Haxton
• Published date: 25 January 2023
• Publication title: Kapiti News

The 13-year-old will represent NZ in the under-18 and men’s open world snooker championships at the Mounties club, Sydney

Riley hopes to qualify for the under-18 finals as well as gaining as much experience as possible in the men’s open division.

“I’m really looking forward to it, especially the under-18s, and just being in Australia as well.”

He’s had a taste of playing in a massive competition when he took part in the world under-18s, at the tender age of nine, when it was held in Jinan, China.

Interestingly he was the youngest to play snooker in a world championship — the next oldest in that field was 14.

“I’m a lot better now.”

Riley is NZ’s number one ranked under-18 player, number two ranked under-21, and has an overall ranking of 17 among all players in the country.

Three years ago, when Riley was 10, he made the semi-finals of the Oceania under-21 championships.

This month he was second in Wellington’s biggest open men’s tournament — the Jim Couper competition.

He enters various competitions around NZ and puts in a lot of time practicing and playing on the snooker tables at Paraparaumu Beach’s Club Vista against some of the best players in Kāpiti.

When he was eight, the Club Vista’s rules meant he wasn’t allowed to play on the snooker tables, but the age restriction was relaxed for him because of his talent.

Riley also travels to Stratford regularly to get expert tuition from respected coach Stan Bunn who is 79.

“Stan was never going to take on youngsters under 11 but we did a YouTube recording of Riley when he was nine, potting some balls, sent it to Stan, and he said ‘send him up here straight away,” proud father Gary James said.

“Stan said Riley...