Local eight-ball star Lincoln Carter returns from junior national eight ball titles hungry for more

Rising eight-ball star Lincoln Carter fought hard on the national stage at the Australian Junior National Championships in his first representative tournament. Carter, 12, picked up the game by chance after his grandmother invited him to play a few rounds while house-sitting. He progressed quickly to be one of the best in Geraldton and then one of the best in WA despite often competing in higher age divisions. It would be something he would face up to again competing in the under-15 division when the tournament got under way in Albury, New South Wales. Carter made a winning start in his first match against his Victorian opponent and while results thereafter were mixed he thoroughly enjoyed his experience. “I expected it to be a tough competition and even though it was really tough, it was quite fun.” “It was quite exciting that I actually won a couple of games because they are the top players in Australia.” It was an action-packed schedule with 23 games over three days, though Carter said it was a challenge at times. “It was a bit of a shock to the playing that many games every day and being my first time over East the time difference and sleep schedule was tricky,” he said. However according to his mum Sam Carter it was hard to get the boys away from the tables. “They were playing for 11½-hour days, and they would get back to the hotel and then want to play on the pool table. And I thought my goodness, are you crazy?,” she said. His mum said while it was nerve-wracking at times for her on the sidelines she was proud of Carter and had no doubts he would be back. “As soon as we came back I checked the time and he had asked if we could go straight down to the club where he trains,” she said. “It was so great to see Lincoln in his element and doing what he loves and supporting the WA team as well.” Before he goes back Carter is looking to improve on his skills and also learn snooker to help with his eight-ball pool. “It’s something I thought of fairly recently so I’m hoping to find a coach in Geraldton as well as play some games in the adult divisions here.” “I’m aiming to go back again, and do better next time,” he said.