ENGLAND snooker international Bradley Cowdroy clocked up 500 miles over two days but returned home to Bournemouth more than satisfied with his achievements.

The 16-year-old won his first match on the national junior circuit in Derby.

And he collected the winner’s trophy and £70 prize money in the second leg of the Cuestars Under-21 Gold Tour at Waterlooville Sports Bar.

“It’s been a busy weekend,” he said. “It’s been a lot of travelling but I’ve really enjoyed it.”

The defending Cuestars rankings champion took over top spot after beating Connor Benzey (Eastleigh) 2-0 in the final of the event sponsored by Waterlooville-based website Snooker Crazy.

But he admitted he had to change his game after qualifying from the group stages for the knockout.

He said: “I had a tough first match against Steven (Hughes). He probably played the best he’s ever played against me.

“I wasn’t particularly worried (after that 2-1 defeat) because I knew I played well in that match and I played pretty well yesterday and I was confident going into today.

“I made quite a few good breaks in the rest of the group stages. It was a shame not to get a first competitive ton but it was nice to play well.

“Then, against Oliver (Sykes) in the quarters and Jamie (Wilson) in the semis, it was more of a case of grinding it out and making it more tactical to try to get the advantage.

“The knockout was different to the groups but I have to be able to play both ways.”

Cowdroy recorded the day’s two highest breaks of 85 and 82 in his 2-1 group-stage victory over Londoner Ronnie Sullivan, last season’s Bronze rankings champion.

The new rankings leader has a three-point advantage over leg-one winner Sykes (Chandler’s Ford). Benzey is one point further back in third.

The previous day, Cowdroy beat Joe Fenton (Wakefield) 4-1, whom he had lost 4-3 to in the first leg, on The Regency Pro Tips Premier Junior Tour at Cueball Derby.

Talking about his first season on the national circuit, he added: “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a different level to anything I’ve experienced before. It’s a really good learning curve.

“To get my first match win yesterday was a good confidence booster going into today.”