Stacey Hillyard

Stacey Hillyard (born 5 September 1969) is a former English professional snooker player, who won the 1984 amateur World Women's Snooker Championship at the age of 15, making her the youngest winner of the tournament. She reached the final of the competition on five further occasions.

Stacey Hillyard
Born (1969-09-05) 5 September 1969[1]
England
Sport country England
Professional1991–1995
Highest ranking1 (Women's)[2]
276 (WPBSA)[3]

Biography

Hillyard started playing snooker on a full size table at the YMCA club in Winton, aged 12. She played her first competitive women's snooker event in 1982, and lost on the final black to the reigning world champion Sue Foster.[4]

Hillyard won the 1984 Amateur World Women's Snooker Championship[5] aged 15,[6] defeating Canadian player Natalie Stelmach 4–1 in the final. Although Hillyard reached the final five additional times, she did not win the event again. Three of the finals were lost to Allison Fisher, the dominant player of the era.[7]

In 1985 in Bournemouth, Hillyard, still 15, became the first woman to compile a century break (114) in a competitive snooker match.[8]

When the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) opened membership for events to anyone over the age of 16 in 1990, Hillyard was one of six women to join, along with Allison Fisher, Ann-Marie Farren, Georgina Aplin, Karen Corr, and Maureen McCarthy, whilst 443 men joined at the same time.[9] At the 1991 Dubai Classic, Hillyard started in the second qualifying round, and defeated Dermot McGlinchey, Paul Hefford, Chris Carpenter, to progress to the 5th round, in which she lost 1–5 to Alex Higgins. Her last year on the WPBSA circuit was the 1994–95 snooker season, concluding with a 0–5 loss to Andrew Duff in the first qualifying round for the 1995 British Open.[3]

On 23 February 1992, Hillyard recorded a new highest break in competitive women's snooker, making 137 during the General Portfolio Women's Classic held in Aylesbury.[10]

Away from snooker, she served as a police officer.[11]

Career finals
Legend
World Championship (1–5)
Other (3–7)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1. 1984 World Women's World Snooker Championship (Amateur)  Natalie Stelmach (CAN) 4–1 [12]
Runner-up 1. 1985 World Women's World Snooker Championship  Allison Fisher (ENG) 1–5 [13]
Runner-up 2. 1987 World Women's World Snooker Championship  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 1–5 [14]
Runner-up 3. 1990 World Women's World Snooker Championship  Karen Corr (NIR) 4–7 [15]
Winner 1. 1991 Romford Classic  Allison Fisher (ENG) 3–2 [16]
Runner-up 1. 1991 World Masters (Women's singles)  Karen Corr (NIR) 2–6 [17]
Runner-up 2. 1992 Harlekin European Masters  Allison Fisher (ENG) 5–6 [18]
Runner-up 3. 1992 Edwardian Classic  Allison Fisher (ENG) 0–3 [19]
Runner-up 4. 1992 Saffron Classic  Allison Fisher (ENG) 0–3 [20]
Runner-up 5. 1993 New Berkshire Classic  Allison Fisher (ENG) 1–3 [21]
Winner 2. 1993 Pontins UK Championship  Tessa Davidson (ENG) 4–3 [22]
Runner-up 4. 1993 World Women's World Snooker Championship  Allison Fisher (ENG) 3–9 [23]
Winner 3. 1993 Regal Masters  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 4–3 [24]
Runner-up 6. 1994 Pontins UK Championship  Karen Corr (NIR) 3–4 [25]
Runner-up 5. 1994 World Women's World Snooker Championship  Allison Fisher (ENG) 3–7 [26]
Runner-up 7. 1994 Llanelli Classic  Allison Fisher (ENG) 2–4 [27]

Doubles and team events

References

  1. World Records Archived 28 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine snooker.org. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  2. Yates, Phil (9 November 1991). "Corr reaches final with a whitewash – Snooker". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019 – via NewsBank.
  3. Hayton, Eric; Dee, John (2004). The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History. Rose Villa Publications. p. 540. ISBN 978-0954854904.
  4. Jones, Gaye (July 1987). "Spotlight on ... Stacey Hillyard". Pot Black. Pot Black Publishing. p. 41.
  5. World Champions Archived 18 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine Women's World Snooker. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  6. Syed, Matthew (7 December 1991). "Hallett advances after making a bad start – Snooker". The Times – via the Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  7. Women’s World Snooker Championship – A Potted History Archived 21 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine Women's World Snooker. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  8. "Birthdays and Anniversaries". The Independent. 12 January 2004. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019 – via NewsBank.
  9. Acteson, Steve (13 October 1990). "A motley cast of hundreds waiting for the cue – Snooker". The Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019 – via NewsBank.
  10. Turner, Chris (23 February 2009). "On This Week". Eurosport.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  11. Everton, Clive (12 September 1999). "Snooker: First Night – Jane Holland: Paperback fighter". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  12. Everton, Clive (1985). Guinness Snooker – The Records. Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 154–156. ISBN 0851124488.
  13. "For the record: snooker". The Times. London. 15 October 1985. p. 30.
  14. Acteson, Steve (16 October 1987). "Farren wins world title after Fisher freezes". The Times (London). p. 38 – via The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  15. Yates, Philip (December 1990). "Corr keeps cool to win women's world title". Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. p. 4.
  16. "1991 Romford Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  17. "Corr confirms world title". Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. March 1991. p. 11.
  18. "1992 Harlekin European Masters – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  19. "1992 Edwardian Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  20. "1992 Saffron Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  21. "1993 New Berkshire Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  22. "1993 Pontins UK Championship – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  23. Hunn, David (25 April 1993). "Fisher proves she's the very best in a different pool – Snooker". The Sunday Times. London. p. 2/9.
  24. "1993 Regal Masters – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  25. "1994 Pontins UK Championship – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  26. Yates, Phil (23 May 1994). "Fisher makes it seven". The Times. London. p. 22.
  27. "1994 Llanelli Classic – Knockout". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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