Player Information

Nickname/Web username: The Bullet
Year of birth: 1975
Year started playing pool: 1995
Current team: Flukesters

Background

Starting playing snooker at the age of 6, Colin used to regularly play against top snooker professionals Graeme Dott and Stephen McGuire in under 16s tournaments, before he gained sponsorship and almost turned professional. Unfortunately things didn’t quite work out for Colin, but snookers loss is pools gain, and Colin has become widely regarded as one of the best players ever to play in the East Kilbride league.
He has dominated the EKPL’s domestic tournaments over the last 10 years, and has consistently been the number one ranked player over the course of the WPS (World Pool Series) and Masters tournaments for the last 4 seasons running, amassing an impressive 9 tournament wins in this period, along with numerous final and semi final appearances.

Singles Information

Aspirations for the current season:
To win another tournament.

Greatest pool achievement in singles:
Beating Lee Miller 10-0 in the 2008 Masters semi final.

Honours in singles competition

I have absolutely no idea, however, over the years I’ve won some strange prizes including: a TV, a Nintendo 64, a dvd player, a hifi, a cruise to Norway, and I beat John Purdie in a final where I got to choose either another dvd player, or a case of Ally McCoist wine. Hope JP’s head was ok the next morning!
The best tournaments I remember were the ones played in Mr Qs. They were usually only the best of 3, but the atmosphere was always fantastic, and I’ve enjoyed having had some tremendous matches against Livvy and Billy Edmond especially from back then.
Probably the best tournament match I’ve been involved in was against Tony McCallum at the Bruce Hotel tournament. I clawed back a large deficit to make it 9-9 in the semi final and had him on toast in the decider, before he escaped out a snooker and potted an outrageous fluke to beat me. It was the biggest disappointment I’ve had after putting so much into the match, but he played amazing in the final to win it and was a pleasure to watch.

Team Information

Aspirations for the current season:
To win the league and crush the hustlers, and to do as well as we have flirted to do at the superleague.

Greatest pool achievement with a team:
Winning our first cup with the Loft in 1995, when I tapped in Stevie Ross in the play-off.

Honours in team competition

Won a few cups with the Loft, Sharks, Hustlers and Flukesters. Also won the treble with the Hustlers.

Cue

Make: Cannon Hurricane
Acquired: Greaves Sports in 1989
Cost: £80
Tip size: 9mm
Who retips it?: Myself

General Questions

Who, or what, inspired you to play?:
I was first inspired by watching Jimmy White. I started playing snooker when i was about 6 on a 6foot table in my bedroom. I was about 12 when my dad took me through to a snooker tournament in Reardons ran by two guys – one being Grant McNairn’s dad Tommy. At that time there was only about 5 people turning up every week. Usually me, Grant, Graeme Dott, Scott McKenzie (who is now a struggling professional) and a certain Jim Moffat, also from EK and good friend of Oby. Over the years the tournaments grew and I was part of a team which won the Glasgow snooker league (beating some teams which included professionals) with all players being under 16. I was 16 when, along with Graeme Dott and Stephen McGuire, I got sponsorship and nearly turned professional, but due to various circumstances I became disillusioned with the game and decided not to play anymore. About a year or so later, I spoke to John Muir and he told me there was a tournament in the loft (Hudsons). Shortly after I joined his team and I’ve played pool ever since.

Favourite EK team you have played in?:
Probably my first team the Loft. Teammates included John Muir, Ian Livingstone, Iain Muir, Brian Stewart, Davie McIlvenna, Scott Clelland, Alec Calderwood, Colin Munro, Brian Cassidy, Paul Allan, Alan Walker and Colin Reid. Not the best team but fantastic times.

Favourite EK team you haven’t played in?:
Top Guns by a mile. Great bunch of guys despite the fact that Alec Campbell tries to get into bed with me every time we share a caravan!

Best player you have ever played against?:
Have kept this to EK only because I haven’t played the top Scottish players much. I would say Billy Edmond, who at his peak was so hard to beat by being a great potter and a great thinker. He beat me easy in the early days but took the time to teach me a lot of shots and make me a better player.

Best player you have played alongside?:
I could pick Billy again, but I’ll go for Arthur Russo. When he’s in the mood he is unstoppable.

Favourite pro players (Pool or Snooker):

• Jimmy White
• Stephen Hendry

How would you rate the current standard of pool in EK?
The highest it has been for sure – but only among the players at the top. So many guys can punish one mistake. But like Livvy states, there is a definite lack of young talent coming through. The players winning tournaments now are the same ones who won them 10 years ago.

What do you think we could do to raise the standard?
The best way to improve is simply to play more tournaments. You won’t learn much from 2 games on a Tuesday night. Also to practice against better players and watch the way they play the game.