AFTER more than 30 years playing bar billiards Pauline Withey has taken the Ladies British Open Championships title - and become the first Oxfordshire player to do so.

Withey, 53, who plays at Morris Motors Sports and Social Club, beat Jean Over from Sussex in the semi-final and Jane Wood from Witney 2-0 in the final to take the trophy.

She said: "I was very, very pleased to win this. I've taken part in these championships a number of times, but this was the first time I've come away with the trophy.

"So many of these championships eluded me until recently. Something has suddenly clicked into place and I seem to have the confidence to win now."

Withey, of Pound Way, Cowley, also won the highest break of the day award with a score of 7,860 at the championships, which took place in Surrey.

For the past two years, she has been the women's All England singles champion and is looking forward to defending her title again in November this year.

In the meantime, she says she will be concentrating on local games and won't start preparing for national level competitions again until September.