A DUNFERMLINE family of cue fanatics are heading to Bridlington this week to take part in the European Pool Championships.
Ross McInnes will line up for the event along with sons Morgan and Preston while mum Michaela Tabb – the former snooker ref and pool star – will be watching on from the sidelines.
Bank of Scotland employee Morgan, 20, will represent Scotland as part of the under 23s A team before taking part in the World Championships later this year.
Younger brother Preston, 11, will feature in the Scottish Under 15s team while dad Ross will play in the Masters event (over 50s) where he finished runner up last year.
Ross said: “I have played for too long to remember and am now 63 so there’s not much longer for me to play for my country.
"I won everything there was to win at pool but the biggest thrill ever – and even today – is to walk out with the rest of the players representing our country and coming back with the titles.”
Talent runs in the family as Michaela previously represented the Scottish Ladies Pool team and was captain for several years. She went onto win the British Ladies title and then became the European Ladies Champion in 1998.
After that, she starting refereeing, at first with the American pool game before being head hunted by World Snooker in 2001.
She refereed two World Championship finals in 2009 and 2012 before leaving in 2015. Michaela still travels the world to officiate at American pool and snooker events.
Husband Ross will be able to watch his boys play in their respective events this week before they head home and he stays to play in his Masters event.
He said: “The eldest had to sit a trial to get in the A team and came through it to get in. He only took it up when he was 18 and I took him to Catalonia for a contest I do and he fell in love with it and never stops playing now.
“He is quite capable of beating me now – my standards are going down!
“My youngest likes to play all sports – golf but mainly football as he plays for Hillfield Swifts every weekend so does not put the same effort into his pool game that his brother does but, nevertheless, he is excited to be once again pulling on the polo top to play for his country a second time.”
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