Kathy Blunden Q&A

Earlier this season, Australia’s Kathy Blunden appeared in her second World Women’s Snooker Tour event in Sydney and secured her first silverware on the circuit with victory in the Challenge Cup event.

We caught up with her to reflect upon her snooker journey so far and her goals for the future…

Hi Kathy, how have you enjoyed your time at the Australian Women’s Open event this year?

It has been really good. It’s always the camaraderie with the ladies and they have made my wife feel very welcome also which has been great. She has come as my spectator and number one supporter!

This is the second Open I have played in recent years, prior to that it was 2000 so I had a 20-year break.

How did you first become interested in snooker?

My dad had a full-size table at home, so I learned there and not knowing where to find out where the ladies play, I played a little bit of pool. But I knew that I always wanted to play on the full-size table, so I got myself in 1982 to my first women’s championship. I then had a very good year in 1983 where I won the New South Wales State Minors 4-1.

Why did you stop playing for a while and what brought you back to the baize more recently?

I just changed the things I was doing in my personal life; my wife doesn’t play so we were doing other things. I’m interested in photography, so I get the camera out whenever possible.

It was in the back of my mind that I was mulling over some shots and tournaments, and I thought it would be nice to get back and play. Since I have been back it is like all of that has gone and I’m just experiencing new experiences which is so refreshing and I didn’t think I would at my age of 61, so it’s really lovely.

I came back at the Open last year, and I didn’t win a match, but I won a few frames and I’ve done a little bit better this year. I’ve also won two semi-finals in two tournaments this year, the Newcastle Open and the NSW State Championships, so a little bit of form and I was happy to play this week.

Who are your snooker role models?

I like watching a lot of local heroes like Glen Wilkinson who was always a very good cueist.

I got to watch the Australian Open in 1983 at my local club where they had 20 tables and it was just amazing the games they put on. My highest break is 62 in practice and only 49 in competition, so I’ve got a little bit further to go!

How important are these events to you?

They are very good yeah. It’s a stepping stone to playing more regularly. For the ladies we really need to play in the open comps to get better. I just feel like the more tournaments, the more we’ll all keep improving and it is only cost that will sometimes prevent us.

I was fortunate enough to get a little bit of a sponsorship coming into this, so I got my enter fee paid by the Ball Breakers which made it easy, and I got billeted it out with the lady that was playing Linda [Larrea] which made the costs come down.

There seems to be a fantastic atmosphere among the players here – how important is this to you?

At a mature age that I’m at it’s very important. You don’t appreciate it when you are young and you come into the sport, you might just not particularly get along with someone for some silly reason.

But when you are mature you just take it at face value, be courteous and nice and they are warm to you. It’s really good and the camaraderie is excellent.

Who are your biggest friends on the circuit?

Jodie Wikeepa has become a good friend of mine just recently and we keep in contact quite regularly. Whenever I have a question, I can just contact her through Messenger which is great.

Do you have any ambitions in the sport? Locally or beyond?

I think just get my ranking up, keep playing consistent and thoroughly enjoy it, take the pressure off yourself. It’s a game and a sport but it’s not all about winning sometimes.

What is it like to play and socialise with the very best players in the world including Mink Nutcharut and Ng On Yee here?

I really enjoyed my game against On Yee. I had a close frame with her, went down to the pink ball and I thought I might have had her when I snookered her behind the black, but the capable player she is she got out of it with no trouble and potted the pink and won the frame.

Anyone on their day if they are a break builder can match them, but it’s consistency where some of the weaker players fall apart day in day out, but it is a good opportunity to play against them for sure and get our rankings a little bit better.

Would you enjoy the opportunity to play in a second WWS event in Oceania during the season in the future?

A second event in Australia would be one to work towards so it is not a one-off. If it is being discussed and is in the mix, that is a good start!

Would you be tempted to travel abroad and play in other events, for example the World Championship in China?

Yes, I would! My wife is a world traveller, she has been to a lot of countries and brought me overseas too.

Money is the only issue so if we went to a tournament like that we would tag it onto a family holiday. Our son lives in Germany so we could maybe visit as a bit of a stepping stone. That would be a great experience.

Finally, what do you enjoy getting up to away from snooker?

I have dabbled a little bit in making furniture, a little carpentry work for myself and I pride myself in some things I can make.

And photography is something I have a passion for too. My wife is kicking herself that she didn’t bring the camera this time!

Thank you to Kathy for her time and we look forward to seeing her again at a future tournament.