Katie’s potty training is just the job

She recently lost in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship to Lisa Quick by four frames to two, and missed out on a chance to play at the world-famous Crucible Theatre, in Sheffield. But she did have the distinction of making the highest break of the tournament with 121.

Katie burst onto the big scene after finishing runner-up in the 2000 UK Championship, where she lost to World No.1 Kelly Fisher.

Prior to that, Katie had twice won the WLBSA Most Improved Player award in 1998 and 1999, in addition to winning her local Gravesend Under-21 Championship in 1998.

Katie said: "For competing in the World Championships I received £270 and I was quite pleased with that.

It was also my first century break in the top ladies game.

"This is my best year so far. I've gained a lot of experience and have improved by moving up to be ranked sixth.

"It was a tough season. I started off ranked eighth and kept being drawn against the top-ranked players in the quarterfinal stages and being knocked out, such as by number one Kelly Fisher."

At 21, Katie obviously has a bright future, but there are half a dozen younger players to compete with, including Maria Catalona Ronnie O'Sullivan's cousin!

Katie added: "Most of the girls are older. But there are a few younger than me. Ronnie's cousin is only 18 and is already ranked number five. But I have beaten her, although it's obvious she practices with him and has benefited a lot from it.

"Kelly Fisher is quite a lot better than everyone else and she's very quick around the table. When I've played her the last couple of times, I've managed to nick some frames off her and have learnt from it."

For the past year, Katie has been involved in the Young Players' Distinction scheme. This is a training programme where young players, men and women, can develop all aspects of their game.

The former Hundred of Hoo School pupil said: "They put me and Lisa Ingle with six guys on the YPD. We play everyone twice at venues around the country and it is a big honour to be involved.

"Players are taught how to deal with the media, stress management, relaxation techniques, and you play a few games of snooker in Lilleshall's sports training complex.

"I think the YPD programme will help me handle the big games better in the future, while playing and practising against the rest of the group can only improve my game."

Katie is already semi-famous after appearing on television. "I went to the BBC studios and appeared briefly on a programme called The Exchange," she said. "It was nerve-wracking, but I got my face shown and it was a good experience."

She practices between four and six hours a day at the Olympic Snooker Hall, in Swanley, but there's other types of training she can do to help her game.

She said: "I've been looking into keeping fit for a while now and World champion Peter Ebdon said that regular swimming helps your stamina for matches. So it's something I could start doing.

"But you can be great in practice, but buckle in the big matches with the pressure of the TV cameras."

In between expensive trips to tournaments around the country and her YPD programme, Katie works part-time at the snooker club as, apart from the World Championships, there is not too much prize-money in the ladies game to be earned.

It does not leave much time for relaxation or to see her local football side Gravesend and Northfleet, who will be playing Nationwide Football Conference next month, after winning last season's Ryman Premier League title.

Katie added: "I was busy playing snooker in April and May and missed their last few matches of the season. But I hope they do as well this coming season and get down to see them more often."

Women's snooker is gradually becoming more popular, but smaller prize-money makes it less appealing.

"Alison Fisher, not related to Kelly, plays pool in America and earns a lot of money, but I'd like to give snooker more of a go before I thought of doing that."

Stephen Hendry has dominated the men's game for years and is Katie's favourite player.

She said: "Hendry is my favourite as he has achieved so much and I look up to him. But I love watching Ronnie O'Sullivan play and John Higgins has a good technique."

Becoming a full-time professional is not on the agenda for Katie at the moment, preferring to wait for the right moment before she decides to enter tournaments, which include men.

She said: "The guys usually start on the amateur circuit and then become professional.

"I'm working my way up the women's game and want to do ever better. My main objective is to become the number one lady player and then think about joining up with the mens' circuit."

Meanwhile, Katie will be playing a few more YPD matches and then having some much-needed rest before the new season starts next month.

She concluded: "My target for this season will be to get higher in the rankings and reach some finals. It will be hard, but I believe I can do it."