GUERNSEY’S bar billiards scene is in desperate need of fresh new talent. But it has been boosted by the arrival of two youngsters, Robert Chapple, 20, and Luke Oliver, 18, who are starting to make their mark on the game.

A new summer league format has been introduced in a bid to create some added interest for those wishing to play.

Darren Ogier has devised the idea of players meeting each other on an individual league basis.

It has been limited to 16 players, who play each other once.

The matches include a double game with a point award for each game and a point for the highest aggregate score.

‘Bar billiards is really struggling to find new talent and the arrival of these two players is massively important,’ said Ogier, who, at 33, is one of the league’s youngest.

Many of the island’s top players have been playing for between 30 and 40 years.

‘We have to try and encourage players of Robert and Luke’s age to start playing or before long it will become extinct in Guernsey,’ he warned.

‘The UK and Jersey have also struggled for young players but that is starting to change.

‘People who are interested in a more challenging and technical cueing sport are moving over to bar billiards.’

The problem locally is that many youngsters are playing only because their fathers do.

‘We need to do something to be more attractive to the youngsters,’ said Ogier.

Anybody wanting to get more information can log on to the website guernseybarbilliards.co.uk