The 'Rocket' in peak form

Approaching the new snooker season and Ronnie O'Sullivan shows he is in peak fitness by finishing 3rd out of 311 runners in a local 5km race in Basildon, Essex.

O'Sullivan wearing number 147 covered the distance in 17 minutes and 32 seconds, previously in May he also won over the same distance in the Epping 5K.

'I'm quite happy with that' said O'Sullivan who regularly runs 50 miles a week in the snooker off season while in season due to competition and snooker practice cuts it down to half that amount.

“When I won the Epping 5 in May it was a great day for me. I just enjoy running and if events like today’s are in a good cause and I can help by entering, that’s good enough for me.

“The snooker season will be getting underway soon so I’m not quite sure what my next race will be, but you can be sure I’ll be out there training again straight away.”

The current World number one has his first event of the new snooker season, the Northern Ireland Trophy on August 27th.

Phill Hayes - 16/8/2008