A MINEHEAD pensioner is living the dream and is back in training to be a top ladies' snooker star - at the tender age of 73. As a former champion of Britain, Rita Holmes has a good chance of fulfilling her lifetime ambition to be world champion and is training hard for the contest which takes place in March next year. In her younger years she appeared on Pathe News, TV sports shows and was even a cover girl for a national magazine. She clinched her first British championship at her first attempt as a teenager in 1953 after only 11 months of training. Coached by professional Sydney Lee she went on to win the title three more times and was runner-up six times, rightly earning herself a place in the annals of women's snooker history. But in later years she has been plagued by persistent back problems and thought her snooker days were well and truly over until she enlisted the help of complimentary therapist Penny Mackay. "She has completely healed me and I have to say none of this would be possible without her," Rita said. Based at Minehead's Irnham Lodge Surgery, the clinical herbalist concentrated on using acupressure through the ancient Chinese practice of Qigong - the art of maintaining good health through breathing - to cure Rita of 15 years of back troubles. "I'm now free to follow my dream to be world champion and I would be delighted if someone from the world of snooker would be able to give me a helping hand to make that dream come true. "Its not always easy to find people to practice with as some of the men don't like being beaten by a woman, let alone a pensioner!" Rita told the Free Press. She currently trains at Dunster Village Hall and Minehead Social Club and even practises her potting on an historic Edwardian table at Dunster Castle. She said she viewed her mission to become world champion as a celebration of the end of her back problems and would be "warming up" for the title fight at the British Open next month. Rita will be a familiar face to many West Somerset residents having owned and run a health fitness studio at The Palms, in Periton Road, from 1982 to 1995 and another at the Vennland Centre, in Minehead. As well as snooker, her other passion has been dancing and music - she was a professional drummer and played in the Thelma Hammond Orchestra in the 1960s, is a licentiate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and ran two stage schools in Essex, writing and directing musicals for her 150 students. Anyone who can help Rita with her training - particularly snooker players willing to challenge her to a game or two regardless of whether they win or lose - can contact her on 01643 706606. Photo: Steve Guscott