Sarah: Thanks Mike. Yes, it was but I felt I had the ability to achieve it and I did. San Diego will always be a very special place for me. When I was playing Jeanette for the TV, I was 3-0 up, I was in control and then I made a big mistake, I changed tables and that has to be the worst decision ever. To tell you the honest truth, I was still in shock and I couldn't believe I was actually playing the 'Black Widow' for the televised stages. I have to say, I find it quite amusing now!

AZB: Lets talk about what you have achieved this last year. 5 wins and 2 runner-up finishes on the Ladies Spirit Tour, your touring pro status, three top 10 finishes in your last five WPBA tour stops including your 5th place finish in San Diego, wins over quite a few of the top players on tour. That is quite a year. Where do you go from here?

Sarah: I'm very pleased with my consistency on the LST but I feel I haven't keep that consistency on the WPBA. Although I have had a relatively successful year, I thought I could have achieved more but I stopped myself doing that. I was thinking wrong. Sometimes I forget what I've achieved in the past and that I've been playing for over 15 years and won over 100 majors, of course I have high expectations of myself, going on my past success but 9-ball is a completely different game to English 8-ball and it's not easy to make the transition.

I've had some very special wins over some of the best players in the World. One being, Helena. We always have great matches and my win over her in San Diego was the best ever. When I beat Ewa in NY, I was really happy because Ewa was someone I really looked up to, she's a great player and a great ambassador for the sport.

AZB: A number of players have suffered a letdown and struggled a little after achieving their fourth pro point, how will you make sure that doesn't happen to you?

Sarah: Well, I remember how I felt when I got my forth point. I was playing another great, Robin Dodson. I won the match 9-6. It was a fantastic match. I was completely overwhelmed and felt like a huge weight had lifted off my shoulders. I just wanted to be a Touring Professional so bad, it was really affecting my performance on tour. I'm working very hard at the moment and feel, if you put in the time on and off the table to your game and promoting your sport, then you will get things out of it. You can't expect anything if you don't put anything in.

AZB: You pretty much owned the Ladies Spirit Tour until Tiffany Nelson came to Florida. You two seemed to have an interesting rivalry going for a while last year. With Tiffany leaving Florida, do you have any rivalries with other players?

Sarah: The first tournament Tiffany played in, was the only time she beat me on the LST. I played her in two finals, both being really close. The last one, I was 10-8 down and came back to win 11-10, that was a great match and we both played well. I think the rivalry came from, that we were both Touring Pro's and I was moving up the WPBA rankings pretty fast but there's definitely nothing wrong with rivalry, it makes things more interesting.

AZB: There are a number of great players out there on the regional tours who dream of making it on the WPBA tour. What do you think it was that allowed you to accomplish what you have so far in your WPBA career?

Sarah: HARD WORK! Anyone who knows me personally, will tell you how hard I work. I never stop! I practice hard at home and work a lot on the promotional/marketing side of things. I keep fit and eat healthy. I'm very dedicated to the development of my game and my sport. I think all players should do there bit to promote the sport because in the end, it will benefit you, as a player.

AZB: I remember you were looking for sponsorship when we last talked. I see that you now have a number of sponsors. Can you tell us about those sponsors and how that search has been for you?

Sarah: You know it's really funny because I can remember the first letter I sent off, asking for sponsorship. I was about 14 or 15. I bought this old typewriter for about $10. It was awful but it worked, sort of. I put together a cover letter and profile and sent it to Mercedes Benz. I think they just felt sorry for me and offered me some sponsorship.

Finding sponsorship is very hard and it take's a lot of research and work to attract a company. It has actually taken me away from my game in the past but won't now because I have just signed with a top management company, Sports Unlimited Management & Promotions Inc. (sportsu.com) I am their first and only Billiards Professional, so it's exciting.

Instroke Sports really made it possible for me to come to the USA. They have been very supportive and are the best cue case company in the World, I'm definitely not the only one to say that. Hunter Classic Custom Cues supplied me with my cues. It was hard to find a cue that was right for me and a shaft that was stiff enough because I play with a 11m shaft. Capones Billiard Lounge, sponsored me last year. Rocky will always have a special place in my heart, as he was one of the first to step up for me. Thanks Rock! Joni Industries and Seaboard Pencil were also with me last year. I started working with RAM Lighting last year and will continue to work with them in 2003. I'm excited to be working with RAM, the're a fantastic company and great people. Farouk Systems Inc., supply me with all my hair products. I feel very lucky to work with this company. My hair stylist, Monica Blount put me in touch with Farouk. Monica was on tour with INSYNC for 3 years and she has also worked with the likes of Britney Spears and worked on a lot of top award shows and TV shows. Farouk supply, INSYNC, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Julie Roberts and other top celebrities, oh and of course Sarah Ellerby! Elizabeth Arden also supplied me with my cosmetics, which was pretty nice. My jewelry is provided by Gold & Diamond Source. Steve Weintraub (President), has been great and I really enjoy working with them. They are the largest online jewelry store in the World.

AZB: You have a number of sponsors outside of the billiards world and that is not very common on the tour. Why do you think that is?

Sarah: I'm really not sure. I personally would like to see a couple of changes made to the WPBA Tour, so it's more hip and trendy and appealing to the younger generation. I think image is a big thing. The WPBA Tour is the best tour in the world, without doubt but I would like to see something along the lines of how Matchroom Sport setup the World Championships in Cardiff. I think when you go outside the billiard industry looking for sponsorship, you can't ask for a million dollars. You have to build up a rapport first, a partnership and start off small. I think with a couple of changes, the tour will attract more outside industry sponsors. Not only do we have the best players in the world but some attractive athletes, who have Corporate sponsorship. For instance, Jeanette was voted the third most sexiest female athlete in the world.

AZB: What makes a professional pool player a commodity that a company outside the industry is interested in sponsoring?

Sarah: This really depends on the company and their product etc. Have you noticed how many commercials pool is in now and how many campaigns are based on pool. Recently a top clothing designer had a campaign based around pool. Pool is becoming fashionable. For instance in 2000 37.5 million people played pool, an increase of 3% over 1999. (sgma.com) This ranked Pool among the top ten sports. Female and youth participation is growing. We have a great sport but have to make it more appealing to Corporate America, when this happens you will see more Professional Players with outside industry sponsorship. Obviously sex appeal works but there's a fine line. You have to still remember that you are a Professional Athlete and that you aren't only representing yourself you are representing your Professional Organization.

AZB: Lets talk about the WPBA Tour this year. The Sardo Rack kind of took the big breaks out the game lately. How do you think the tour going away from the Sardo rack this year will change things?

Sarah: The Sardo Tight Rack is a very good product and very consistent. You didn't have to check the rack, as it was always tight. I really don't think it is going to make much of a difference, results wise. I know what it takes to learn a break and there was an art to breaking the balls with the Sardo. It took some serious hard work to learn the break and I will do the same with the new Brunswick Rack.

AZB: Since you were still playing on the regional tours fairly recently, which regional players do you think will be the next ones to make a big splash on the tour?

Sarah: Jenny Lee had a great event in Peoria, last year. Sarah Rousey is another great player. There's a lot of talent out there and some great players. Jasmin made a big impression at the Nationals and I think if she decides to come to the USA, she will be a serious contender in a few years.

AZB: It has been a couple months since the last WPBA event. What have you been doing during the off-season?

Sarah: It's been manic! I went home just after the Nationals for two weeks, to see my family and recharge my batteries. I said earlier that I have just signed with Sports Unlimited, so I've been busy with that. I also signed with Pinwheel Productions Inc. They have taken over my website and are revamping it. My website will be a little different to other Professionals. It appeals more to outside industry, this is the direction I wanted to take. I want to attract Corporate America to the Billiard Industry. It's also quite personal. We have been working nonstop on this and it has taken up a lot of time. I've had some fantastic help with the design and content. I will be doing several photo-shoots this year with Pinwheel Productions, starting with one in the Bahamas. Hopefully we should have the site up in the next month or so. I'm also working out pretty hard for the new season and started practicing just before the Texas Tornado Open. I will also be doing some charity work for cancer.

AZB: The new season gets underway next month. How will you prepare for getting going on the tour again?

Sarah: I started preparing very early because of the Texas Tornado Open. I'm on a strict diet and have lost more weight. The past few years, I have lost about 70lbs. I think that's the weight of one of the Backstreet Boys! So, I've been working out a lot, eating healthy and practicing hard. I'm into my main preparation right now, as it's only 2 weeks to the first event.

AZB: Can you tell us about your practice regimen? How often and how long to you practice during the off season and before an event?

Sarah: Well, it's only two weeks to the first event, so I'm doing a major build up! I practicing hard, about 5 or 6 hours a day, with maybe one day off but that depends on how I feel. There really isn't an off season for me because I'm always playing. I love playing and find it hard to put my cue down. The only time I do, is when I go home and that's mainly because I'm working on the farm or doing some decorating project with my mum. I've been working hard on my technique and fundamentals. I work on aspects of the game that I feel could be better. I study tapes a lot and watch my favorite players, like Mika. He's a fantastic player and I love his game.

AZB: Congratulation again on a great year and good luck this year on tour.

Sarah: Thanks.