 Jon twice represented England in the World Amateur Snooker Championship (1984 & 1985), reaching the semi-final in 1984.During this period he was a regular winner on the lucrative Pro-Am circuit and was known as a prolific break builder.He did not turn professional until 1986, but in his first season on the main tour, performed well, making a break of 123 - the highest of his career - in a 9–7 win over Martin Smith en route to the last-64 of the 1986 UK Championship.