KEIGHLEY-BASED snooker player Rebecca Kenna is already working well towards her aims for the season after reaching a career-high ranking in the first tournament of the campaign.

A run to the semi-finals of the Paul Hunter Women's Classic in Germany last week moved Kenna up to fifth, with only defeat to world number one, and eventual champion, Reanne Evans denying her a better finish.

And with no points to defend for the rest of the year, Kenna is hoping to continue her rise up the standings.

"My aim for the season is just to get higher up the rankings," she said.

"That's something I should achieve because I've got three or four tournaments where I won't lose points, and I've already jumped up from sixth to fifth in Germany.

"I'm just looking to go into the tournaments aiming to get as far as I can in them.

"I think all went well in Germany," she continued.

"I've been working on a lot in pre-season, such as my break building, and at the tournament I recorded the second highest break of 60, which is my highest ever.

"I also reached my target for the tournament, which was to reach the semi-finals.

"I want to keep improving, do well this season and then I may have a go at qualifying for some of the men's tournaments," Kenna added, with Evans and world number two Ng On Yee having already tried to do so.

"I'm opening my own cue sports retail outlet which will have a table so hopefully I can get a bit more practice to push towards that. It's a few more hours that can help me improve."

Evans and Yee's attempts to reach a men's tournament are the latest developments in a sport where the female game is constantly growing.

As well as the latter rounds in Germany being held alongside the men's tournament at the Stadthalle, the final, where Evans defeated Yee 4-1, was streamed live on Eurosport Player - a breakthrough for the game.

Women's snooker is clearly on the rise, and there's a new crop of talent ready to push it forward even more.

"There's some very good youngsters coming through," said Kenna, who faced 15-year-old Aimee Benn in the last 16.

"I have the same coach as Aimee Benn and Lily Dobson [also 15] and it's great to see them constantly improving and being at world ranking tournaments."

But for Kenna, the aim remains the same in climbing the rankings herself, with her next tournament - the LITEtask Open Series in Leeds - bringing home comforts to help her perform.

"Leeds is about 40 minutes away from where I live and I play regularly there so it's like a home venue for me," she said.

"I'm looking forward to it."