News from the Editor's Chair
My first editorial is causing me some pain. For one who has the reputation of 'talking the hind leg off a donkey', finding words is akin to extracting molars from the lower jaw. However, there´s so much news on the billiards scene at the moment I should quickly get into my stride. My new role as editor of the Amateur Billiards Player will, I'm sure, give me as much pleasure and satisfaction as my first fifty years of playing, refereeing, coaching, and promoting the game. My pride in taking on this responsibility will be coupled with a determination to bring to you the news, character and humour we share at local, national and international levels. Politics will have no place in this journal. To achieve quality in our publication and inspire interest in our readers a partnership is required between readers and reporters. News from grass roots, as well as from the higher echelons, is essential to provide a comprehensive coverage of our sport, increase circulation, and give our subscribers a good read. The production team of Peter Ainsworth, Paul Dunning and myself will work hard to give you a quality magazine. Please help us to help you by sending us the news and topics that your friends and colleagues enjoy reading.
Nineteen Ninety Eight was an extremely good year for billiards, and a year which for me realized a few personal ambitions. In August Paul Bennett, Peter Shelley and myself travelled to Melbourne, Australia, for the Waiter Lindrum Centenary Billiards Championship. Our trip 'down under' gave us memories to last a lifetime. The friendship and camaraderie between players and officials from all nations was a joy to experience and epitomised the integrity and stature of our sport. The competition and quality of individual performances was stunning and a fitting tribute to the name of Walter Lindrum.
Newmarket in November was a classy venue for the inaugural triangular international match between England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. England emerged comfortable winners of the Amateur Billiards International Trophy and in the process the three participating countries established invaluable friendships and sporting ties. Our congratulations must go to the England team, who, to a man, played with admirable spirit and team loyalty. They played a gentleman's game in true gentlemanly fashion and delighted the spectators with their skill and tenacity. I was very proud to be associated with a team that represented its Country with such pride and passion. All parties look forward to the second leg in Dublin in 1999. As always, on these occasions things don't always run as smoothly as expected. The match schedule was pretty tight and the Republican team set off from Newmarket in their mini-coach for Stanstead Airport and home with not too much time to spare. On the slip road from the A11 to the airport the party were held up by security checks. This caused some panic in the Republican ranks, being mindful of the departure time from the airport. However, the intrepid Aidan Murray, an experienced long distance runner of some high repute, who incidentally has a Wicklow mountain at the bottom of his back garden, nobly, and in true Olympian style, jogged his way to the departures desk at Stanstead and pleaded with the officials to hold the flight to Dublin. All was well, the bold, puffing, shuffling Republican team dashed through the departure gate and boarded the aircraft with seconds to spare. Well done Aidan, and thank you Tommy Martin, and your team, for being such fine sportsmen and exceedingly good company.
(Overheard at Newmarket 'What a wonderful experience to see so many fine billiards players in action at the same time under the same roof')
1999 promises to be another exciting year in English Billiards with a new Pro-Am tournament “The Dagley Open” being staged at the Newmarket Snooker Centre in June, and the prospects of the IBSF Championship being held in the Northern hemisphere.