News from the Editor's Chair
The 1999 IBSF World Billiards Championship at Carlow lived up to all popularly predicted expectations and provided for those who took part a lasting impression of friendship, unrivalled international hospitality, and sport of the highest quality. When Joe Millen and myself hoisted Praprut on to our shoulders above the laser-strobed disco revellers at the 'Dinn Ri' night-spot, one thousand fingers pointing to congratulate our new world champion to a rendition of Tina Turner's 'Simply the Best' was a fitting climax to the World Championship. Praprut Chaithanasakun is indeed 'something special'. He enthralled the spectators with his deft cue control and super relaxed demeanour, his performance from start to finish was without fault. He has the ability to go far.
The championship provided sport at the highest level for all the participants and there were notable performances in all sections. Paul Bennett had a very good championship, recording the highest aggregate scores during the ten days, but unfortunately was a faller at the last hurdle to an exceptional opponent. Paul will be joining the professional ranks in November. This journal wishes him every success in his venture. Paul has been a fine ambassador to our sport on all his international travels. His kindly disposition, his interest and knowledge of the game, and his canny Teesside wit have found him friendship and affection far and wide.
A late telephone entry from Alex Higgins was unfortunately just too late to fill the gaps left by late withdrawals from the championship. The two places being nobly filled by Bob Slee and John Smith two well-known enthusiasts on the English billiards circuit.
The Championship proved once again that this event can easily be supported and accommodated by the amateur playing fraternity. The Amateur Billiard Player whole-heartedly supports this consensus of popular opinion and recommends to all international bodies that the IBSF World Amateur Billiards Championship be reinstated to its former status together with the British Empire Trophy for its winner. It further recommends the introduction of a World Open Billiards Championship playing for a new and separate trophy. These championships could be played on alternate years. This arrangement would ensure professional, amateur, and mixed competition. What could be better ? If our sport is to develop, a structured approach to its organisation at international level is vital.
I recently had a letter from a gentleman in Cheshire (see page 14) who was most concerned about our front cover, and in particular about the bridge hand which forms the main object of our attempts at graphic design. I share the reader's concern and as a consequence of his prompt have commissioned the design team to make amends. This has been made possible by the sudden and unfortunate, but convenient, demise of our front cover model, who by the way was a left handed bouclé bridging double jointed octogenarian. We hope to have a new design in place for the February issue. The point made about showing a yellow ball will have to wait. When circulation expands and funds permit we will move to full colour, In the meantime, however, we will all have to use our imaginations. Thank you for your letter Ray, your interest is appreciated.
It is with great sadness and a great sense of loss that I report the deaths of two great stalwarts of our game. Stan Brooke of Leeds, and Ramon Moore of Bridgwater both died recently of cancer. Stan had been involved in billiards and snooker for over fifty years and during his career had reached the highest administrative and coaching pinnacles of our sport. Ramon was a well known referee and player on the amateur billiards circuit whose willingness to give a helping hand was well known and always much appreciated. Ramon will be best remembered for his very kindly gesture in bringing three gallons of the very best Somerset cider to the Friendly Cup international at Kings Lynn in 1997, in attempt to tame the drinking propensity of our friends from Northern Ireland, Unfortunately the calculations were a little misguided, Ramon was the only one to finish under the table !