Joe Minici (-130) won the Harry Young Memorial Billiards Handicap when he defeated Gene Crossingham (+200) by 580-185 at Penrith RSL, NSW on 25th March. The length of game in the strange format of this competition is calculated by adding 250 to the difference in handicap between the players. This means that the back-mark player starts from scratch and his opponent is always required to score 250 points. In the semi-finals Crossingham had defeated Graham Willoughby (+90) 250- 360 while Minici beat Phil Tarrant (-120) 260-199.
Frank Harris, the well-known player from Sydney was taken ill recently and admitted to hospital following a stroke. We are pleased to hear that he has now been discharged and is up and around again. Harris has twice been runner-up in the Australian Billiards Championship (1969 and 1980) in addition to winning the New South Wales title on several occasions.