During the past two months the greatest interest has been centred by both players and spectators in a handicap tournament, at the above Institution, for prizes generously provided by Mr. A. Thompson, of Clarendon Road, Putney, and played by permission of the Board of Management.
One of the patients was entrusted with both handicapping and refereeing, and his awards were eagerly awaited by the players. When they were published on the recreation room notice-board it was seen they were as follows:—Mr. Killingbeck and Mr. Stott, scratch; Mr. Winter receives 20; Mr. Barnard, 65; Mr. Haines, 110; Mr. Frost, 125. Heats 250 up, all in.
The following brief description of the players is interesting.
Messrs. Killingbeck and Winter are suffering from paralysis; Mr. Stott has lost both legs, and has to seek the aid of artificial limbs; Mr. Barnard is compelled to go round the table in a wheel chair, and take his shots in a sitting posture; Mr. Haines, although able to rise to strike the ball, is also obliged to seek the aid of his chair in order to get into position; whilst Mr. Frost has to enlist the aid of the table for support when taking his shots.
As evidence of the great interest taken in the tournament, several of the patients whose custom it has been for years to retire to rest at 6 p.m., refrained from doing so in order to witness the various games. It is worthy of note that the utmost good feeling and sportsmanship prevailed during the whole of the contests. Messrs. Agar and Gawthorne officiated as markers. The last heat, No. XV., was Killingbeck (scratch) v. Haines (receives 110). Both players opened very carefully, and it was a long while before either gained any material advantage. Mr. Killingbeck compiled a useful break of 17, followed by another of 12, and took his score to 100, but it was seen that Mr. Haines had also been busy. When the scores reached 181—127, he had a fair proportion of his points in hand. The game progressed slowly, until the marker was heard calling Haines 201, Killingbeck 151. A series of useful innings by Mr. Killingbeck took him to within 8 of his opponent at 230. A nice sequence of losing hazards by the long starter, took him to 240, and never giving the scratch player another chance, he reached the goal 17 in front.
At the conclusion of the tournament, a perusal of the score-sheet showed that Mr. Haines, who is 72 years old, was the winner of the first prizes, with four wins and one loss. The two scratch men, Messrs. Killingbeck and Stott having tied for second place (with three wins and two losses each), the deciding game was fought out with great determination, Mr. Killingbeck eventually winning by 17 points only. The fourth position was gained by Mr. Winter, after a tie with Mr. Barnard, with two wins and three losses each, Mr, Winter winning in the replay by 29 points. A hearty vote of thanks to the donor of prizes was given with musical honours at the close of the proceedings.
George Gray, the young Australian billiard player, has promised to pay a visit to the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney Heath, and give an exhibition game there, before the patients, upon the table recently presented to the Institution by the Duchess of Northumberland.—Wandsworth Borough News.