Jottings of the Month

AMATEUR

• The B.A. amateur championship has again gone to Mr. H. C. Virr, who beat Major Fleming by 3,000 to 2,993. Virr had previously beaten Thomas (the Welsh champion) by 2,000 to 1,458 and Owen (the northern representative who beat Sellar the London victor) by 2,000 to 736. Major Fleming had previously accounted for the Irish champion (Nugent) to the extent of 2,000 to 1,220.
• In the final heat of the Stock Exchange Handicap, A. Morris (rec. 25) beat R. Saunders (rec. 30) by 250 to 138. Following this, R. G. Candy (scratch) and P. Wood (owed 300) played off for third and fourth prizes, and Candy won by 250 to 223.
• Excellent golf practice, under the superintendence of experienced professionals, is now to be had in the large basement beneath the Billiards Control Club premises, Great Windmill Street, which has been cleverly laid out with nets, bunkers, and a substitute for sward.
• In a billiards match at the Cowes Conservative Club, against Capt. J. Goodwin, Mr. Walter Tiller, who is a well-known Hants. County footballer, compiled a break of 143, the highest yet made by an amateur in the Isle of Wight.
• The London Charity Handicap was concluded on March 21 when, in 300 up, Mr. H. Shackleton (rec. 130) beat Mr. H. R. Fuller (owed 30) by 10.
• At a meeting of the council of the Billiards Control Club, held on March 15, the question as to the referee's or marker's duties in informing the striker as to which was his ball was discussed, and, although it was not on the agenda, it was decided by the majority of those present "That the referee or marker must on appeal inform the striker which is his ball."
• The annual contests in connection with the Liverpool Amateur Billiard Association have resulted as follows:—Liverpool Amateur Championship: 1, F. Scott; 2, E. A. Coleman; highest break, T. Owen. Charity Handicap: 1, Eli Pierce, jun.; 2, I. Roberts; equal 3, H. Coleman and F. Geary; break prize, T. Owen. Flying Handicap (spectators only): 1, T. Burns; 2, P. Russell.
• The final of the Inter-Hospital Billiard Championship was decided at the Billiard Control Club rooms, Great Windmill Street, W., on March 16, when St. Bartholomew's (holders) beat Guy's by two games to one. The heats were 400 up, with teams of three, to count on the aggregate. Final scores:— St. Bartholomew's, 1,106; Guy's, 891.
• The amateur championship of Hull has been won by Mr. F. Grant with 1,000 against Mr. J. Morley 755.
• The finalists for the Cambridge University Cue were both old half-Blues. D. W. Ellis (Repton and Clare) playing as first string against Oxford twelve months ago, and H. C Lloyd (St.
• Laurence School, Ramsgate, and Trinity) being third string on that occasion. Scores:—Lloyd, 500; Ellis, 444. In the Inter- University match Cambridge won two "strings" out of three.
• The final for the Oxford University Challenge Cue was played on March 14 between L. D. Womersley (University) and G. F.
• Schwerdt (New College). Result:—L. D. Womersley (University), 500; G. F. Schwerdt (New College), 315. Time, 2 hours.
• The Press Handicap resulted as follows:—First prize, T. A. Edge; second, E. A. Bland; third, G. Kreiner; fourth, R. A. Cheffins; fifth, V. M. Mansell; sixth, C. V, Diehl; seventh, W. G. Clifford; eighth, D. Ross Williams.

PROFESSIONAL

• The championship match between Inman and Reece, which terminated on March 30 at Holborn Hall, proved rather a hollow and uninteresting contest, Inman winning by several thousand points.
• An outstanding feature in the Professional Tournament has been Aiken's good play. He has only narrowly lost to Reece and Inman, and has beaten Stevenson, Diggle, Harverson, Mack, and Elphick.
• B. Elphick (2,000) beat T. A. Dennis (1,417) in the final heat of the Billiard Professional (Markers') Championship.
• John Roberts and Melbourne Inman have come to an agreement to play a match of 18,000 up level on a three-inch pocket table, commencing May 6. Roberts states that he is prepared to play for £500 a side. Roberts is also willing to meet Gray with three-inch pockets and any class of ball, the whole, or two-thirds, of the gate to go to the winner.
• W. J. Peall has offered Gray a match for £100 or £200 spot in.
• A curious match in which much interest was taken came off on March 28 at Messrs. Burroughes and Watts' Salon, Soho Square, when George Clarke (professional at the Junior Carlton Club) beat by sixteen points only in 1,200 up J. Jevons (professional at the Royal Automobile Club), who played without bridge or rest (other than the cushion) and was conceded an innings in every three.
• W. Smith, of Darlington (who made a 501 break in his recent match against Harris) announces that he is prepared, apart from any other engagement, to meet Stevenson or Gray in a game of 18,000, with bonzoline balls, provided he receives 6,000, for £250 aside, the winner to take two-thirds or three-fourths of the gate receipts. Meanwhile, he is likely to play Newman level in London for £100 aside, 16,000 points up. During the past month, Newman has been playing interesting matches against amateurs in Leeds.
• Glasgow has had the opportunity of seeing a repetition of the Gray-Stevenson encounters at London and Liverpool, arrangements having been made for a week's game in the Prince's Billiard Room. The game was one of 9,000 up, and in the course of it Gray made a break of 890.
• Edward Diggle and Cecil Harverson leave for Australia on Tuesday, May 7. They will play at Colombo on Saturday, May 25, and arrive at Melbourne on June 10, playing there for one week, June 10 to 15. On Sunday, June 16, they travel to Sydney.
• T. Rae's backer (Mr. M. Jackson) has challenged T. Reece to a week's snooker pool.
• International pocketless billiards has been proceeding in Paris during the month.
• In the final for the Victoria Club Committee Cup W. Sibary (187) with 300 beat J. Godbold (150) with 281.
• In the Beaufort Club handicap Mr, Cripps beat Mr. Wiseman by 200 to 172.