Jottings of the Month
- Stevenson gave a wonderful exposition of billiards at Leicester
Square during the fortnight ending October 19, when
he finished by scoring 6,000 to Falkiner's 3,896 (less 2,250
start). On the previous Saturday, Stevenson beat Cook by
9,000 to 6,120 (less 3,500 start), and on the previous Tuesday
he beat Peall by 3,000 to 2,507 (less 1,000 start). Thus, so
far as the actual play was concerned, he ran up 18,000 points
against 5,773, or more than three to one. Included in the
breaks against Cook were a 523, a 729, and a 1,016, the
last-named a world's record under present conditions, the
specialized Gray-stroke alone excepted. The huge break
was made, furthermore, in only two minutes over the hour.
Further references to this remarkable performance appear
on another page.
- George Gray has been playing at Lisbon, Madrid, and
Paris, and is now in Alexandria and Cairo prior to joining
his father and Stevenson, who leave London to-day (Nov.
1), at Port Said on Nov. 6.
- Gray is reported from Australia as being anxious to
return home, and desirous of making the India tour as short
as possible so as to reach Australia early in the new year.
Gray's mother, brothers, and sisters live in Sydney, the two
youngest boys being twins.
- Inman reached London from his Australian and Canadian
tour on October 28. Reece will only arrive just in time to
play Peall in the Tournament on Nov. 11. Inman's first act
on reaching Fishguard was to wire congratulations to
Stevenson on the latter's 1,000 break.
- Inman's 419 break in Canada established a Canadian
record, putting down Roberts's also recent 378. Against
Reece in Australia Inman made a break of 584his best of
the tour. He says he has a new shot of the prolific scoring
variety.
- Inman has been playing very successfully in Vancouver,
where the start of 400 in 1,000 proved to be of no use whatever
to the local "cracks" who were opposed to him.
What, indeed, could these players do with such breaks
against them as 400, 300, and 200? After the matches
Inman gave some fancy strokes and also instituted a novel
competition for a cue which he presented. Each man had
a chance at a difficult shot, the competitor making the most
points from it taking the cue. By the way, Inman is said
to be opposed to meeting a red ball specialist for the championship.
- Inman's challenge to concede any English player 1,000 in
18,000 up for £100 (open to £250 a side), with ivory or crystalate
balls, has met with response from Diggle, who is
stated to be willing to play Inman on the following conditions:
The best of three games of 16,000 up level for a
wager of £250 on the rubber, with either ivory or crystalate
balls, one of the games to be played in Liverpool or Manchester.
Diggle, however, wants the gate to be equally
divided, whilst Inman asks two-thirds, win or lose.
- W. Smith intends to challenge Inman for the championship,
in which case he would first play Reece. Interviewed,
Smith says:"I mean to try my luck. I have a bigger
chance, perhaps, than many imagine, and I have the necessary
backing behind me."
- A young Dublin professional named Joseph Brady is being
given an opportunity of further attesting his metal by placing
Cook 7,000 up at Leicester Square, and is receiving a
start of 1,500.
- Raynor states that he is willing to play Peall 7,000 up for
£25 a side. In their match of 2,000 up in the preliminary
tournament at Soho Square a close and exciting contest was
won by Peall by 79 points only.
- There is much in the play of Peall and Falkiner that is
reminiscent of that of Inman and Reece. The two newcomers
may, indeed, be regarded as, to a certain extent, the
two great players written smaller. Peall favours safety and
the open game as Inman does and Falkiner rapid top-of-the-table
(including close cannon) methods as does Reece.
- If proficiency in billiards is a sign of a mis-spent youth,
is not ignorance of so delightful a game equal evidence of a
mis-spent maturity?
- The old Palace at Cettinje is called the "Billardo,"
because it once contained the only billiard table in' the
country. The table was borne up the (then) almost perpendicular
path from the sea by fifty mena notable feat
although their burden less resembled a "Burroughes and
Watts" than a bagatelle board!Evening Standard.
- The handicapping of Aiken against Smith in the Tournament
and the recent performance of the latter against the
Scottish champion suggest an interesting calculation. Aiken
(who won last year's tournament) is handicapped to concede
Smith in the tournament 1,500 points in 7,500, or one-fifth
of the game. Attempting to concede Smith 1,600 in 16,000
(or one-tenth of the game) in Scotland, Aiken was beaten
by 127 points and in the similar return match the scores at
the end of last week stood: Smith 6,978, Aiken 6,128.
There will clearly be abundant interest in this year's Tournament.
- Young Taylor, who could do nothing in the preliminary
tournament, is now reported to have made a 400 break
against G. Nelson at Yeadon, Yorkshire.
- There is an entry in the Leeds Professional Handicap of
"H. C. Virr (Bradford) rec. 325." Does this mean that
Mr. Virr intends to follow in the wake of Lovejoy and
Breed?
- Playing Mr. Alfred Graham, Ilford, 500 up, Miss Ruby
Roberts scored 407 to Mr. Graham's 500. Miss Roberts is
now (Nov. 1) playing a week's match with C. Falkiner at
Bristol.
- A sub-committee of the Billiard Association will discuss
the question of amalgamation with the Billiards Control
Club.
- The Stock Exchange Handicap starts on November 4, and
the Manchester Charity Tournament on Nov. 25.
- Entries for the professional championship close to the
Secretary of the B.C.C. on Nov. 30, for the Press Handicap
on Nov. 4, and for the Sheffield Amateur Championship on
Nov. 5.
- Reece is now back in England and is booked to play Newman
at Leicester Square forthwith. Harverson will probably
be here during the month. Diggle is already back;
and in Australia, where all these players have been during
the English summer, cricket is now taking the place of billiards.
- It is stated that Leeds differs from nearly all other great
towns visited by professional billiard players in the smallness
of the gatherings that assemble there to watch the play.
Even the best players, when they visit Leeds, do not appear
to receive such enthusiastic support from the public as would
be anticipated.