Jottings of the Month

• Reece has followed up his defeat of Inman in Australia by defeating him also in this country. The result of his money match with his old rival after a fortnight's play at Leicester Square, ending on Dec. 23, being Reece (rec. 1,250) 18,000, v. Inman 16,293, or a victory on actual points scored of 457. In the course of the play Reece scored his record break of 740 against his best previous break of 692, which was also made against Inman, and whom Reece has now defeated for the first time in a money match.
• Harry Taylor, the Leeds boy player, has been making some excellent breaks during the month, both in the Leeds £100 Handicap, and in subsequent matches against G. Nelson.
• On the afternoon of December 24 the representatives of the sporting press, who so ably chronicle the daily proceedings at the Soho Square tournament throughout the season, had a handicap in the Salon on their own account, with heats of 100 up, and the winner of the final was Mr. George Reid (rec. 30), who beat Mr. F. A. Poxon (rec. 40) by 29 in 100 up.
• In aid of the funds of the Mount Vernon Hospital, Hampstead, a charity handicap, kindly organized by Mr. L. V. Jones, a member of the Stock Exchange Billiard Association, has been progressing during the month at the Black Lion, High Road, Kilburn, and the second round is commencing with the New Year.
• A keen match in which much interest was manifested, took place at the Soho Square Salon on December 27 between George Clarke, head marker at the Junior Carlton Club and Fred Bass, head marker at the Conservative Club. In an afternoon and evening match of 1,200 up, Clarke proved victor by 1,200 to 1.027.
• The Press Handicap commenced in the Minor Hall at Leicester Square on Dec. 30 with the largest number of entries on record.
• Claude Falkiner has been doing well in the matter of breaks during the month. Playing against Miss Ruby Roberts, to whom he conceded half the game in 9,000 up, he made amongst other breaks one of 365 and another of 354. Sparrow also made a good series of runs when playing against an amateur at Woking.
• Mr. A. R. Wisdom, an ex-amateur champion, was one of those who took part at the Palace Hotel, Southend-on- Sea, in a benefit to J. B. Clark, the head marker.
• Miss Hilda Morley, the seventeen year old daughter of the Cheshire champion was, as stated in last month's number, one of the competitors in the Manchester Amateur Charity Tournament. Receiving 290 in 600 Miss Morley won two heats in excellent style and was only defeated in the third round after an exciting contest by six points by Mr. R. M. Metcalf, who was also the winner of the final. The other finalist was Mr. Allen Lonsdale, son of the ex-amateur champion.
• A welcome return to billiards was made on Dec. 23 at Leicester Square by C. Dawson, who met C. Harverson in a level game of 7,000 up for £25 a-side. It was in the same hall that Dawson some years ago made his great break of 823 under Rimington-Wilson rules. In the present instance Harverson won by 1,271 points.
• Play in the London Charity Handicap is to commence on Jan. 2.
• Professional players, including M. Inman, T. Reece, W. Cook, and C. Harverson, are understood to be in favour of a restriction of red ball losing hazard sequences, and it is stated that a representation in this matter has been forwarded by them to the Billiards Control Club.
• The Amateur Championship of Leeds has again fallen to Mr. A. W. A. Smith, who defeated Mr. B. Hardwick by 6 points in a match of 500 up.
• W. Osborne, of Leicester, and E. C. Breed, of Derby, will again play for the championship of the Midlands.
• The suggested amalgamation of the Billiards Control Club and the Billiard Association has been decided to be undesirable at the present moment.
• The first round of the Stock Exchange Handicap was completed on December 24, and the second round is now in progress.
• The benefit to M. Clarke at the Palmerston Restaurant on Dec. 16 and 17 was of the most gratifying and successful nature. On the Monday Mr. S. Harwitz and Mr. P. Wood engaged in a match of 600 up, the former winning by 75, and on the following evening M. Inman, the present champion of English billiards, kindly played Mr. V. L. Harrington a match of 300 up and ran to game with 298 unfinished at his third visit to the table. M. Clarke is, we are glad to hear, improving in health.
• The Christmas Handicap at the Albert Club was won by Mr. Bratt by three points.
• There was a very interesting and successful flying handicap at Soho Square on Dec. 23 on the occasion of the benefit of the referee of the Salon, Arthur Williamson, whose popularity was well attested by a hall crowded to the doors.
• The professionals who kindly took part were T. Reece, T. Aiken, T. Newman, B. Elphick, W. H. Sparrow, E. Hoskin, and A. Williamson himself. The honours went to B. Elphick, receiving 23, who in the final beat T. Reece, owing 10, by 9.5. An interesting feature, and one that proved very popular, was the sealing of each handicap so that no player knew when he had won until the allotted moment arrived.
• Inman and Diggle were unable to take part through absence in another part of the country. In addition to the excellent programme proper, the extremely clever hand stroke billiardist—R. de Kuyper—gave one of his extraordinary and fascinating displays, which was loudly applauded.
• Breed and Pindar are placing a match of. 7,000 level at Leeds for £100 a-side.
• In his match against Aiken, Newman made a 380 break but in the match as a whole Aiken's fine and consistent play was too much for him, notwithstanding the 750 points received.
• The Leeds £100 handicap resulted in a victory for J. Harris, of Manchester, who defeated Mr. Harry Virr, the amateur champion, in the last stage.
• In the Stock Exchange Handicap, Mr. W. H. L. Goolden, the champion of the "House," who owed 300, was defeated by Mr. M. Best, who received 10, by 106 points.
• It was Mr. Goolden who last year defeated Mr. Colin Smith in a memorable match by one point.
• The Grays are stated to be due in Melbourne (Australia) on March 3, while Stevenson is expected in London on Feb. 28. Meanwhile Stevenson v. Gray are due to open in Calcutta on Jan. 6, where they have several engagements.
• The business of Messrs. Cox & Yeman, Ltd., we understand, is now carried on in conjunction with that of Messrs. Burroughes & Watts, Ltd., Soho Square, W.C, and at that address only.
• The Northern qualifying round of the Billiard Association Amateur Championship will commence at Manchester on February 10. The semi-final and final will also be played in Manchester, beginning on March 10.
• During the month Falkiner has twice beaten his own previous best break of 315 on a standard table, with 354 and 365, in each instance against Miss Roberts.
• A snooker club has been formed at the Bedford Head Hotel, and held its first competition recently for prizes presented by Mr. J. P. Mannock and others. The winners were C. Wilson, J. Roe, and S. Marks, with L. A. Whitby as the winner of the highest proportionate break prize.
• The Sporting Life understands that S. H. Fry, amateur champion in 1893, 1896, and 1900, and who temporarily forsook billiards to earn distinction at golf, contemplates competing in the forthcoming Billiard Association championships. He is said to be hard at practice with this object in view.
• Entries for the Billiards Control Club championship (amateur) closed on Dec. 31. The event, which commences on Jan. 16, is open to members of the B.C.C. and leading London and provincial clubs, and also Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The present holder is Mr. H. C. Virr, of Bradford, the British and English amateur champion.