In one of his articles in The Yorkshire Evening Post, George Nelson says:—"Once a player, always a player, seems to be a rule at billiards, for it really is surprising how form is retained, or even improved upon, by men at an age which smacks more of retirement than improvement. John Roberts made a break of over 600 in his sixty-fourth year.
Now we have the elder Peall, who used to play such stirring battles with Roberts over twenty years ago, coming out once more. Two years ago Mr. Lonsdale won the amateur championship, having previously gained the title 21 years before.
It is 23 years since Mr. S. H. Fry first played in the amateur championship, yet, despite the fact that he gave up billiards for golf for many years, here he was again winning the southern championship. As to making improvement, the present amateur champion, Mr. H. Virr, is a very good example. I must not class him amongst the veterans already mentioned, yet I know he has played billiards very nearly thirty years, and, further, that he has probably made more improvement in his game during the past three years than at any previous period. Neither is there any limit as to what age to commence, for at a village near York one gentleman only took up the game when he had passed three score years and ten; yet he won his first club handicap."
Dealing with the same subject, a writer in Fry's Magazine says:—"Billiards can be played up to a greater age than any other game. The proposition is obvious; young fellows of 70 may find the walking and other exercise at golf beyond them; after 80 croquet becomes too strenuous.
Billiards is the most economical of games in the matter of muscular expenditure and physical outlay, and in two respects the middle-aged man has a great pull over the youth.
His greater nervous strength gives him increased power of concentration, which is everything in a game of skill; better tone; and a valuable reserve fund of coolness and resistance.
The strategy and tactics of his play are enormously improved."